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Mad indeed. And it would seem the... entertainment... had somewhat restored the paler faun as he left the darkened ice of the halls of masks and came back into the chasm proper.

He had been unduly reasonable with Nines. And subtle to boot. He had merely vocally laid out an offer. Sadly, despite it being an offer, no wasn't the right answer. He hadn't been forceful or blunt, he had left. Mostly due to being so out of sorts due to having been forced to sleep off the firey damage to his body, which was now pristine once more.

Now though, without visions of someone elses dreams rattling about his subconscious looking for morals long since discarded, Ice was feeling much better... which was much worse news for Nines.


There was nothing nice or pleasant about the smirk on Ice's face as he walked down to the cells. And his expression only became more terrifying as he noted Nines huddled within, clearly disturbed. Licking his lips, the faun then proceeded to lick traces off blood off his claws as he waved the doorway open and stepped in.
His pink eyes were a fiery red, glowing slightly as his tail hooked a chair and he sat on it, back to front. No trace of business like exterior showed, instead there was... lust? Desire?
It was as if the faun was somewhat entranced, and Nines was a particularly tasty morsel...

"I can smell your fear, fledgeling. Nice..."

Even the voice was... disturbing. The faun during previous encounters had used his voice to varying effects, but now.. now, it was like that cold, insidious tone had hands with which to touch, caress, invade... cold and clammy, it wormed its way around the cell, lingering over Nines the same way the fauns gaze did.

"Apparently in your youth, you have failed to work out that that isn't how Kindred work. An offer of employment is our way of saying 'you will do this, and we will work on friendly terms'. Saying no just means we still do it our way, but you don't get any of the niceties."

Resting an elbow on the chair back, Ice put his chin into his hand, and again licked his lips, with an over long, black forked tongue. He was going out of his way to be inhuman.

"Best bit for me? I was downright pleasant in my offer. I rarely do that, but THIS time.. no one can complain or question anything I do now to ensure your compliance.
So very young, so very full of fire.... and so very frightened. Just perfect.

I'll be nice though. I'm in a good mood, though I suspect your answer will make me even happier.....

One last chance. Will you work with us, as discussed earlier? Please... please say no. By all means give me free reign to do as I please...."

As he spoke, the... creature... leaned forward, crossing his arms on the chair back to leer at Nines fully. Ice Anon. Syn Deciet. Either way, it would seem he would get what he wanted, and Nines had minimal ways out.

"Well, your morals maybe, but you do realise that stand point just compromised your physical form, yes?

Well of course you do. You aren't an idiot and I wont have it said I hurt anyone who didn't know what they were getting into..."

The grin was inhumanly wide, splitting the cheeks unnaturally, and clearly the Elder was holding back a barking laugh, at Nines expense.

"Sweet little newblood... you know by now I have a measure of control over ice, and the cold... have you ever seen what ice crystals do to a cell as they freeze the water in it? Have you ever seen the spires of ice worming their way between fibres of muscle on meat left in a freezer? I can cause you agonies you;ve never imagined without even moving... I do so hope your voice is as pretty in pain as it is in fearful bravado..."

Standing up, the chair vanished into the ice, along with the second one and table as Ice walked slowly towards Nines, flexing his claws, tail swaying, gait predatory.

"Just do me a favour and don't give in too easily... the fact you're so full of fight is what I like best about you..."

Aw crap indeed. Ice was not in the mood to be gentle or forgiving. The reason why was forthcoming as Ice closed with Nines, reached out with one large hand, and closed it around Nine's skull.
Unless stopped, he'd spin the poor kid around, pressing his cold chest against Nines' back to whisper savagely into his ear...

"You burned me... in light of that, I've been the prince of understanding... thank you so much for offering repayment...."

The first strike would be a savage, long slash across Nine's naked chest, cold instantly seeping into the wound.
Nines was right - it wasn't going to be nice, and it would last as long as Ice chose, or until such time as Nine's himself gave in.

"I don't much go for safe words, fledgeling, but if you change your mind at any point, let me know you accept the contract, wont you..."

Ice fully intended to make full use of Nines, in the way the kid most likely dreaded most, and would indeed put those skills he had mentioned to use through every tiny wound he intended to inflict on Nines. Every tiny gash, filled with growing ice crystals, piercing inwards, seeking nerves, expanding in between muscle layers, piercing organs.

Though Nines wouldn't know it, Ice didn't intend to keep it up too long - he wanted Nines hurt, not broken. If Nines gave in, great. If he did not... within a two hour period, Ice would be moving things ahead anyway.

Just shy of that mark, Ice would stop. He didn't want a non functional or broken man to deal with.
As soon as the energy went out of the screams, as soon as they started to turn towards the quieter and less frequent, so would the faun flick Nines away into a wall, enough to daze the poor kid while he licked his talons clean and eased back the raw tang of power in the cell, allowing the manipulation of ice spires within Nines body.

Relief would come swiftly, at least in the form of no more harm.

"Whether you want it or not, childe, you belong to me. Well, to Syn. You will be placed where you can be of use. Fail me... and you will only be ale to WISH for death. These walls have enough space to hold thousands in the ice for eternity... be assured keeping you would bring me great pleasure.
Do NOT move... or we start over."

And thus would Nines be left alone for the next twenty minutes while Ice left to fetch a few items he needed.
He was not, therefore, suprised to find Nines exactly where he'd been left upn his return.

Now, the faun bore with him a satchel which clinked when he moved. With no real concern as to Nine's state of health, mental or physical, the creature clicked his way across the floor and knelt beside the kids inert body - an interesting thing to watch with one had goat legs.
The satchel proved itself to contain metallic objects similar in nature to the one already around Nine's left ankle.
Ice chose what looked to be a large bangle, and slid it over Nine's right wrist, murmuring a few words which caused the item to contract and tighten against the skin, no seam visible, so it fit snugly. A third would be passed over Nine's head, to tighten around his neck. Not enough to choke or prevent movement of his head however he wished, but certainly not so it could be removed easily.

Finally, in silence, the faun pulled out what looked like a combination between an injection and a tattoo machine. Pressing the device to each of the bands, again with a murmur of unfamiliar words, some form of liquid passed into each metal band.

"Resist, or try to remove the bands, and you will get a shot of a chemical called haemox. It's an inhibitor... the same stuff in my spikes. It will knock you out, or at least paralyse you. It can be triggered remotely when desired also, so please don't try anything rash.
I have one final gift for you before I take you away from here. Roll over."

Giving Nines a few moments to do so, Ice rolled his eyes when the only response was an incoherent whimper. He knew he'd hurt the kid, but nowhere near enough to break motor function completely. Apparently, mental shock was setting in. Oh well, he'd learn to man up or kill himself.
Using a wide hoof to turf Nines onto his stomach, the kid would be spared seeing the implement Ice pulled out next.
He would not be spared the sudden, sharp pain midway down his back, over his spine.
Searing agony would follow for a few brief moments, before he'd feel numb, then have the odd sensation of movement in and around his back, but no real feeling beyond pressure - similar to that of dental work after an injection.
A minute later, and Ice was done, sensation returning to nines' back, along with a certainty that he was probably going to ache there too come morning.

Standing up, the faun cracked his spine, lashing his tail like a contented cat.

"Well, I can;t say it hasn't been fun, but needs must. Can you stand, or am I going to have to carry you like a child?"

"Close enough I suppose. Silence... enjoyable, but it ill suits you. I look forward to your recovery and inevitable and ongoing hatred.
Come on."

Shifting his weight, and adjusting his height somewhat, Ice slid an arm across Nine's back, pulling the man's arm over his shoulders so that he was supporting him so he could, you know, walk with some degree of speed other than a zombie's pace.

The trip was short enough - through the rear of the chasm and up to the surface, where a rising pillar of ice held a portal to what appeared to be a stately home in the middle of woodland.

Unless given incentive not to, Ice would escort Nines through it.

"Oh man up, if I was going to start on you again, I wouldn't be dragging you out of my preferred environment."

Yep, forced assistance it was to be. Through the cells, past one that was curiously blacked out, up the stairs, and onto the plain above, and then... through the portal.