Chapter Text
"mommy ... hurt me more."
You pressed down on the tiny skeleton's pelvis, hearing the creaking of bone, and the panting from non-existent lungs.
Your Cherry was a masochist. And you were more than willing to fulfill what he asked you for.
It hadn't started out this way, of course. For either of you.
Cherry had been to many homes. But ... there was always something off about him to them. He wasn't all that different from other Cherries ... having that same scrunched up face, eye sockets tearing up. At first glance no one could really tell.
But once he got home ... and the first time he got in trouble .... " Are you ... gonna punish me?" He'd say with tears, but ... also hopefulness? Needless to say this unnerved many owners, who took him back post haste.
Mamma Cry did her best to comfort him, even if she wasn't capable of giving him the full attention he deserved. Many owners were intrigued when they found out he was a "submissive" bitty, eager to have one who would be well-behaved. ... but, this went well beyond that.
This Cherry was a "pain slut", as you so lovingly put.
While Edgies, the brothers of the group, were known for aggressive behavior, which was simple attention seeking ... this Cherry was a bit in reverse. Submissive, begging for the feel of large digits pressing into his bones, and nails scraping across the same. This behavior only exacerbated during heat.
As for you. You hadn't really thought much about what you were before you discovered Cherry.
You remember wandering into Mamma Cry's Itty Bitty Adoption Center, not knowing exactly what to expect. You had done a little bit of research, but, there's nothing like coming face to face with a tiny monster, 1 to 6 inches tall.
Looking at glass case and glass case full of bitties, each separated by category, you weren't sure where to start either. Each section having a poster of information beside them, describing their personalities and needs. You felt many, tiny eyes scan over your form as you looked around.
Your first stop was at the so-called "Original Sans". You squatted down and saw many either lazy, sleepy skeletons or those cracking jokes, devouring ketchup. A couple turned their white pupils towards you, an unnerving grin on all of them. You aren't sure how such tiny skeletons could be so intimidating, but you felt a bit of sweat develop on your brow. Of course you'd be anxious. 6 inches or 6 feet, your social anxiety wasn't too picky, as long as they were sentient.
"Why Hello There!"
"AHH!" You jump at the sudden, bright and cheerful sound.
"Oh, dear... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Are you all right?"
Your heart is beating what feels like a mile a minute, but you turn around to face a rabbit monster, about your height. You chuckle softly, waving your hand off in nervousness.
"I-it's quite okay. N-no harm done."
The warm colored monster smiles, reassurance settling into her dark eyes.
"Well, I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Mamma Cry, but you can call me Cry or Mamma. I'm the Adoption Manager and Bitty Caretaker. I see you were looking at our Sansies. Were you interested in adopting one of them?"
Don't panic. Don't panic. Simple question.
"Ah hah, well, I was really, mostly, just browsing. I mean, er, I've done a bit of research, but ... " You shift your eyes down to the Sansies, and find one of them slightly chuckling at your unnerved demeanor. ... You can't help but squint slightly at that, but you quickly replace that with a smile as you face Mamma.
"Of course. I understand. There's nothing quite like meeting the real things, though I'm happy to hear you've done some research. You've already come in more prepared than most!"
You flush at Mamma's kind words and thank her.
"Well, as you can see, our bitties are separated by monster & personality type. We mostly have skeleton-type bitties right now. No personality type is the same, of course, and even amongst the types they can be quite different."
"Oh?" You're becoming more nervous as time goes on. What if you can't find the right bitty the first time? They are sentient of course. You tend to worry over any opinion someone might think of you, tiny being included. You feel your anxiety level rising.
Mamma takes care not to bring attention to the tenseness showing on your face. She smiles at you kindly.
"If you'd like, we have quite a few bitties currently out in the Meet-&-Greet pen. It's a great way to get a feel on which bitty-type might be right for you, and, maybe even find some potential suitors to take home."
You blush at the word suitors. You understand what she means, but you shake your head. Best not to overthink that. You realize you've been unconsciously following her, away from the glass cases, and towards a 2 foot tall glass enclosure.
Many bitties are running around with each other, over the tiny play-sets. Some are also tucked away, sleeping peacefully in what looks like dens. While others have set up shop by condiment dispensers, or grumbling to themselves in corners, giving you the finger as your eyes roam over them. Must be the Edgies, you think with an internal chuckle.
"If you'd like, you can just step over the glass. The bitties can't teleport through it, and it's too high as well. Just watch your step."
You had really only come here to look ... but, you suppose this still counts as looking.
You nod your head with a smile and very carefully, watching your feet, you step into the enclosure.
Soon after, you find many different types and sizes of bitties wandering up to you curiously. You recognize a few. Baby Blues. More Sansies, Paps not far behind. Punnies. Poppies and Teacups. Most of the excitable and brave ones.
You're immediately bombarded with questions, especially from the Papies and Baby Blues. Of course the others are curious too, but they're mostly hanging back and listening intently. Needless to say, you get a little flustered. You find yourself tripping over words to describe yourself and your hobbies. At your discomfort, some of the bitties begin to draw back. You try not to take it personally, but it's for the best anyhow, you figure.
A Baby Blue and Papy stick to your shoulder, though the Lil Bros and Sansies watch you with poorly disguised protectiveness in the form of being laid back. You're curious about the other, more quiet ones, and the two on your shoulders seem like they read your mind.
"The Soft Bones might be a good fit for you! They're very quiet and they sleep almost all the time!"
You ponder over that, kneeling down and glancing into the den of sleeping Softies. ... you really can't bring yourself to wake one of them though, adorable (and good mighty jebus were they). It shoots the plan of getting to know one better out of the water.
Papy senses your hesitance.
"YOU COULD ALSO TRY THE CHERRIES. THEY KIND OF REMIND ME OF YOU."
You remember reading about them. Emotional. Anxious. Cries A Lot. Needy. Don't Hold Them Tight. Let Them Sleep In Your Bed (Don't Squish Them).
You snort in self-derision. Well. You suppose the anxious part was not too far, emotional and needy too, though perhaps not quite to the extreme you remember described.
Thinking of which, you hear a few sniffles from a corner. Many Cherries are clustered around one another on top of a pile of cotton fluff, apparently just barely keeping their anxiety down.
You had to admit, despite the sniffling, they were cute. Actually, really flippin' cute. And, If anything, the sniffling just made your heart go ba-bump even more.
But as they caught you staring at them, they started to whine and you begin to hear many high-pitched apologies cry out from the red and black lump. Your brows furrow. Well ... that's not very good. Despite now feeling incredibly awkward, you shake your head and try to put on a reassuring smile for them. You move your palms out in front of them, in what you hope is a placating gesture.
"Shh... it's okay! I was just admiring how cute you all were ... not need to cry."
The sniffles became less at that and you gave a relieved sigh. Thank goodness.
Out of the corner of your eye, though, you spot a lone Cherry huddled up by himself. He was half way between the other Cherries and the Edgies, actually ... and the Edgies were giving a none too happy glare at him about it. A couple were throwing some trash his way and sneering. You wondered why he wasn't with the all the other Cherries.
You shoot a sharp glare at the Edgies and they scoff a bit, flipping you off, but muttering and backing away none the less. You find yourself sitting in front of the lone Cherry.
"Hey there ..."
The Cherry gasps and looks up at you in horror. Apparently having been lost in it's own thoughts. He seems to think he's made a mistake though, and quickly bows his head, apologies spilling like water from his little mouth. "i'msorryi'msorryi'msorrysorry-!"
"Nooo, noo no. It's okay sweety." You try to give him a reassuring smile (though he can't see it), and gently stroke a digit down his humerus? trying to recall from your anatomy and physiology classes you hadn't been to in years. His bones rattle in a soft shudder, his voice becoming quiet, but he doesn't look up.
You're a little discouraged, but don't give up. You lean down.
"hey .... look at me." You say in a voice near a whisper.
You see red glowing pupils slowly glance up at you, though his sockets are tear stained.
You smile warmly, in what you hope he interprets as praise.
"There ... that's much better. You have such pretty eyes. It would be a shame to hide them."
In an instant you find yourself staring at nothing. You blink. What --? Then you feel a small warmth in the crook of your neck.
The Baby Blue looks over curious, along with Papy. You had nearly forgotten they were chillin' with you on your shoulders. "CHERRY?"
Well, that answers that. You knew they could teleport, but for some reason you weren't expecting him to cling to you so suddenly like that.
Both Papy and Baby Blue give a knowing look to one another. Mamma Cry seems not too far behind.
"I see you've found a new friend."
You turn your head towards her to see a warm smile. You grin sheepishly.
"So it would seem."
Mamma Cry steps into the pen, many bitties excitedly following after her, attention seeking, though she stops by you.
"Lil' Cherry ... " She calls out in a sweet tone.
You feel the tiny body on your neck flinch, but look back up at Mamma with his eye sockets still filled with tears.
"Do you like this lady?"
You feel a quick shuffling of bone and Mamma smiles warmly at him. You're don't know what that translates to though.
"How about you? I don't think I've ever seen him cling to someone so quickly. He's one of the shyest ... even amongst our typically shy Cherries."
You flush a bit in embarrassment. "W-well, I mean, I was really only coming here to look. I wasn't expecting to a-adopt today. I don't have anything set up for him at home..." you trail off.
She smiles kindly at you. "That's perfectly fine. We don't let people adopt our bitties right away. Most need to come in for a couple of weeks, 5 days a week, before we're willing to place one in a home. It's to really get to know if the bitty they're picking out is the right fit for them, and vise versa. This one," She points to the crook of your neck, "would be put on standby hold. Which means no one else would be able to adopt him in that time. Although, to be honest, it may take several more weeks then usual. He's one of our," and it seems she tries to say this delicately, "... more difficult cases. He's been a return many times, and I want to make sure the person adopting him really knows him and his needs. Plus it would also give you some time to get house preparations, and other necessary stuff, under and out of the way."
"Well, in that case ... I mean, if he wants me, I would certainly be interested it." You feel shuffling again, but no actual voice save a small whimper. Though, you're still not sure what that means.
Mamma grins and translates. "He says yes."
"Really?" You say brightly, and his whimpers calm down a bit the sound.
Mamma gently pries the Cherry from your shoulder, and apparently Papy and Baby Blue have blipped away without much more said. Must of been the Sanies and Lil Bros.
"Come back tomorrow, during open hours, and you can get start to get better acquainted with him."
You glance down at him and your feel your heart break at those large red pupils, filled with hope. You smile brightly, brighter than you have than a long time.
"I definitely will."