This ask is from forever ago, but I meant to thank you for it when you first sent it. But after all the kind words you had for The Kennel last night, I want to 1.) thank you again for being so kind to me and 2.) try to answer this. I obviously haven't been around as often, but I do still check in and think about my boys. Here goes nothing!

"You're not serious."

Jack looks back over his shoulder, and he tries not to laugh. Joe stands in the kitchen doorway, his face frozen in horror and his eyes fixed firmly on the mottled blue-red lobster that Jack holds pinched between his thumb and forefinger. Jack should have known he wouldn't get away with this--or at least, that Joe wouldn't let the occasion pass without protest. This is, after all, a man who became a vegetarian because of his mother's highland cow wall calendar.

"You don't have to eat it, Joey."

"Neither do you," Joe replies. "You could let him go right now."

Jack sets the lobster back into the open cooler at his feet and closes the lid. "Where would you propose I do that?"

"We live on the water."

"I don't think he's from Long Island Sound. It wouldn't be very nice to abandon him so far from home."

Joe's lips purse. "You're going to boil that poor animal alive."

"That's how it's done, my love." Jack nudges the cooler with his stocking toe. "He's been chilling in there all day. He won't even feel it."

Joe stares at the cooler with disgust. "How do you know?"

"I suppose I don't. But Hallie--"

"--do not blame this on our child--"

Jack sets gentle hands on Joe's shoulders. "Hallie asked if she could try lobster."

"She wouldn't have asked if she knew that it was going to turn you into a murderer."

Jack snorts. "Well, she made a concession. I offered her crab--then I wouldn't have to do the killing--but she said Sebastian was a crab, and she didn't want to eat Sebastian."

"You walked her past the lobster tank, didn't you?"

"Yes. I am a monster. "

"Jackie--"

"She said they looked like big bugs. I guess no one's anthropomorphized lobsters yet."

Joe doesn't quite know what to say, and Jack knows it. He presses a kiss to his husband's lips.

"I promise, it will be over fast."

Joe looks down at the cooler with a sigh. "That's what they all say."

"If it's any consolation, I think Hallie only wants to try it because she gets to dip it in butter."

"Butter?"

"Yessir," Jack says, wrapping his arms around Joe's waist. "Drawn butter." He kisses Joe's neck. "I got some fresh sourdough for you," he whispers. "And your own butter warmer. They sit on top of candles. It'll be romantic."

Joe groans as Jack's teeth nibble at the meat between his neck and shoulder. Jack could certainly never be a vegetarian.

"Careful, Dr. Prescott. We need to keep it PG until Hallie's in bed."

Joe's hips buck forward. His voice is breathless. "You started it. You're just trying to--to--"

"Butter you up?" Jack says with a grin.

Joe laughs. "I love you, even if you're about to murder an innocent crustacean."

"I love you too. Now, get out of my kitchen. I want you to have plausible deniability."

Jack is in bed, Carl curled behind his legs. The room is dark and quiet. He tugs at the drawstrings on the hoodie that Joe left out for him after his bath; he's too warm, but Joe wants him to wear it, and so he will. The hood puddles around his gaunt face.

"Ivan said I was a quick study," he whispers. "He said I was a smart boy. That I knew how to behave. I think that was his favorite thing. It's--it's what he trained me for. But Joe?" Jack rolls onto his back, letting his hand move absently over the crown of Carl's dark head. "I don't think he has a favorite thing. I thought I would be what he wants, but I'm not."

13. Do they like giving oral?

Jack smirks. "This is the question where Joe's gonna go all white knight. I can see it."

"What?" Joe rubs the back of his neck. "I do like it. I like doing that for you, baby."

"And I like doing it for you, believe it or not."

Joe smiles. "I know you do."

Jack shrugs. "Took me long enough."

"Baby, it would have been fine even if you'd never gotten there."

"But--"

14. Do they like receiving oral?

"Yes," Joe says, a little embarrassed. "But I'd be okay without it!"

"Don't be a hero, Joey."

"I'm not!" He ducks his head and peeks back at Jack. "Do you? Like it?"

A sly smile spreads across Jack's face. "I do. It makes me feel... kind of powerful. Do you think that's fucked up?"

Joe's eyebrows raise. "No. Actually, I kind of love that for you."

"Good. You wanna get out of here?"

26. What is something that will never fail to get them horny?

Jack considers for a moment. A deep breath. "That used to be difficult. After everything, I wasn't sure what legitimately turned me on anymore. It took a lot of work to figure out what was real and what was--well, what was my training."

He leans forward confidentially. "But look--I don't know if you've seen Joseph Prescott's ass. It is a thing of beauty. No one had to train me to respond to that. And if the owner of that ass kisses me on the back of my neck? I'm gone."

18. Are they into roleplay or dress-up during sex?

"I like to be myself. It's something that no one but Joe has ever let me be in the bedroom, and I'm going to stick to that." He pauses. "But--if Joe wanted, say, to dress up like a ranch hand or something, I'm not saying I'd say no..."

Joe snorts. "As long as I don't have to wear chaps."

"I--well, now, I guess I'm a little needy," Jack says with a half-smile. It's easier to talk about now, but the old pain is just barely visible in the lines around his eyes. "When I was with Ivan and after, when I--when you finished, you were just locked up again, if you were even lucky enough to be unrestrained.

"But now, with Joe, I need a little come down. I like to be able to look at him after, to feel him and know that he's who he is and that I'm safe. And yeah, maybe I like a little cuddle."

"He's a spider monkey!" Joe calls from the next room.

Jack laughs softly, but his eyes are faraway. "I missed being held."

Hello, kind anon! Something like this does exist in part eight of the regular series, so I’ll share that here—but noted. I will add it to the list ❤️

behavior modification, a valentine special

hi! long time, no see. i was home sick from work today and marathoning valentine movies, so here's some sentimental jack and joe for you. part of behavior modification (masterlist here), takes place sometime in the first year after jack's rescue, during his lawsuit against WRU for his freedom.

content warnings for: trauma responses, references to past noncon, tooth-rotting fluff

future snippet, sealed with a kiss

“Is this for your special someone?” 

The clerk’s smile is impossibly large; if she smiles any wider, Joe is convinced her face will crack. He understands. She’s probably asked this question at least seventy-five million times in the last week, and it’s a pointless one. Valentine cards are a perfunctory part of being in a relationship. Even if you don’t think your someone is all that special, you still buy them a card because that’s what the day demands. It’s part of the reason Joe never really cared about Valentine’s Day before. The forced displays of affection, the candy pink sheen of it all–it never seemed to reflect the kind of love Joe knew to be true. 

But this year, it’s different. This year, the clerk’s question isn’t so pointless. Joe looks down at the red envelope in his hand, and he cannot hide his own smile. “Yes, it is. Someone very special.” 

“Well, I’m sure she’ll love it!” the clerk sing-songs back. With a pop of her gum, she grabs the card and scans it. 

Joe doesn’t correct her. At least, not overtly. “I hope he does,” he says softly, but the clerk doesn’t look up. 

They never really celebrated Valentine’s Day before. Sure, Joe liked to rage against the consumer machine, but it was really Jack’s doing. Jack was indifferent, or, at least, he pretended to be. The truth was gift-giving occasions always made him a little uncomfortable. In Jack’s mind, gifts were offered only as part of a fucked-up trade; something he might want for something he certainly didn’t want to give. Joe had learned that the hard way. 

Looking at puppy adoption pages, and thought of the ad copy the WRU team (or Doc) might write.

Jack, 24. Jackie is a sweet boy who's finally realized his full potential. Calm and obedient, Jack would be an ideal companion for an owner who can appreciate his gentle personality and unique qualifications. He comes completely prepared for an active owner and absolutely loves to play with all manner of toys. He responds well to physical affection and would be happy to snuggle up with you anytime.

Champ, 23. Champ is a gorgeous specimen who's been well-trained to provide his owner with hours of fun. He is active and prefers physical play, even if he may seem a bit shy at first. He is easily motivated by affection and treats, just like a good boy should be.

Will, 23. After a bit of an intensive training period, Will may look a little rough around the edges, but he's ready for an owner who will lavish him with special attention. He is a quiet boy who does best away from other pups, but if you're willing to put the time in, he'll do whatever he can to please you. He can be a little food aggressive, so it's best to keep him on a regimented diet and a short leash.

behavior modification, part twenty-two

master list here. picks up where part twenty-one left off. PROCEED WITH CAUTION. thanks to my @oddsconvert and @darkthingshappen for the sprints that led to this getting turned out so quickly.

content warnings for: EXPLICIT noncon, conditioned whumpee, intimate whumpers, physical violence, broken bones, blood, negative self-talk, loss of consciousness, adult language

part twenty-two, a job well done

Jack spends the night in his basement cage, and Ivan does not clean him up. When he wakes to the sound of Ivan’s footsteps on the cement, his skin feels stiff and tacky, his hair brittle and ropey. But he doesn’t hurt. Not really. He’s used to it, isn’t he? 

behavior modification, part twenty-one

masterlist here.

content warnings for: EXPLICIT noncon/dubcon, noncon drugging, forced nudity, cages, conditioned whumpee, multiple whumpers, intimate whumpers, bbu/bbu-adjacent, psychological whump

part twenty-one, easier

It gets easier. 

Jack doesn’t know how, but he does know why. It has to get easier, or there will never be any relief. It was the same with Bill, with all the others; the more he fought, the worse everything hurt. And this, this “arrangement” with Ivan is never going to end. He may still have his name, he may not have been obliterated by the Drip, but Jack is property of WRU now. Just as he was always meant to be. 

He is good. Sweet. Compliant. He is an instrument of pleasure, and he serves his master well. 

And so, it gets easier because it has to. It’s the only way he can face his future, such as it is. 

This is not a drill. The next part of Behavior Modification's chronological timeline is in progress, and it's a doozy.

"I--it's like a butterfly effect thing, isn't it? If what happened to Jackie hadn't happened, I--we maybe would never have met. Everything led us to each other, even Chester. But if Jack'd never known me, then he never would have come in contact with Peters. If he'd never known Chester then he wouldn't have known me, and he would have been safe, from both of them. Everything would have been different. Every cell in my body wants to fucking end both of those bastards, but...

"If killing Bill Chester saved Jack knowing any of the pain he's suffered, I would do it in a heartbeat. Even if it meant that we would never be together. "

He smiles sadly. "But if I had to time travel to do it, I'd have known him once, wouldn't I? Even if I could never have him again."