Jackie sleepily murmured as something cool and slick dragged up her neck. The motion made her eyes groggily crack open, briefly confused before Dumisa's grasp tightened around her waist. Her head snapped down, seeing his mouth engulfing her shoulder while he sleepily unhinged his jaws and engulfed more of her shoulder. Jackie's mouth popped open, startled and unable to utter a word in response.
… was he really trying to swallow her in his sleep? Now that's freaky. Jackie opened her mouth to speak but the pressure around her ribs made it impossible. His tail gently tightened, making her acutely aware that he had a grasp around her neck. He pulled his mouth back, keeping his lips and teeth pressed against her skin.
"Such a tease, host … ," Dumisa muttered in his sleep, not even aware he just tried to swallow her. He muttered something incomprehensible, mouthing her shoulder and neck while continuing to squeeze the life out of her. Her breath came in fast and light, wheezing as she tried to feed enough oxygen to her dying brain. T-This is dangerous!
"D-Du-mi-s-sa." She barely rasped out before he let out a light laugh, cracking his eyes open in a cool manner. He rolled over slightly so he was over her, staring down at his prey with a frighteningly toothy grin.
"How does it feel to have the life sucked out of you, host? Would you rather I swallow your greedy little self whole so you'll be inside me, up until the point you dissolve? But then you'd be flowing through my veins and be with me for some time … I would say that's a fate unworthy of a weak human, so I'll instead bite you," he said, leaning in and softly drawing the tip of his nose over her cheekbone, rolling his slitted eye open and staring right into hers hardly an inch away, "to watch you slowly succumb to my venom, watching your body slowly choke itself to death while having my face be the last thing you ever do see before the sweet embrace of darkness … yes, I think the kiss of death is enough for you, human. Be honored." He said with a wry grin before leaning down, inhaling a ghostly breath before sinking his fangs into her shoulder.
"WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH STAHP BITING MEEEEEEEEE!" Jackie screamed as she woke up with a sudden jolt, breathing fast and hard as she struggled to move. What the hell? Was that just a nightmare? A light squeeze around her shoulders made her stiffen up a bit before looking up at the black haired snake entangling her and preventing any sort of escape. His annoyed glare and pissed off frown cut her to the core as she shrunk back slightly.
"Quiet, heat pack," Dumisa hissed as his arms tightened around her waist and held her against his chest. Her eyes widened before narrowing, feeling his heavy weight crushing her pelvis along with his tail coiled around her legs. She was still trapped but at least her upper half was free now.
"You have your own heat lamp so why don't you go use that?" Jackie growled as she tried to push his chest away. His scaly ribs pressed back against her palms as he deeply laughed, leaning down and parting his lips into a vicious inky smile as a warning for her to stop struggling.
"Your face is warm and ripe with embarrassment. Did you have a naughty dream about me?" He snickered, lingering his mouth dangerously over her forehead before his tongue flicked out, tapping against her forehead. She froze, too shocked to move as his tongue slid up her skin for a satisfying lick before tickling her with a few fast flickers.
"Stop, that's enough. You're going to squeeze the life out of my legs." She growled as she wriggled in his grasp and managed to free a leg. He let out an amused snicker as his grip tightened around her waist and he leaned all his weight onto her shoulders to force her against the bed.
"A heat pack doesn't need her legs." He teased with a toothy white grin as his body tensed up, squeezing her remaining leg and making her let out a pained grunt before she glared at him. He toothily grinned, waiting for her angry retort. Rather than scolding him she stared at his shirt, trying to think of a way to turn this around. Vain and narcissistic. Ew, her only option was to pet his ego but at least she'd be free.
" … Dumisa, how many shirts do you own?" Jackie asked, gently tugging on his current shirt and seeing some small holes in it. He definitely didn't seem like the kind to wear ragged clothing. He paused, pulled up short once again before frowning.
"Not many. Since I do not often wear clothes I only own about three." He said, uncoiling her from his grasp and spilling her stiff body onto the bed as he slithered over to his small suitcase, opening it and pulling out two more garments that were more dress-like and full of colors and African patterns. She honestly had a hard time seeing him in those. He looked more like a button down classy kind of shirt.
"That's it?" Jackie asked, surprised as she stared at his meager clothing.
"They are of the finest quality. I doubt a commoner such as yourself would understand."
"And compared to your 'commoners' how is my standard of living?" Jackie said, making Dumisa fall silent before he shot her a narrowed glare. Uh oh, tactical retreat. "Anyway, how about this, Dumisa. You want to go walk- slither around the city a bit, right? Why don't I take you to some outlets and we can buy you some new shirts?" Jackie suggested as he stared at her, seeming confused. After some silence Jackie slipped off the bed nice and slow, trying not to make any sudden movements. "So uh, let's do that today. It's nice and early so there won't be too many people on the streets and it'll be good to get you some new shirts. So uh, be ready in thirty minutes, got it?" Jackie said before making her escape out the door and heading for her room to get ready. Driving would be much easier than trying to take the subway, that's for sure. Hopefully the pedo van Ms. Smith gave her would be big enough to fit Dumisa inside somewhat comfortably.
It really wasn't big enough.
Dumisa's whole body took up the entire back of the van while his upper torso was between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, taking in the sights of the city and people walking for the whole 2 hour drive up. There wasn't nearly as much complaining as she thought there would be; he mostly asked questions and pointed things out, one of the most common ones being was why the dogs had leashes on them.
"Well, that's because the dog is their pet and so they don't run into the street and get hit by a car or run off, so we humans normally keep them on leashes." Jackie explained.
"Oh look, that woman has a kid on a leash too? Does that means humans regard their young as pets? How proper." He miffed, not seeming disgusted but actually nostalgic for some reasons Jackie wasn't going to ask about.
"It's so they don't get lost in the crowd. Should I get you a leash too?" Jackie teased, testing her limits before glancing over at him as they came to a stop at a light.
"If it helps to keep my host at the distance I prefer, then I will put it on your neck instead." He countered with every bit of seriousness he could.
"Well, that's not going to happen." Jackie said as she pulled up to one of the pay-and-park lots near the shop outlets. Dumisa watched intently as she took a took a ticket from the machine and parked in the handicap spot before putting up a sign on the mirror and putting the ticket in the overhead.
"What was the ticket for?" He asked, baffled by the piece of paper the machine spit out. He knew humans relied much on the work of machines but he never realized just how many machines were all around humans at all times. It was mindboggling. No wonder the human race were growing so fat and lazy.
"To say I am parking here. I pay on the way out at the machine out front. I'll show you when we leave." Jackie said, parking and putting everything in her purse before hopping out. She walked to the back and opened the door, jumping out of the way fast as half of Dumisa's body spilled out and onto the hard rock. Surprisingly he wasn't as tangled up in himself as she thought he was as he fluidly turned around and raised himself up a little higher, looking around his new environment surprisingly cautiously. He squirmed a little bit, looking at the rest of his body moving over the pavement.
"Your roads feel strange on my scales." Dumisa admitted, slipping entirely out of the back as he stared at the hard ground. Jackie locked up the back of the van as he poked and dragged his claws over the pavement, seeming uneasy by it's texture.
"I guess they would compared to sand and grass. Do Lamia not make roads?" Jackie asked as she started heading for the outlets with Dumisa easily keeping pace.
"No, we do not. Most extraspecies don't force nature to do unnatural things for our own convenience. I suppose I've always admired humans for trying so hard to carve the very landscape to their selfish liking. I find it amusing." Dumisa admitted with a wry grin as they crossed the street into the outlet section.
"Yeah, well I guess we're all about convenience," Jackie admitted with a shrug, "well, what kind of clothes would you like? I think some nice button downs would look the best." Jackie said, glancing at the store fronts and trying to decide where to take him first.
"It's interesting how you think you know my preferences. Please, by all means, try to find something suitable to my taste, hm?" He said with a cocky grin and raised eyebrow as Jackie rolled her eyes and made a motion for him to follow.
"Yeah, yeah fine." Jackie sighed, looking at one all men's shop in particular. Those have some pretty good displays.
"A question, Ms. Host. Why did you choose this place over others? We drove past some rather interesting stores on the way here." Dumisa asked, in the mood to test his new host a little bit.
"I chose this place because it wouldn't be nearly as crowded and gives us a better chance to socialize." But the reason it's not crowded is because these stores are for the higher end people of New York but anything less than this and Dumisa might have thrown a temper tantrum.
"I see … so here I am free to speak to whomever I please? You won't get jealous?" He teased, casting his slitted eyes around the street in search of a victim.
"Well, more or less and it depends if they want to talk to you back. Let's go check out this store." Jackie suggested, heading up the stairs for the store before pausing. He's silent. That's not good why is he silent?
"Eek-!" Someone screamed, startling Jackie as she whipped around to see Dumisa having encircled three teens before leaning in and gently curling his finger under her jaw. The girl stiffened up with eyes widened as she looked him in the face before he gently smiled.
"Why do you scream in fright when you see me? Because when I see the three of you I find myself getting rather excited." Dumisa purred, sliding his tail around and up the girl's leg before gently squeezing.
"W-W-What-What are-," the tallest girl to the side stammered as Dumisa held both of the outer girls by the hips, massaging them through their short skirts.
… I knew he was bad but this bad?
"You tease me by wearing such attire. Are you trying to seduce me?" He asked, glancing at the two girls on the outer sides and finding them too flustered to speak before locking eyes with the one in the center. With a toothy grin he leaned in to the one in the center who was blushing the hardest. Jackie watched, completely in shock at his actions before noticing the number of people who stopped to watch the scene with a few of them pulling out cell phones. Wait, wait this could be bad, very, very bad!
"Your beating heart is rather alluring, young one. I suppose I could succumb and take you in but would the three of you be able to take me, I wonder?" He murmured into her ear in a low and seductive voice before flickering his tongue into her ear. The girl set a hand on her head as she fell back against the other two, taken out of commission through the steam almost visibly pumping out of her ears.
"Hey hey hey, Dumisa! Stop that, you're going to get us in trouble." Jackie growled, lightly grabbing his arm as the girls took the opportunity to escape. Those people were definitely calling for the police or someone that will give them trouble. Dumisa watched them go before letting out a disappointed sigh.
"You interrupted me, Ms. Host. I was socializing just as you suggested. Or were are you mad with jealousy?" He asked with a playfully raised eyebrow as sirens sounded from the distance, making Jackie's face pale. Five minutes, five minutes into taking him out for shopping and already the police were called. This sucked. Jackie opened her purse, making sure she had all the necessary paperwork for the 7th time before letting out a heavy sigh. This would be her first test dealing with the police concerning Dumisa. It was stressful.
"Oh? Are you sure that you can't join me tonight, miss?" Dumisa's voice interrupted her thoughts as she froze, "because I'm sure your boyfriend won't mind if I steal you away for only a single night."
"B-Bu-But I can't," the woman stammered with a blush back as Jackie turned around, finding Dumisa already at it again.
"Dumisa! Really?!" Jackie shouted as he turned towards her, flickering his tail back and forth.
"What's this? Jealousy?" He said with a grin as the woman ducked under his arm and made her escape, all the while giggling.
"You there! Stop right there!" An authoritative voice shouted, making Jackie jump before she looked back and saw a pair of officers heading their way. Ugh, and so it begins. Jackie whipped her hand out, catching Dumisa's wrist before he could make an escape again and go harass someone else.
"Hm? You're going to keep me all to yourself now? I knew humans were selfish but I never imagined they would be so possessive." He teased, leaning in and flickering his tongue and to tickle her cheek.
"Y-You're not allowed to go anywhere until we get this resolved." Jackie said in a firm voice, making sure to keep holding on to him while the police caught up to them.
"What are you doing with an Extraspecies, young lady? There are no hosts in this section of the city," one of the officers informed her with a suspicious voice, the second cop having a hand on his gun while Dumisa sat there with annoyance plastered on his face.
"I am a host, officer McCalin, and this is Dumisa. I drove here," Jackie said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out some paperwork before handing it to the officer. Her heart was racing a little bit, slightly scared but she knew she was in her legal right. They weren't allowed to kick her off the sidewalk for having Dumisa with her. Now if they mention the harassment that might be a different story so she hoped they wouldn't ask her that.
"So this officer is so low in the hierarchy that he wasn't even informed about the programs?" Dumisa said with a snarky smile and raised eyebrow as Jackie cast him a small side glance. If this prick is going to try and get her in trouble … well, she'd be in trouble because there's nothing she could do about it.
"Dumisa, come on, be nice." Jackie said, lightly squeezing his wrist as the officer glanced up at him but otherwise continued to read the proper documentation. His brow furrowed, seeming a little confused as he flipped through the pages. She wondered if this was his first time seeing a host on the streets.
"Papers seem to be in order but where is your permit card?" He asked, making Jackie's heart skip a beat.
"I-I don't have the card but I have the paper for it in the small packet. The card should be coming in the next week." Jackie honestly told him with some stumbling along the way. Officer McCalin stared at her for a few minutes before pulling out a small booklet labeled 'Hosts and Extraspecies' on it. Jackie let out a stiff sigh, getting comfortable where she was. She was right, this was their first time encountering a host and an Extraspecies. Since Extraspecies are so new most cops probably haven't even learned all the proper protocols just yet. Which she couldn't blame them; Extraspecies were rare as it is and to have one suddenly show up has to be a bit baffling.
"Its obvious this human doesn't even know procedures if he wasn't deemed important enough to even know about the contracts. I am bored, host. Let's continue elsewhere and if he has any problems he can contact Ms. Smith."
"You're not going anywhere, ma'am." The second officer, Officer Robert, said towards the snake before turning his gaze quickly to Jackie instead. Whoa boy~
"Officer it would be really great if we could get on with our day. Would you like to confirm all of this by contacting my coordinator?" Jackie asked, slipping out her phone and showing him the screen with Ms. Smith's face on it and her number. Both officers looked at one another, exchanging a quiet agreement before looking back at her.
"We might as well." Officer Robert said, taking the phone from Jackie and calling her. A familiar tone started up a ruckus as Jackie looked past the officers, seeing Ms. Smith already heading towards them with a venomous smile on her lips. Beside her was a startling sight; he was a large, bulky tiger Extraspecies who didn't seem concerned over the scene but more interested in the storefronts nearby showing off their great selection. The officer held the phone to his ear, oblivious to the approaching woman.
"Do so and let's see how white your skin can turn when you get chewed," Dumisa said with a snarky laugh, not seeming to have noticed Ms. Smith yet.
"Dumisa, come on stop trying to get us in trouble," Jackie said, not letting him pull his hand away.
"Why should I, host? It's these lowly, unimportant humans who are bothering us." Dumisa miffed as he rolled his eyes.
"Extraspecies or not I can and will arrest you if you continue to run your mouth like that." Officer Robert snapped at him. He sniffed at the threat before letting out a loud laugh, seeing Ms. Smith stepping up behind the officers.
"I dare you to try it. You'll be in violation of code blue in the 76th section." Ms. Smith said, walking through the officers and up to Jackie before she ended the call.
"Having trouble already, sweetie?" She asked with a surprisingly pleasant smile. For some reason the nice smile made Jackie suspicious. She's planning something.
"I expected it, really." Jackie admitted with a sheepish shrug before Ms. Smith smiled and turned to the officers.
"My name is Ms. Smith and you may tell your chief of police to call me directly if there are any concerns with an Extraspecies. As of right now, Dumisa has done nothing to cause police involvement and if he had, he would not be within your jurisdiction." She said, pulling out her business card and holding it out to the officers. Officer McCalin with Jackie's paperwork took the card as Ms. Smith slipped the paperwork from his hand and gave it back to Jackie. "Well now, seeing as business is settled now we will take our leave." She said as the tiger walked around them, making the second officer jump in surprise at the tiger's size as he walked over to Jackie.
"Uh, thank you for helping us out." Jackie said, grateful for her sudden appearance.
"Next time there is a problem just contact my office and we will take care of the rest." Ms. Smith said with a smile before glancing over at the tiger with a smile, "did you find a store you wanted to go look at, Jaska?"
"The bookstore. Otherwise, niet."
"That's no good, Jaska. You already have plenty of books where you're going and you need to get some good, clean clothes not those ratty shirts you have." She retorted, sounding like a lightly scolding mother.
"Read them all," he said, remaining serious and annoyed.
"I would suggest then to have a bonfire with them but I don't think your heart could take it." She lightly laughed before noticing Jackie's stares towards the tiger.
"Are you a host too, Ms. Smith?" Jackie asked, curious as Ms. Smith lightly laughed.
"Just a coordinator, I'm afraid. Jaska here needs some new clothes before I introduce him to his host tonight." She said with a smile.
"Yeah? And who is his host?" Jackie asked, having a chilling feeling that Jaska was going to be her next Extraspecies.
"Its under dispute now and I'll know by tonight. I have other business to take care of so ta ta." She said with a smile before turning to leave.
"Wait, wait you're just going to leave him here?" Jackie asked, puzzled as she looked up at the tall tiger and he looked down at her, seeming annoyed as his tail flickered around.
"No, I'm not. Go put your hosting abilities to use and get Jaska here some nice clothing. You still have plenty of leftover money from Dumisa, don't you?" She said with a wink before walking away.
"Wait, wait but he's not my- Jaska, wait where are you going? Hey! Ms. Smith, don't just-UGH!" Jackie shouted in exasperation. So, what she didn't feel like shopping with Jaska so she just dumped the tiger on her? Was she even allowed to do that? Of course she was, she's the freaking coordinator!
Jaska was already moving to the closest suit store which happened to be the most expensive too, "come, snake host. We finish clothe shop fast and then go to bookstore, da?"
He entered the store so casually Jackie couldn't help but think he's done this before he went straight to the counter. He then pointed to some clothes, "give 5 of each, different colors. Is for me, make adjustments," he looked at the Jackie, "she pay and we come back when we done in bookstore."
"Well hold on, then. I'm also here for clothes and they need to take your measurements, kitty cat." Dumisa reminded him with a snarky laugh before slithering into the store and using surprising precision to maneuver through the racks available as he looked over his choices with a smile.
"Well, a-alright then." The elderly man behind the counter said as he shuffled around and got out a small, old school string of tape measuring, "step over here and I'll take your measurements." He said in a slow voice, turning almost painfully slow before taking about ten seconds with each foot step. Jackie held back a laugh and light patted Jaska's furry and muscular arm as he looked at the slow elderly gentleman with impatience that was noticeable by the swinging of his long tail.
"Relax, relax Jaska. After this we can go to the bookstore or whatever," before making Ms. Smith reimburse her for everyone this tiger of hers buys, "take your time. Dumisa will probably be a while anyway." Jackie said as she turned before being blindsided by a massive pile of button down shirts. She staggered from the weight, looking up and seeing Dumisa's tail before it poked her nose.
"Hurry up, host. I want to try these strange shirts on." He said before his tail wrapped around her waist and, like a leash, dragged her over to the fitting room and away from Jaska as he slowly followed the old man into the corner of the store where they fit the suits.
"Dumisa, don't carry me like that!" Jackie complained as other customers looked at them with strange disdain and annoyance before Dumisa slipped his human half into the handicapped room. Jackie bulked as he pushed her through the curtains, taking the shirts from her and setting them aside before leaning towards her with a devious smile.
"Help me get dressed, host. I am unaccustomed to wearing such strange attire." He said with a wry smile before he leaned back and slowly peeled off his shirt. Jackie turned to flee but his bunched up body left no usable escape route for her. Stupid freaking snake.
"You ditching your duties host? I won't allow it," he dragged her by the waist with his tail, "now behold my beautiful self and serve me properly," he removed his clothes and then began showing off his chest muscles while using Jackie to hold the clothes he wanted to try on before looking at himself in the mirror. After what felt like hours of him trying everything on he tossed everything into a pile.
"What, are those all rejects?" Jackie sarcastically asked.
"Pay for these at the counter. I'll be sunning myself outside of the store." He said as he left the dressing room. Jackie stared at the pile in shock, staring at it before looking back at the curtain in annoyance. Stupid, vain and selfish. That's exactly what he is. And for some reason she had a feeling her next Extraspecies wouldn't have a much better temperament. She huffed and picked up all the clothes, staggering to the side before walking up to the counter and setting all the clothes down. Her lower back ached as she looked over to the fitting section, seeing Jaska trembling with the expression of cold blooded murder on his face as the man very, very slowly began measuring the height of his leg.
After paying for the clothes Jackie looked back over, seeing the man just reach the tip of Jaska's hip before excruciatingly slowly writing down the measurement in unreadable letters. Oh boy. Jackie took her bags and quickly left the store, finding Dumisa lounging on the sidewalk and soaking in the sun just like he said he'd do.
"Watch your things, Dumisa. I'll be back out in a bit."
"Take your time. The sun feels nice." Dumisa said with a toothy and serene smile despite the weird looks everyone was giving him.
"Yeah, you enjoy that sun. Just don't trip anyone." Jackie said as she quickly went back inside to find the man just finishing up writing the first or maybe second measurement down.
"You need anything, Jaska?" Jackie asked, seeing the man writing down more measurements.
"Make it able to stretch and watch out for tail. Use cool fabric." He said towards the elderly man, ignoring Jackie entirely.
"There we are, all done." He said, shakingly putting his pencil in his suit jacket and the notepad on the small stool. "Give me an address and I will send the suits to you unless you want to pick them up later?" He asked, looking to Jaska.
Jaska looked at Jackie coming in, "hey little gurl, give address to man."
"I don't see … yeah, yeah alright, fine." Jackie sighed, figuring since it's going to be on her credit card then her address would have to be on it to, "tell Ms. Smith to text me the address you want me to forward it to later." Jackie said, writing down her information for the man before going to the register to pay. Jaska walked past her and towards the door before Jackie grabbed his arm. "Hold on, Jaska. Wait for me I still need to pay and the bookstore is down a block or two." Jackie said as she swiped her credit card.
"Then find me in bookstore," he continued his pace in the direction where he really wanted to go, dragging Jackie along with him. Jackie narrowed her eyes before jumping in front of him, making him come to a stop. The fiery annoyance in his eyes flared as he growled lowly, making the other customers retreat a small ways.
"And you'll wait for me so I can pay for whatever books you want." Jackie promised, trying to make him hold still for at least a little longer.
"Ah, ma'am, your credit card." The older gentleman said as she reached back, taking it from him and still holding onto Jaska's arm as he reluctantly held still.
"Thanks."
"We will call you when the suits are on their way. Have a good day." He said with a wrinkly smile before Jaska literally picked Jackie right off her feet and carried her out the door with him now that the transaction was finished. Jackie looked over to Dumisa, finding him fast asleep on the sidewalk with some kids poking at his scales and giggling.
"Hey!" Jackie barked, making the kids jump before running away in a fit of laughter before Jaska set her down and growled.
"We now go to bookstore. Leave snake to sleep in sun." He said with a low snarl.
"Hold your horses, jeez!" Jackie huffed before walking over to Dumisa and shaking his shoulder to wake him. "Come on, you can sleep when we get home or some more in front of the bookstore but for now we need to get some books for Jaska and you."
"Books?" Dumisa grumbled as Jackie picked up his bags.
"Yeah, come on." Jackie said, looking back and finding Jaska already two blocks away. Honestly, can't he wait?! Jackie hurried after him as Dumisa sluggishly followed, taking his time as Jackie walked between them, keeping an eye on both of them until Jaska ducked into a nearby bookstore. Almost immediately 5 people left the store with a quickened pace before Jackie reached it, arms aching from carrying Dumisa's heavy bags. This is seriously ridiculous.
"You're such a slave driver, Ms. Host." Dumisa complained, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and nearly dragging her down to the ground with him before she slipped free, letting him lay on his clothing backs for a pillow before leaving him there.
"Don't go anywhere, Dumisa." Jackie ordered before slipping into the store and finding Jaska in the new arrivals section.
He grabbed a book and read the epilogue at the back or the preface at the front, then either left it aside or set if back in place. He did so with many books on various sections. Initially he had made some comments in some language that Jackie suspected was Russian from the deep accent and the earlier word 'niet'. He then merely kept choosing books in silence. It was taking him longer than what the old guy had taken for measuring him. However, Jackie clearly saw his excitement. His tail swayed aside and he looked like a big curious kitten with each new book he picked.
"I wouldn't peg you to be a big reader to be honest." Jackie said with a small laugh. She just couldn't see a guy this big sitting down and enjoying a book. But then she imagined a fireplace and a glass of wine in a fancy room surrounded by books. Huh, that scene was oddly fitting for him.
"Why that?" He barely paid her attention as he grabbed some mystery novel.
"I don't know, a big and bulky guy like you would more likely be at the gym or a sports game than here in a bookstore." Jackie lightly teased with a grin, glancing out the window and seeing Dumisa laying perfectly contently over his bags for a lazy nap.
"You judging book by cover? Typical human," he dismissed, "mind needs exercise more than body and I get plenty of exercise when working with Smith."
"Aren't you doing the same by calling me a 'typical human'?" Jackie countered with a smile before pausing, "you work with Ms. Smith? What do you do?" She asked, wondering what kind of exercising he could be doing at her office over than taking calls. At the which, imagining him in a tiny cubicle with a tiny desk and chair nearly made her lose in in laughter but she held it in.
He let out a small growl, "I read first pages. Humans don't. No comments."
"Well, I don't think you've read enough of my first pages to put me in the category of a 'typical human' yourself." She said with a faint smile, "where are you from? Your accent is different." Jackie said, wanting to guess Russia but wanting to hear it from him.
"I am Siberian tiger. Where you think I'm from?"
"I would have guessed somewhere from out there. What made you join the program?" She asked, finding talking with him interesting. It was never boring talking to an Extraspecies and it's interesting to know where they've been and what they've done before the program. In Dumisa's case she really didn't want to ask but she was curious about Jaska. Not to mention his accent was really nice to listen to.
"Uncouth to ask but not tell first. Personal stuff is personal, host." He said with a straight face and with a conversational ending tone. Jackie nervously nodded and looked elsewhere, pausing as she found a book on advanced engineering. She picked out the book and flipped through the pages, a little disappointed. She already knew all this stuff.
"Well, let me know when you're ready to purchase." Jackie said, putting the book back before heading over to the waiting section with small chairs.
About an hour later he walked over to her with a pile of books bigger and heavier than Dumisa's clothing load. Jackie felt her wallet softly cry as she swiped the card, not daring to look at the amount she owed before paying it off and leaving the store with him. Thankfully the owner gave him a big box to carry everything in so he didn't have to carry it all with him.
Jackie walked out by Dumisa and paused, looking around and trying to see where Ms. Smith was before calling her up.
"Hey, Ms. Smith, we're done shopping. Where do you want to pick Jaska up at?"
"Hm~ nowhere. I'm already four hours out. Mind watching him for me until I come by tonight with your new Extraspecies?" She lazily yawned.
"Did you just wake up from a nap? I thought you had business!" Jackie snapped at her.
"Very important business. Just, I don't know, just take him with you back to your apartment and hold on to him until tonight. Night." She said with a tired yawn before hanging up, leaving Jackie twitching in her seething annoyance.
How the hell was she supposed to fit them both into the car?
"Alright, we're here. Give me a minute to open the back." Jackie said, quickly jumping out of the driver's seat. Jackie was surprised that Jaska decided to sit in the back with Dumisa and leave his books in the passenger seat for the ride back to her apartment. Twice Jaska and Dumisa got into a fight that almost knocked the van right onto its side. She quickly unlatched the back of the van before diving to safety as Dumisa's body spilled out of the van. With a hard kick, Jaska emptied the car of Dumisa as he groaned, hissed in Jaska stepped out over his body and got his things from the back. "Dumisa, get your clothes and go put them in your room." Jackie said.
"Why, just I carry it? You are the host, and after forcing me to endure your horrible driving skills, carrying my stuff is the least you can do"
"It's your crap so you carry it." Jackie snapped back as she went up the wide twisting stairs and opened the door for both Jaska and Dumisa. Jaska bumped Jackie aside as he lumbered past her, almost making her snap at him before noticing his fur was in a wild disarray. And for some reason Jackie felt like Ms. Smith would blame her for his appearance like that. "Jaska, go sit in the living room. I'm going to brush you." Jackie said as she went over to her closet and pulled out a spare hair brush with the longer bristles. Her hair was a monster in the morning so she bought this for especially bad days.
Jaska growled with a raised eyebrow -"You wanna try petting the kitty? I need not."
"So the cat has his fur tangled? Serves him well. Too bad fur gets so messy unlike scales" Dumisa miffed with a sly smirk before slithering off to his room to arrange his clothing to his liking. Jackie rolled her eyes at his comment before stepping into the living room with the large brush.
"Sit down on the ground so I can start on your head and shoulders. Take off your shirt too; I'm sure it's worse underneath from the sweat." Jackie said, pushing the coffee table out of the way before sitting on the couch and waiting for her patient.
"Want to enjoy show? I no mere kitten." He said with a toothy grin.
"Show?" Jackie asked, baffled. Great, he's a flirt like Dumisa.
Jaska wryly smirked and locked eyes with her, unbuttoning his shirt and tossing it aside while sliding on the ground and leaving his broad back and shoulders to rest on the couch in a way that showed his very toned and muscular frame.
"There, now was that so hard?" Jackie teased, sliding her hand gently around to cup his jaw and tilt his head back before brushing the top of his head.
"You want hard? What you want hard?" Jaska stiffened for a second at the first touch of the brush and gave a warning growl. It was an interesting sensation and she was taking care of not pulling any tangles so it was soft and light and felt really nice on his thick fur. Jaska's tail flickered back and forth as the thin bristles combed through his thick fur, dredging up broken under fur with ease and without as much pain as he would have normally expected. Her brushes were brief and fast, getting the job done easily.
"You're purring." Jackie said with a soft laugh near his ear, gently rubbing his jaws as she brushed his neck and shoulders to a satisfyingly fluffy and groomed texture. She slid her fingers up his cheek and gently pinched his ear before gingerly rubbing the soft cartilage.
"You think I no bite?" He asked with a growl and slight smile while he raised eyebrow, amused with her forward nature and surprised that she had gotten him to purr.
"I doubt it," Jackie honestly said as she gently tugged on his ear while brushing his upper back, "besides, it's not every day I get to pet a tiger's ears."
"For good reason," he growled between his purrs that began to rev up. For one, there were not many big felines, no normal felines no extra species, and for second… bastet Extraspecies were too proud to allow humans to pet them like mere cats. If it weren't because Ms. Smith wanted him in the area he would push his temporary 'host' away … even if it felt so good … well, maybe after some minutes.
Without even noticing how, he slid down on the floor completely to allow her to pet him better.
"Flip onto your stomach, Jaska." Jackie said in a low voice, seeing the big kitty actually beginning to drift off to sleep. This was hilarious. He was acting like such a brute earlier but who know some simply brushing could reduce him to a pile of jelly.
Jaska rolled to lay on his stomach and accommodated himself so she could brush all his back.
Jackie stared at his broad back, interested in how his tail connecting to the base of his spine and sloped down, barely sweeping over the ground. She could see some scars running on his skin. With how he was acting earlier she wasn't surprised to see all the scars. And she would bet the opponent had worst ones now. She gently traced the scars with her two fingers, feeling his muscles tense up a bit before a very deep and low based purr thrummed through his chest and actually shook the floor a bit.
Jaska stretched once and then laid down again while enjoying the petting that he would deny felt so good, and ignoring that he was acting like a common cat or had put himself in such vulnerable position.
Jackie smiled and continued to brush out his fur until it was perfectly smooth without a ruffle in side, finishing up with his sides before setting the brush aside. She straddled his lower back, unable to resist any longer from the fluffiness that was right in front of her. She leaned forward, making sure not to sit her weight on him and keep the weight on her knees before combing her fingers down from his shoulder blades to his lower back, scratching his back with her nails. Jaska purred so hard while melting under her hands that Jackie felt the vibration through the floor.
"You've got nice thick fur, Jaska," Jackie commented, enjoying herself as she pet down his neck and between his shoulder blades in an almost massaging manner. Jackie gently rubbed a little more firmly before sliding her hands over his head and neck, gently combing her fingers through his fur as he curved his spine towards her petting with his tail whipping back and forth in a methodical manner.
Very soon, he fell asleep under the attention. Jackie smiled and slowly leaned over him, unable to resist. Ah~ she was so weak. Jackie laid on his thickly muscled back, feeling him twitch slightly but not make her get off. She rubbed her face in his fur a little bit, smelling his cologne and closing her eyes for a little bit. This was amazingly comfortable.
Jackie stood up to leave but then hesitated and continued petting him because who knew if he would ever be around again. So she sat back, taking advantage of the sleeping Jaska and continued to tussle his fur around between her fingers. After about twenty minutes, while still 'sleeping' Jaska grabbed her by the waist into a hug and pulled her down to cuddle in a needy way. Jackie froze, waiting for him to scold her but the only noise he made with the soft purring deep in his chest while he held her against his uncomfortably hot body.
Turns out big bad Jaska is a snuggler. Jackie tried to crawl away but he hugged her tighter almost strangled her before rolling over her and almost crushed her to death with his weight. Jackie grabbed a fistful of his fur and pulled on it, trying to wake him and make him get off. Thankfully he rolled onto his side, continuing to deeply purr while hugging her to his chest.
Note to self … NEVER cuddle with a sleeping tiger. They move too much.
"My my, it seems that Jaska's fur got finally brushed and to a satisfactory degree," Ms. Smith said, coming through the door uninvited and without a care, "it's surprising that he didn't bite your hand off, Jackie. He normally doesn't let anyone touch him."
"Please get him off. He's crushing me." Jackie pleaded in her last wheeze of an exhale as Jaska get his grip tight and unrelenting. If this continued he was going to snap her spine. She needed her spine.
"You heard your new host, Jaska. It's not good if you snap your host in half the first night." Ms. Smith said with a calm and dangerous smile before stomping hard on his tail.
Jaska let out a deep growl and opened his eyes orange to see the situation. When he saw it was Ms. Smith, he stopped the growling and lessened his hold but didn't let go completely because he didn't realize that he was hugging the host and not a strangely firm pillow, "you interrupted nap, Smith. Mission, da?" He said while yawning loudly and inadvertently show his fangs too close to Jackie's head. Holy crap.
" … Ms. Smith please stop antagonizing him. You're not the one in his claws." Jackie pleaded with a pale face.
Her voice finished waking the tiger up and he not only let go of her, but pushed her aside and stood up, the embarrassment of having being found cuddling like a kitten too fresh on his recently brushed skin. Jackie stretched on the ground with a small groan, rubbing her aching back as she rolled up to sit.
"So, Ms. Smith, where's my new Extraspecies?" Jackie asked, looking up and around but didn't see anyone else.
"You already cuddled with him," Ms. Smith pointed out, gesturing to him, "this is Jaska Jeloudov, a Siberian Tiger originally from Russia. He is a special case Extraspecies so I will be coming to pick him up on a moment's notice from time to time."
"So, Jaska is the new guy? I didn't expect that." Jackie said, surprised before turning to him, "nice to meet you, new guy." She playfully grinned. Jaska raised an eyebrow, surprised somewhat too and then barely nodded at the coordinator.
"Mission still on?" He asked, piping Jackie's interest. It's the second time he said mission. What does that mean?
"Mission?" Jackie repeated, puzzled as she looked at Ms. Smith for an answer.
"Not your business, host. You know what you need to," Ms. Smith readjusted her glasses, "In fact I'm taking him tomorrow morning and will bring him back in a few days or weeks. This is one of the few times you'll know in advance so be grateful."
"Alright, well, I won't ask about it then." Jackie said with a shrug but still very curious about what 'mission' they were talking about.
"Good. Now I'll be going and return early in the morning for Jaska. Your next extraspecies will come soon, possibly before Jaska comes back," with that she turned around.
"A third one so soon?" Jackie asked, startled by the surprising information.
"We'll meet again soon." She said with a wry smile before letting herself out of the door.
Jackie got up to try and leave but Jaska grabbed her before she could. She stopped, looking back at him in confusion. "What? Something wrong?" She asked, puzzled.
Not moving from the floor or letting her go, he simply handed her the brush, "Smith messed tail fur. Fix it."
The next chapter will be out soon after this chapter gets 10 REVIEWS. Also, as a word of warning; the manga this is based on is pretty Ecchi and this will be toned down compared to the original for a few reasons. Either way, enjoy the series!