((Don't worry--it's okay. :D I'm not mad.))

Aric kept petting him, hoping it was a calming feeling.

"Yeah, I can understand that...I wouldn't want someone I cared about forced into this, either..." he mused, nodding. "And you don't really have to be afraid. If you want me to stay here, I can stay here. I won't let anything really bad happen. I promise." He sounded quite sincere. "And if you want something or someone to care about, I wouldn't mind that, either. Of course, that's up to you."

He chewed his lip. "The only thing I need to do in order to stay here is bring Wyatt here...and that won't take too long. But, Wyatt doesn't have the money to pay any sort of rent. His grandparents aren't...particularly fond of him, and they wouldn't lend him any money. I probably have enough to pay rent for myself...but not for Wyatt, too."

He seemed bothered by this, and thought for a moment. "Not sure what to do, there..."

"If he is truly essential to your staying...my wages can go to his rent." Vigil offered, closing his eyes and resting his head comfortably against the other's chest. "Mn...I don't really use them, anyway. I'm sure I could pay six month's rent right now." A pause, and then he looked up.

"Do you really want...me?" While he could believe it, he couldn't believe he was being wanted as more than just a piece of ass. Usually, that was all men saw him for, and that was why he was kept up in that cage. "We'd have to talk to Vale and Eason, of course..."

Aric smiled comfortingly at him. "No, no, it's okay...you can keep your wages. I think I've got an idea as to how Wyatt can earn his keep...well...it's kind of a secret. I can let you in on it, if you promise not to tell anyone but the other employees and the owners...it'd be...bad...if such information got out to the human public. The Aisenyls are celebrities, after all. If this 'secret' were to go public, they'd lose it all, or most of it, at least."

Aric could understand his trepidation. Most people who didn't like this business were bound to act like that upon being told someone could have an emotional attachment to them. "If you have no problem with it...sure. But I'm not the kind of guy who just uses, abuses, and leaves. When I care about someone, I really care about someone, and I won't abandon or harm them."

Vigil nodded a little, "Sure...what is it?" He was curious, to be honest. He didn't know what was up with any of this, but it sounded interesting, to say the least. He was always interested in human drama.

"Wow...I don't think I've met a man like that before..." He blushed and leaned up to kiss his chin. "Alright...I can try. I...it will be so weird not being in the water with you, though." He chewed his lip, "And...we have to be very careful." Because there was a small secret in the world of the Merman that would likely make problems with a human male.

Aric thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to word it properly. "Well...Wyatt's family is not completely human," he admitted finally. "No, there was a bit of mixing with different species. His mother was a Demon, one who could control fire. His father was also a Demon, but a different variation--he had some control over water and ice. These two types of Demons are not supposed to have children--they usually are stillborn or die in the womb. Wyatt's mother had four miscarriages before she was able to conceive and have him.

"They weren't exactly sure what issues would come of it, so they waited. Once he was old enough to speak, they noticed that he, uh...talked to himself. A lot. They had him examined by their personal family doctor. He has two other personalities, but they're not just personalities. They are completely separate from him--different people. As a result, they can separate themselves from his body. While Wyatt wouldn't enjoy working here, those two would gladly step in to help. If that isn't a problem?"

Aric seemed to enjoy the kiss to his chin, but he made no move to further the slight kiss. He didn't want to ruin anything--he'd gotten so far already. "Okay. If that's what you want. I can swim a little bit, if you want...I just can't breathe underwater. And, uh...careful? Why do we have to be careful?" He studied him, then thought of something. "Can you have children?"

Vigil paused at this story. "They don't usually accept demons...you know, fear of ruination. But...we can talk to them." A long pause, and he stared at Aric as if he was some kind of magic.

"H-how did you know?" He unconsciously covered his rear with his hands, blushing and looking down. "Mermen have adapted and...we can impregnate other mermen. We don't need females, like everything else does. It's almost like female lizards; they can reproduce with themselves if they need to, if no male is present."

"Well..." Aric chewed his lip, trying to remember all the details about the other occupants sharing Wyatt's mind. "From what Wyatt has told me, the two of them have to listen to him. Or he keeps them locked up in his mind, unable to see or hear anything. Or talk to him, for that matter--they get lonely. Perhaps if they're given a test run first?"

Aric chuckled at how shy he seemed, now. "I didn't know, actually...I kind of guessed. I thought it'd be either that, or that you could...get injured down there very easily. And that can be bypassed easily. The ability to get pregnant, though--that can't be bypassed."

"We can see what happens..." Vigil replied, chewing his lip. The more he thought about this situation, the more he became unsettled by it. "I don't know if it's a wise idea, though...Brae would likely get...physical." Because he was bitchy enough about sharing the floor with Benji.

"Mn...y-yeah. And...it usually takes..one or two times...before it could happen." Chewing his lip a bit more, he sighed, "I...I'm sorry." His shoulders slumped.

Aric nodded, a bit concerned about that. "I don't think that would be too much of a problem with the fire demon personality. He's not too active, or pushy, about flirting with people and keeps his distance, letting them flirt with him. The other one could be a bit of a pain--water and ice demon. He's a transvestite and very hyperactive...and he loves people. I think he'd prefer to dance on stage more than dance indiscriminately, though...so I'm not sure."

Aric sighed, hugging him a bit more tightly. "Don't get flustered--it's all right. I don't mind having to be careful."

"I can still guarantee Brae will flip a biscuit. He'll be absolutely peeved...and that means claw-marks on someone." He sighed, "More than likely either your boy...s or the owners." A pause, "And...he's been known to kill for attention. He gets really...possessive. He has a ahrd enough time sharing with Benji, and usually poor thing gets abused by him. He's...nowhere near as cute and innocent as he acts."

"I...just don't want to cause problems." He sighed, closing his eyes.

Aric stroked his hair a bit more, hoping to make the situation a little less worrisome for Vigil.

"I don't think you have to worry about them getting injured. They have no qualms about defending themselves, but they've both sworn never to kill or seriously injure someone, in accordance with Wyatt's views." He furrowed his brow a bit. "What if one of them paid attention to Brae, as well as the customers? I could see Brae getting along with the fire demon."

He rested his head against Vigil's, comfortingly. "You're not causing problems, and you won't--I promise..."

Vigil sighed, "We can always give it a shot, but Brae will likely attempt murder on the other one...he likes the full attention on himself at all times." A slight pause, "He's a bit of a transvestite, too." A cringe, "But that's nothing new, here. Most of us are..." he sighed, "But...still, I dunno. I'm more worried that Brae will do what he did when Benji first got here..." It hadn't been good, not one bit.

"A-are you sure?" he whimpered, chewing his lip as he tucked his head up under Aric's chin.

Aric sighed as well. "Maybe we could get the other one to pay attention to him, too...tell Brae that'd bring even more attention his way, if he flirted with two different males in front of the crowd. Maybe I should take him aside and have a talk with him before we even attempt any of this? Maybe if I explain it correctly, he won't be as peeved..."

Aric rested his chin on top of his head willingly, smiling at him. "I'm sure. It's not a problem at all. I promise. If you want, we can take everything slowly."

"Maybe...and as much as Brae doesn't really get along with any of us, he's still one of us...and...we look after our own. Even Shode does; he can't do much behind the glass, but...he tries? He can wail so loud most things in this place break...so he can shatter beer bottles to get people's attention." A sigh, "And...last time we got a noob...Brae kind of went into this spiraling depression laced with anger." Anyone who touched the catboy was likely to get cried upon or have their eyeballs slashed out.

"You'll do that...for me. All of this...for me?" That was an odd notion to him; nobody had ever wanted any of this with him, not really.

Aric nodded in agreement. "I kind of thought that was the case with Brae...he seems a little detached from everyone else. That's something he has in common with Wyatt's fire demon, then...he can't stand Wyatt or the water demon. And they love him anyway...that still kinda peeves him. I don't know--I guess it's worth a shot to try talking to him. I wouldn't like to see him really upset, either."

Aric nodded, completely sure of himself. "Of course. I'll do anything to make it work, and to make sure you're happy."

"It isn't so much that he is, more that I am...I am closer to Shode than either of them...and...Brae loves everyone, as long as he's the main focal point. As soon as it becomes about someone else, he's uninterested and waits very impatiently for the situation to return to him. He's very selfish and hates anything or anyone that doesn't regard him as the highest, almightiest being on the face of the planet. I mean...I'm sure if he found out about you feeling so strongly about me...he'd likely scratch me up some and try to flirt you away." He scratched a little at his neck behind that long curtain of hair.

"Why did you pick me, then, if you don't mind me asking?" Vigil questioned, head tilting a little as he brought himself back enough to look at the other's face.

"Ah..." Aric murmured, mulling this over in his mind. "One for the spotlight? I guess that would be the epitome of 'doesn't work well with others.' He tried to flirt me away from everything earlier...I humored him for a few minutes, but didn't do anything special. Heh...maybe it would be a bad idea for me to talk to him alone. I practically brushed him off, in his view, most likely..."

Aric thought about that. "Well...to tell you the truth...Brae was way too forward--that intimidates me a little bit, and I can't take overly-flirty people too seriously. Benji would have been my choice, had I not seen you. I didn't actually want to start anything at first, but then I observed you and realized you didn't want to be here, at all...kind of like you were forced. I saw that Shode was sort of the same way...but, even with the money I have on me now, I wouldn't have been able to scrounge up enough to get into Shode's tank, most likely. It was a battle between you and Benji for me, really...I guess I just didn't want to see you in so much distress."

"Definitely one for the spotlight. He...hates it when it isn't all about him, and usually directs the conversation so that it is. And...he can't be outstaged without something seriously bad befalling the person who did it." A pause, "He's generally for those that like a straight-forward, wanting partner who is willing to do anything as long as he's lavished with attention and ravished until he can hardly walk..."

"Benji and Brae are a combo package...because Benji gets nervous easily and...he piddles without thinking. The best way to describe him is an over-excited puppy at his first day of training school." He had heard a disgruntled buyer telling Vale that. "And...Shode really isn't that expensive...usually he can get a couple people a night, but...he misses home. And...I definitely do..." He sighed, "I don't think they realize who I am...and if they do...well, they don't mean anything by keeping me. And it isn't like I'm here without choosing to be...if I really needed to get back, they'd let me go. Same with anyone here...but...we stay to help them out. They're twins trying to live with each other and only each other, and this is the only way they can make money..." He sighed, "Vale and Eason have been lovers for a long time...but the state won't legally let them even live together because of what they do, unless they pay ungodly amounts of money...and that is why we stay, even if it isn't our favorite thing to do. Except Brae; he stays because he enjoys it."

Aric raised an eyebrow. "That really sounds a lot like the kind of guy Wyatt's fire demon is...the type of lover Brae's looking for. I've never met the guy, but Wyatt tells me about both of them all the time. The water demon's...kinda more like Benji. He's also an attention hog, though...but he loves to deal out attention, as well."

Aric listened to this with a somewhat sad look on his face. "That's really too bad. With my connections, I might be able to get the two older Aisenyls to make a donation to them, if they so wish. A small donation to the Aisenyls is like a fortune to most people..." He paused, scratching his head. "I guess it would be natural to miss home, if you enjoyed it and were taken from it by force," he offered, nodding. "I ran away from home...my mother died when I was four and my father was a nasty, abusive old drunk. I wound up being taken in by the older Aisenyls, and I've been their bodyguard ever since, really...I don't miss home. But it's natural for you and Shode to..."

Vigil chewed his lip, "Well, maybe that one could be on his good side, but I can guarantee Brae will seriously try to injure anyone who will pay attention to the other...or just the water demon, himself. He's...very possessive of the spotlight, and if he's forced to share it he gets...well, upset isn't really the word. It's like trying to separate a 'civilized' person from their cell phone. They won't give up without a fight to the death."

"That would be nice...but we'd probably still stay, just to make sure they were alright." He smiled softly, "They have us stuck here."

Aric nodded, sighing. "Well...I guess I should have a talk with him, then. I won't let him attack me or anything if he gets disgruntled, but I certainly won't hurt him, either. I guess we'll just have to go about this carefully..."

Aric stroked his hair tenderly. "Yeah...that's true...but any amount of money could help out, so I'll try my best."

Vigil chewed his lip, "He'll likely attack you for sex, if he attacks you at all..." He sighed a little, "He's a little sex demon, I swear. Like a cat in heat, every day of his life."

"Mm....yeah, thank you." He smiled, kissing gently at his neck.

Aric chuckled. "The Aisenyls used to have a couple female cats that acted like that...I didn't necessarily want to have kittens with them, but they insisted on following me around. But they're gone, now...er...Wyatt's pets--two reticulated pythons--ate them a year or so back..."

Aric tilted his head a bit, smiling, and stroked his hair a bit more. "No problem..."

"...let's not eat Brae. He may be obnoxious, but I still care about him. He's the best family I got here..." Well, they all had to stick together. "He'll probably expect you to have kittens with him, though. He..."owns" everything, according to himself."

A shiver and he began to kiss more, eyes slipping shut. "Mnn..."

Aric rested his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes.

"If it would make things easier and make him trust me a bit more, it might be beneficial to sleep with Brae...but I'll try to avoid that if I can. Do you think if I showered him in attention for a while he'd be more willing to listen to me?"

Aric kept his eyes closed, and he held him close, smiling at the close contact.