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 Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:58 am
Steve was precious. He was perfect. Andreiya didn’t know what he was going to do. He was anxious still, he’d had him for all of one hour. He’d come home late after dinner and a movie and snuck the hamster into his room. He felt like a criminal.
But, Steve had looked around with such big, bright eyes, and–
Andreiya had to tell someone. He’d locked the door to his room and paced, and Steve just watched.
So Andreiya took him out and held him. The hamster seemed happy. He wasn’t skittish or nervous, and he wiggled in Andreiya’s hand and tried to get up his sleeve. So he was cold? Oh, no. He was embarrassed that he wasn’t dressed, of course.
Steve was a gentleman.
Andreiya had no clothes small enough for him, so he hastily dug around in his room until he found something.
A hair tie. A thick, soft scrunchie, with good elastic.
He put it on Steve.
Steve was beautiful.
It was criminal that he couldn’t talk to anyone about him. But–oh, wait. Lionel knew. And he should still be awake. And Andreiya had said he’d message him when he’d gotten home anyway, so…
He pressed a few buttons and held the hamster in one hand, and the phone in the other, and started a video call. He waited impatiently from where he sat on the ground, and Steve just sniffed at the air air and stood on his back legs briefly, like he was trying to show off his beautiful new outfit.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 1:54 pm
Lionel had asked for Andrei to text him when he got home, but he hadn’t been expecting a face time call, and he grinned when he saw it, feeling a sense of pride that his friend missed him so much already.
Answering the phone, Lionel lay back against the couch and paused when he saw that it was Steve in the camera’s view, looking completely and utterly adorable. “...Oh my god, Andy. I would have never thought about dressing Steve up, he looks so cute! and so happy! He seems so excited to be there with you.”
He snapped a screenshot of the hamster, grinning due to the fact it really did look as though he were posing. “I’m glad that you made it home safe. Thank you again for coming over.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:10 pm
In the safety of his own home, Andreiya didn’t have to worry about a human seeing him. He’d dropped the civilian disguise almost as soon as he was through the doorstep, but what little was visible about him revealed that he was still wearing the cozy clothes he’d shown up in.
“Thank you for having me over. Steve is quite the character. He is not afraid of anything. I find myself impressed by his bold and brave demeanor. And he is sweet, and soft.”
He did not need to remind Lionel that he loved the hamster, but he thought it, very loudly.
“You do fashion,” he said, Lionel had told him as much, “I think Steve is shy. He was upset to be unclothed. I wish to help him dress himself. What do I need to do to make this possible? Will you make him something to wear? He likes my sweater. And this hair tie.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 2:18 pm
“Steve is an utter inspiration. Yes, I would be more than happy to make Steve some nice clothes, if you’d like, I could maybe even make you matching clothes, so everyone knows that you’re best friends…? Of course you’d have to come over again, but I’m hoping that won’t be too big of an issue, I want to invite you over anyway so…”
He grinned. “I’ll make Steve the most amazing hamster wardrobe the world has ever seen, Andy. Don’t you worry. When’s good for you? We can have another dinner party and you can bring Steve so I can get his measurements and yours, and then I can start dressing up my favorite hamster and Velencian. It sounds like the most amazing night ever.”
Lionel hesitated and shook his head, still watching Steve as he continued to paw the air like a little bean.
“I think Steve is shy because he wants to make sure you really love him. It’s a new home now, and he’s finally with his best friend ever. I’d be shy too, you know.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 4:04 pm
Andreiya gasped. They could have matching clothes? What better way to show their status as best friends? And Lionel was trustworthy. If anyone could do it, it was him, right?
And Lionel seemed to know so much about hamsters, he seemed like some sort of expert. It was a bit of a relief, honestly. But also so much stress. “I can come over again soon. I have to check my schedule. But I can make time.”
Steve was just shy because he was with his best friend ever? Could it be? He’d been glowing since the evening, and the worry about how this could be perceived had yet to settle in. Right now, he was just caught up in Lionel’s words and answers, and Steve was so cute, how could he have rejected him?
“We can set up a time. I want Steve to be happy. He deserves it. If he is my best friend in the world than I will give him all the affection I have to offer.” Even if he wasn’t supposed to be offering affection at all. But it was in private, so he couldn’t bring shame to his Velencians.
He hoped.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 4:23 pm
Lionel could tell by the gasp that Andy was interested in the matching clothes, and his mind began to think of the different things that he could make for the two of them. Matching sweaters, obviously. Something cute. Andy deserved cute, and Steve…well. He was already cute and quite honestly, Lionel was sure that he could pull off any look he set his little hamster mind to. But seriously.
“I’ll start planning some things, get a few ideas sketched out. Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll be sure to make time too. I know that Steve made the right decision, picking you. He did, you know. I was telling all of the hamsters that I had a wonderful friend for them and Steve was the one that came right over to me. Don’t worry about it not being right, he’s your friend, and having a friend shouldn’t be against any kind of rules…and if it is…that’s not a great rule to have in place to begin with.”
He was thoughtful for a moment. “I can see not enslaving creatures, I think that’s a great thing, but this isn’t enslavement. This is companionship, and if anyone tries to give you grief, tell them that they can talk to me and I’ll explain how it’s not a bad thing. You should get into trouble by having your friend there…and I know they’ll see it that way too, Andy. You’ll see.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 5:53 pm
Andreiya shouldn't feel this giddy. His heart was pounding. Was that excitement, or fear? Or was it both? Was he excited and afraid of getting caught? Guilty? He couldn’t tell. Lionel was tempting him with too many things that he wanted to experience.
And he said such nice, convincing things!
“I will do that, Lionel. You sound so sure. I will tell them everything you have said to me, I think. I mean, I will think on it. But. I really like Steve. I want to give him a good home. I want to be what’s best for him.”
He did, honestly. But this was so very against Velencian rules--and what happened if they got to go home? Could Steve come with him? Would he even want to?
He had no idea.
But he did want to see when he was free so he could figure out when he could meet up with Lionel again.
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 5:56 pm
“I am sure, buddy. Everything’s going to be fine, you’ll see.” Lionel grinned and gave a yawn, unable to hold it back. “I’m going to head to bed, okay? I’ll call you tomorrow and you can tell me how Steve’s doing. I’m so glad that we’re friends, you know. It means the world to me.”
And it did. He meant every word. And it was nice. Andy was like a spot of pure sugar in this world, but not overly so…he made things bright, not…well. Whatever fake people made the world.
“Night, Andreiya. Sleep well and sweet dreams.”
He ended the video call and rolled over, falling asleep quickly and feeling ever so pleased.
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