Joe Reaves (featheredwolf) wrote in 50episodes, @ 2007-09-02 02:09:00 |
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Current music: | The Planets - A Letter from New England |
Entry tags: | empire records, joereaves:huminal |
Berko, PG, Empire Records
Title - Berko
Characters - Berko, Joe
Rating - PG
Prompt - #44 Cat (replacing Anonymous) (50 Episodes)
Summary - Joe and Berko talk
Universe - Huminal
AJ went to bed straight after dinner and Joe invited Berko to stay with them. He could do with some more live in help in the club anyway and it would be helpful to have someone who could climb around in case of any more flying accidents from AJ.
Together they went through the club, preparing it for opening. Berko worked well with Joe and the two of them were soon chatting happily.
“So how did you end up in the city, anyway?” he asked.
Berko shrugged. “I was bored. I grew up in a small town out in the middle of nowhere. An all huminal settlement. It was quiet and peaceful and looking back probably the perfect place to grow up, but I wanted to see new places and I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, so I came here.”
“Do you have family back in your home town still?” Joe asked, tossing Berko a cloth so they could start wiping down all the tables before the customers started to arrive.
“My parents,” Berko said. “And my little sister. Mum and Dad are police officers there. Everyone looks up to them, you know? I thought it was like that everywhere. But then I got to the city and the humans treat us all like we're barely a step above dumb animals. It makes me want to start smacking people around.”
Joe laughed. “I wouldn't advise it. Huminals are treated much more harshly by the courts than humans are. Not all humans are bad though. The customers here are a mix of huminals and humans, but of course the humans who are willing to come to a club in the huminal quarter are generally more tolerant. Expect to see human masters with their huminal slaves though. We always get a few, especially in the gambling rooms upstairs.”
Berko sighed. “I hate that. What gives them the right to own another person?”
Joe shrugged. “We're not people to them. They have to tolerate the free huminals but for a lot of them, we're just animals that got too big for our boots. I can't stop the slave owners coming in here, but I can throw out anyone who disrespects my staff. The high rollers who want to play at the tables upstairs have learned to keep their mouths shut if they don't want to be barred.”
Berko grinned. “Well, at least that's something, right? Do you get comments from the other huminals because of AJ? Most huminals here seem to stick to their own species or at least to their own kind, cats stay with cats and so on. But you're a wolf with a hawk for a son.”
“I got some at first but people are used to us now,” Joe said. “They're going to be even more confused when they start seeing you around too.” He grinned. “You're welcome to stay as long as you want, you know. I have a feeling AJ won't be the only cub to join my pack. I like having younglings around and there are always little ones who need someone to take care of them. It would be nice to have another adult around. Besides, any respectable wolf pack needs a beta.”
Berko was a little startled and how quickly Joe had made him a part of his family, but there was something about the older man that appealed to him. They got on well and were already working together as if they'd known each other for years. “I'd like that.” He laughed. “A wolf pack with a panther as beta and a hawk as a cub; maybe you can start a trend amongst the huminals. We should mix more. We need to stand together to work against the humans, especially the corporations.”
Joe nodded. “Listen, if you're going to stick around there are a few things you should know.” He looked at him seriously. “You need to think about what I'm going to tell you before deciding to stay. It could become dangerous for you, although I try not to endanger my pack. I can't risk AJ.”
Berko tilted his head. “Go on, I'm listening.”
“I have a brother, Mac,” Joe started. “He's a jackal so I guess you could say it's my parents' fault I don't stick to my own species,” he added with a grin. “He lives out in the Savannah with a few other huminals and he's part of the resistance. That's where AJ came from. Mac rescued him from slavers and brought him here where no one would recognise him.”
Berko nodded. “Poor kid. How much does he remember?”
Joe nodded. “Yeah, he was seven when Mac brought him here. Old enough to know what happened to him and what would have happened if Mac hadn't rescued him.”
Berko smiled. “I'm glad he's here instead. He's a smart kid. I really like him, even if he does get stuck up trees,” he said with a laugh. “Still he's young, he'll learn.”
“Damn kid scared the hell out of me,” Joe grumbled. “I'm glad you were there or I don't know what I'd have done. Anyway, that wasn't all I was going to say. Since I found out what Mac does, I've got a little involved myself. I don't attack people or anything, but some of the resistance groups use me as a contact to pass messages. They can slip in and out of the club unnoticed when we're busy. Occasionally I let them stay in one of the rooms upstairs.”
“So we might get visitors unannounced?” Berko asked thoughtfully. “I can deal with that. I'm happy to help in any way I can and besides Mac's your family. Pack help one another; I may be a cat but even I know that.”
Joe grinned. “I hoped you'd see it that way. It's not just Mac's little band any more. There's a group up in the mountains who come down occasionally. I've only met their second in command so far. She's a fox and a very formidable lady. And occasionally we get someone from the ocean to the south of here. I've never met any of them, just their messengers, but I hear they're led by a tiger.”
“Sounds like fun.” Berko winked at him. “Anything you need, you just ask, Joe. I'm happy to help you to help them and it doesn't change my decision. I like it here and I like you and your cub. I'd be honoured to be your beta. You might need to teach me how a pack is supposed to act though, preferably before it grows any bigger. I don't want to accidentally do something wrong.”
Joe smiled. “Thanks, Berko. I'll tell you anything you want to know but we're family as well as pack so there's nothing too difficult to grasp and when we expand you'll already be here so you can adapt to it at the same time as the rest of us.” He nodded decisively. “I'm glad you're here, Berko. Welcome to the pack.”