His bed was moving underneath him. He grumbled something unintelligible - he firmly told it to stop moving - and pressed more of his weight into it to stop it from moving.

"Kraw," it said. "Kohgrash, tas gnno' mr."

That was... not English. Or something beds would say in the first place.

Something touched the top of his head, and he reluctantly opened his eyes. Grogginess clung to his eyelids, and it took everything he had in him to sit up instead of closing them and going right back to sleep. His back protested as he moved, and when he stretched, his spine started popping.

They were still in the car, though Rukka, Kac, and Nohkka were gone. "Nohkka?" he managed to put together.

"Lorka," Vok'Rul responded simply. Viktor stared at him in bleary confusion before he remembered that he had turned the translator off before he had fallen asleep.

"Hm," he responded tiredly. Vok'Rul chuckled.

"Pora, Kohgrash'mrr'k," he said sweetly, picking up Viktor as if he weighed nothing. To the alien, he probably didn't. By the time they got up the stairs, Thruul had bid them farewell and Viktor was half-asleep in Vok'Rul's arms again.

The bright light of the bathroom was what started to really wake him up.

"Ugh," he mumbled, squinting against the harsh light. "Why're we in here? I wanna go to bed."

Vok'Rul spoke, words unrecognizable to Viktor. Against his better judgment, he reached up to flick the translator back on, clenching his teeth against the slight increase in his headache. "Kohgrash, you've been playing in the dirt all day. You reek. You need to take a bath."

Viktor stared at him for a second while the words processed in his head. Then, he started struggling to get out of Vok'Rul's grasp. Unfortunately, the alien's grip only tightened on him. "Stop, Kohgrash," Vok'Rul half-laughed, exasperated. His face got serious. "Listen, you are going to take this bath whether you like it or not."

"I can shower by myself, though," Viktor pleaded. His face was already turning red at the thought of Vok'Rul being in the bathroom with him. It had been bad enough when the alien had just thought of him as an animal. But now that the alien was aware of Viktor's sentience, it made this all the more mortifying. "I'm not sick or injured or anything."

Vok'Rul huffed, but to Viktor's relief, he relented. "Alright," he said. "But I will be outside the door the entire time. I don't want you to get hurt."

He showered. Well, Vok'Rul still ran a bath for him, asking in confusion what a shower was exactly. Turns out, they didn't even have anything that spouted water from high up. It was all bathing for them. Better for their skin, Vok'Rul told him. Something about letting themselves soak. Frankly, Viktor had stopped listening to the alien the moment he started talking about their bathing habits. It was not something he wanted to hear.

It was really nice taking a bath, especially after the strenuous day he had. Washing away dirt and soaking his sore muscles in hot water made him sleepier. He knew that he was probably at risk of drowning, considering how large this tub was. The hot steam and enveloping warmth made him so, so tired.

"Kohgrash, ka ta tih?" Vok'Rul called. His loud voice jolted him from his half-sleep.

"Uh-huh," he mumbled. He washed out the last of the soap and shampoo clinging to him before pushing himself out of the tub. He nearly slipped on the way out - why didn't Vok'Rul have a bath mat, for God's sake? - but he managed to dry himself and get some fresh, clean clothes - this time, a pair of white sweatpants and a yellow sweater with some cute little animal on it - on without injury. Success. "Open the door," he called, frowning at the thing. Viktor didn't have the energy to push it open.

Vok'Rul looked mildly impressed that Viktor had managed to get washed, dried, and dressed by himself, which he'd be offended about later. Right now, though, all he wanted was some sleep.

"Hey," he mumbled as the alien picked him up to carry him to his bedroom. That was the nice thing about Vok'Rul; he always carried Viktor, especially when he didn't want to walk. "Where's my drawing?"

He wanted to hang that sucker up somewhere. It would be nice to look at Earth whenever he'd like, even if it was poorly drawn.

Vok'Rul mumbled something, which reminded Viktor that he had taken off the translator. "Translator?"

"Kas'kn tash gjjora'k, Kohgrash," he reassured him. Viktor nodded like that made sense.

His bed, while a bit colder than he would've liked, was extremely comfortable. He barely managed to mumble a goodnight to Vok'Rul, who was still puttering around the room and generally making a racket, before he lost his battle with sleep. He was out like a light.

A loud crashing noise woke him up.

"Guh?" he said in an eloquent panic, smacking his head against the dresser painfully as he got up. "Oww," he hissed, recoiling and slapping his hand on the top of his head. He rubbed it soothingly.

"Kohgrash," Vok'Rul's sleepy voice came from the larger bed. Viktor squinted in the weak light. It wasn't quite morning just yet. He was a blurry lump in the covers. "Kohgrash, whf - "

Another crash interrupted him, and Vok'Rul got to his feet quicker than Viktor's brain could register. "Kor," Vok'Rul said, holding up a hand to stop Viktor's mad scramble to his feet.

"No, neyk, you're crazy if you think I'm letting you investigate alone," he hissed, taking a few steps forward to follow the alien.

Vok'Rul whirled around suddenly, raising his arms to stop him - too quickly - and Viktor's breath caught in his throat as he flinched backward in surprise. The alien looked contrite, muttering a small "flakmmn" before repeating his command to stay. Viktor said nothing, opting to glower at the alien instead.

Once the alien left the room, Viktor gave it about three seconds before he followed him. His socked feet gave him an advantage in stealth, not to mention his tendency to step lightly, so Vok'Rul didn't hear him. He made it to the stairwell just in time to see Vok'Rul's tail disappear from the steps.

Loud shouting traveled up to him, and Viktor has never made it down the stairs quite as fast as he did then. Vok'Rul wasn't in the kitchen. The shouting came from the dining room. Panicked, Viktor sprinted across the kitchen, skidding to a stop at the doorway.

There was an unfamiliar alien standing in the room. It was almost the same shade as Vok'Rul, just a little paler due to its age. Its clothing was colorful - bright oranges and pinks that Viktor hadn't seen before on fabrics here - but didn't clash with the alien's skin. It had some jewelry along its tail, which was long and sinuous. Behind it, multiple bags of supplies were strewn about the room, as if dropped in a hurry.

It was also attacking Vok'Rul.

He was hunched over to accommodate the height difference between them. It had his head in its claws, pulling his skull this way and that. His hands encircled its wrists, trying to pull them away. His expression was annoyed.

Viktor had never fought an alien before. They were too large, too dangerous. Their claws would easily slice through his skin if he let them. They were strong, almost unbelievably so. He had quickly learned this in the arena. Being tossed around like a doll was not something that he enjoyed.

But he would do anything for Vok'Rul.

Viktor shouted, "Hey!" as loud as he could, startling both aliens into glancing over to him. Well, Vok'Rul tried. His face was still trapped in the alien's grip. How did it even get past the guards? He bared his teeth threateningly at the alien and lunged.

Nervous excitement and adrenaline shot through his veins, making him quicker, stronger, better. He crossed the room in two quick steps, bending his knees to launch himself at the alien. Vok'Rul yelled, "Kohgrash, neyk!" but Viktor wasn't listening; not until this alien was out of here.

His body connected with the alien's legs, who was just shy of Vok'Rul's height. It stumbled backward and swiped at Viktor. He barely managed to dodge the claws, feeling them scrape against the top of his head. It said something unintelligible, slightly panicked. Good, he thought, twisting his body to ram his shoulder into its legs again. It should be afraid.

Something harsh pulled at his neck and shoulders, making him falter in his next move. His feet struggled to get traction underneath him. In the next second, he was airborne. He snarled wordlessly, hands flying up behind his head to grab at whatever had a hold of him. He dug his fingernails uselessly into the tough skin.

"Rulshkka," the unfamiliar alien said to Vok'Rul, shaking Viktor slightly in emphasis. She said something else, but Viktor wasn't listening. The pressure on his neck was overwhelming.

"Let me go," his voice was strangled, both by the fabric of his sweater around his neck and his panic. The alien was holding him by the back of his shirt, easily keeping him away from itself. It didn't stop him from struggling and kicking, though. "Let go of me!"

"Ffssk'Korrashkka," Vok'Rul said tightly, voice cold. Gentle hands curled around Viktor's midsection, but he was too wired and full of adrenaline to realize they were Vok'Rul's. He lashed out with his foot, managing to kick him in the wrist.

"Keti?" the alien sniffed, shaking Viktor again. "Dreshi."

Viktor growled something strangled and wheezy in his throat. He swung his legs upward, twisting his ankles around the alien's arm. For a moment, the pressure of his shirt around his neck was stifling, choking him and sending phantom zips of electricity down his spine. His limbs spasmed, convulsing with fear and his barely-suppressed flashbacks, but he managed to kick the alien's arm enough to cause it audible pain. It almost dropped him.

Sharp pain shot through his legs. Its claws dugs into his ankles, prying him off its arm. Viktor dangled from his neck for a tense second before Vok'Rul came to his rescue in a fury of harsh grunts and clicks.

"Neyk. Kohgrash ka ktish," Vok'Rul snapped, managing to grab Viktor without getting kicked. The pressure on his neck loosened and he was pulled away from the other alien, gasping for breath. He quickly twisted in his arms, leveling his gaze on the alien.

She - because her voice had the lilt of a female and sounded similar to Rukka's, so it had to be a she - had a less than pleased expression written on her face. It looked as if she had swallowed a lemon. Viktor glared at her.

Viktor had forgotten how difficult it was to follow a conversation when he had no idea what was being said. He's gotten used to having the translator in his ear over the past few days and being without it was like finding himself suddenly unable to walk. Despite this alien arriving at an odd time of day and attacking Vok'Rul, it seemed like they knew each other, though Vok'Rul was less than pleased at seeing her for some reason. He couldn't say that his presence was helping matters, either.

Every time she got close, Viktor would twitch, barely suppressing the urge to lunge forward to get her away from Vok'Rul. His arms would tighten around the teenager and say something to the other alien, who would reluctantly take a few steps back. This happened often.

Eventually, Vok'Rul and Viktor were saved when Thruul came wandering in, yawning and bleary-eyed. He woke right up when he saw the newcomer.

"Korrashkka," he greeted stiffly, tone respectful. Korrashkka - that must've been her name, Viktor surmised - scoffed upon seeing him.

"Thruul," she sniffed, waving her hand in a dismissive motion. She said something to Vok'Rul that had both him and Thruul stiffening. Viktor frowned.

"Fuck you, lady," he snarled, glowering at her. "I've got no idea what you said about Thruul, but he's way better than you'll ever be."

Vok'Rul chuckled blithely before saying something firmly to Korrashkka and Thruul. Thruul nodded diligently, stepping past the former carefully before making his way into the kitchen. He briefly reached out to touch Viktor's head, stroking his hair carefully. Korrashkka said something in response and went over to the dining table, taking a seat. Vok'Rul stood still for a second before he retreated upstairs, carrying Viktor.

The alien fed Viktor before disappearing into his room. When he returned to the office, Viktor's bowl was barely touched. Vok'Rul gave him a look before handing him the translator. Viktor quickly shoved it into his ear and switched it on.

"What was that, Kohgrash?" Vok'Rul demanded, frowning at him. Viktor crossed his arms, defensive.

"What?" he asked, feigning innocence. "Can't I go downstairs?"

"Not when I told you to stay!" he returned, exasperated. "If it had been an intruder, you could've gotten injured."

"So could you!" Viktor defended himself, dropping all pretenses. "And she was attacking you! She had your face in her hands and was like, trying to break your neck or something! You should've let me attack her. I was almost winning."

Vok'Rul let out a startled, infuriated laugh, "She's my mother, Kohgrash. There was no attack of any sort happening. Unless you count my pride."

Viktor tried to say something, but his mouth wasn't working. He opened and closed it for a few seconds before simply saying, "Oh."

"Yes, oh," Vok'Rul sighed, reaching out to gently pet Viktor's hair. "She is rather particular about certain things. She was... not my most avid supporter in terms of your kind. She thinks you are beneath us. Too much to even consider as pets." He frowned, lost in thought. "Of course, you are much more than simply pets."

"Thanks," he said dryly. "Why's she here? You don't seem to like her too much."

Vok'Rul sighed again - Viktor had the feeling he was going to be doing that a lot today - and said, "She is going to be running a stall at the festival today. I thought we'd meet there, instead. My mother is always looking for an opportunity to shake things up. We do not see each other as often as Rukka and I do." He muttered under his breath, "Which is for the better."

Viktor harrumphed, frowning at his feet. He still didn't like her. Vok'Rul petted him again fondly before straightening up.

"Come, my little Kohgrash, I'll get you some of that fruit you like."

Breakfast was a little awkward. When they returned downstairs, Thruul was almost finished making it. It looked like he wanted to say something but was unwilling to risk it with Vok'Rul's mother being so close. Instead, he greeted Viktor cheerfully, if not a bit too formally, motioning to the small serving of food - this time, it was some sort of melt-in-your-mouth meat patty, which Viktor gleefully ate along with his starfruit - and speaking quietly to him.

"Thanks for sticking up for me, little beast," Thruul whispered to him as he handed him the small plate. "Glad to know you got my back." Viktor smiled at him.

Vok'Rul settled at the head of the table, just as he always did. Korrashkka was on the opposite end, silently watching her son. Thruul swiftly came out, carrying multiple plates. He set up places for Rukka, Nohkka, Kac, and himself after depositing the dishes in front of Vok'Rul and Korrashkka.

"Why is your cook setting up an extra plate? Is Rukka bringing someone else other than her mate and spawn?" Korrashkka asked idly, biting into the meat patty slowly and with purpose. Viktor squinted at her from his place on the floor beside Vok'Rul's chair.

"That is for him," Vok'Rul said, voice dangerously close to being uncivil. "Thruul is a respected member of my staff. He may eat with us if it pleases him."

Korrashkka huffed, clearly letting everyone in the room know what her feelings were on the matter. Thankfully, she didn't press the matter. Viktor might've thrown his plate at her if she had.

"I can eat elsewhere, sire -" Thruul began hesitantly, already picking up his plate.

"No," Vok'Rul snapped, though his expression was gentle when he looked at Thruul. "You will eat beside me, as you have always done."

"Yeah," Viktor chimed in, standing up and glaring at Korrashkka. "Thruul stay with Kohgrash and Vok'Rul."

Korrashkka made a noise of surprise at his fantastic attempt at their language. Thruul just looked teary-eyed. He reached down to pet Viktor's head, and when he lifted his plate, complete with a tactful widening of his eyes, the alien dropped some of his own food onto it. Viktor grinned. He heard Vok'Rul mutter something under his breath.

"I did not know they could mimic our language. How... fascinating. And what is it that it calls you, dear? Vok'Rul? How delightful," her tone suggested that she found it anything but delightful. Vok'Rul hummed noncommittally.

"My Kohgrash is quite intelligent, Mother. Perhaps you should - " Vok'Rul began, slicing into his breakfast with a forced, relaxed air about it.

Korrashkka let out a loud laugh, "Do not tell me you are still trying to convince me that these... what did you call them, mammals? That these mammals are worth the effort you have expended on them. How you and dear Rukka have wasted this past year on them is astounding." She scoffed, peering over the table at Viktor. Viktor bared his teeth. She made a noise of disdain. "And where did you get this one? Any... pet of yours should be well-behaved and disciplined. Did you pick this one up off the street? It would certainly explain its feral behavior earlier."

Viktor wanted to punch her in the face, just to wipe the scornful, disgusted expression written on her face. But it would just prove her right, and Viktor wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"With all due respect, Mother," Vok'Rul spit the name like it burned him to simply speak it. Viktor had never seen him like this. His eyes burned with fury. He was kinda touched. No one had come to his defense over some silly insult. He had certainly heard worse. "Kohgrash is my most treasured possession. Insulting him or insinuating that I have 'chosen' a bad mammal will give me the necessary means to challenge you to a duel, and you can rest easy knowing that I will not hesitate to take that chance," he hissed, nearly standing out of his chair to lean over the table.

Thruul and Viktor watched with similar wide-eyed expressions, holding their breath.

"Of course," Korrashkka said simply as if Vok'Rul wasn't glowering at her and itching to attack. "I am merely stating that perhaps your... Kohgrash," she said his name like a disease, growled with irritation that he hadn't heard since the arena, "should be better behaved. How long have you had it?"

Vok'Rul reluctantly lowered himself to his chair, meal forgotten. Viktor was slightly tempted to climb up there and grab it off his plate, but he didn't want to risk anyone's ire. Plus, Korrashkka was putting him off his appetite. The alien's tail wound itself around him as if reassuring himself that he was still here. Viktor patted it. "He has been with me for almost four and a half months."

Korrashkka made another noise in the back of her throat. "Well, why has it taken you so long to train it? I expected better of you, Rulshkka."

"Then it is a good thing I no longer thrive off of your opinion," Vok'Rul returned icily. His mother scoffed.

Rukka and Kac, along with a sleeping Nohkka, decided to make their appearance, then, shuffling into the wing with cautious expressions. Viktor wondered how much they had heard. Judging by their wary movements, probably a fair amount.

"Ah, my dear Rukka," Korrashkka called, standing from her chair and walking over. Viktor shrunk against Vok'Rul's chair, half-hidden behind the wood and the alien's tail. But she didn't even spare him a glance. She took Rukka's face in her hands, peering at her with the same technique she had used on Vok'Rul. Rukka didn't look too pleased about it. "We were just conversing about Rulshkka's ill-mannered mammal."

"He has saved Rul's life several times," Rukka replied tightly, pulling away from her mother's hands. "Were it not for his... ill manners, Kohgrash would not have acted in time."

Viktor wondered if he was dreaming. He pinched his arm. No, Rukka really was defending him. This day was turning out to be interesting, and they weren't even at the festival, yet.

Korrashkka hmphed, unable to believe that Viktor should be anything but the perfect pet. Viktor wanted to roll his eyes at the thought. He could never be the perfect pet she wanted him to be. Besides, Vok'Rul liked him just the way he was. "Its previous owners must have let it run amok."

Viktor trembled. He didn't want to listen to this anymore. Just the thought of the ringmaster owning him made him sick to his stomach. He shut his eyes, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug into the palms of his hands.

"No," he heard Rukka say. "He was the champion of the Ring of Wonders, the animal fighting ring that was dismantled five months ago. It made the news."

"The champion? Surely, it is too volatile to even consider keeping alive, then. Why do you not put it down?"

"Korrashkka," Vok'Rul growled. The scraping of his chair against the floor, eerily similar to a tail against the warehouse floor, told Viktor that he got up from his seat. He had to take a few deep breaths to push back the wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm him. "If you cannot hold your tongue about my mammal, you will leave my house."

She made another noise but said nothing. Breakfast went more smoothly, if a bit stilted. It was still incredibly awkward. The tension was palpable.

Nohkka was the one to break it. When she woke, she was delighted to see Korrashkka. Frankly, she was probably the only one in the mansion to look so happy in her presence. Korrashkka doted on her in a way that left sour, bitter expressions on Vok'Rul and Rukka's faces. Viktor suspected that something had happened between the three, but he didn't know what. And probably would never find out.

When the elderly alien took her leave - she claimed she needed to 'get away from that dreadful mammal' and set up her stall before the best spots were taken - everyone, save Nohkka, was relieved.

"What a bitch," Viktor commented, just to break the silence that hung heavy in the room. Vok'Rul breathed a laugh, loosening the hold his tail had around Viktor's legs.

"She is still my mother, little one," he chided half-heartedly, crouching to pick Viktor up. He held him tightly - tighter than usual - to his chest, pressing his forehead against his. Viktor patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Do not listen to her," he whispered, voice fervent with desperation for him to believe. "She lives a sad, lonely life. She will never know the joy that you have given me."

Viktor simply nodded, unable to articulate his thoughts into words that made sense. His chest felt warm, burning with happiness. He wrapped his arms around the alien's neck and hugged him. Vok'Rul tightened his grip in return.

"Can we go to the festival, now?" Nohkka whined. Vok'Rul chuckled.

The theme for the day at the festival was clothing, according to Vok'Rul. Rukka quickly corrected him with a grumpy, vexed tone. It was more than just clothing, as Viktor quickly learned from the lecture Rukka decided to give the entire car. Kac, Nohkka, and Thruul were pressed into their seats, unwilling to catch Rukka's ire. Vok'Rul was entirely relaxed, which only seemed to further irritate Rukka.

Clothing is the most commonly seen product, Rukka said, but jewelry, tattoos, dyes, bags, and other accessories are also going to be frequently seen at the festival. And that Vok'Rul should know that, if he ever did his paperwork.

"I did!" he defended himself. "Paperwork is all I do!"

"Paperwork that is not about that traitorous alien that attacked Kohgrash," Rukka clarified icily. Vok'Rul spluttered but had nothing to say against that.

"What's on those, anyway?" Viktor asked curiously, looking up at the alien. It had been months since they had gotten those papers, and it seemed like Vok'Rul had gotten nowhere on them. Were they encrypted? Were they just super complicated? Viktor had no clue.

Vok'Rul looked at the occupants of the car. While they couldn't understand what Viktor was saying, they could understand him. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out to brush Viktor's hair from his face, muttering, "I'll tell you later, little one."

Viktor shrugged. It was no skin off his back. Frankly, he wasn't too concerned with whatever politics Vok'Rul was wading through unless it affected him and his ability to one day go back to Earth.

When they finally pulled up to the festival, Vok'Rul and Rukka had lost their sullen, withdrawn mood that results from their mother's visit and the atmosphere in the car was lighter, happier. Viktor hopped out of the car first, almost falling flat on his face in the process. He hated these hovering cars. Vok'Rul quickly followed him, attaching the leash to the back of his harness with a murmured apology. Viktor rolled his eyes and assured him that he didn't care. It wasn't like the alien dragged him around with it. The only problem he had was that it was the iridescent, color-changing leash Nohkka had insisted they buy at the store instead of the regular plain, black leash.

Curse Vok'Rul. Why did he have to give it away?

While clothes shopping had never, and probably never would, be Viktor's favorite activity of all time, the thrill of shopping with aliens was strong enough to overcome the usually mind-numbingly boring task. It was with an open mind and curiosity burning at the forefront of his mind that he followed Vok'Rul and the others into the thick of the stalls.

There weren't as many aliens roaming about as there had been the first day, and certainly not as many as there had been on the second day, but the crowd was still thick. However, it wasn't crowded so that Viktor needed to be carried lest he get swept away. So, he clung onto Vok'Rul's clothing, which was some kind of flowing robe instead of the regular tunic-esque attire, to keep close.

Vok'Rul, despite all his grumbling about having to wear jewelry to certain events, liked shiny things. He was like a crow in that sense, always collecting whatever caught his eye. Viktor knew, as soon as Rukka explained that there would be jewelry booths, that they would be spending quite a bit of time lingering around them, just as they had during the smaller crafts show where he had seen Nikolas again for the first time since the pet store.

What Viktor didn't expect, however, was that he was going to be roped into it.

Now that he could actually talk back, Vok'Rul asked him for his opinions about everything.

Rukka and Kac bid Vok'Rul, Thruul, and Viktor farewell as they wandered over to a few stalls that had children's clothing for Nohkka. The child looked as enthused as any kid would be about shopping for clothes, which was not very. Vok'Rul and Thruul chatted while they wandered through the stalls until a particularly shiny booth caught the former's eye. As soon as they got up to the stall, Vok'Rul insisted that they look at everything, even going so far as to pick Viktor up so he could see better. Viktor knew now that this was a mistake. He should've run in the opposite direction as soon as they had gotten to this festival.

"Ohh, look at this one," Vok'Rul said, picking up a sparkling ring. It seemed too small to go on any of his fingers, so Viktor figured it was for their horns, instead. The alien twisted it, reflecting light off it. "How delightful! The shape is very unique. Thruul, what do you think?"

Thruul looked like he hadn't a clue what Vok'Rul was talking about, which Viktor could definitely understand. To Viktor, it just looked like a plain band of metal. It was silver. Plain. It didn't look remarkable at all. "I think it would suit you nicely, my lord," Thruul said sweetly.

Vok'Rul hummed, peering at the ring. He set it down, only to pick up a similar one - only this time, it was a bronze color. "What about this one?"

"Jesus Christ," Viktor mumbled, thumping his shoulder onto the alien's shoulder.

"Kohgrash!" Vok'Rul exclaimed, like he just remembered he was carrying an entire human in his arms. "What are your opinions? Do you have anything like this on your planet?"

The alien running the stall tried and failed to hide the odd look it cast at Vok'Rul, likely wondering why he was talking to a human as if he could respond back. It minded its own business though, shuffling to the side to speak with some other customers.

"We've got jewelry and stuff, yeah. My dad's got this gold watch. I've never worn much of it myself, though." Viktor told him. Vok'Rul looked incredibly interested.

"What is a watch?" he asked, setting down the ring and picking up some sort of necklace. This one was pretty cool, Viktor had to admit. It was made of a thick band that tapered into a V in the front. It was embedded with some shiny crystals that reflected the light in a myriad of colors. It reminded Viktor of bismuth. What made it really cool, though, was that some of the crystals were floating, seemingly unattached to the band. When Viktor reached forward to poke it, they bounced slightly before returning to their original spot.

"Uhh," Viktor said, distracted by the necklace. It wasn't anything he'd ever wear - the band was too thick and would just remind him of a collar - but it was cool to look at. "A watch is something we wear on our wrists to tell time. Like a little personal clock."

"Interesting!" Vok'Rul said, looking back at the necklace. "What do you think about this?"

Viktor gave him a thumbs-up and that seemed to be enough of an opinion for Vok'Rul, because he seemed determined to buy it. The alien held up countless other pieces of jewelry to Viktor, much to the human's dismay. He knew nothing about jewelry, especially what would look good against the alien's maroon skin. He didn't know why Vok'Rul needed his opinion on these things.

Thruul wasn't much help either. Whenever he was asked about something, he would hem and haw and then say something along the lines of "Well, what does Kohgrash think?" and then Vok'Rul would turn his attention back on Viktor. Damn that traitor. Thruul was no longer in his good graces, no matter how delicious his food was.

After departing from the booth several bags of jewelry heavier, they moved onto another booth. This one seemed to have hats for sale. They were lumpy and looked poorly made, but by Thruul and Vok'Rul's reactions, it seemed that they might just be the first of its kind. They made noises of shock and wonder.

"It's just hats," Viktor told them when they got up to the booth.

"Just hats?" someone exclaimed from the other side. A human popped into view, teetering dangerously on some boxes that probably had more hats in them. He had frizzy ginger hair that seemed to never end, only contained by several of the lumpy hats he was wearing. "I'll tell you, mister! These aren't just hats! They are one-of-a-kind helmets for these poor creatures' skulls!" his voice was loud, eccentric. "Just look at these poor things. When my dear Crash took me in, he was bumping his head into things right and left! No hair, no skin to protect him!"

"They have skin-" Viktor started, bewildered.

"Uh, uh, uh!" the man interrupted, wagging his finger. "They do not have skin, sir! They have muscle! It's all muscle! How else are they so strong? So large?! Trust me, my young friend, I have been studying these creatures since we got here. Did you know that they change color as they get older? Of course you didn't!"

Viktor opened his mouth to correct him, but the man continued as if he wasn't there.

"Nonetheless!" the man exclaimed, climbing onto the top of the booth to take Viktor's hand in an enthusiastic handshake. "I am Brent, helmet-maker! And you are?"

"Uhh," Viktor said, arm nearly getting pulled out of his socket with the force of Brent's handshake. "Viktor."

"Well, Viktor!" Brent exclaimed, releasing his hand and throwing his arms out. He nearly toppled backward off the booth, only steadied by his alien, Crash, who quickly placed a hand on his back. "Welcome to Brent's Bizarre Bazaar!"

"Forgive him, Your Majesty," Crash was quick to say, offering Viktor a reassuring, if a bit worried, smile before looking up at Vok'Rul. "I have found that my mammal is quite the... active one. He does not get along with many others of his kind because of this." Crash cast another look at Viktor, and it struck him that perhaps the alien was worried that he would attack Brent out of nowhere. It made him wonder what alien social media was like and how he was portrayed on it At least, he knew that he was covered in the news enough to be called Saviour of the Vokkra.

Vok'Rul rumbled in amusement and was quick to reassure the other alien, "It is of no worry. Kohgrash is very friendly with others of his species."

Crash wilted with relief. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Cheer up, Crash!" Brent practically yelled, jumping from the top of the booth's table to the alien. Crash hastily caught him, setting him down on the ground in a tumble of limbs. He looked embarrassed but fond. "We've got customers!"

Brent whirled around to face him, waving his arms. Viktor leaned out from Vok'Rul's arms to peer at him skeptically. "Vincent -"

"Viktor," he corrected. Brent waved his hands dismissively.

"Viktor," he remedied, a smile stretching across his face. "Does your alien hit its head on objects all around their obscenely large houses?"

"No-?" Viktor tried, but Brent kept going.

"Does your alien ever take random tumbles down the stairs?! Crash into others? Your alien is mighty tall; surely he must smack into door frames?! Well, dear Viktor -" Brent took a deep breath. Viktor could feel Vok'Rul barely suppressing laughter as he spoke with Crash, shamelessly listening to their conversation. "Have I got the product for you!!"

Brent quickly rummaged through some boxes despite Crash's protests. He pulled out a hat. It was ugly; misshapen and a bright, neon yellow. It was made of the same material as his sweaters, thick and soft. The hat was sewn together roughly. There were parts where the fabric sagged and parts where it was pulled tight. The shape of it reminded Viktor of a sad beanie.

"With this," Brent said, climbing back onto the booth's top effortlessly. He wobbled for a second as he got to his feet too quickly, but threw out his arms to steady him. He pushed the hat into Viktor's face. "Your alien will be protected from all sorts of dangers! Door frames will fear him. Do you mind if I...?" He trailed off, gesturing with the hat to Vok'Rul's head. Viktor shrugged, a slow smile stretching across his face to match Brent's.

"Not at all," Viktor said. He reached up to pat Vok'Rul's face, drawing the alien's attention to him immediately. "Hey, Vok'Rul!"

"Hello, Kohgrash," Vok'Rul returned, a little confused.

"Lean forward a little," he said, leaning out of his arms to entice the alien to follow his movement. He obliged and was promptly attacked with a hat as Brent lunged forward to pull the fabric over his head.

"By the Spirits, Red!!" Crash shrieked, pulling Brent away from Vok'Rul quickly. "I am so, so, so sorry, Your Majesty," he spluttered, holding onto Brent as tightly as he could and bowing lowly at the waist. "R-Red has never done such a thing before! Please, I am not sure what's come over him!"

Viktor laughed heartily over Crash's panic, pulling up the hat above the alien's eyes as Vok'Rul floundered to get it off. He pulled it more firmly over his head - in the right spot this time - and patted the sides of his face. "You look great!"

"Kohgrash," Vok'Rul scolded, though the effect was ruined by the small smile he had when he was faced with the sheer joy Viktor was feeling. "You could have simply asked me to put it on, little one."

"This was funnier," Viktor defended himself. "Plus, you look nice. Yellow is your color, for sure." At least it matched his eyes.

Crash was still stumbling through his apologies, holding Brent to his chest like a lifeline. The man looked uncomfortable pressed to the alien, but he was wearing a shit-eating grin larger than Viktor's. "Hey!! Glad your alien likes it! What'd'ya say, then, mister Viktor? Wanna buy one of my patented helmets?"

"Mammals are quite the mischievous little things, wouldn't you agree?" Vok'Rul told Crash, waving away his apologies. "I quite like this... hat yours has picked out for me. I think I will purchase it."

"Oh, S-Sire, I must insist that you take it, free of charge!" Crash stumbled over his words quickly, as if pushing them out of his mouth faster would belie his fear. "Please, take it!"

"See ya, Brent!" Viktor said as he, Vok'Rul, and Thruul started to walk away from the booth. "I like the hats!"

"Hey!" he shouted, shaking his fist. "You gotta pay for that!"

Viktor just waved goodbye at the man, grinning. When they were far enough away, Vok'Rul squeezed him tightly.

"You are making me look soft-hearted, Kohgrash," the alien whispered to him. His tone was light, though. He wasn't really angry. "What will I do with you?"

Viktor patted the alien's shoulder before reaching up to straighten the hat out. Their horns didn't make it easy for the fabric to stay on. "You could throw me to the streets! That's where I got my manners from, y'know."

"You wouldn't last a day out there," Vok'Rul told him haughtily. Viktor gasped in offense.

"I definitely would! I'd last much longer than you, that's for sure." Vok'Rul chuckled.

"Sure you would," he simply said. Viktor rolled his eyes to hide his smile.

***

Vocabulary:

dreshi: dangerous

Ffssk': Mother

flakmmn: sorry, informal

gjjora: drawing, artwork

gnno': hurt(ing)

'k: little, usually added onto the end of a name or object

ka: is

kraw: ouch!

kor: stay

ktish: scared

lorka: home

'mrr: my/mine, usually added onto the end of someone's name (Kohgrash'mrr)

neyk: stop, no

ta: you

tas: you're

tash: your

tih: okay

whf: can (you)