Furan Shi found himself in a difficult position. The NPC Camilius Fontaine began tailing him nonstop. In front of Aleister and the rest of the compound, it became normal. Camilius was such a lonely kid with no friends that he couldn't help but grow dependent on the bunnyboy.
However, the inside story was much more sinister.
「 "Raum, he totally caught me trying to escape the storyframe, didn't he?" 」
「 "Unfortunately, yes." 」
How did Camilius even know about the frame existing? He should only function as an NPC only aware of his reality, not Furan Shi's.
「 "Does he… erm… know I'm a foreign character in this reality?" 」
「 "I can't check that." 」
「 "Why?" 」 Furan Shi grew more unsure of his theories. To him, Raum, even as a greenhorn, was a powerful entity nonetheless, who can look into everything and translate it for him.
「 "He doesn't let me." 」
It doesn't check out.
"What could master be thinking~?" Camilius hummed as he slid a small plate of chips towards the bunny across the table. They were at the balcony overlooking the ongoing knife battle below, chilling and eating snacks. No, Camilius may just be the one chilling.
Wait, sorry. If Furan Shi was feeling nervous in front of the young python, Camilius was feeling more nervous. Frustration at the side, too.
Could his master be thinking of ways to leave him again? "Master, do you know? I still agreed to be your pet now all because I don't want you to leave me. You hate being owned, right? Then own me, master."
Sliding his chair closer, he added, "own all of me. Tell me what to do, and unless it's about leaving you alone, then I may just do what you tell me to."
「 "He's not OOC?" 」
「 "Rewired, sorry. But didn't you want a yandere to possess you like this?" 」
「 "Not in real life, wtf." 」
Ah, at least Furan Shi sees this as his reality now. Good. Otherwise, he can't humanize the characters and treat them seriously. That would be sad.
"Master…" Camilius cut his thoughts again, scooting even closer to hold his hand. His hand that was tied to his other using Camilius' bowtie. "Do you want me to feed you more chips?"
"No.. no, thank you..."
"Aww.."
Camilius placed his lips against his instead. Furan Shi, having known the python's temperament, obediently parts his lips to deepen the kiss.
There was no glitching anymore. Only Furan Shi's heart was in a hassled state as they shared yet another kiss kids like them shouldn't be doing. He had no choice. As much as he likes the python, this possessive behavior of his was too much to be appreciated.
He felt the python's tail slithering around his waist, capturing it in a loose, yet firm, trap. It wasn't around his neck, but he felt as though he was suffocating.
He couldn't breathe. He tapped at Camilius' chest several times to alert him. The python, chuckling, partially leaned back to let the other catch his breath.
"Master, you should know that you have to breathe through your nose while we kiss," he playfully reminded him. "Maybe we should be training every day until you can be a good kisser."
"Mm… but then again, I already want you in this novice state."
Ah, what a 180 degree turn of Camilius' personality. Or maybe this is just him finally showing his true colors.
"Master, do you want to practice kissing every day?" His face told Furan Shi he was expecting a yes.
"Once a week should be fine," he weakly replied, and before Camilius' brows could meet in the middle, he hurriedly added, "only because you need to go back to school!"
The young serpent had been missing school for three days straight, and it was all because he kept watch on the bunny rabbit. He needed to make sure Jinx didn't go anywhere.
"But I need to make sure master won't leave me."
Furan Shi sighed in his heart. "But I won't leave you anymore?" The tip of his nose felt itchy, but with his hands tied and held by the young python, he couldn't really do much about it.
"I can't trust you." Camilius stuck his forked tongue out in a playful manner.
At that moment, the python's eyes lit up, and he had a good idea. "Master will come to school with me."
It was not a good idea. School is very boring, but as it also purports more people around him, he decided to go against his heart's wishes and agree. "Alright. I'll do what you want. I need to go to school, anyway."
Camilius kissed him again in the python's glee.
As a child of an absentee mother, he naturally didn't know how to spend time with someone intimately close to him. He could try a conversation with Jinx about the things he likes, or things they have in common, but then again, Camilius wasn't in the mood for a conversation.
Somehow, all he could think about was eating the bunny rabbit or.. or wrapping his snake body around him… maybe swallow Jinx whole just so the bunny wouldn't leave him.
He was that desperate to keep the bunnyboy by his side.
And so he stripped the other off his clothing, his peeling actions growing more needy, greedy as the other gave no resistance at all. He dug at his clothes, seeking the bunny's hidden warmth and exposing his smooth, dark skin. Jinx's eyes widened as Camilius' hands grasped his hips, pulling him closer.
The python sunk his teeth into the other's shoulder and held him with his all, earning a good set of whimpering noises from Jinx.
All the bunny could do was squirm and moan as he was again being taken by the python right there and then. Camilius was probably a bad kisser, considering his inexperience, but so was Furan Shi. Their tongues lapped at each other, hands roam all around each other's bodies, as if they couldn't get enough. It felt good, Furan Shi had to admit begrudgingly.
「 "I thought you didn't like the corn snake?" 」
「 "..." 」
「 "... you're busy. I get it." 」
「 "I don't think he's a regressor.." 」
「 "Oh, you're also busy mentally." 」
Camilius was busy doing things a fourteen-year-old python shouldn't be doing with a bunny rabbit, as he couldn't think of anything else to do to keep the bunny grounded with him right here.
And Jinx was busy pondering about the latest story events, especially the thing about Camilius suddenly knowing this was all just an ongoing story to Furan Shi. No, he didn't hate Camilius. He never did. He wasn't even sure why he wanted to leave the story just yet when he's gettinf the hang of being the center of attention for being too cute.
Perhaps the fact that he knew he could force himself out of a story without killing himself by going OOC was too tempting to prove. An immature mistake, alright.
He pushed Camilius back into his seat and straddled his lap. Licking his bottom lip, he leaned closer and whispered, "wanna do something else?"
They ended up going out at the movie theater, two hours away from the villa compound. Everything else is two hours away, but that's not what's important. He shouldn't have agreed to his master's wish to go to the mall.
Aleister was with them, that damn old prick. He could've sent his men, but he had to send himself so he could "spend time with his son and his favorite nephew".
After all, he'd been busy, and he wasn't liking what the hidden cameras had been sending to his monitor — it was fortunate enough there's no camera at the balcony the two boys had tango-ed in.
He had an arm around Jinx's shoulders as his way of fatherly protection. "What are you guys watching?"
The innocent bunny all but looked up at him shyly.
"Papa, we want to watch Crazy Rich West Asian Spies..!"
Camilius nodded along despite his frustration. "Yeah, just the two of us…" he muttered under his breath.
"What's that, nephew?" Aleister smirked.
"N-nothing…"
This is a tad bit better than being eaten all day.
To soothe the python — and to regain his trust, however futile it felt — Jinx clung onto his arm. His short, bushy tail wiggled, and his big bunny eyes sparkled as he looked up at the other. "We'll still sit together, right??" He asked all too cutely. That easily brought a smug smile to Camilius' face.
Aleister, on the other hand, felt his heart break a little. Jinx was his new son, but it felt as though he was already being taken away by another man. So he, too, clung onto his son's arm.
"Let's go," he coolly said as he dragged Jinx away. "We have a lot to buy for you after watching that great movie." Camilius could only grind his teeth together.
To be honest, the movie was cringe comedy, yet the three of them lost themselves laughing and cackling at every turn. Even the frustrated Camilius forgot about his personal vendetta against Aleister and laughed with him.
Such a trio continued talking about how cringe the movie was when they got out of the cinema, until he spooted the older man's hold on Jinx's shoulder. His mood immediately soured, which he masked with a cute smile as he turned to the bunnyboy.
"Master, let's get you new clothes..!"
"Or even better," Aleister interrupted, pulling his son towards him, "we'll go buy you a phone first, hm?"
Even as a transmigrator with potential to explore more magical worlds, Furan Shi still lit up at the mention of "phone". He almost immediately agreed to his adoptive father, but remembered to pull Camilius close to him so he could earn nore trust points.
They went to the gadget store.
Camilius didn't even know why he had to compete for Jinx's attention when he already made himself the bunnyboy's pet just so Jinx could focus on him. He'd even revealed his plan in the midst of his tantrum— nah he didn't plan that. His young heart just couldn't bear the unfair decision of the bunnyboy to leave him when he'd prepared everything for the two of them, so he had mentioned everything, including the story part even he himself couldn't understand.
Maybe he had to get rid of his father, too?
Canilius wasn't usually like this. He never wanted attention. Definitely not.
…definitely.
He was doing fine, but after having that dream about an angel, he knew by then he was meant for that someone. That cute, fluffy, black rabbit was his, just as much as he was owned by the bunny. He wasn't sure what to name this emotion he felt, but all he knew was how to satiate it.
He knew that if he waited for two more years, the bunnyboy would come to him, but by then the bunny would already be owned by the Moreno brothers, if not by Aleister. He couldn't have that.
His vision got darker the more he watched Jinx with Aleister as they choose among the best phone models available in front of them.
Ah, but fine. Aleister was a new father. He can tolerate this day, surely. With a forced smile, he finally approached the two and clung onto Jinx's arm. "Master, I suggest that one."
He pointed towards the latest Sumsang phone model. It's the same as his, just in a white color. If Jinx would choose that, then they could be a pair that way.
"Um.." Jinx didn't sound too sure, but Camilius already knew it was just him being shy. Sumsang is a very expensive brand, after all. So, the young python was quick to purchase it for him.
They went to the department store next for Jinx's new clothes. Here, Camilius took the initiative to lead Jinx right to the 'Small Critters' section, where clothes are customized to fit small demihumans with small tails.
Because Jinx was being too shy, Camilius started picking out the clothes for him, relying on how long the bunny's eyes had stared at certain outfits.
"Master, do you want to look cute?" he playfully commented, looking at the choice of clothes. Jinx could only blush before meekly nodding.
"Master already looks cute to me..~"
Aleister butted in, amused at the pet name being thrown about. "Why is Jinx your master?"
"Because…" Camilius had gazed back at Aleister, but trailed off, knowing he wasn't really sure how to answer that.
"Because I will be his wife..!" Jinx answered for him with a smile full of mirth. "And wives are naturally the masters of the house!"
It was Camilius' turn to flush and shyly nod. He wasn't sure if Hinx really meant it, or he was, again, playing his heart, but the thought that Jinx was considering himself Camilius' wife was too tempting to indulge.
His young python heart did two somersaults, three for good luck.
"You are still so young to think about being someone's wife, Jinx," Aleister lightly said, patting his son on the head. "You need to think of getting your education first."
"I want to go to Camilius' school."
Ah, well. "We'll arrange that."
They went ahead and picked more clothes before going to the food court to take a break, and then went home. This could've been a nice date, if not for the old (24-year-old) uncle with them.
The car had barely stopped when Camilius dragged his master out of the car and carried him into the mansion. Aleister helplessly — again — watched his son get taken away by the young python, his… erm… future husband, much to the uncle's chagrin.
Or maybe Jinx would be the one to stabilize Camilius. Alodia would be proud if that would really happen. Aleister can only appease his worries with that.
It's not that he doesn't trust Camilius. He knew the young python was a capable being for his age thanks to Alodia leaving early. He could rely on maids, yes, but he'd more often than not preferred to be alone. He needed a friend.
But oh, how right Aleister would be if he just decided to follow his motherly instinct. He trusted the snake too much.
Camilius had pinned the bunnyboy onto the round table in the open pavilion in the garden and was, again, making out with him. Furan Shi barely had the time to register what was happening to him when the python had grabbed both his wrists and pinned them onto the table, above his head, and force-crashed his tongue into the bunny's mouth.
They're back to kissing each other again after that… date.
Camilius wasn't a bad kisser. Maybe. Yes. No. Eh. It felt good, either way. Furan Shi kissed back, indulging the python's tongue with his.
He pulled Camilius in by the collar of his shirt. The latter bit Jinx's bottom lip. They tangled on the round table like two insatiable animals.
They parted like fish out of water, gasping for air after that intense moment.
Jinx's eyes were watery, glistening and sparkly as they looked up to the python above him. "What was that for?" He rasped, eyes momentarily flitting to Camilius' wet lips.
"I just have to remind master to stop neglecting his pet," Camilius answered, before pecking his lips. This wasn't really something a younger Camilius Fontaine should be doing.
A direct confrontation would have been a good idea right at that moment, but then the latter could ask back similar questions.
「 "Raum, should I directly ask him now?" 」
「 "Go on. I'll do my part behind the scene." 」
Raum wasn't so useless when it comes to doing its job as a translator, Furan Shi had to give him that. But for now, there's a more important matter to handle.
His legs were wrapped around the python's hips. The latter unhooked one of them and pushed it down against Jinx's chest. Furan Shi blushed at the action that left him vulnerable. He knew he had to think fast.
"Camilius," he called meekly, but it was enough to stall the python.
"Yes, master?" The young python used his other hand, letting go of Jinx's wrists, to caress the side of the bunnyboy's face.
"What did you mean when you said you thought about which timeline—"
He was interrupted by Camilius pushing his tongue inbetween his parted lips again. Jinx had to push the other with great effort, ending up as a slight nudge to stop the python from continuing further. "Camilius…" he whined.
"Master," breathed the python, "is that even important right now?"
"To me, yes."
The python rolled his eyes and huffed, leaning away so he can see Jinx in all his glory, bent and ready for him and only him.
"Then what about master planning to leave through that big, scary thing?"
Ah, Furan Shi should've seen this coming. "What big, scary thing?" he asked back, pretending to be a regular, dumb bunny.
"You know what I'm talking about.."
"No..?"
"Huh..?"
"Huh?"
The two of them paused. "That… that day when you bit Anton by the side of his neck?"
「 "Raum, how do I turn this around?" 」 He didn't need to think about it long and hard. "Answer me first, Camilius.. o-or I will really leave..!"
"I won't let you..!" cried the baby python, glaring down at the bunnyboy. He used one hand to cinch the other's neck and squeeze ever so slightly. It was enough to serve as a warning to the poor Jinx. "Master… you said you'd marry me, right?"
Furan Shi had no choice but to nod, frantically, else he could suffocate once more. He could feel his adrenaline almost kicking in. "I did, I did."
"Then stop asking weird questions and only think of our future together..!"
"I get it, I get it..! Now… please let go of my neck first..!"
"Promise me first..!" Camilius slightly squeezed his neck.
Ack!
He saw Jinx's eyes water. "Camilius… I already said I will be your wife, right?" Jinx pouted and started to cry. "Why can't you believe me?"
Oh no.
Nooo baby nooo..
Camilius could only bite back his curse and let go of his master's neck to coddle him. "T-that's not what I meant… I'm sorry, okay?" He softly whined.
"But… B-but you still think I'm lying..!"
Camilius didn't know how to handle a whiny master. So, he, too, were that close to tearing up himself. "I-I didn't mean it like that.."
Hopelessly, he leaned away to give his master some room to breathe. He looked around, not really sure what he's looking for, and then turned back to the crying rabbit. He wiped his tears away, but more came out. He didn't know what to do. "H-how about we promise right now..?"
"W-what do you mean?" Jinx asked through his fake sobbing.
"Here…" the young python held out his pinky finger. "Promise we'll marry each other when I turn eighteen."
Jinx paused, dumbly gawking at the finger, until he remembered to respond. He linked his own pinky finger to Camilius'. "Okay. I promise to marry you when you turn eighteen."
A promise was made between them in place of engagement rings. Furan Shi had no choice but to follow through.
「 New! Mission: Marry Camilius Fontaine after four years. 」
He'll have to stay here in this world for a while longer, then.