RegressCo - Morning Routines

Waking up at the start of a new week of work, Jonathan is prepping for another commute with his wife Isabelle. Of course, as Jonathan is a recent regressee working at RegressCo’s head office, this routine is one he’s still getting used to

Morning Routines

There’s a hundred different kinds of coffee apparently. To Jonathan, this was the morning where the one on the roast was a particularly bitter blend, it seemed. He’d been able to notice the tangs and sensations after a while of being borderline addicted to the stuff. Morning routine of getting up, getting somewhat presentable and then sitting down to a cup had been a requirement for him. His bed hair slowly began to settle on his head as he ran his hands through it, leaning back in his seat as he watched his wife prepare their morning beverages. She’d always been better at preparing the stuff than he had, taking the necessary time to grind the beans and filter them to a proper degree. None of that instant stuff, it made his mouth crawl just thinking about it. If he wanted to sweeten a mug she could just add some cream or sugar or something and he’d drown himself in it. Watching her carefully go about her work made a small smile work its way across his muzzle as the fennec fox remembered the cuddles they’d had the night before...

“Honey, how much milk would you like?”

He grinned “Well, how much coffee am I getting?”

The possum sighed and rolled her eyes “If you can finish a bottle, we’ll find out won’t we” she shook the babyish item in her left hand, its contents sloshing around.

Jonathan groaned “Really? Can’t I just have a sip now Izzy?”

She moved to his side, placing the bottle on the tray in front of him “Bottle, or do I need to feed you myself?”

Jonathan gave it a scowl but picked it up with both his pudgy hands and drew it to his muzzle. Regression in Hazelbrook was hardly unusual at this point but when it had shrunk him back to his babyhood he’d taken it pretty badly.

“You always look cute when you do that” Izzy muttered “Doesn’t take long for you to get a smile going though”

He scoffed “Coffee would make me smile a lot faster”

“It’ll also mean I’ll be trying to keep you still on the whole commute. Remember when I let you have that little cup of Americano? I swear I’ve seen basketball players bounce less”

“Hmph” Jonathan drew the bottle to his muzzle and felt the nipple pass his teeth. She wasn’t wrong, the buzz from caffeinated drinks was far bigger and the crash far worse than when he’d been an adult. He was thankful that Izzy didn’t bring up what it had done to his stomach. Guess both of them had repressed that.

He shifted in place and tried to get into a comfortable suckling rhythm, leaning back into the highchair. It was one of the least offensive items in the house to him, it’s padded seat and backrest something of an improvement to the wooden dining set. Sure, they were waterproof and noticeably crinkled under him but he rarely cared given what underwear was making contact with them. The faces of cartoon characters that adorned the trays bevelled sides worked with the front of his Lil-Ranchers diapers quite nicely as well.

The thought that his absorbent undergarments were impressively matching his current seating arrangement made him cough a little into the bottle. Two months ago he’d have thrown a fit at the mere suggestion that it was a positive. Thankfully Isabelle had kept him sane, even if suddenly having to rely on her for almost everything wasn’t how he’d wanted to spend his marriage with her. Still, a few orders like the chair were delivered to the house in less than a day. He was at least able to get through the daily grind now without throwing a tantrum at the merest mention of his diapers, his emotional management paying dividends.

“I used some of the Santos and Java beans. Nice and bitter.” she pulled her mug to her muzzle and took a long gulp of the stuff, melodramatically taking a breath out.

Jonathan pulled the bottle from his maw “Come oooon!” he groaned.

She just smiled back at him, taking another sip “You’re nearly done baby, just another few gulps”

He scowled again before he jammed the nipple into his mouth and suckled hard. The thought went through his mind that if he was still the height of the counter he’d just make himself a mug. He tried to put it out of his mind as he finally felt bubbles of air meeting his tongue as the last of the milk dribbled round his muzzle.

“There! Done!” he slammed down the bottle on the tray. It’s plastic bottom wasn’t stable enough to just take such an impact however, and it went clattering to the ground.

“Oh Johnny! Honestly…” Izzy gave him a stern look. The fox immediately felt himself pulling back into the chair. Whatever anyone said to him about keeping some sense of adulthood during regression, that look was one a mother gave to a naughty child and he couldn’t help but feel very small.

“S… sorry honey”

Izzy sighed and took another sip “You know, if you wanted coffee, that wasn’t the best move”

Jonathan pulled himself forward “But… but you said!”

The possum pulled herself up and put the mug directly in front of his muzzle “One sip. Just be a good boy on the monorail, ok?”

He nodded, smiling as he felt the warm liquid meet the end of his muzzle and start to dribble into his mouth. He licked his lips at the bitterness, that alone giving his regressed brain a weird sadistic kick. Kids didn’t like bitter things, and he didn’t now, but his wifes coffee? That was worth the aftertaste.

After pulling the mug away from her husband's face, Izzy picked his bottle up off the floor and set both on the table before taking the opportunity to check the state of his diaper while he was still strapped into the seat.

“Dry, glad to see you got it all out your system last night” she winked at Jonathan before undoing the bright fabric straps and pulling him clear of the tray, carrying him on her arm towards the stairs.

“What suit do you have today? The black one or the blue one?” she asked, combining his hair through with her other hand to tidy it as they climbed up.

“Black I think. The blue one’s pants need to be laundered” he responded, enjoying the feeling of the fingers rubbing against his scalp.

Izzy pulled open the door to their bedroom, carefully keeping Jonathan balanced on her elbow “Ah, of course. Definitely not trusting that store-brand diaper again. Sorry if it embarrassed you.”

Jonathan shifted slightly, trying not to think about the event “I’m just glad the monorail was arriving at our stop. Besides, no one at work saw…”

The small pop up fabric wardrobe that contained his attire was placed to allow him easy access to his outfits, right next to the travel cot they’d been using to help him sleep. Buying permanent furniture wasn’t something the two of them had invested in yet. He’d hoped the regression might be short lived, and he’d told Izzy from the start he didn’t want to sleep in a different room if possible. This suited them fine for now, but he’d seen her eying up and suggesting some cuter wooden pieces a few times. He unzipped the front and pulled out his neatly hung suit.

“Red tie or blue tie?” he asked, pulling out the two and showing them to Izzy.

“Red, goes well with the suit I think” she took the outfit and started untangling it from it’s hanger, taking the pants and pulling the sides taught “Legs in honey”

Jonathan carefully maneuvered his way into both pants legs, allowing his wife to pull them up to his waist. Instinctively he went to do up his flies, instead finding the plastic front of his diaper.

“Never going to get used to that. Gimme a sec” he pulled the poppers together with his hands. Or tried to at any rate.

Izzy giggled “Want some help there?”

“I did this last week, I know I can do it just…” he clipped one of them together “Hah! There! See, totally fine.”

Izzy looked down at his handiwork. Sure enough, one of the poppers was attached… to the wrong clip.

“Honey, just let me do it, we’ll be late for the monorail” Jonathan went to complain as he tried to do up a second one but as he slipped with it, he couldn’t deny she had a point.

“If anyone asks I did this myself” He shifted a little as he separated his legs to allow her to start the process. A few seconds later she secured all of  the small poppers that ran up the inner thighs.

“I won’t tell a soul. Well, maybe Evelyn…”

Jonathan shot her a look like thunder “If you do I’ll tell her you called her Granny Evie last week”

Izzy just chuckled again. Evelyn was the oldest member of staff in her department, a grandmother with three families with kids… some of which were all kids. Normally doting on regressees was bad form, but she couldn’t remember ever seeing one complain about her, though she could guess why.

“Don’t want one of her cookies for being “such a good boy for Mommy”?”

Jonathan's face genuinely lit up for a brief moment before he collected himself, Izzy giggling in response “Oh my gosh you would!”

“They’re good cookies! Anyway we’re gonna be late!” Jonathans desperation in twisting her logic back at her “Where’s my shirt?”

“Ok, ok arms up, let's just get this on nice and fast” the white collared suit shirt was pulled over his head as he complied. These were one of the few pieces of fashion that regression had let caught on elsewhere. The buttons were entirely printed on, the collar soft fabric that allowed for a little bit of occasional spillage (and as much as Jonathan hated to admit, drool) to be absorbed should some run down a muzzle after an over exuberant chug of a sippy cup. The appeal of a formal shirt without the inconvenience of buttons was apparently a market waiting to be tapped.

“Now, let’s clip on the tie and get your socks on. Little hot for the jacket today I think”

“But I like the jackeeet” the little whine wasn’t deliberate, his paws shooting to his muzzle.

“Johnny” Izzy gave him another motherly look, leaning into his very childish response “You’ll get all sweaty on the train. Now, socks” she pulled a pair of cartoon covered small socks over his feet before he could complain “and shoes… velcro or laces?”

Jonathan tried to straighten himself up “Laces” he said, attempting to reassert some of his adult self.

“Sure? Mo… I can’t be around to do them up again in the office” she caught referring to herself in the third person but Jonathan heard the doting tone.

“I’ll be fine” he stepped into the black, formal shoes and straightened his tie as Izzy did up his laces.

“Right, let’s get your diaper ba… I mean your suitcase and then we’ll be off”

Jonathan could only huff in response as he was lifted back on to his wife’s arm. Even he had to admit that correction was being generous...

**********************************************************************************************************

DING-DONG

“The Hazelbrook Monorail service to HAZELBROOK CENTRAL - B SIDE is now arriving at platform three. The quiet coach is at the front. First Class is at the rear.”

Jonathan started bouncing on Isabelle's arm. The monorail was a little late, leaving him with a growing anxiety about not arriving at the office on time.

“Honey please, calm down.... Maybe I didn’t stir the coffee enough” she pulled her arm further up her husband's back and put her other hand under his rear, securing her grip just below his tail. She could feel the slight squish of a damp diaper but now was not the time to be worrying about it.

“I just don’t want to be laaaaate” Jonathan was long past the point of caring about his tone. Being unable to get to your destination and feeling in a rush is a frustration that isn’t unique to the regressed.

Izzy made sure their bags were safely over her shoulder before hopping onto the middle carriage. She headed towards a pair of seats that were free and sat Jonathan down, a set of little pink straps with the “HBM Inc.” printed on them quickly and firmly secured around him with practiced hands, one between his legs and two over his shoulders. While the train was still stationary she focussed on getting his squirming form nice and secured, tightening the belt and ruffling his head fur.

“Now stay still for the ride. I’ve got to answer a couple of quick emails on my phone, so entertain yourself”

“Can I have mine as well? You’re not the only one with a job…” he shifted, noticing the warmth around his groin as the strap was tightened. He grimaced a little at the idea that he’d already wet this morning.

“You know I’m not going to, not after you smashed your last one when we were getting off at Hazel Park. I’ll check for you.” she pulled out her husband's small smartphone, tapping in the passcode “And no, I’m not letting you use the hand-free dictation. The train doesn’t need to know everyones payroll information”

“Oh come on, that’s…”

“This train is now departing. Please remember to secure all your belongings. All children and regressed persons must stay seated and strapped in. Easy-Strap releases can be found under your arm-rests”

Jonathan crossed his arms around his chest, resting them on the strap clip. He was glad no one was in the seat opposite him, his pout reflecting clear as day in the monorail windows. When he’d been an adult the commute in with his wife had been them complaining about having to move the straps to let them sit comfortably, now he was stuck in them every weekday morning.

As the monorail pulled out of the station his eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to the central spire of the city, it’s highest stories breaking through the slight cloud cover of the day. Hazelbrook would never have evolved organically, the city was purpose built to support every inhabitant of every species and every age down to an almost clinical science.

“Where Progression and Regression Come Together” was the most recent slogan of the sprawling metropolis but it had been around for centuries, carefully manicured and controlled by the city council. Diverse arrays of colourful buildings all purpose built for specialised industries dotted the landscape outside the window as they turned onto one of the many central tracks that went over the cities ten mile long park mall. None were above a dozen stories tall, all featured solar panels and rooftop gardens, and each could be easily refurbished for a new use. It was a self-sustaining city that never truly slept. Even after thirty-two years of living here, born and bred in one of the bright and airy suburban residential zones, Jonathan never really lost a sense of wonder for the place.

Looking up from the window he remembered another part of his new routine. For the first couple of stops he distracted himself by reading some of the adverts. It was basically a training regimen for him at this point, a way of making sure his literacy skills were still intact. Regression sometimes happened in stages to different parts of the body or psyche, and he didn’t want to end up in work one day without being able to read.

“Furry Furniture Ltd: Every seat for every tail. 0% finance available on all child/regressee furniture” A good deal, though he’d seen the sales people pull Izzy towards products he would hate on some of their trips. The deal applied to child furniture only, it was obvious, just some of it was relabelled if it didn’t sell.

“Dungeon Sorcerer 2: Return of Jagrash - Get FIVE HUNDRED free coins and start playing now” Rip-off mobile game, he’d honestly thought they’d die off once more regressees started making games but if anything they’d got worse.

“Lil’ Ranchers Diapers - New Absorbent Core provides…”

Ok, he was done with that. As the train started to move away from the penultimate stop the little bumps of the seat only made him feel disgruntled as the squish of his padding pressed into his fluffy butt.

“Looks like Paul in IT got your access to the printer back after that snafu yesterday. Few here for you from staff asking about the changes to paternity leave for regressed fathers…”

“Pleeeeease just let me loooook!” he whined, feeling his hands ball into fists “I can still read, just…”

His eyes went wide and shot downwards. His diaper was warming again, a steady feeling that slowly spread across his nethers and round his bottom, the diaper expanding under the strap.

Izzy sighed, looking at a bovine passenger two seats down who had smiled a little while reading her book “Sorry, he’s a little cranky this morning”

“Not to worry, at least he’s not stinking up the place like my husband used to” she laughed “Never give them coffee in the morning, even as a treat”

Jonathan looked at her with shock and then straight back to Izzy, who winked at him before looking back up “Oh my little guy does love a tiny dabble in the morning. Maybe I should just go back to formula…”

“Oh my dear, just go all natural” she bounced her udders “Husband took one sip and never went back”

“No, no, I’m good with a bottle of milk thanks!” Jonathan desperately shifted in the seat. The strap had tightened as his diaper had expanded, leaving him distinctly uncomfortable.

Izzy chuckled “I’ll keep that in mind dear” she ruffled the fennecs headfur “Though remember where milk comes from…”

Jonathan stopped shifting for a second and looked back at the now blushing cow, who had gone back to reading the book while stifling further laughter.

“The next stop is HAZELBROOK CENTRAL - B SIDE. Please remember to collect your bags and belongings”

Jonathan went to the armrest next to him and found the release button. With a quiet click he felt the little mechanism go to work.

And then nothing happened.

“Umm.. Izzy?” he felt anxiety welling up immediately “The strap won’t undo”

Isabelle put her phone away and looked down, grabbing the bag and sitting in front of her husband's seat. She gave the front a little tug and sure enough, it was stuck firm.

“Weird, don’t think this has ever happened before” she pressed the bigger and stronger button that parents could use for smaller kids in the middle of the strap instead. Again no results.

“Come oooon!” Jonathan started squirming more “Stupid seat…”

“Oh I know what the problem is” the cow stood up and sat next to Isabelle, giving Jonathan another motherly look of her own “Loosen up the straps a bit, the mechanism is getting stuck because he’s given his diaper a workout and it’s too tight now” she ruffled his headfur as well eliciting an immediate pout from the fennec at the invasion of personal space “Husband got himself stuck all the time”.

“Oh thank you so much!” Isabelle quickly adjusted the strap and pressed the button again, unclicking everything and freeing Jonathan from his temporary prison. Quickly lifting him onto her arm she made her way off the train with their bags in her hand before the doors could close on them “Say bye to the nice lady Johnny!”

“Izzyyyy” he shoved his head into her shoulder, embarrassment taking over any sense of etiquette, the distinct feeling of his sodden diaper poking through the poppers meeting his groin as she adjusted her hold.

“Oh shush, she was lovely.” she climbed down the stairs to the turnstiles, pressing her contactless card in and rushing through “Come on, nearly at the office and then we’ll get you in a fresh diaper”

“Please just hurry… I don’t need more embarrassment today. This is bad enough as it is”

The possum's face dropped a little, patting Jonathan on the back. She forgot sometimes that inside there was still an adult who was getting used to this. Sure, he slipped sometimes and acted childish, but her husband was as with it and sharp as he’d always been.

“Don’t worry baby. We’re nearly there now”

Had he been in another position, she wouldn’t have needed to make him aware of that. The central spire of Hazelbrook was directly ahead of them, huge signs indicating the various companies that were based inside it’s enormous open plan offices blazed across it’s towering floors. The largest of all, and their destination, was RegressCo on the upper floors, clouds occasionally breaking against the large, globe logo and working their way between the gaps of the letters. The monorail stopped right next door, but the imposing stature of the place was enough to make the walk to the front door feel like grovelling to the altar of a grand cathedral.

Jonathan looked back round, his eyes slightly glossed over. He rubbed them clear and shook himself. He hated it when things didn’t go to plan, it always made him feel helpless when Izzy had to do all this for him but at least now he could…

“Want me to carry you in or do you want to try walking today?”

He thought for a second, weighing up the options “I can walk in with you, I’d prefer to keep trying that in the office” he sniffled, struggling to keep all the emotions of the last few minutes in check.

Izzy frowned “Ok, but if you need a carry, no one in work is going to think less of you…”

“Every adult just thinking it’s suddenly ok to carry me isn’t thinking less of me?”

Izzy’s frown immediately rebounded into a smile as she put him down and let him walk towards the door holding her hand. His gait was so obviously that of a toddler with a full diaper that she couldn’t help herself.

“Your waddle is just… well it’s kinda cute honestly”

Jonathan pouted “Once I’m changed I’ll… GAH!”

He stumbled as the blast of the office air conditioner hit him as he entered the ground floor. Panic hit for a second before he felt Izzy’s grasp tighten and keep him steady.

“They really ought to turn down that fan…” he mumbled.

“Last time I checked you wanted the air conditioning on permanently… something about “keeping the bad smells out” Izzy deliberately took a look down at her husband's pants, the thigh poppers doing just about enough to keep his diaper state private.

“Let’s just get to a changing room before I leak, please”

The two of them took a quick detour towards the bathroom. This hadn’t been the start to the day Jonathan had imagined, but at least it couldn’t get much worse....