Anon lay sprawled across the tangled sheets, his gaze fixed on the cracked ceiling above. The dim light of the bedside lamp cast a sickly glow across the cluttered room, illuminating the detritus of a life half-lived - discarded books, empty bottles, and crumpled papers littered every surface. His heart felt as heavy and leaden as the grey morning sky outside the grimy window, a suffocating weight that threatened to crush the last vestiges of his once vibrant spirit.
He had long since abandoned any delusions of a happy life, any fleeting notions of love or joy. In this world of monsters, where the very air was thick with the stench of their cruelty and disdain, there was no room for a scrawny human like him. He was a relic, a remnant of a time before the dinosaurs had clawed their way to the top of the food chain, before they had reshaped the world in their own twisted image.
Anon's mind drifted through the endless parade of horrors he had witnessed, the countless atrocities committed by the dinosaurs in the name of their own twisted superiority. He had seen too much, felt too little, until even the memory of genuine emotion was little more than a distant, fading echo. He was a ghost, a hollow shell of a man, drifting through the motions of a life that had lost all meaning.
The creak of the bedroom door startled him from his melancholic reverie, and he turned to see his roommate standing in the doorway, her brow furrowed with concern. Anon forced a weak, brittle smile onto his face, a mockery of the genuine warmth he had once been able to summon.
I'm fine, he lied, his voice flat and lifeless. Just tired. I'll be up in a minute.
Anon dragged himself out of the gloom-shrouded bedroom, As he stepped into the dimly lit hallway, he felt the last vestige of himself leaving behind a hollow husk that merely went through the motions of living.
He paused for a moment, his eyes flickering to the star-kissed sky visible through the high window at the end of the corridor. For a fleeting instant, he saw the sorrow etched into every line of his face, the deep-set circles under his eyes speaking to a grief he could not escape. But as quickly as it had come, he banished the true reflection of his inner turmoil, replacing it with a carefully crafted mask of feigned joviality.
The charming smile slid into place like a well-worn glove, the corners of his mouth curling upwards in a way that was pleasing to the eye, if not to the heart. It was a smile that had been honed through countless repetitions, a false grin that had become second nature to him replacing his humanity. A weapon of deceptive snake, wielded to disarm and placate those around him, to hide the rotten core of his being beneath a veneer of sweetness.
As he entered the communal kitchen, a hush fell over the assembled dinosaurs. They looked up from their breakfasts, their gazes sharpening as they took in his carefully crafted persona. Anon could feel the weight of their scrutiny, the unspoken judgements that came with being the sole human in a world of these monsters.
He spoke, his voice a low, soothing murmur that held the faintest undercurrent of weariness. "Oh, good morning," he intoned, the words dripping from his tongue like honey from a spoon. There was a pleasantness to his tone, a softness that was almost palpable, yet it lacked the true exuberance one might expect from a morning greeting.
Marsha, the imposing purple-skinned triceratops, was already seated at the cluttered dining table, shoveling spoonfuls of what passed for cereal into her maw. She glanced up as Anon shuffled into the room, her eyes narrowing as she took in his disheveled appearance.
Well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with his presence, she drawled, her ghetto-inflected voice dripping with sarcasm. I was starting to think you were gonna sleep the day away, rock chucker. You know classes start in like, an hour? Or have you forgotten what day it is on top of everything else?
She punctuated her words with a snort, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her thick, reptilian lips. Marsha was nothing if not a morning person, and she took great pleasure in ribbing Anon for his perpetual tardiness and sullen demeanor.
Just then, Stega drifted into the room, her long green hair still tangled from sleep, a single orange backspike jutting out haphazardly from her ponytail. She flashed Anon a shy, almost timid smile as she slid into a seat beside Marsha.
"Good morning, Anon, Stega said softly, her Mandarin-accented English a gentle contrast to Marsha's harsh tones. "You, um, look tired. Did you sleep well?" She paused, then added hesitantly, "I hope you feel better soon."
Her gaze flicked nervously to the ornate Mandarin character dangling from her ponytail - "有个快乐的日子" - a reminder of her Chinese heritage and the expectations that came with it. Stega was always trying to keep the peace, to be the voice of reason amidst the constant bickering of her roommates. But her gentle nature often went unnoticed, overshadowed by the louder, more boisterous personalities of the others.
Park paused in the doorway, one hand on her cocked hip as she clutched a fluffy towel to her ample bosom. "Cheers, mates!" she chirped, flashing a saucy wink in Anon's direction. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead. Though I must say, the 'shine' part seems to be eluding you today."
Anon just rolled his eyes and slumped further into his chair, not rising to Park's bait. He couldn't muster the energy for their usual back-and-forth,
Park noticed Anon's lackluster reaction and rolled her eyes, blowing out a frustrated sigh. "Gerroff, Anon!" She huffed, stomping over to the table. "Honestly, it's like trying to get a reaction out of a corpse sometimes. Do try to keep up!"
Marsha let out a loud, crude whistle, not bothering to hide her admiration. "Breakfast is over, looks like it's time for dessert already," she quipped, leering shamelessly at Park's barely-covered curves. "And damn, if that ain't the prettiest peach pie I've seen all week."
Park shot Marsha an annoyed glare. "Shut up, Marsha," she snapped. "Unless you've got 500 bucks for a private peepshow, you'll have to settle for staring like the rest of the plebs."
Stega, blushing furiously, bit her lip and squirmed in her seat before covering her face with her hands. "A-Park, please!" she squeaked, her voice muffled. "Not at the breakfast table! Anon's right here, you can't just-"
"Shut up, Stega!" Park snapped, blaring her horn in a sharp honk like an enraged elephant's trumpet.
Stega flinched at the tone, cheeks flushing deep crimson, shrinking into her seat as if she could disappear into the floorboards. "S-sorry…" she whispered, barely audible.
Anky burst into the room like a thunderclap, her large chest heaving as she slammed her fist on the table until the dishes rattled, "Don't you dare bully her again, Park!" she roared, "I swear to stars, I'll kill you, bitch!"
Park rolled her eyes with a scoff. "Oh, please. Spare me the novela theatrics," she said dryly. "I was just having fun. Stega's a big girl — she can handle a little teasing."
Marsha snorted, leaning back with a grin. "Yeah, chill, Anky. Unless you're offering to take Park's place as dessert, I suggest you zip it, and keep those hands to yourself."
Anky shot her a murderous glare before turning back to Park. "I don't like how you talk to Stega. She's our friend, not one of your dumb groupies pendejas."
Stega winced at the tension "I-I'm okay, Anky," she mumbled. "Park didn't mean it…"
Raptor stormed into the room, her lithe form coiled with irritation. She jabbed a finger at Anky, her Russian accent thick with frustration. "Курва!" she spat. "Why the hell did you leave on the last round, Anky? We could have won!"
Anky turned to face Raptor, her brow furrowing in annoyance. "Listen, I had to deal with something, y'know?" she said, lowering her voice to her normal sweet, maternal tone. "It wasn't personal."
Just then, Anky noticed Anon's subdued demeanor and furrowed her brow with concern. "Oye, Anon, you don't look so good, mijo," she said, reaching out to gently cup his chin with her warm, soft hand. "You seem under the weather again. Quieres que te haga un cafecito? I think you could use a pick-me-up."
Anon managed a weak smile, his eyes meeting Anky's worried gaze. "I'm fine, Anky," he assured her, even as a part of him longed to lean into her touch, to lose himself in her comforting embrace. "But I would love some coffee, if you don't mind making it. Thank you."
"Hey mijo, Wanna join us for a game?"
She stepped closer, placing a gentle peck on Anon's chin. Anon tensed, momentarily allowing his revulsion to show before quickly hiding it beneath a blush and a strained smile. "Uhh, s-sure," he stammered, pretending to be flustered. "Sounds great, Anky."
Anky beamed at him, lingering on his cheek for a moment longer before she pulled away. "I worry about you sometimes, pet," anon tried his best to hide his anger at being called pet. anky didn't seem to notice. to a dinosaur it was normal to call a human this.
"But I'm glad you're joining us. It'll be fun, wait and see!"
Just then, Park scoffed, rolling her eyes at the exchange. "Ugh, you can't just go around kissing Anon, Anky," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "You have to butter him up first, make him think it's his idea. That's how seduction works."
Anky swung her tail around with a sharp flick, glaring at Park. "Fuck off, bitch," she snapped, her voice like thunder. "Like he wants a kiss from your whore mouth. I know what's best for our little Anon here."
Raptor watched the exchange with a smirk, her arms crossed over her chest. "Ooh, how heroic of you, Anky," she purred, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Marking your territory with little Anon, what a fearful, neanderthal display. Maybe you should just piss on him to claim him fully, neh?"
Stega blushed and averted her gaze, looking uncomfortable. "Ew, get a room, you two," she muttered, fidgeting with her napkin.
Marsha, however, licked her lips with a salacious grin. "Don't get a room," she growled. "Do it right here on the table. I wanna watch the show!"
Anky flipped Marsha the bird, not bothering to hide her disgust. "Fuck off, you perv. I'm not gonna fuck him in front of you."
She looked at Stega and said, "Don't worry, Stega — that's why I'm dragging him into the room."
Anon looked to Stega, surprised and alarmed as Anky began dragging him towards the bedroom. "Hey, wait a minute! I didn't agree to this!" he protested, trying to dig his heels in.
Anky just ignored his objections, pulling him along with surprising strength for her bulky build. "Shh, don't be like that, mijo," she cooed, her accent thick with false sympathy. "You're going to have so much fun, wait and see! And don't worry, Stega can finish your breakfast for you."
Anon tried to call out to Stega for help, but the timid reptile just shrank back, her eyes wide. "Um, bye Anon..." she squeaked softly before shrinking down in her seat.
Marsha licked her lips, eyeing Anon's nearly untouched plate hungrily. "Aww, you didn't want it anyway," she said with a shrug. "Mind if I finish it for you?"
"Not a chance," Anon snapped, yanking his plate away from Marsha's grasping claws. "I said NO! Don't eat my food!"
Park snorted derisively, examining her manicured nails. "Tsk, he should be eating ME, not her," she said with a smirk. "Though I suppose a starving man has no choice..."
Raptor grinned wickedly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Heh, can I go next after you, Anky?"
Anky paused, glancing back at Stega with a smirk. "Maybe, if Stega doesn't want to join in," she said with a shrug. "Apparently, she has math homework to attend to. Boring, isn't it?"
Marsha's eyes lit up, and she surged to her feet. "Can I join?"
"No," Anky said firmly, pushing Anon fully into the bedroom before slamming the door shut. "I already said you couldn't."
"Fuck you, Anky!" Marsha yelled, pounding on the door. "I hate you!"
Anon sat on the carpeted floor of the messy bedroom, surrounded by piles of comic books, action figures, and half-eaten snacks. He felt the plush carpet fibers tickle his fingers as he tried to get comfortable.
"Ugh, so what are we playing then?" Anon asked, glancing up at the two dinosaurs looming over him. His eyes flicked to Anky before darting away again.
Raptor grinned, her sharp teeth glinting in the fluorescent light. "Oh, not much. Just Dino Six Siege," she said, cracking her knuckles. "It's a tactical shooter game, y'know? We're either storming a building and clearing it out, or defending it. Depends on what round it is."
"Huh, sounds cool," Anon said distractedly, his mind elsewhere. "I don't really play games though. Mind if I just watch?"
Raptor's smile faded slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "Fine, I guess," she said with a shrug. "Though it's more fun playing together."
Anky plopped down next to Anon, her bare thigh brushing against his. She smirked at Varya as the velociraptor tried to snuggle up to him. "Hey, back off," Anky said playfully, a salacious lick to her lips. "He's my prey, remember? Hands off, Varya."
Varya just smirked back, not put off in the slightest. "Oh wow, who's the carnivore here?" she taunted, nuzzling into Anon's neck despite Anky's protests.
"Ugh, I'm not in the mood for this," Anon said, pushing Varya away halfheartedly. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I'm just tired, y'know?"
A concerned look crossed Anky's face as she studied Anon's weary expression. "Awww, what's on your mind, mijo?" she asked genuinely. "You've seemed so stressed lately..."
Anon rubbing his temples. "Ugh, I'm just...I'm tired," he lied, not wanting to confess the real reason for his distress. "Being away from home is just...really stressful."
Anky snorted derisively. "Pffft, don't even get me started on the other theropods," she said, her lips curling in disgust. "Spino is a grade-A bitch, and so is Carno. And don't even mention Regina REX, that two-faced cow-"
Raptor snorted. "Tell me about it," cracking her knuckles. "Same here," she said. "Being in this big school with all these new faces and people I've never met...it's scary as shit sometimes. I'm lucky to have you guys to hang with or I'd be so fucking stressed out."
Anky paused, then looked at Anon curiously. "Hey, who do you like the most, out of us lot? And don't just say Anky and raptor, we know that," she added with a cheeky grin. "But seriously, who's your favorite besides the two of us?"
Anon hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Uhh, well of course I like you two the most," he said with a strained smile. "You're my best friends here, y'know?"
Anky and Raptor both grinned at that, preening a bit at the compliment. But Anky's curiosity wasn't fully satisfied.
"No, I mean like...who do you actually LIKE like?" she pressed, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Come on, Anon. Don't leave us in suspense here!"
Raptor nodded eagerly, leaning in to study Anon's face for any hint of a reaction. "Yeah, who's your favorite girl around here besides us?" she demanded. "Don't be shy now..."
Anon's cheeks flushed slightly as he tried to come up with a answer that wouldn't completely piss off Anky and Raptor. He settled on: "Uhh, well...I guess I kinda like Stega," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "She's just...really nice and caring, y'know? Not like some of the other bitches around here."
Anky and Raptor both blinked in surprise at that, not expecting Anon to pick their shy, innocent friend. Anky frowned slightly, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes. "Stega?" she repeated, as if tasting the name on her tongue. "Really, Anon? You're into that shy little wallflower?"
Raptor cocked an eyebrow, looking Anon up and down with a critical eye. "Huh. Wouldn't have guessed that," she said. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Stega's a cute...for a ornithischian. But I figured your taste ran more towards...experienced women."
Anon felt his blush deepen as he realized how sincerely he'd answered. Fuck. He quickly backpedaled. "N-no, I just...I mean, she's nice! And sweet. And her...umm...plates are really shiny," he said lamely, internally wincing at his own clumsy wording. "And her tail...her tail is cute. The pony tail, I mean!" He could have kicked himself for sounding so awkward and earnest.
The game round began, and Anky and Raptor turned their attention to the screen, their fingers flying over the controllers. But the conversation continued, punctuated by the sounds of gunfire and explosions from the game.
A thoughtful look crossed Anky's face as she leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "You know, it's weird," she mused, not taking her eyes off the screen. "I thought for sure you'd pick someone else. Like...what's her name again? That hot little number you were always hanging around with back in the beginning of the semester."
Raptor snorted derisively, her thumbs mashing buttons. "Yeh, like that bitch Ptero," she said. "What was her name again? I don't remember."
Anon felt his gut clench at the mention of Ptero. Shit. He'd have to be more careful. "Uhh..." he hedged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, I dunno. I guess we just...didn't see eye to eye anymore."
Anky and Raptor both glanced at each other, a silent communication passing between them before they turned their gazes back to Anon, their expressions Expectant.
Anky frowned, her brows knitting together in a scowl. "Ptero's a bitch," she declared, as if that settled it. "I can't believe you hung out with her so much at first."
Raptor just shrugged, cracking her neck with a sharp snap. "Same here," she agreed. "Don't know how you put up with her for so long, Anon. Guess you've got secrets, huh?"
Anon shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of his lies pressing down on him. "Ah, it's just..." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "We both like economics," he said at last. "Had some classes together, y'know? Made sense to study together and stuff."
Anky made a face, curling her lip in distaste. "Ugh, money?" she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I really don't like talking about money, Anon. It's so...crass."
Raptor glanced at Anon, a sly smirk playing on her lips as she unsheathed her small, feathered wings from her back. She flexed them slightly, the thin skin stretching taut. "Is it the wings?" she asked teasingly, a wicked gleam in her eye. "I heard humans are into that kinda shit. Well, I may not have the biggest pair, but I do have these bad boys," she said, gesturing to the small, clawed protrusions on her arms. "Maybe that's why you were hanging out with Ptero huh?"
Anky frowned, looking thoughtful. She crossed her arms under her ample chest, her biceps flexing slightly. "Hmm, if Anon likes wings, I don't think he'll settle for a small pair like yours," she mused. "He seems to have a...taste for the bigger type."
Raptor bristled slightly, self-consciously crossing her arms over her chest. "Hey, my wings are not itty bitty!" she protested. "They're just...efficient. For gliding."
Anky just smirked, shaking her head. "Whatever you say, bird brain. I still think Anon knows what he likes. And it's not mattresses with feathers."
She turned to Anon with a conspiratorial grin, leaning in close. "I mean, let's be real, heh. He was probably just...trying her out. Giving the exotic a test drive, if you know what I mean." She winked salaciously. "But at the end of the day, our boy Anon here? He's a traditionalist. He likes his women...substantial. With a nice, big, juicy..."
Anky paused for effect, her eyes drifting down to Raptor's backside before flicking back up to meet the other dino's incredulous glare. "Hey, I was just saying!" she said defensively. "Don't look at me like that!"
Raptor's jaw dropped open as she processed Anky's words. Then she started to laugh, a deep, rumbling sound that filled the room. "Oooh, I get it now!" she crowed. "Little miss curves over here thinks she's got a shot with Anon. Well, sorry sweetheart, but he's not into that kinda thing."
Anky blushed hotly, stammering. "Wh-what? No! I just meant...I wasn't...you know I'm not..."
Anky and Raptor had been exploring their attraction to Anon, discussing their own assets and the human's apparent preferences. They seemed to be trying to figure out their competition's angle.
Anky glanced over at Raptor's athletic physique and muttered. "Hey your back's not bad either," she said, trying to be diplomatic and reassure her friend.
Raptor smirked wider, noticing Anky's lingering gaze on her backside. "Oh? Didn't catch you staring back there," she teased, a wicked glint in her eye.
Anky blushed and waved her hands defensively. "Ugh, no way! I'm not into girls, obviously. I mean, have you seen the guys on this campus? They're WAY more...ridable." She shuddered slightly, as if lost in a lustful reverie.
*Raptor looked thoughtful for a moment, then grinned wickedly at Anon.* "Hey Anon, tell me something - you won't be mad if Anky, your future girlfriend slash breeding slave apparently, decides to get with a girl and have some fun with her? You're not one of those old-school humans who go around capturing and defiling big, curvy herbies like in the caves, right?" *She smirked teasingly as she said it.*