Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tsume nodded to Henry as the man left, letting him know he'd protect everyone. he hurried into the main room and helped Leo guide Lewis to a chair, sitting him down and rubbing the man's back. "not now, Megan, we can't let you out of our sight. they already took those three, we can't have them taking you too."

Lewis twitched at the words and pulled away from Leo and Tsume, grabbing Megan's hand, "no. no, you can't go. i won't let you. i won't let them get you too." he pushed her down onto one of the couches and sat down on top of her, not letting her get away.

Leo watched Lewis and nodded, "Right. Elliot, we should get dressed. today we've a battle ahead of us. Kashi, Megan will you help Lewis get ready? Tsume, keep an eye on things, let me know if we have any visitors, ok?"

Tsume nodded, "you got it, Leo." he smiled and stood up, moving to stand guard.

"Kashi, you can help us if you think that it would be better for just you and Lewis, Megan. Elliot, let's go."

Istavia was watching the preparations in the main hall, smiling happy as a huge cage was lifted up to the ceiling. the cage was covered with a purple cloth, hiding the contents. "Perfect, perfect. so much fun have i planned for tonight!"

Lwis looked at Megan long and hard before nodding, "need to get dressed. Al wants me to look good, be strong. but you can't leave. i won't let you." he slowly stood up, keeping a firm grip on megan's hand in case she tried to leave him. she didn't so he made his cautious way to his room, still holding onto her hand.

Leo smiled sadly at Lewis and hurried to their bedroom. "i need to look good without looking bentien..." he looked at himself in the mirror and felt sick. the nobles would be here, most of them would know him, recognise the bentien they had shared between them, only the land's most wealthy were allowed to bid on him. "it does't matter, though. they will still see the bentien, no matter what i wear-" he muttered softly, shaking his head. "Elliot, what do you want to see me in?" that made the choice easier

Istavia looked thoughtful, "tigers, that would be fun. i wonder if i have any..." but he didn't. damn. ah well, he'd entertain himself well enough without. "Hmm, oh the bentiens. they have the day off today, been working hard those three. you have a new slave on it's way to your rooms now with your breakfast." he looked Alvaro up and down, "it seems you need more help than just the one. need i send you clothing as well? i hardly thing sleeping clothes proper for my birthday party."

Lewis nodded, "Henry knows what i should wear. he's a good man. where is he?" he looked around the bedroom frantically, "Did they take him too?" but then he remembered seeing Henry follow Al out, "oh. i made them made. i yelled, that was bad of me." he sat on the bed looking down at his hands, "i was bad. i yelled at his majesty. he'll hate me now. haven't really yelled at him, not even when we were kids. wasn't serious-he hates me now. just a stupid man who yells at his savior." he stood and began to strip, "need to dress, need to find the boys and save them." in his mind, it all made sense. Alvaro hated him now because Lewis yelled at him in font of everyone. that's why he left and Henry followed. Lewis had always known Henry put up with him for Al-for the king. but maybe if he found the boys and saved them the king would forgive him. he'd never yell again, he's never even speak if it meant Alvaro would forgive him.

Leo smiled, "i would love to match." it would be an outward sign showing who he belongs with, that he was off limits. "my hair? i-" it was a bit of a rebellion, but one he might get away with, "i was thinking just a braid. um-with ribbons and a flower decoration of course, but, just a regular braid." it would reach well past his knees if he did that, something he thought would be a little fun. he'd put a ribbon around his head and let the ends trail down as well and make a sort of circlet of light blue flowers that matched the dress to make it fancy, but he didn't want to do anything bog for a man he detested."

Lewis smiled weakly when he saw the pants, "need those. all the masters there, don't want to be taken to a corner." he stepped into the pants, pulling them up and fastening them himself, "so many bentiens tonight. so many little boys. all broken, raped, beated, their eyes." he closed his own, "that will be the worst part. pray the masters do not use their services. won't go to corner, just force them to do it then and there. don't care. that's what slaves are for." how many masters had he been forced to service mid party? they stood talking and forced his head down, doing what they wished with him, not even breaking from their conversation. such horrid men, the master. "don't look into their eyes."

Leo nodded and quickly changed, not needing long to put on his dress. that was the good and bad thing about this style of clothing. it was easy to get in and out of. he was putting on the jewelry while he waited for Elliot to finish. "want me to help you with anything, my love?"

Istavia watched the king go out of the corner of his eye, grinning like a madman. "yes, they have the day off, but tonight-" he looked up at the cage and grinned wider, "tonight they will earn their right to live." and what a night it would be, "just you wait, brother. you'll precious son will be with you soon."

Lewis looked up when Al came into the room, a little shocked. he was sure that Al wouldn't come back until he'd saved the bentiens. he quickly dropped his eyes again and shut up. he didn't want to make Al made, so he had to be quiet. that was how he was going to keep Al at his side.

Tsume stepped into the room to hear the king's finding, "A cage? hm," he frowned and crossed his arms. "we need to be careful. i know that the king has a power, but Lord George refused to ever say what it was. he just said it was a fearsome one, and for Lord George to fear it means it is something terrible." he shook his head, "i'll speak with Leo. excuse me." he ducked away and head for LEo's room where his master was looking at himself in the mirror, checking his hair. "that looks very nice, Leo." he smiled, thinking Leo had done it himself, "Al's back. says he things Istavia's got the bentiens in a cage up above the party. can't be certain though. we'll have to keep an eye on it."

Leo smiled and was about to compliment Elliot when Tsume did it for him. he giggled, "exactly what i was about to say, it's perfect, Elliot, thank you." he kissed his husband, still blushing about the wedding dress comment, but he listened seriously to Tsume. "Alright, we'll have to be careful thena nd see if we can find out if they are really up there. thank you Tsume." the wolf left to keep guard and Leo sighed, "is it horrible i'd actually be relieved if they were up there and not off being hurt somewhere?" he asked Elliot softly.

Lewis shivered, a slave. an actual slave was being sent? what new horrors would they have to face? and the day had only just started! he looked over at Al and wanted to tell him how good he looked, how much that outfit suited him, but he didn't dare. he remained silent. silent and good.

Leo nodded, swallowing, "yes. there are." he took a deep breath and pulled away from Elliot, kissing him. "i love you. today's going to be hard for you, i've already seen one of the nobility's parties, i know what goes on, but you need to be warned. it's going to try your control, my prince. maybe not right away, they tend to get pretty drunk at first, but as soon as the women are sent home it will get bad. really, really bad and i want you to be warned now...i should tell the others too." he bite his lip, not sure if that would be enough or if he should give some examples.

Tsume lifted an eyebrow as a huge tray seemed to levitate into the room. he smelled human and maybe a mix of something else, but it was distant, just a drop of nonhuman blood. the tray slide onto the table, being at the perfect height and revealed a tiny boy covered with scraps and bruises. at least the parts of his body that were visible were, the rest was covered with bandages. the boy started to arrange the many dishes onto the table, silently going about his work, having not yet noticed Tsume. "Boy," he said as gently as he could, but still making the child jump and stare at him, "what are you doing?"

The boy looked up at Tsume and to the table, not sure how to answer without seeming rude, "b'inging yo' bekfas, masta." he lisped, lowering his eye, but keeping his tiny defensive smile in place, "i 'us o'dad to b'ing yo' bekfas', is ok?"

((Oliver full can't really see the smile in the small one so here's a link to the big one))

Lewis hear voices in the main room and stepped out the door, but when he say the boy he hurried back in, "Al you can't go out there." s**t, he'd spoken without thnking, even when he'd promised he wouldn't. he dropped his eyes, fiddling with his gloves, "Sorry."

Tsume heard Kashi and cursed softly, the last thing he wanted was for the hare to see this boy. he had a feeling he'd relate too much. "That is fine, boy. while you work, can you tell me your name?"

Oliver's smile widened and he hurried to do as he was suppose to before the big man changed his mind, or decided he wanted to play with Oliver. Oliver hated it when the masters want to play. "Meh name, Masta?" none of the other masters wanted his name before, they didn't care. the kind had never given him one, but he still had the name mama gave him. maybe he could till use that-"Oliver," he said softly, working very, v ery hard to say it properly. "Meh name is Oliver, masta."

Leo smiled at Elliot and nodded, "Istavia won't send me away. i've a feeling his special entertainment will be aimed towards me." he gave Elliot a weak smile before taking his hand and heading into the main room, only to see a tiny boy loading far too large dishes onto the table. "hello," he said softly, getting a quick glance and faked smile before the boy went back to work. "Oliver, is it. can i help you?"

the plate in his hand nearly slipped and fell, but Oliver caught it before it was able to. no master had ever offered to help! he glanced at the woman again and would have guessed her bentien if there wasn't a belly sticking out. "Th-tha's alrigh' masta. I's yo' slave fo' the day. is my job." he smiled and hurried to finish in case the woman decided to help anyways. the king was watching, he was always watching. if she helped, Oliver would get whipped again.