ok ok ok . WIP technically of my Magnum Opus with my characters in their silly giant alt history universe. historical fiction g/t vore is real and it's coming for you. lemme know if any of the formatting is fucky
The Hiring Process
chapter one
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After disposing of each potential new hire, Jean-Marc took a sip of the expensive wine he'd chosen for the occasion and wiped his mouth clean with a new silk handkerchief. He sat at his desk, flexing his fingers idly, as he reached back into the drawstring pouch his humans were delivered to him in.
He retrieved an unimpressive boy, perhaps freshly nineteen, who quivered between his fingers until he was dropped onto the countertop. Jean-Marc steepled his hands and rested his chin on his knuckles, his brows drawn together dispassionately, and gazed down at him.
Jean-Marc knew how he liked his pets. Not entirely spineless, but not disobedient. Handsome, and frail, and insightful, but without any delusions of being a person. He could tell at a glance when his humans met that criteria, and when they didn't…
He shut his eyes and focused on his stomach, where he could feel the minuscule ticklings of the last few candidates he'd already considered. A small, polite belch worked its way past his lips, and he delighted in the way the boy in front of him stiffened at the sound, like a deer in the sights of his gun.
"So," he started, his voice a little thick from the richness of his wine. "First of all, can you speak?"
Often, the humans he was given chose not to speak to him. Those were the ones he sorted into the ceramic jars in the sitting room, to keep as snacks. Humans were delicacies, after all; a majority of the people who bought them only did so to eat them. Jean-Marc was eccentric in that he occasionally appreciated the companionship of a human pet, but a pet that couldn't talk back didn't capture his interest as much as his appetite.
"Yes, monsieur," the boy said, meekly.
Jean-Marc's expression stayed measuredly empty.
"Where did they pick you up from, petit?"
It took the boy a moment to register what Jean-Marc meant by that.
"I was taken from the Gardens," he said, voice a mere squeak. "By a giant."
"Luxembourg? My, but you must be a resourceful little creature, to last so long out in the open." He flashed a smile that was neither warm nor terse. "Living off of the land is admirable — less admirable is competing with the rats."
Jean-Marc had a manner of speaking that was both condescending and soothing; the boy's tense shoulders marginally relaxed.
"Yes, monsieur. I'd been living in the area for a few years."
"If you would, please hold your arms out, so I may examine you."
The boy did as he was told. Jean-Marc reached for him and picked him up, index and thumb around his ribs, and held him in front of his narrowed, grey eyes.
"Mm. A bit too muscular," he commented. "I'm sorry; I think I'll keep looking."
The boy didn't miss when the tip of Jean-Marc's tongue flicked against the corner of his mouth, and was remarkably quick to react, his tiny fingernails digging into Jean-Marc's hand in an attempt to free himself. Said reaction was cut short by Jean-Marc squeezing his thumb and index finger — likely breaking a few of the human's ribs — rendering his snack a touch more compliant.
"Ah, ah, ah," he chastised gently, before he eased the spasming human into his mouth. He pressed the boy against his hard palate and swallowed the excess saliva pooling around his teeth as his tongue flexed around his prize.
"Mm," he hummed, swallowing again. The boy was haplessly sucked into his throat, but met a bit of resistance when his lower half got past the pharynx. His heart dared to leap with hope, and he struggled against the tight esophageal embrace.
Jean-Marc sighed through his nose and reached for his wine glass. He took a leisurely sip, the liquid flooding the human's temporary prison, then — with a practised swallow — his throat pulsed and sucked his prey down, closing behind him before it relaxed, empty.
Jean-Marc took another slow sip of wine before setting his glass down, relishing both the taste and the minute struggles of the boy sliding down his oesophagus. He followed his progress with a gloved fingertip, past his collarbone and along his tight chest, until the boy was reduced to just another warm, satisfying lump in his belly. Jean-Marc traced his finger in circles over his upper stomach, smacked his lips twice, and gave an airy hiccup. Then he patted his middle definitively, wiped his mouth, and reached for another.
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Even in the darkness of the linen pouch, Armand had heard the words Jean-Marc spoke to the human before him.
'Sorry. I think I'll keep looking.'
Then, the squelching noise the giant's throat made as he swallowed. For a moment after, he swore he could have even heard the gurgle of the giant's stomach, thoroughly glutted on human beings and voicing its satiety. What rattled him most, though, was the idea that he may be next. Being in complete and utter darkness, he had no way of knowing exactly how many other humans had been stuffed into the pouch with him initially, but he knew the giant had eaten four — now five — of them, and their numbers were dwindling steadily, given the inside of the pouch felt much less crowded than it had.
Armand was unsure of what exactly the giant was looking for. His tone varied; he was curious one moment, stern the next, aloof, cruel, enigmatic — some humans he talked to like they were children. Others, like livestock. He had eaten them regardless of tone. Armand did not see himself talking his way out of this, in any case.
"You're a squirmy thing," suddenly came the giant's amused voice. There was a soft sound, fabric sliding against fabric. The image of the giant rubbing his stomach invaded Armand's mind's eye, and he cringed, fists clenched.
"You know, though you didn't fit my standards for a pet, you're certainly an enthusiastic little snack," it went on, chuckling.
It wasn't long before cracks of light shone into the pouch, and the giant's warm, solid hand snaked its way inside.
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"One more and I'll be full," Jean-Marc muttered to himself, one hand resting on his bloated middle as he snatched a human up by its ankle. As he drew it out of the bag, his brows raised as he took in its colouring. A man, quite pale and skinny, with royal-blue eyes and hair so blond it was almost white. He kissed his teeth with interest, dangling him in front of his eyes.
"You're quite the specimen," he noted. "I thought that this month's delivery was a bit more pricey than usual. I was paying for you, wasn't I?"
Armand's face was growing scarlet from his upside-down position.
"I am sure I don't know."
Jean-Marc's amused expression went cold. He held the little man a bit closer. "How do you address your betters, garçon?"
Armand's eyes grew, if it were possible, wider. He vocally fumbled for a good few seconds, his throat tightening when Jean-Marc wetted his lips idly, before he choked out: "Hochwohlgeboren— I, ah — Monsieur le Bourgeois."
Jean-Marc narrowed his eyes, stared at the pale human for an intense moment, then gave a soft sigh through his nose that evolved into a resounding chuckle. The hand that had been kneading at his belly came to rescue Armand, transferring him securely to his palm.
"A German," he cooed, laughter still touching his voice. "You're imported."
He seemed to reflect on that for a moment, then gave the young man an amused look. "You must learn, petit, that we do not call each other 'bourgeois' as a title. Monsieur is all I require — perhaps Monsieur de Sauvageau, if the setting is formal. Understand?"
"Yes," Armand said, his brows drawn together in confusion.
Jean-Marc's disposition had completely changed. He smiled with gentle good nature. "I'm going to have to train you, aren't I? 'Yes,' who?"
Armand inhaled sharply. "Yes, monsieur."
"Hmm. Good boy. There are a few things I'll need to fill you in on, but for now, I need to finish the rest of my food."
Jean-Marc set Armand down on the front of his jacket, then toppled him over, so the human was forced to lay across his chest like a cat.
He rested a hand on top of the quivering Armand, and with his other, plucked up a human from the pouch, his eyes alight with hunger. He tipped his head back in his chair and lowered her into his yawning mouth, swallowing reflexively when her head touched his throat.
The sounds may as well have been deafening to Armand, in his position, and as the girl was slurped down his new master's throat, he felt the minute bulge of her body passing beneath where he lay. The chest rumbled, and Jean-Marc let out a quiet burp, to which he murmured a quick, "Pardon me," to his new pet. He ran his hand down his middle, over the buttons of his waistcoat, which were beginning to strain against his swollen, prey-filled belly. He frowned to himself, weighed a few unknowable options in his head, and unbuttoned the bottom two.
"I must sort through the rest of them," he murmured to himself, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. He addressed Armand: "You needn't watch, my dear; stubborn humans can make dinner quite messy. It'll be better to bring you to your cage, I believe."
Far below, Jean-Marc's belly let out a groan, likely protesting the idea of consuming any more. He gave it a correcting jab with his thumb, chuckling to himself.
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Armand found himself in a sturdy wire cage, silver and ornate, with nothing to furnish it besides a floor of wood shavings and a firm-looking cushion, half the length of his body. He suspected he'd have to curl up like a dog if he wanted to sleep on it. He paced the perimeter of the cage a few times, searching for anything he could make use of to escape — but, of course, turned up with nothing.
Escape would be impossible regardless. The cage was placed on an escritoire in the large dining room, opposite the door to the kitchen. Every minute or so that door would open, and a giant servant would cut through the dining room on their way to the foyer. Armand flinched as, this time, the door to the foyer opened, and a handsome young footman entered with a cloth and bowl. Armand's heart lurched as he approached, but he sidestepped the escritoire and instead began polishing the silverware on the dining table.
Armand watched him, hands wrung together nervously, but after the two men had been alone together for twenty minutes and the footman had done nothing but polish, he let himself take a seat on his bed — or, at least, the cushion that he was expected to use as a bed — to collect himself.
Escape. Past an unknowable number of servants, out into the foyer, then past the main doors, into the street — and where was he, even? He'd been in a dark pouch for the past two days. It could be that he wasn't even in Paris anymore; perhaps he was now out in the countryside, and would be snapped up by a bird the moment he left the safety of the chateau.
He was brought from his thoughts by his cage going dark. When he looked up, it was not the silhouette of the young blond footman that eclipsed him — it wasn't even Jean-Marc.
A regular giant was gigantic. This one was ginormous — a titanic, walrus of a man, with golden spectacles, neat brown hair, a thick moustache, and tremendous girth. Contained in a dark olive suit, his belly stuck out like the breast of a prize chicken. Armand trembled under his honey-brown gaze; he cursed that the cage he found himself housed in had nothing to hide behind.
The man turned to the footman. "Garçon! I see you neglecting to use the polish! Do you think silver will shine if you ask it politely?"
"Sorry, Monsieur Richelieu."
The titan — Richelieu — brought his attention back to Armand's minuscule frame, his brows drawn together with disdain.
"You're the one," he muttered, voice lowered for privacy from the footman. "How long has it been since you've eaten, little mouse?"
Armand couldn't find his voice. He craned his head up at the giant, throat suddenly dry as a bone. He mouthed a few inaudible words, and the giant's brow furrowed further.
"My God, you things are like bugs, I can't hear a word you're saying," he growled, throwing open the cage door and snatching the human up in one meaty fist. He brought the tiny man up to his face, his eyes cold and calculating behind his spectacles, and huffed.
"Now, answer me. Are. You. Hungry?"
"You had better not be bruising my new pet, André."
The man-mammoth's face went pale as his employer strolled into the dining room, buttoning his waistcoat as he walked. His stomach groaned audibly as he finished, perhaps protesting being contained so tightly while so full, and when Jean-Marc stopped opposite Richelieu he gave his stomach a firm, self-satisfied pat.
He held his hand out expectantly for Armand, who Richelieu handed over without protest. Jean-Marc smiled down at his human before looking back at his servant, a brow raised inquisitively.
"What, did you intend to break him on the first day? Without me?"
"No, Monsieur de Sauvageau. I was only asking it —"
"…Him if he was hungry. I had to lift him to hear his reply, small as he is."
Jean-Marc let Armand stand on his palm, bringing him up to eye level. "Well? Would you like Richelieu to bring you something, petit?"
Armand looked up at the giant, brows pinched together and elbows tucked at his sides.
"I, ah… A pinch of bread, and perhaps some water."
"Bread and wine," Jean-Marc amended to his servant. "And bring me a digestif."
As Richelieu was dismissed with a wave of Jean-Marc's hand, the giant gazed down at his new pet.
"Did you have time to explore your cage? It's German; I find they make the best bird cages, and they work just as well for humans. Some others with my hobby tell me I ought to replace it with a wooden one, but I so appreciate the aesthetics of a metal cage. What do you think?"
Replying to the giant always felt as if it were a trap of some kind. Still, Armand swallowed and answered.
"It is cozy. It smells of iron and dust. I've never had my own bed before."
"Really?" Jean-Marc sniffed. "Well, it's not much. I'd like to fully furnish it, but there aren't many artisans who make furniture for humans. It's quite expensive."
"It will look silly, fully-furnished, with the floor full of wood shavings," Armand said bluntly. "Am I a pet, or a man?"
Jean-Marc laughed. "Do you think that I bought you to be a man? Don't be silly."
He pulled a chair out from the dining table and sat down, setting Armand on the tabletop.
"You're mine. My pet, my property." He leaned back in his chair and laced his hands together over his overfull middle, which gurgled richly at the touch. "Mmm. Doesn't that sound nice? I'm not hearing any gratitude. I'm in a particularly good mood today, you know, but if you'd like me to be cruel to you, you have only to keep taking that tone with me."
There was no challenge in Jean-Marc's cruel grey eyes — only the expectation of being obeyed. Armand gave a swallow that caught in his throat, his mouth suddenly made of cotton, then bowed meekly. "I apologise, monsieur. I am grateful."
"Well, don't do that," Jean-Marc complained, a grimace on his face as he leaned forward once more. "Don't go spineless on me. It's dreadfully dull. I'm too full to eat you, but I won't keep a pet who bores me."
"I —" Armand's throat caught again, and he was suddenly terribly nauseous. Jean-Marc's brows drew together, and Armand felt as if he was going to pass out. "I'm sorry, monsieur," he admitted hoarsely. "I don't know what you want me to do."
"Stop submitting," Jean-Marc explained, his lip curled in distaste. "I hate it. Think for yourself, but be good. How is it that you're so frightened?" Something flickered across his face. "Have you never seen your kind eaten before?"
Armand could only look away pointedly, and a slow, almost relieved smile replaced Jean-Marc's sneer.
"Ohh," he exclaimed, amused laughter in his voice. "Oh, poor thing. Come here, petit."
He reached for Armand and picked him up with care, leant back in his chair — and held him atop his stomach, stroking at his white hair with a gloved hand. "It's nothing to be so frightened of, you know. I'm a giant, aren't I? It's only natural for us to eat humans. Biology."
This did not have the effect of soothing Armand, who felt stiff as a corpse in Jean-Marc's hold. Jean-Marc gazed down at him, his eyes strangely gentle, and smiled with what was probably meant to be reassurance.
"To think that you spent so much time loose in Paris, and never experienced … Where was it you were hiding?"
Armand hesitated, and Jean-Marc frowned. "I'm only curious. I won't tip my trapper off, if that's what worries you —"
"No," Armand cut in, quickly. "It's not that, I just — I don't know how you call it in French. I had lived in the walls of a… a man who paints, where he stores his supplies and teaches his students —"
"An atelier," Jean-Marc supplied, shifting in his chair in preparation to hear a story. "Go on."
"Yes. Yes, this. The artist was very quiet. My hair and my skin are very light, so other humans do not want me around, because I attract attention. I had stowed away in many different giants' carriages before I wound up in Paris, and that is where I found it."
Jean-Marc's content smile turned smug. "Austria isn't fully integrated yet, is it? More giants than you were used to."
Armand nodded haltingly. "Y… yes. There are a great many here. I was lucky to find the atelier — above a wine shop — and the artist kept it locked. He only worked very early in the morning. Occasionally he would teach one or two students at a time, but usually he was by himself."
"Not much to eat in the atelier itself, but plenty of places to hide," Jean-Marc deduced. "You learned his schedule well, hm?"
He had defaulted to stroking down Armand's back, repeatedly, like petting a cat. Armand was carefully ignoring it, his posture straighter than it had ever been.
"Yes. Some days he would have a plate of food while he painted. When he looked very focused, I would take a piece of something, then slip away again."
"No wonder you're such a bony little thing. When Richelieu returns, I must ask him to bring you something substantial."
As if summoned by his name, the dining-room doors swung open to reveal the steward, a silver tray in hand. He approached, and Jean-Marc lifted Armand from his stomach to set him on the table.
"Finally," he sighed as Richelieu set the tray on the tabletop. "Look at him, Richelieu; does he seem too skinny to you?" He gestured with one hand to Armand, lifting the crystal glass of cognac to his lips with the other.
Richelieu glanced down at Armand, one thick brow raised. "He is small, monsieur, but I couldn't say. I shall have to see how his measurements compare to the others to have a learned opinion."
"Ah," Jean-Marc exclaimed through his drink. A swallow. "Yes, his measurements. See to them tonight; we must replace those rags of his. Now, leave us for now; bring his cage to my study — it's much too noisy here, so close to the kitchen — and I'll expect a spoonful of potage waiting for him when I bring him to his cage tonight. We must start building him up."
Richelieu had moved for the cage as soon as it was demanded of him; he nodded deferentially, stole another analytical look at Armand, and dismissed himself with the cage in tow.
Through the two men's deliberation, Armand had approached the tray on the table. There sat a small piece of bread, cut to a generous size for a human, still warm. A small glass of red sat beside it. He grabbed the bread and, aware of Jean-Marc's eyes on him, took a tiny, polite bite. He heard Jean-Marc chuckle softly.
"I value manners, but you needn't perform for me. If you're hungry, eat as you like." His free hand drifted to his stomach as he took another sip of cognac. "I overdid it, myself. Let's do away with manners for today."
Armand actually managed a manic little chuckle. Jean-Marc waved his hand. "Go on."
When the bread was gone and Armand was savouring his wine, Jean-Marc set down his empty glass and reclined in his chair, his free hand still kneading at the slight curve of his belly under his waistcoat. Occasionally a low, long gurgle of digestion could be heard, and Jean-Marc would gently pat at the base of his stomach, as if appeasing it. Armand would grow white and avert his gaze. It was when Jean-Marc noticed his pet's reaction to such things that he reached over and brought Armand back to sitting atop his midsection.
"I see I still need to desensitize you," he said mildly. "Relax. Settle there."
Armand could only cringe and relax against Jean-Marc's massive hand, his fingertips scraping against the fine knit of the giant's waistcoat as if searching for an anchor. Jean-Marc made a small tsk.
"You must get used to this. I consume humans often; deliveries twice a month, plus the jars in the sitting room. You'll witness it, you'll hear it — you'll feel it, when you sit with me like this. Once you're properly trained, and you've proven yourself, you'll be higher in the food chain than they are. All this fear will seem ridiculous. Now, tell me about this artist; did he ever see you?"
"Once." Armand swallowed. "He happened to glance at me from across the room. I thought he would try to kill me, but he only stared. When I ran back under cover, he just kept painting."
"Hm," Jean-Marc hummed thoughtfully. "Did he paint you?"
Armand looked up at Jean-Marc, meeting his gaze properly for the first time since they'd sat down together. "He did. I saw a glimpse of it — a sketch. How did you know?"
"Sight-size painting. It is a method used by students and masters to ensure that a painting is entirely proportional to the subject. Some progressive artists have started using humans as models for that purpose; they simply stand next to the canvas, and the artist captures them as they are." Another sip of his drink had his eyes going sentimental. "Perhaps he saw potential in you as a unique subject. You are exceedingly rare, you know."