plutothe-pup - Tumblr blog

[plutothe-pup]

Milo's first brush with sickness hadn't been his eomma - though that was the one he remembered most vividly. Instead, it had been his grandmother. She'd been kind, sweet, but his memories of her had been so far and few in between. He'd been so young when she'd passed that the fraction of his life he'd shared with her now seemed so small. She had been the first he'd lost all the same. At the time, he had not realized it, but she had grown slower. Weaker. More frail and weak.

It had been easy for her to catch pneumonia. Perhaps it was ironic that by the time Milo turned five, his family had turned to four. His father had been the next to go - but Milo hadn't witnessed it. Instead just informed that he was gone, and that it was the Huntsclan that had done it. Just like that. No goodbye. No funeral. No final word. Just gone. It was never said - but Milo knew it was his fault. That his father had died because of him. All he could pray for was that it had been quick, painless. That his father hadn't suffered. He'd never seen his grandfather again either - and he could only assume the older man had followed a similar fate.

So by the time Milo was a teenager, unfortunately he was familiar with loss. Yet, that did nothing to help ease the pain of knowing his time with his mother was on a timer. A small sand hour-glass that felt like god was picking up some days and shaking - just to force the crystals to fall faster, while Milo was on his hands and knees begging him to stop. There had never been a conversation. They'd never sat down and discussed what it was that had taken his mother's beautiful smile away from him. Even now... Milo didn't know. Had it been cancer too? Had she just been too tired..? Had it been the flu that just went too far, pneumonia, TB, a broken heart?? - Milo would never know.

She'd always refused to go to the doctor. We can't afford it. He'd stolen cough medicine and Tylenol. He'd tried to compromise - saying he'd be fine if they used the income just for her to go see someone. Please, he'd quietly pleaded. I just want you to be okay.

It had never been enough - and Milo still remembered how even if she was still alive, Pluto smelled death. The disease, the illness. Something.

He was terrified if he turned into a dog now, he'd recognize that same scent.

"...s-..she has--..." Milo started, his voice breaking as he tried to wrap his tongue around that horrible, terrible word - his hand gripping that handle so hard his knuckles were surely white. He swallowed uneasily, sniffling - but once again choking back that breakdown, like he could refuse its presence between them. "It-... She.." His stomach lurched, and Milo squeezed his eyes shut, feeling that hot burn behind them.

"...it's uhm---... it's c-cancer. She-.... A-Amy has cancer."

@moon-yeongjun

Throw Your Arms Around the World || Moon Dog

[plutothe-pup]

While he was happy here - at the Market, with his job, he wondered briefly what it might've been like if he had 'graduated'. If perhaps he might've tried college. It was expensive, just another burden to add to the pile they couldn't really afford, but... it was experience Milo got to watch everyone else have.

Something he didn't realize swept so many opportunities away too. How many cool clubs, sports and opportunities had been offered to him in secondary. How many more of them would he have had in Uni - all of which he couldn't join now, as just a working adult.

He wondered then too - if this wasn't an option Mrs. Boggs was giving him now. That perhaps there was a way to work things out. That.. maybe he didn't need to have graduated Secondary to have that option at all. Instead maybe there was a test. Or even an option to still pursue regardless - and that those were things she might be able to help with. "...do you think uh -..." He paused, shifting something in the bag instead of really glancing up. "...is it still possible to.. go to college? Even if-.. you know."

@agentroz

Grocery Games | Rolo

[plutothe-pup]

Milo pressed his lips together for just a moment at that dismissal - a small nod following even if he felt that slight twist. He just thought it might have been beneficial, was all - if they had both gotten mutual experience out of something.

If that wasn't what Gem wanted, that was fine, he supposed. Though it made him wonder what he did want then. Milo was curious to learn more about a different fighting style. He thought he could gain better experience from it. But it was Gem that had agreed to do this with him. Outside of the 'club', by themselves.

Why had he agreed, if not for some benefit? Surely not out of the kindness in his heart. They clearly weren't 'friends'.. so what was the draw for him?

"...yeah fine." Milo agreed instead of questioning anything in his mind, shifting back away from Gem with a sigh as he shook out his arms and got himself looser. "...Just don't hit me in the face." He both warned and requested at the same time.

"...no one in my house matches my skin tone and I don't want questions." Because at least Amy and Pip both did own some kind of make-up he could have borrowed to cover up any blemishes but.... unfortunately that would work just as terribly given how much fairer they were in comparison. So it was best just not to give reason!

@gem-morey

Meet me Outside || Gemilo

[plutothe-pup]

Yes, there was a very specific 'this' he was referring to. He supposed that would have been helpful information to add, but part of him had forgotten that Mim wasn't privy to the entire conversation he had been having with himself in his head up until that moment. So he could only sigh lightly, turning back to check on his creation - prodding at a potato to see if it felt cooked yet (eh... bit more time).

"...the this that goes bark, bark and shows up at the worst times." Milo specified as he put the lid back on the pot and turned to cross his elbows over the island, looking at Mim. "...The dog. My dog. Pluto. The curse." The younger man continued, moving to just drop his head down in his arms then too with a small groan of annoyance.

It still wasn't fair - in case anyone was wondering. He still felt like it was very unfair! "...I mean like.. the least they could have done was leave hugging off the table, you know? I feel like... that's a little too far. I can work with the rest! Not happily, but more so than everything."

@madmagicmim

The Way it Is || Plim

[plutothe-pup]

Okay, Milo supposed he didn't actually think that the students of Secondary had gotten any less... well, student-like. He just figured that their class was chaotic enough that maybe it covered them for a few years. Evidently not though. His movements paused at her last comment however, Milo's gaze shifting up to meet her own.

The thing was - Milo knew it was sincere. Genuine and honest. That if something happened... Roz might not actually be able to do anything, but she would offer to help, wouldn't she? Just like she'd, against all normal procedure for herself, had simply tossed forms for his sake. She would look out for him. Even if he wasn't a student anymore.

The thought brought a smile to his lips - soft and just as genuine as he ducked his head lightly. It was... touching. To know that Roz evidently still thought about him. Still cared about him more than just as some bratty kid. That even though he'd come to Swynlake with nothing, just as he'd found family in Pip and Amy - he'd found... maybe not family but.. - some close bond in Roz as well. A person to look up to, and someone he could associate with safety. In case he was ever in trouble. "...Of course." He agreed after a moment, finishing packing everything up for her and trying not to let his heart clench too much. "...I think I've gotten into enough trouble for a lifetime though, right? I-.. I'm trying to break a new record of staying out of trouble for now.."

@agentroz

Grocery Games | Rolo

[plutothe-pup]

Kyungminnie.

The word felt like a tidal wave - crashing against the poor barrier of defense he'd barely started to pile up in the few moments he thought he'd had to prepare. An innocent, kind gesture by all standards, but something he hadn't heard come out of someone's mouth in years. Not since his own eomma had called him it in the very same tone Jun had used, that empathetic concern that in a way, stemmed from a very similar breakdown.

You can tell me.

Except he couldn't. Oh no. No, no no. He couldn't, right? He was barred from telling Pip. Amy didn't want people to know. She wanted to keep it business as usual. So he couldn't. (Right? No!) Even if he wanted to, Milo felt like his throat had constricted around whatever words he might've wanted to say anyways, his breath catching in his lungs as he shook his head.

He couldn't tell him. No one could know... - not unless Amy told them herself. It wasn't his business to say. Yet it felt like a secret that burned deep in his heart, like bile, hot in his stomach as he stepped back again, away from Jun and that comforting weight against his shoulder - away from the confession that was trying to lurch free from his chest, pounding away at his ribcage.

...or maybe that was the quick beating of his heart.

Milo sniffled - the sound betraying his failing attempt at remaining stoic, and instantly he knew his time was out. His body turned so violently, and he immediately sprung for the door, hand shaking so bad that it took two attempts before his fingers finally clamped around the handle. He wanted nothing more than to rip it open, to flee. How could he put himself in this situation again? Jun was his boss. He didn't deserve this. Didn't need this.

Yet, he couldn't turn the handle. Couldn't bring himself to run. All he could do was squeeze that handle harder, holding onto it for dear life as he choked back his sob, letting his forehead fall against the hard surface.

"....——I-..I ha-had to w-watch m-my e-eomma g-..get s-sick and-... and die - and I-.. I do-don't w-want h-her to d-die t-too. I-..I c-can't. I-..I can't d-do this a-again. I-I can't l-lose her too, h-hyung."

@moon-yeongjun

Throw Your Arms Around the World || Moon Dog

[plutothe-pup]

It was true - Milo wanted to learn from Gem. If only because Gem was an unpredictable force, a weird raw, messy fighter that Milo wasn't used to. It wasn't disciplined at all, it wasn't focused or accurate - but it was still very much effective. That kind of subset would be useful compared to Milo's very polished, but as Gem pointed out, slightly (he thought it was just slightly) predictable experience.

"...Sometimes." Milo pointed out, eying Gem as he shifted on his heels, as if looking around for something. "...I get the feeling if I was completely predictable, I would not have caught you off guard last time." He finished. He knew he did not technically win that fight, because Gem had caught him off guard too, but the point still stood, did it not? "...but I guess that's the point. You know things I don't, and I know things you don't. Why shouldn't be both learn something...? I learn to be... unpredictable, so to speak and uh--... you learn a bit more structure."

Plus, Milo didn't want there to be an imbalance anyways.

"...unless you don't want to. But.. I promise if you lean about twice as much weight on your back foot than you currently are, you'll find your hits landing more solid."

@gem-morey

Meet me Outside || Gemilo

[plutothe-pup]

Yes, yes he did. Milo actually kind of prided himself on his sleight of hand despite the fact he hadn't actually used it since turning back human. He didn't want to give Pip another reason not to trust him, or to be angry with him - nor did he exactly need to be lifting wallets. So of course he hadn't needed to do anything. Those reflexes were still there though, all that knowledge that had come from trial and error and surviving as a child on the streets with nothing to his name.

So Milo took the compliment for once with just a soft smile, finally tucking that note into his pocket as he sat on the opposite edge of the bench. His smile was quick to dampen a bit at the mention of his hand though, leaning forward to let his elbows rest on his knees as he looked down at his right hand - the imbalance that had remained there since August.

Every time he stared down at it, he still remembered the sidewalk. The way he'd caught himself against the shop window - the smear of blood across the glass. The way his brain had struggled to compute what was missing. What had been wrong. One, two, three, four...

He curled his fingers into a loose fist, curling his left hand over his right and easily obscuring it again. Hiding it, as Jasper said. Though it was more for Milo's sake than anyone else's. His mind drifted far too easily for it to be safe. "...uh... y-yeah." He said quietly, glancing up at the park in front of them as he pulled his lip between his teeth. "...It-.. Guess I uh.. I'm still just not used to it." He admitted. "...I don't know if... I'd call it a uh.. a battle scar." Though he guessed maybe it was. It had been a battle, no? "...just got caught up in that... thing last August. Did that and--.. messed up my shoulder. Still not exactly fully healed yet." Milo explained vaguely, not realizing that Jasper wouldn't have potentially been around for the disaster in August.

@goodeveningjasper

the toll | open

[plutothe-pup]

The only saving grace that Milo was holding on to, was that Jun wouldn't ask. No matter what response came from him, whether it was disappointment, firing him, or just accepting it, Milo knew he wouldn't ask. They never did, right? So that 'I see' felt like an acceptance, and Milo's shoulders dropped a bit of their weight as he exhaled a heavy breath from his lungs.

That could have been it. That could have been the end of it; but instead Milo saw Jun's lips part again and then - the dreaded words that followed.

Is everything okay?

Oh god.

Immediately Milo looked away, blinking away the tears that had sprung instantly to his eyes. Why did he ask that? Was he insane? They could have so easily parted ways with no further questioning! Why did he have to ask that?! Worse - why did he want to cry immediately upon being asked that? Why was that a part of human reactions!?

Unfortunately he had already once cried in the presence of Mr. Moon - and Milo was not trying to do that again! He still held that shame from dropping on the older man's doorstep late at night and putting all of that on him. He couldn't do that to him again.

But the word yes wouldn't come from his lips. He couldn't force it out. Instead, he managed to shake his head as he cleared his throat again, struggling to suppress his fears. "...N-..No. ..n-..not really." He managed before he quickly bowed his head again, taking a few steps back. "..Uhm -.. I'm sorry uh - I.. I should...g-..get out of y-your h-hair. Uhm.. if-...-.. If that's n-..not okay y-.. you can j-..just, let me uhm.. let me know, I-. I understand." He took another step back, his breath catching heavily in his throat as he desperately swallowed down his emotions. He just needed to hold together for another minute, that was all.

@moon-yeongjun

Throw Your Arms Around the World || Moon Dog

[plutothe-pup]

While Milo's smile had turned soft at the start of Luca's words, a blush coating his cheeks as he turned his gaze away slightly - that blush had gone from earnest to slightly embarrassed as Luca all but scolded him next.

It wasn't as if it wasn't deserved though. Milo just thought he'd been.... right. That it was the right thing to do. That it was what Luca deserved - but... would it have been fair not to at least give them a chance? To see if they wanted this too? They weren't wrong when they said that they got to decide what was right for them, so Milo should respect that.

Especially because he felt the same way. Luca made him happy. They made him happy that very first day they met, they made him happy when he'd spotted them across the way in class, and they'd continued to make him happy every day since then. Even with their ups and downs, it had never been Luca that had done any wrong.

So Milo could only nod softly, a laugh slipping from his lips as he tried to appear as surrendering and innocent as possible. "...okay." He agreed, looking back at Luca and squeezing their hand. "...Okay. That's uh.. That's fair." He chuckled. "...We'll just take it one day at a time - and I promise I'll try to be less stupid." A pause as he tugged Luca back along their path towards food, his smile turning a bit devious again, if only because it was in his nature.

"...Sometimes."

@lucathedreamer

Let Them Go || Seahound

[plutothe-pup]

Milo: very organized, i like it Milo: uh... location? Milo: I mean it can be at the house, obviously. Since he comes home on the weekends, I can get him out to bring him back once everything is set up. Milo: or if it's better for the dorm....? idk. Milo: The big things are the who, what, where and when but we have most of those so. I think you've covered the important bits.

The P.P.C || Philo

[plutothe-pup]

It had been a rough month.

Honestly - Milo had thought he was over that kind of thing. After the summer he had last year? How could things have possibly gotten worse, right? Plus every since the New Year, things had been on the up and up! Milo had remembered what it was like to be happy. For that smile to come easier to his lips. For his appetite to slowly return from the way his stomach had simply churned on all his medications.

Things had been so good.

He supposed it only made sense how quickly it had all seemingly come crashing down. Milo was still trying to pick up the pieces, reasoning with himself and trying to come to terms - but it had been hard. For the obvious reasons, of course, but also for one very stubborn reason which was only becoming more and more grating with every single day that passed; his damn curse.

So on one hand, Milo was surprised he'd even bothered to invite Mim over to be a test subject for a recipe he was still learning. Surprised he was even bothering to find the inspiration to continue learning new dishes at all, but on the other hand? He was actually more glad for it, if only because at least she was someone who had a little bit more of a base knowledge (aside Amy, Greg and Pip, she had been the first to know) about his curse. Enough comfort there at least for him to be able to look at her across the kitchen island and just--

"...I'm so tired of this." Context might've helped though.

@madmagicmim

The Way it Is || Plim

[plutothe-pup]

Milo: omg perfect. Milo: see - this is exactly why I knew you were the perfect guy for the job. Milo: I think it's a really great idea. He should be really surprised and love it too - and it'll be a great break from all the work he's been doing. Milo: Consider me your full uh... idk.. lackey or whatever. Anything you need to help organize this, I can do!!! Include provide you food for thought. And also - like I said, pay for you party planning committee services because I really appreciate this

The P.P.C || Philo

[plutothe-pup]

Milo: well he also loves vintage. Or like.... idk he seems to love older things he's an old soul so that totally tracks too! Milo: [deleted] we also never...actually got around to watching knives out or the sequel. and by we I mean me specifically so i still have no idea what that means but Milo: oh yeah though - that sounds great! He does love a murder mystery and drama - all those things. Very fabulous. Milo: can we do that as a surprise? Like - would we be able to orchestrate it that he can be prepared and yet surprised? I mean I guess I can make sure he has the clothing to make an impromptu costume and everything bc he'd be planning his outfit for days if he knew, I am sure.

The P.P.C || Philo

[plutothe-pup]

Milo: [deleted] hahahaha dude i am one second from a breakdown, luca's birthday is three days before pip's and it's their first one with us together and I have crippling anxiety on disappointing them on top of knowing i have already disappointed pip and that's on top of the fact i need this to be his best birthday because it's going to be ALL DOW Milo: lol - seriously don't worry about it he's just being pip. Milo: Would love to see the rundown, I have a lot of faith in your ideas, I have only seen and heard what great parties you are capable of throwing. I am sure you have a party resume at this point. Milo: my ideas are unfortunately very grounded in the food and dessert department... so. uh if you didn't have those covered, I would Milo: [deleted] can you actually steamroll me though? like straight into the earth thanks bro

The P.P.C || Philo

[plutothe-pup]

Milo: [deleted] omg Milo: [deleted] jesus christ Milo: [deleted] can you not Milo: no - that's my point! Milo: if he had something to say about you, like being super mad or weirded out or some other imbalance in the universe when it came to you I would have heard about it. So I'm telling you whatever 'weird' going on def has nothing to do with you bro

The P.P.C || Philo

[plutothe-pup]

Milo: what? Milo: no, no no! please, he tells me everything bro - I would know if things were like actually weird between you two. Milo: it's totally the musical! It's super high stakes for him, you know? Milo: but that's the other thing - I think we should totally do it anonymously anyways!! Because you know if he knew it was you, he'd want to pay you like he offered. Which, totally get it if you did want to get paid but I will pay you!! The birthday boy should not be paying! Milo: so I figured basically like I would go through you! That way there's no worries anyways, right? You feel? Milo: plus you're way more in touch with his friend group and everything, you would know who to invite and how to get in touch with them without him finding out anyways.

The P.P.C || Philo