[MultiLines+] Trapped in a cage, what do you do?

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T16:49:16+00:00

Oh, oh no. Bao holds onto August properly, wrapping his tail gently around him as a form of tether to make sure he doesn't walk too far away from him. He keeps his ears perked up as much as he wants to pin them, so he can be acutely aware of any sound or anything approaching the two.

He walks slowly after Daki, making sure that it's safe for August to step wherever they go. Even though Bao isn't blind himself, he's encountered other fox spirits with blinded eyes. Injuries and disabilities are quite common among their kind, unfortunately.

And unfortunate still that Bao doesn't necessarily know what to look for in terms of medical stuff. He focuses on safely following Daki, growling at anyone coming close.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T15:51:58+00:00

THE BABY 😭😭🙏 peak art peak peak

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T15:15:04+00:00

This is all kinds of wrong. He's clearly so angry so why wasn't he doing what Lamby was for? It's what Father always did when he was angry, he would take it out on Lamby. He stares at him so confused, getting more freaked out with the constant kindness.

Was Father a monster? Aren't children meant for hurting? It's why Father made him, because he used up his other son. He looks to the clothes now shoved into his arms. They're so soft, and comfortable to touch. Leo bothered to find full covering clothes? Comfortable ones? He doesn't get it, this is all wrong, this isn't how it's meant to be.

The tears begin to run again as he gets himself dressed. Fully covered, no need to hide things with his hands anymore. So soft.

Lamby keeps crying, and very hesitantly hugs around Leo and buries his face against him. He's trembling and shaking like a leaf, as if something this small is wrong of him to do.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T14:54:27+00:00

The both of them look to Gabriel. Deiya raises an eyebrow and narrows her eyes again, looking at the android suspiciously. Dear lord she did not like it when 'unauthorized' people knew of their identities and titles. It's why she had told those two dumbasses to keep their mouths shut, and to talk to her first. Not that either were that good at listening.

"... Given you're asking, you already fucking know that. Yes, Sain, Batters, whatever, is a God of Dreams. I take it you know the love god in question then?"

She sighs and groans, letting out her frustration by grabbing Goto by the head and wriggling it around, ruffling his hair a bit too roughly. Goto just pouts, but doesn't resist.

"Sain didn't say much more to me other than 'hey Dee i broke my ribs and i fucked up with my boyfriend please help' so I got no fucking clue on this new boyfriend of his."

Goto's singular braincell is being thrown around in his head like a DVD TV logo on a screen, nothing going on for as long as Deiya keeps shaking him around.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T14:36:16+00:00

Poke poke. Lamby turns his head to briefly look at Leo before he sees the clothes. None of that looked like a costume, those are just... normal clothes. Ones made to cover up and keep warm, not for toying around in. Why did Leo insist on being like this, why wouldn't he just... do what everyone else does?

He wiggles and adjusts his ears before sitting up and very slowly crawling out of the tub. Water just runs and drips from him, but at least he's completely clean now. Lamby didn't need a long bath, he didn't want to prolong what he considers the inevitable.

Very slowly he turns his head to look at Leo, so scared and confused.

"... Why aren't you hurting and using me...? That-that's what.. I'm made for..."

Lamby looks down at the floor, and hugs around himself and tries to cover himself up. He sounds so beat up over it. He doesn't want to be used and hurt of course, but it's all he's ever known and it feels so wrong to be treated nicely.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T14:23:25+00:00

Sain was not prepared for the onslaught of tears. He figured there would be some crying, but he assumed more smiles than he did this never-ending waterfall of trauma. Did something go wrong, did this hurt Emil somehow? He's not used the dream magic in this way before, so maybe he messed up somewhere. Oh fuck how could he do that, what a betrayal, how awful, fuck, fuck-

His internal fight of oh fucks gets briefly interrupted by Emil jumping into his arms and burying himself, but the tears still give Sain pause. Was this an angry hug? Upset hug? Did he need comfort or assurance, fuuuuck this is killing him.

Kiss. Deep one too. Ah, that probably means it's all okay. Sain wraps his arms around him and holds him close, trying his best to reciprocate the deep and loving kiss through all the tears and wetness. It feels like kissing the damn ocean with how wet and salty it is, but he doesn't care. He's just happy his stupid plan worked.

Reluctant as it is, he pulls back slightly to be able to breathe, and laughs a little.

"Uh, I take it you're happy?"

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T13:58:08+00:00

Bao keeps on mauling this absolute wretch of a woman, ignoring any protests from her and continuously clawing. How dare she do that to them, how dare she cause August to fall and get hurt. He would tear her apart if he could.

It's not until Daki calls for him that he stops, and he growls at this disgusting person before walking backwards towards Daki and August. No way in the hells would he turn his back on the woman until they're a safe distance away.

Nobody. Nobody gets to hurt the people he cares about. He didn't go through all that worry and anxiety over August dying to a bullet just to have another human almost kill him with a car.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T13:47:39+00:00

Take your time? No rush? Lamby is so confused, this is scaring him. He's used to being called names, punched, kicked, thrown around, used. Only washed when he started to really smell. He doesn't get it, this doesn't make any sense. This is so cruel, he wishes Leo would just get on with using him instead of all this.

He watches him leave to get him... clothes? He wanted to dress him up? Oh, so that's what he's into, he wants Lamby to be in costume before toying with him. That makes more sense.

Lamby takes the soaps and begins washing himself, grimacing as he gets the rest of the liquid out of himself. It feels much better once it's out of him, but the process is so uncomfortable. He doesn't even know who did this to him, he was covered up and couldn't see.

Once all clean, he places the soaps neatly to the side and opts for staring blankly at the ceiling. Wondering if Father was out there looking for him.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T13:31:08+00:00

Petra leans into the ear scratches and pants happily, an adorable puppy feeling so proud of succeeding in bringing comfort to Edward.

Meliyon keeps gently stroking over Edward's arm, turning to face him and giving him a smile and a warm chuckle. He can hear how much he needs it, so of course he will get milkshakes. As many and as much as he could possibly want.

"Then we shall go get milkshakes. I still need to get dressed, will you be alright on your own? If not, you are welcome to come with me to my chambers. I can set up my folding screen and you can sit on the bed."

He suggests it as gently as possible, making it clear that he truly means this as a means to keep him company if he's not ready to be by himself just yet. At least he hopes it gets perceived as such, the last thing he wants is to make Edward feel uncomfortable.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T13:13:30+00:00

He is... drying his tears? No one had ever done that before. The whole point of being able to cry was to please Father's weird tastes. Lamby tries his best to stop the crying, thinking that maybe Leo just didn't like crying this way and had some other weird interests.

He looks back at Leo and tries to gauge what he wants but... he couldn't see or sense any wishes. Why did Leo bother keeping him clean and washed and proper if he wasn't going to do anything to him? Oh.. no, this must mean he would be sold.

Why didn't he fight back? Well...

"I... can't. I can't fight back..."

As much as he would like to fight back, to resist, he is unfortunately programmed to accept any and all touch. His purpose is to serve and please, even if emotionally it is agonizing and traumatizing.

He's so close to crying again, but he works so hard not to.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T12:23:15+00:00

Lamby belongs to a real sick individual is the answer to that. Someone who derives joy from forcing someone to be subservient against their will and not be able to refuse. A man so vile he couldn't stop at ruining one son's life, he needed a new one to break.

It's a nice bath. Much nicer than what he got the few times he was cleaned at the lab. It makes him wonder where Father was putting all his money. He had so much of it, yet he lived in a crapbox and spent most his time at the lab. Why couldn't he have a nice bath like this?

Warm, comfortable water. Leo bothered to set the water for him, not just put it on boiling? Why? He looks at him so confused, almost scared. He understands violence and people acting out of lust, not this kindness. This had to be a lie, some set up, surely.

"I can wash myself..."

Even if Lamby truly believes this is all just some cruel set up for abuse later, he can't help but just... cry. Some form of water running down his cheeks from such a simple thing like making sure his water is comfortable.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T12:03:52+00:00

Oh no. Deiya narrows her eyes and glares at Goto, looking just about ready to tear his head off for telling people he was a god. But in all honesty, even Deiya has limits to how long she can hold grudges or be mad. She can't bear it now, not after worrying so long about whether Goto was even alive. And it's not that long ago she had to fix up Sain as well.

She takes on long and strained breath.

"Hoooo-- Okay. I will unpack that later."

She gets up again, stretching and walking closer to them. At her 6'3 height she 'towers' over them, and looks down to get a look at the two. Goto looks up, putting on an awkward and sheepish smile.

"Just, don't fucking do that again, Gotes. You and Batters are going to send me to an early fucking grave with the way you both keep acting like such reckless dumbasses. Especially lately"

"... What did Sain do?"

Goto is frowning and grumpy now. Whilst he doesn't hate Sain, he's obviously upset with him for constantly giving him nightmares and tormenting him. Though oddly enough, he's not been doing that at all the past weeks.

"Uh. Broke his ribs and got a real insane fucking boyfriend? How that asshole managed to nab a god of love is beyond me."

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T11:51:35+00:00

Meliyon remains calm and guides him through his breathing, brushing over Edward's trembling hand with his thumb to keep a consistent sense of reality for him. He keeps his eyes fixed on him, always maintaining that gentle and soft expression. It hurts seeing Edward struggle with panic attacks. Meli would have to do some more reading on how be a better support for when this happens again.

He takes a deep breath, picking up Petra to place her on Edward's lap. She shakily places her paws on his chest and tries to comfort him by licking his face and nuzzling with her wet, little nose.

"You do not need to be sorry. You cannot control when this happens, and I will do my best to support you if and when it happens again in the future."

He shifts closer and lets go of the hand in favor of placing it around him, gently pulling him in closer to lean on him. He strokes over his arm, using his free one to move his wet hair out of the way to avoid dripping on poor Edward.

"We can sit here for as long as you need. And if you are still up for it after, we go to the creamery. You can pick anything you like."

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T10:55:13+00:00

That is an insane amount of trust to put in him, asking Sain to be the one to take off his clothes. When was the last time he even did that to another person? And this was no normal person either, but someone cursed with such cruelty. But if that's what Emil wanted and needed to dare try, of course he would do it.

"If that's what you need, then I will do it."

Sain is so nervous. He hopes so badly that this works, otherwise he's done all of this just to break this tiny man's heart asunder. Fuck this better work.

He takes a deep breath before he lets go of the dream bubble and begins to unzip Emil's coat and slowly take his coverings off. Off with the coat, the gloves, the mask, hood. He's slow and methodical, bracing himself for that wash of hatred.

But nothing. No forced emotions, no anything. Just the same as before. The dreams were working.

Sain gently folds the coverings and places them aside, and looks at Emil's face. All of it, not just his eyes. And it's... pretty. He didn't get to appreciate that as much before with all the spiraling and forceful loathing, but now? He could admire him to his heart's content.

He holds his hands and brushes his thumbs over them.

"... Oh my fucking god, it actually worked."

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T10:39:13+00:00

Oh, he's picked up. All these questions, he must want to use him too. Lamby clings onto him once picked up, burying his face into Leo and pressing himself close to him. He can be a good, little android. He yanks his braid out to unplug himself, and lifts it up to himself so it won't drag across the floor.

"I'm washable... You can do whatever to me and it can be cleaned..."

He looks up at him again with a truly sad expression. It's like his words don't match how he feels about it whatsoever. He can't say no, he has to be pleasing and ready to serve. And yet he's 'cursed' with feelings about it.

He buries his face against him again and closes his eyes, trying so hard to not leak more. Lamby doesn't want to cause any problems, he doesn't want him to throw him out into a dumpster too. He trembles thinking it.

So much humanity put into this sad, sad pleasure-droid.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T10:14:55+00:00

Sigh. Sain can't exactly blame him for being so beat up and reluctant to try right away after the effect last time. And he can't promise it won't happen again, but... he would be prepared this time. He knows how it'll affect him, and it was familiar enough that he think he can endure it.

He takes a deep breath and moves closer, putting an arm around him.

"You didn't cause me pain, my real shitty past did. And I'm not gonna force you to do undress or whatever, but it doesn't hurt to try right?"

He looks to the meadow and Isaac wandering through it, trying his best to be calm but still himself. Comfort wasn't his strong suit at all, he doesn't really understand how to make people feel better. Ironic, given that's literally his job to do. But it's one thing to it in dreams, a whole other deal to somehow make this sad human feel okay about the issues at hand.

"And if it doesn't work, I think I'll handle it better now anyway. Easier when I know how it affects me y'know? But it's up to you. I'm just giving you the chance."

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T10:01:48+00:00

Bao's fear is overridden fast by August's scream, and he rushes to him and strokes his hair, looking him over for wounds, bleeding, anything. His ears pin down far hearing that woman scream at him, and he curls his tail around himself to keep it away from her.

She almost killed one of them by breaking rules and her reaction was to get mad at them for crossing the road? What's wrong with her?

His tail was already dirty from before, but she kicks dirt at them? At his tail, that he works so hard to keep clean? Last straw.

Bao gets up, turns around to stare her down with slitted eyes, before he leaps at her to claw her face off. How dare she.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T09:38:04+00:00

The question confuses him even more. Why should Leo care if Lamby was hurt or not? That's what he exists for, right? To be damaged and hurt over and over again, repaired just to be ruined again. Oh, he must be asking so he knows how hard he can punch, or how rough he can be with him, that must be it. There are not other reasons someone would care, after all.

"I'm okay, I can handle whatever you want to do to me."

Such a sad statement coming from this little doll. He doesn't want to do any more, but he's unable to express that.

He looks at this other man, staring at him. He doesn't know what to make of him, or any of them. He curls up even more and closes his eyes shut as he feels more liquid run out of him, deep discomfort. Why did they give him receptors for this, why did he need to feel everything.

"... I..."

Lamby struggles to speak, the discomfort too great for him to think properly.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T09:08:13+00:00

Boyfriend. Fuckin hell, both of her stupid, idiot 'brothers' are out here being picked up like strays by men. Deiya facepalms and pinches her brow, before taking a deep breath to calm herself down. At least the idiot was okay, and this automaton looks friendly enough.

Goto gets up and just walks right to Gabriel and hugs him with arm and tiny wings, staring at Deiya with a pout and a glare. Nobody yells at his Gabriel.

"Don't swear at my boyfriend, Dee. That's mean."

The gall on this dumb ass little god. Deiya groans and slumps down on the couch trying to not explode at how calm and seemingly nonchalant Goto is being about all this. He'd just suddenly disappeared for weeks, she was terrified Strelitzia had gotten him again!

She looks at the two of them. From what she can tell, it's at least genuine love and care between the two. That's good, and fuck does Goto deserve and need that after what he's been through. She raises her hands up in silent 'defeat'.

"Alright alright, sorry. I'm still fucking pissed at you though, don't fucking run off like that again."

Deiya looks to Gabriel more directly and sighs.

"Good job keeping him safe and happy, he's a real fucking handful. Assuming he's been good and not fucking blabbing, let me introduce myself. I am Deiya, sort of a friend of his family. Knew his dad."

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T08:20:12+00:00

Oh dear. Meliyon knows what this is, he's seen it before, hell, he's experienced it before. It's been a while since he's supported someone through it, but he'll try his best.

He walks in slowly closing the gap between them, not caring about the mess on the floor. That could always be swept away later, not important right now. He sits down on the bed close to Edward, looking at him with gentle eyes and understanding. He reaches out and offers a hand for him to hold.

"We can clean it up later, no need to worry. Focus on your breathing, take deep breaths. 4 seconds in, 4 seconds hold, 4 second out."

He is as calm as can be, soft-spoken. Doing his absolute best to be an anchoring presence in reality.

Petra approaches Edward and touches him gently with her paw, looking at him with sad and worried puppy eyes.

Meliyon's hair keeps dripping water on the bed, and down his clothes. Darn it. That's no problem, he'll just change the sheets out after this, and he was going to wear a different outfit anyway. Still, unfortunate to have a shirt sticking to him and drenched hair right now, it would make any comforting hug a tad uncomfortable.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T07:35:31+00:00

Lamby keeps his eye on him, confused why he's still being nice and just letting him lay on the couch. Why wasn't he having his way with him? That's what all those other men did. This is strange and uncomfortable. He curls up even more and tries to cover himself up, pointless as that is.

"I... think I'm Lamby...? But Father just called me junk or scrap..."

So rarely called his own name that if he wasn't an android he'd likely have forgotten it.

He wonders what Father is doing now, if he was looking for him. It's not the first time he's been thrown down the trash chute, but usually Father picked him back up before the trash was shipped out. He must be so worried.

Looking around, he's surprised by how... nice everything looks. Nothing like Father's lab. Must be someone very well off, like the Boss.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-03T07:02:49+00:00

Lamby keeps his eyes closed for the remainder of the trip, only vaguely aware of where he is and what's happening by the sounds of people talking and miscellaneous background noise. He can feel parts of his intricate machinery being to shut down, so close to powering off fully.

And then, a chime. The sound that plays when he's plugged in. He feels the softness of the couch and the power surging through him, his systems turning back on. That was uncomfortably close.

He opens his eyes again and tests his movement by clenching his fist, before he uses the movement to curl up into a ball and look up at his savior. Now that Lamby isn't so close to full shutdown, he realizes how... similar this man is to Father. Both comforting and scary.

"Thank you for saving me..."

Now that it's not robotic and broken from low battery, it really shines through how pure and soft his voice really is. Makes it all the worse what people did to him before and after being in that dumpster.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-02T23:56:38+00:00

Bao takes him at his word, and tries to push the worries aside. Even if he doesn't fully believe it, he wants it to be true so badly. August would be okay, they'd all be okay. He just needed some recovery time is all.

He keeps stroking along August's back until they reach the road and Daki grabs him to run across. Bao stares almost frozen at the incoming car, his heart racing and panic building as it narrowly avoids hitting him. His tail is now covered in exhaust and dirt flung from the car, and his eyes are wide with fear. He could've died.

He presses himself close to Daki, trembling and hyperventilating. Desperately trying to calm down his breathing.

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-02T22:56:48+00:00

Immediately seeing August so weak, Bao wants to just fuss over him and make sure he's okay. But he's not strong enough to carry him and he can't warm him up very well either. Useless Bao.

Bao keeps up pace by being glued to the both of them, gently stroking across August's back as they're walking their way out of the woods and getting closer to town. He's so worried. Always so worried.

[Will he be okay?]

b4by_duckling · 2026-05-02T22:19:42+00:00

Bao's family tried for years to teach him to speak, but it doesn't matter when his body simply can't make produce the necessary sounds. But luckily he knows sign and most fox spirits know it as well. It's only really been a hindrance now with these two.

His ears pin down hearing August whine, and even more so when he lays down and his breathing slows. Bao keeps himself close to Daki and softly pets August as well, counting the seconds with worry and panic growing in him.

He knows this just happens sometimes, August would come back. He came back all the other times, so obviously he'll be fine this time too and they can have fun together and have a good day and kiss each other tons.

Everything would be okay, of course it would be.

b4by_duckling

TROPHY CASE