A Littermate's Burden

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in!” 

Haruspex pushed open the heavy wooden door to Mercy’s private office, closing it softly behind him as the nun looked up from their paperwork. “Oh, Father Haruspex, hello.” 

Haruspex returned their soft smile. “Forgive me for interrupting, Mercy. I was wondering if Angora had perhaps dropped off invitations to her gala, meant for buns of the Church?” At Mercy’s raised eyebrow, he continued. “I’ve been told there are rumours circulating of such invitations… In fact, my littermate has, ah, accidentally volunteered me to take one of his friends as my ‘plus one’.”

“Is that so?” Mercy chuckled softly. “Well, I was going to start asking around as soon as I was done with this - “ they tapped the documents on the desk in front of them with the end of their pen - “but yes, they do exist, and yes, you may have one.” They reached into a drawer of their desk and held out a gilded envelope, addressed simply to The Church of Sulfur.

“Thank you, Mercy.” Haruspex took it, nodded his goodbye, and left Mercy’s office, returning to his own. He pulled out his cell phone and sent a message to Kyril, informing his littermate that he was, in fact, able to obtain an invitation.

< Thanks Haru, I would’ve never heard the end of it if he couldn’t go. >

The two Pride buns discussed logistics for a few minutes, then Haruspex got back to work. 

~

The week had gone by slowly. Some of the others at the Church guessed that everybun was too busy preparing for the gala in their various ways, and those ways didn’t involve making time to worship. Regardless, the end of the week was here, and Haruspex was currently in a rented car, on his way to pick up his littermate’s friend.

The car pulled up outside the address Kyril had given him, an unassuming two-story brownstone home that appeared to have a small fenced-off backyard. Standing in front of the house was, according to Kyril’s description, the Lust bun he was to call ‘Reverie’. He was wearing a fluffy sleeveless dress that showed off the Gilding on his hands and forearms, as well as a pair of pink heeled boots that - Haruspex realized as the doll looked up towards the car - matched his abnormally bright pupils. 

Reverie smiled and got into the car before Haruspex thought he should get out to open the door for his guest. “Hi, Haruspex, right?” 

“That is correct. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Reverie.” While nowhere near his own ‘type’, Reverie was quite attractive in his own way. Smooth skin, soft pink hair, intricately shaped Gilding on his horns, ears, and tail… “You look lovely.” 

“Oh, thank you!” Reverie looked embarrassed. “Sorry, I assumed you were blind.” 

Haruspex shook his head, not at all offended by the Lust doll’s assumption. “No, these wraps are for aesthetic reasons of my own.” 

Reverie raised an eyebrow, the question clear in the other bun’s face; more specifically, in the bright pink of those heart-shaped pupils.

“Ah, I’ve got nothing against the Evil Eyes trait, nor do I have it myself. I simply…” 

Reverie took advantage of Haruspex’s hesitation, waving off his attempt to start an explanation. “You don’t need to tell me. All that matters is we’re gonna have fun tonight, right?” 

Haruspex smiled in relief, nodding gently. He was going through a list of possible small talk options in his head when the Lust spoke again. 

“So… how did you meet Kyril?” There was a touch of guard in his tone; did Kyril realize how possessive Reverie was over him? 

“We’re littermates.” 

“Oh, really? Kyril never talks about his kit-hood. I was raised by Murmur, so technically I have a ton of littermates, but these are my favourites.” Reverie pulled his phone out of a pocket in his dress and began showing Haruspex a veritable slideshow of two Gluttony buns, one yellow and one midnight blue. “Manis and Mosaic. I live with Mose, Manis runs a meadery, and -” 

Haruspex encouraged Reverie’s idle chatter - not that the Lust needed much encouragement - for the remainder of the car ride. 

~ 

Haruspex opened the car door and held his arm out to Reverie, who took it gracefully and let the Pride help him out of the car. Reverie stayed close to his side as Haruspex pulled out the invitation that Mercy had given him, and presented it to the bouncer. 

“Did he call you ‘Father’ Haruspex?” Reverie looked up at him, seeming to give him another once-over. “Kyril never told me you were a priest.” 

“Is that alright?” Haruspex asked with mild concern, taking a champagne flute as it was handed to him and watching as Reverie did as well. 

“What? Yeah, obviously.” Reverie took a sip of the champagne and smiled, tail curling happily as he looked out into the ballroom. He took in their surroundings silently before turning to Haruspex again. “Thank you for bringing me here, Father. It’s everything I imagined.” 

“Please, Haruspex is fine.” Haruspex took a small sip of his own champagne - for politeness more than anything, as he generally preferred not to have alcohol - and gestured out at all the gala had to offer. “What are you going to do first?” 

“Don’t you mean we?” 

“Only if you’d like me to stay by your side. I’m not terribly fond of large social events like this; I wouldn’t have come if Kyril hadn’t asked me to bring you here.” 

Reverie stared at him for a moment in disbelief, then grinned widely. “Well, if the kind and handsome Father Haruspex wants me to have fun, who am I to say no?” The Lust lowered into a playful almost-curtsy before disappearing into the crowd.

Haruspex had barely settled himself against a nearby wall before he was approached by a familiar Gluttony doll, red Smoke emanating from their body as black Spirit Motes watched silently. Durendal grinned as he raised an eyebrow at Haruspex. “Well, well, look what we have here. Is that a familiar face I see?” 

“Hello Durendal, it’s nice to see you. Mercy gave you an invitation as well?” 

“Yeah, and I plan to make full use of it. Come dance with me.” 

“Oh, I -” 

Durendal didn’t give him any room to protest, instead deftly relieving him of his nearly full champagne flute, downing the rest of the drink himself before abandoning the glass with a wandering server, and tugging Haruspex towards the dance floor. 

“Durendal -” 

“Shush. If I knew all it took for you to get out and have fun was a big party, I would've thrown you one myself.” The Gluttony doll pulled him close, the smell of his incense-tinged Smoke nearly intoxicating. “Now, it’d be blasphemy to refuse a direct request from a priest, wouldn’t it?” 

Haruspex sighed softly. Not at Durendal in particular, but at the general situation. Regardless… Haruspex enjoyed himself, letting the other priest guide him through the steps. When the song was over, Durendal finally released him.

“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Durendal chuckled. “I’ll leave you alone for now; come and find me if that little Lust you brought doesn’t make his way back for a bit though, alright?” 

Durendal waved with a smirk as he left, calling out to another bun he recognized amongst the party goers. 

Haruspex wasn’t sure how long he was alone, drifting back and forth between snack tables like a Spirit Mote that had become unattached from its bun. Eventually, a familiar pink and gold Lust came bounding over. 

“Haruuuuuu ~” Reverie was clearly tipsy, likely more. His lipstick was smeared, his eyes bright as he latched himself onto Haruspex’s arm. “Come daaaaaance with me ~” 

“Reverie, I -” Haruspex startled as he felt the other doll’s tail intertwine with his own, and the warmth of his body pressing more against his side. “Let's go outside for a moment.” 

“Oh, taking me somewhere private?” 

“Just getting you some fresh air.” 

“Aw c'moooon Haru, I've already fucked the other two, might as well complete the trifecta ~” 

Haruspex gently guided the Lust doll out of the gala, nodding in thanks as the bouncer held the door open for him. “Reverie, can you walk?” 

“I'll do anything you want me to, Father. Should I get on my knees?” Reverie moved to do so, pouting as Haruspex stopped him. 

Haruspex wasn't entirely sure what time it was, but he hoped it was late enough that Kyril would be on his way back from work. Luckily, his littermate's apartment was much closer to the venue than Reverie's own home; Haruspex figured the walk would help sober up the Lust currently staring up at him. 

“Are your nipples pierced?” Reverie sounded nearly in awe. “Does Oleander like them as much as he likes my piercings?” His mouth opened, and Haruspex learned that Reverie had the Devil’s Tongue trait as well, the foot-long organ pierced no less than four times with golden jewelry. 

Knowing Oleander, Haruspex could immediately piece together what Reverie was implying. “I imagine your tongue can do a lot more than my nipples can… Regardless, I’ve never had sexual relations with Oleander.”

“Never? Then what do you do at the Church all day - Is that Kyril?” 

And so it was, thank Sulfur. The dark blue Pride seemed to spot them at the same time Reverie pointed him out, stopping in his tracks mid-stride. Reverie detached himself from Haruspex and beelined over to his friend, all but whining until Kyril bent down to kiss him. As Kyril straightened, he made eye contact with Haruspex - a skill only he and their other littermate, Feleli, had ever been able to master, being most accustomed to Haruspex’s eye wraps. Haruspex gestured in mild exasperation at Reverie and Kyril rolled his eyes, but his affection for the Lust was clear beneath their yellow Glow. 

“Alright Ari, let’s get you home.” 

“Don’t wanna go home, wanna come back with you and fu-” 

“Okay, okay, fine. At least say thanks to Haruspex before we go.” 

Reverie turned, looking at Haruspex as if he forgot the priest was there. “Thank you! I had lots of fun ~” Then he was back to pulling at Kyril, clearly eager to get to the other bun’s apartment. 

Kyril nodded his thanks to Haruspex as well, and the pair left; but not before Haruspex saw Kyril’s soft smile as he murmured something to Reverie. 

Haruspex contemplated going back to the gala; he could send a message to Durendal to come vouch for his entry if the bouncers had changed while he was gone… But his body turned and began to take him in the direction of his own home, where a different bun would be awaiting his return. 

The gala was beautiful, but Haruspex would always prefer a quiet night with a loved one.