NT veRse - Immovable vs unstoppable 5 - Unfilial Son (Patreon)

“What have you done to me?” Sam asked, shaking. It was jarring just existing in the new body as each sound felt amplified within his Beastfolk ears, making even Serius shifting on his bed somewhat grating. The addition of a tail behind him that almost moved without him intending it to was like an unwanted advertisement of his emotions, as well as the fur standing up on his ears. Then there was also his prejudices. He cringed at the thought that he had become like an inferior being.

“I made you my child.” Serius stated casually.

“I 'adopted' you, with extra steps.” He stared at Sam smugly. As if he knew what Sam was thinking he added.
“Congratulations. You were upgraded from a lesser being.”

“A lesser being? Only a Beastfolk would think being a Beastfolk is better than being Human. What ridiculous negative traits does your kind have for your athletic ability, I wonder?” Sam taunted, though he was already changed so he guessed that he was only degrading himself.

“Hoho. Do I look like I have athletic ability? I can't remember the last time I walked more than ten steps at a time.”

“You're a fat raccoon. So what?”

“That is no way to speak to your Father.” Serius scolded.

“What're you gonna do?”

“Now now, I prefer the carrot over the stick.”

“You don't look like you eat carrots, 'Father.'” Sam said sarcastically while staring at Serius's stomach.

“Hoho... That's fine, that's fine but if you keep insulting me you wont be getting a piece of the inheritance.” The Raccoon mentioned with a sly wink.

“Anyway-” He moved on, seeming to downplay it.

“Hold on. Inheritance?”

“Oh, now I have your attention? Such an unfilial son...”

“Well, you only started being my Father a few minutes ago.”

“Is that so?” Serius tapped his chin playfully and stepped over to a portrait hanging in the room.
“Hmm... I feel like that isn't true. What do you think?”

Sam felt an itch at the back of his brain, it was a crawling sensation. He turned and looked at the portrait. He hated portraits, because one of his own existed in the Painter's collection. At least... It did. He wondered what happened to it when all the impurities left his body.

'What type of backlash will I face if I leave here as I am now?' He wondered. He took a closer look at the portrait and felt very sick as he noticed his own face. Serius was at the back, in the position of the Father. Sam in his current form stood in front of the fat Raccoon with a hand rested affectionately on his shoulder. He was smiling regally. Then beside him, sat a little lower was a woman no older than him, the same Species as Serius, and Sam as well.
'Obvious trickery... It isn't impressive to create something like this with-' He felt that same odd crawling sensation in his mind that made his fur stand on end. As he looked at the portrait it was like he could remember the day very well. It was in his memories. Suzy was acting up so 'Father' had to fill her with drinks to get her to smile. He could see the blush in her cheeks and the tilt to her smile that showed she was happy to have been plied by alcohol. Sam began to sweat and clutched his head.
“What's happening to me?” As he asked that the door flew open. Suzy burst in.

The girl Sam knew to be 'Suzy' without ever having met her was wearing a red vest over a white blouse and black pants. She had her silverish hair tied back and braided. He could see the black undercoat and the black rings around her ears, opposite to his which were black with gray spots and rings. She had a body that he would usually like, but even if he knew they were not related he felt strange about liking her large breasts and cute little body. She was a foot shorter than him. As with any, she stared at him with that natural black bandit mask around her eyes as if she was not sure what to think.
“Hey!” She shouted.

“What!?” He felt tired by her, as if he had known her long enough to be annoyed by her.

“I just remembered I had a brother!”

“Who cares? I'm not your brother.” Sam stated vehemently.

“Bro...” She cried, stumbling forward with her arms open, like a child who got lost in a store. She glomped onto him and pushed him onto the bed with a surprising amount strength. He growled and turned it around to straddle her instead. He was at least as strong as her, if not stronger.

Serius chuckled. “Oh well. I'll let you two catch up.” Serius disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“Catch up?” Sam gritted his teeth.
“As if we know each other...”

Suzy stared up at him. “That's how it works. Whether you like it or not, since you're a part of all this now you're gonna forget who you are like I did. Then it'll just be all the memories Dad gave you that are left...”

“Part of this? What is this?”

“It's the Circus.” She stated.

“You're saying that like I should know.” Sam chided.

“You should know. Just think about it for a second.” The girl shrugged, seeming to get sick of him as well.

He closed his eyes and thought for a moment. According to his memory, the Circus is a space established by Cerius. Though there are many Circuses established all over the world there is only actually one space that is the 'Circus. Light can never be seen from outside and the passage of time is quite vague. All of it is to make it easier for individuals to get lost and tied down for longer. On the surface it could be considered a dimensional pleasure stop, however Sam knew a bit more. The purpose of the Circus is to gather Aura and Energy through ruination. When people participate in the Circus directly they can earn coins. The coins are innocuous, but they are minted from the souls of people that were ruined in this place. Spending them, receiving them or even eating them are all addictive in their own right and lure others towards becoming trapped in the system of minting and spending them. The coins continue to grow and the only ones that can truly withdraw from the 'bank' without consequence is. Serius.

'No...' Sam's eyes widened.

'Me too, I can also use this money? Is this the inheritance?'

“I can tell what you're thinking but Dad doesn't let us spend anything we don't earn. Though he does give us an allowance.” Suzy claimed. She added bitterly.

“Yours is bigger than mine.”

“That makes sense, because unlimited spending within this space is equivalent to godhood.” It was the bargain made from the start. Like Coda, Serius could not use or gather Aura. Coda found her method to get around the weakness and Serius found his.

“Near unlimited power at our command... But it's a currency. Money is power, huh?”

Suzy nodded. “We're like pit bosses. We're outside the rules that make us addicted to the coins since they're technically all an aspect of Dad's powers, anyway. He has access to the full amount accumulated over thousands of years so he's basically all powerful.”

“Have you thought about trying to usurp the old man?” Sam wondered out loud.

“Definitely. You too.” Sam blinked at that. He thought back and remembered several failed schemes. Each time was met with a slap on the wrist. It was exhausting. He was surprised at first that such memories would be included but each attempted ended in abject failure, so he guessed it was to educate him quickly to the fact that resistance was useless. The pecking order was set.
“The implanted memories even include us acting badly.” He chuckled.

“Why not... The requirement to become a child of Serius is-”

“It must be guile and wits...” Sam remarked.
“Wait-” He stopped and stared down at Suzy.
“That can't be otherwise how would you-”

“The fuck!? Why not!” She scoffed.
“Besides. That's not it. You just have to be unique type of scumbag.”

“Ugh.” Sam groaned. He got off of her. That made too much sense.
“Wait, where's my Hero and my two pets?”

“You mean your employees? They're waiting outside your room here.” He gave her a questioning look.
“You're wondering about it? Well, all of your memories are gonna point to you having worked here since you were born... You probably have hundreds of years of memories of being Dad's son and my Brother. It's weird, but if you think that's weird, all of the thing around you are gonna get re-contextualized. Sloooowly all your memories will unify and change.”

“I'm being passively brainwashed... If it were me I wouldn't allow something as incongruous as having a Hero from Trsk at my side...”

“Is it?” Suzy grinned.
“Isn't it just that you took a stroll down to Trysk, disguised yourself as a human and stole her family, then her?”

“How did you know that?”

“In my memory you've been bragging about it since you got back.” She grumbled wearily.
“Dad's very proud of you by the way. Lucky...”

He gave the portrait another glance. It was too familiar. Far too familiar. The impression he got from his depiction in the portrait was that of a favored child. A spoiled young master that was born with a silver spoon.

“Are there any other children?”

“Yeah but they're from branches. We're the main line. We're better than them.” She said casually.

“Good.” Sam smiled.

“Suzy?”

“Yeah, Bro?”

“Have we ever slept together?”

She looked disgusted. He wondered out loud.“Obviously not. But I thought that he would've integrated any incongruities.”

A bead of sweat formed on her brow and began to drip down. She slowly started angling towards the door.
“Waddaya mean?”

Sam reached out and grabbed her vest, throwing her back onto the bed. “I mean there's no way I would be able to have a woman around me all this time without conquering her.”

“B-but we're family!”

“You said it yourself. It takes a special kind of scumbag.” Sam crawled over her and kissed her deeply. A shudder ran down his spine. He spat.
“Doesn't work... You're really my sister. I can't even get hard. So this is the type of creature a sibling really is? I was an only child my whole life so I had no idea...” Sam had lost his mother when he was born and never had something like a sister, so he was always very confused why the boys who grew up around so many easily accessible women never took advantage of them. He sighed.

'Suppose I get it now.'

Suzy stared up with a blank expression. “Yeah. That's what I was saying. Get off me, Bro!”

Sam relented, stood up and straightened his own outfit. “Still, I'm in charge of you.”

“Who says?”

“I do, because I'm the older brother.” He lifted his chin and stared down at her. I haven't done anything with you, but looking back I've basically been tormenting you and teasing you all my life so you're no better than a slave.” He chuckled.
“Father doesn't even care that I bully you. It's pretty good. I guess this is the use of a sibling when you can't take advantage of them the other way.” He remarked.

“That's-” Suzy's eye twitched as she began remembering. Slowly her body started to remember as well.  She sat up on her knees on top of the bed and looked down, shaking.
“Sorry Bro...” She had a look of lament, like she was wondering why someone that just showed up was placed in a position of seniority.
“I- I want a little brother instead! Dad, give me a little brother, can you hear me?” She prayed out loud.

“Oh get over it, idiot. Come with me.” Sam waved at her as he exited the door. Unlike with the majority of the Circus, the place he was in felt like a palace. The windows were still empty of windows, however.
“I didn't see a building like this.”

“That's because it's not a building it's a space within the space. Dad would never live in a tent... He would complain so much if the accommodations were that meager.”

Sam smirked. “So I get all this power and I live like a Prince? I'm starting to see the benefit.” He stared up.
“If you can hear me, thank you Father.” He felt the crawling again and shuddered and began to sweat.

'I-I”m getting used to this... My mind is adjusting. This brainwashing is too powerful. I don”t even notice...' He cursed internally.

'I”ll have to keep trying to get rid of this old man.'

He was startled as two maids rushed him. Kara and Raithe. “Master!” The two Foxes said in unison.
“We were so worried about-” They stopped. With one latching on to each arm they suddenly focused on his ears. They reached up and touched them curious.

“Soft.” Raithe said out loud. He leaned his head back away from their curious fingers.

“Master, your coat is so luxurious.” Kara was drooling. She wheeled around and hugged his tail as if it were a body pillow. He felt annoyed to be latched onto in such a non-sexual fashion. He also did not like that he was being considered 'cute' or 'cuddly.'

Suzy let out a laugh. “I mean... It makes sense why he likes you, Bro. Two of Coda's children serving you? It's actually kinda incredible.”

“Ah... If I think about it more deeply I'm also responsible for killing Djir and stopping that annoying war.”

Suzy nodded. “It would've seriously cut into profits. People will go to the Circus for fun even if they're broke but dead people can't give us their coins.”

“Indeed.” He looked around.
“Where's the Hero?”

“I'm here, Master.” Sam turned and eyed her up and down. Heels, black stocking and short pants that look tight around her thighs. They restrained a barely perceptible bulge due to their sheer tightness and around her torso she had on a small top and a harness that held a small molded breastplate.

“Oh, that's cute. This's a bodyguard ensemble?”

She blushed. “If- If you say so, Master.” Sam stared at her a little harder.

'I can read through the old man”s intent through my memories. It seems that it was my job to secure the  Turais and for such a difficult job I actually did it. With a bonus. The twins. So now Father”s positioned as a King-piece in this strange game and that would make me, the controller of the Turais, the Queen. It's a bit jarring to go from simply trying to enjoy myself to being a player in this cosmic game. Though I was probably always in it. There is no way the Painter had no idea what I was playing with. I think I was probably a pawn at that time. But that memory is now fading into nothing. Thought that”s what really happened it feels like I”m looking in on a story that didn”t happen when I think about it.' He shook his head.

“Unreal.” He began wandering towards the floor.
“How do I get out?”

Suzy followed along. “If you open any door with intent to leave you can just leave. You'll arrive at any point in the circus you want and you can leave any time and it'll just look like you disappeared.”

“It'll look like teleportation to anyone observing.” He nodded.

“So... It's still my job to eject that damn Orc, I'm guessing?” He asked, opening a door to the exterior of Malik's camp.

“If that's what father asked you to do.” She shrugged.

“Kara, Raithe. Clean up around the Mansion. Hero-”

“Yes, Master?”

“What're you standing around for? Guard my body.”

She gulped and followed after him. “Yes Master!”

Sam stepped confidently into the camp and looked around with a new context. The reason Malik was annoying is he played outside of the system. His camp created it's own tiny economy that did not use coins and in fact, encouraged it's denizens to avoid them. So, not only was he freeloading off of the magical accommodations of the circus, but he was actively harming business. He was a dangerous annoyance but... There was no rule that allowed Serius to kick him out blatantly.

'Father”s hands are tied because this places power comes from a Geas. Stronger restriction breeds stronger bonds so if he breaks his own rules he loses some part of what he built. Which means I lose, too as an inheritor of this place.'

Sam smiled as he approached Malik. “Honored guest.”

Malik looked shocked to see Sam. “Not sure if I should congratulate you or mourn you.”

“Let's start over, Orc.”

“Oh, sure... Since we're starting from a new position how about we negotiate based off your new interests.”

Sam's ears perked. “What do you know?”

“It' more beneficial to Serius, and for you now, to have me out of your hair. Unless he plans to do something with that pretty Hero over there, there's no point in keeping her.” Malik explained.
“If you give her to me I'll just leave. This setup you guys got isn't gonna be hurt by this deal. You know that.”

It was flawless reasoning, and Malik was right. Sam knew that he would in fact, probably just benefit from handing over the Hero and living out the rest of his life raking in the coins by being a Son of Serius in the Circus. Thinking about it, the whole point from the start in his new memories may have been to retrieve the Hero for this deal. Sam nodded and let out a sigh.
“You're probably right, Malik.” The Orc looked excited.

“Glad we could-”

“But! No matter how much it benefits me, regardless of what changes about my memory there's something that wont change.” Sam tapped his skull.
“I'm a greedy bastard.”

“I'm not leaving, then. Maybe I'll expand my camp and teach others here that they can enjoy everything here without interacting with the coins.”

Sam gritted his teeth. “You bastard.”

“Think about it... Serius did this so that you'd have the mindset and the incentive to make this deal. The stakes are so low for you here. If you lose the Hero at this point you're still basically a demi-god. Really, really think about it Sam. You don't wanna risk messing with me. Even the old man didn't wanna risk dealing with me.” The Orc leaned forward and stared Sam in the eye.
“Every time you come back here I'll keep making you my bitch. Over and over. I'll make you love it. That's what happens if you fight me. If you ignore me I'll ruin this whole place over time. The only option for you now is to give her to me.”

'I can”t shake the feeling that this guy is a bigger bastard than me...' Sam thought, biting his lip.