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N o i r Wafflesaurus Vice Captain
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 Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:11 am
 The Human Slave Quarters
Upon leaving the front lobby with the bellboy as a guide, you will be taken over to a pair of doors to your right. The doors have signs above them stating where they go, the first door showing it leads to the ground floor and up to the third floor only, the next door saying it leads to the fourth floor up to the sixth. Depending on where the slave or slaves of your choice reside, you will be lead down either door only to be greeted by a guard waiting to take you to the first room on your list - if you have a list that is.
You are allowed to sit in the luxury rooms with the slave and talk, get to know them and see if they are right for you. You are not allowed to be intimate in these rooms, and under no circumstance must you let a slave out on it's own. A slave must only leave the room if it being purchased by you, or if a guard is escorting it to the basement rooms to be held in isolation for bad behaviour.
Contents of the Lower East Block:
- Human Slaves only, both male and female.
- Cursed Humans can be found in the Common Slave quarters.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:06 am
 
“Whoever said money cannot bring happiness must not know where to shop.”
________________________________ absalom ᎷᎪᏞᏦᏌᎢᎻ levite
INDENT "Do you need help inside, sir?"
INDENT Cue that charming subtle smile - little more than a slight upturn at the corners of his lips. It was always with closed lips, showing a certain measure of restraint, and it was that sort of subtlety that made it so mysterious and so alluring.
INDENT "No need to trouble yourself, my friend."
INDENT As expected, the driver began to insist. Things like are you sure? and it really is no trouble were said, as expected; it usually played out like this. It was always because people wanted to help the poor, old challenged man. Everyone pitied him. They saw him as needy, as vulnerable, as weak - and clearly, as the stronger able-bodied individuals they were, they were all obligated to help him. They would think they were being charitable or selfless but it all boiled down to their own disgusting feather-fluffing and self-satisfaction. Never once did the thought, the realization, that he was so far above them ever cross their repugnant little minds. Never did they - nor would they ever - realize that he was playing them like pawns in a game of chess.
INDENT Malkuth shuffled his way to the doors of the grandiose hotel. A soft schff sound, a whirring of gears, a rush of climate-controlled air, all indicated that this facility had automatic doors in the front. How convenient. He proceeded past the doors first with bold steps that quickly became less sure, slowing, and eventually he came to halt. He stood somewhere on the first floor of the hotel, somewhere in the lobby. He had to find the front desk. He listened to the sounds around him: air vents, some sort of fountain, quiet voices, echoing footsteps. The voices were most likely those of hotel employees. Even if they weren't, who could resist the opportunity to be a hero and assist the challenged? The voices were approximately 2 o'clock. He turned his body accordingly to approach them, ready to lean unnecessarily on his standard black cane, ready to slump his shoulders forward just so slightly to take the regal edge off his refined appearance--
INDENT "May I help you, sir?"
INDENT Harmless words, uttered from behind, caught him by surprise. Malkuth turned around to face the direction of the voice. He feigned nothing this time; the "face" he wanted this person - a hotel employee, he assumed - to see he was just as rich, able, and important as any other client at this establishment. After some brief exchanges and mentioning the call he had made earlier, the details and forms were squared away promptly (with accommodations, where appropriate). He was just a normal human seeking something just as ordinary, of course. When asked about the contents of the business bag he held, he stated in it was a memento of his late wife. He always kept it with him, as he would hate to be separated from her once more. Upon request he removed her from the bag. It was decided the bag must stay at the desk during visitations, but the little lady herself could accompany him to his meetings. With one hand holding his cane by the polished silver head and the other arm cradling his beloved doll, Lieselotte, like a precious infant he was escorted deeper into Hôtel des Esclaves.Some guard of the hotel came to escort him deeper into the bowels of Hôtel des Esclaves.
INDENT As he walked beside the guard, Malkuth raised his cane and clamped it under one arm. He raised the fine leather business bag that the other hand held so securely to, opened it, and carefully recovered the single item inside it. Out of the bag came a delicate resin doll dressed in the finest of frippery money could buy. She was gently cradled like a precious infant in the arm that held the bag and with his other hand began to smooth her soft curls and rearrange her dress to lay nicely. He placed her delicate, detailed little hands in her lap and clasped them together. Carefully pinching the sides of her head by the ears, her face was turned to look straight ahead of him. Satisfied with how she was arranged, he lowered his cane to his hand again and nearly bumped into the guard. It seemed that, while he was distracted, they had arrived at their first destination. Malkuth leaned over to leave his now-empty bag by the door and, once the guard had unlocked it, entered the room to meet the first on the list.
INDENT No more than a half hour later, the silver-haired man left the room disappointed. If he was looking for a woman who was the quiet, refined, and broken with no fight and no shame, why would he waste the money coming here when he already had the means to obtain or create someone like that? Couldn't they have one that was quiet and submissive yet still be able to feel shame and guilt? Someone who would cling to one person, to him alone, not just anyone who held the title of master? They arrived at door number two and once more he waited for the guard to unlock the door. The guard offered a courtesy knock before throwing open the door for the blind man to enter. This one's name was Rowena and Malkuth did not have high expectations.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 8:55 am
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x"To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable..." x
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This place wasn't as horrid as she had first feared. It was certainly intimidating, at least for someone unused to wealth and luxury. Despite having passed through several masters already, Rowena still was adjusting to the life of a slave and felt as if she'd been cast adrift and left to flounder on her own, desperately trying to keep herself afloat and not drown. The sea metaphor...why that sort of thing came into her head, she had no idea, sitting in a chair near the window. It was overcast outside, heralding a storm perhaps, and she wondered idly if that was the reason she was thinking about the sea. Her window didn't have a view of the ocean, but she could sometimes hear it if she listened carefully enough. The windows weren't allowed to be opened - if they were even able to be in the first place - and she had no desire to test the limits of their patience here. It was enough that she had a canvas in front of her, balanced on the easel, and a tin full of paint supplies at her knee.
Perhaps that made her pathetic, the girl mused, as she worked on conveying what the ocean here must look like, at least in her imagination. Blues mixed with greens and grays, there was no horizon - it simply melted up into the sky and back again. Giver her some paint supplies and something to draw on and she wouldn't make a fuss. Then again, what was the point in causing trouble? It would only get her punished and Roo wasn't a very rebellious sort of girl. She feared them too much and almost wished someone else would buy her, if only so she wasn't so lonely. The young woman had taken to her new life almost easily, in part because none of the masters she had been bought by had hurt her. Some were indifferent, but that was not nearly as horrible as beating her or abusing her. Even she knew she had been lucky, however, and fear tinged her hopes of going home with someone else.
She was safe here - safe and lonely. Rowena craved some sort of companionship, someone to talk to and who would talk to her, someone who might like her drawings, or at least allow her to do as she would with them. A social creature at heart, she had been relatively happy in her previous homes, treated as a companion, a pet - something less than human, but at least they had been kind. And after her own life before this, she knew better than to question whatever sort of good fortune she received. So she waited patiently, but no one had shown any interest in her. Or at least, no one had come into her room. This was different for her - before she had been sent from house to house, the transactions private, between friends or acquaintances. Being in a place of business like this was unusual and she wasn't entirely sure how it all worked, truthfully.
A knock at the door made her start and she turned in the chair with wide eyes. It was the first time anyone had come in, other than with a tray of food, since her arrival and her heart jumped up a bit. Maybe today would be her lucky day, despite the dreary outlook in the skies above. Setting her paintbrush down and quickly getting to her feet, Rowena wiped her hands on the apron she wore and bunched the fabric between her fingers nervously. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the tall man coming in, wearing a blindfold over his eyes. Was he blind? She assumed he must be, to be wearing it, but she'd simply never seen anything like it before. The doll he was carrying was beautiful, even nicer than the ones she'd often wished she could have as a child, although she found it curious he was carrying it. Another girl might have thought it was intended as a gift, but she could see his grip was far-too possessive. No, it was his...well, all people had their oddities and she had seen masters with curiouser hobbies.
The door was shut behind the man and they were left alone. She had no idea what to do when someone came into the room and nervously smoothed her apron back out, getting the sensation of being appraised even when he couldn't see her. "My name is Rowena, sir," the girl said quietly, although she was sure he knew her name from a file or something. Still, it seemed rude not to introduce herself and she watched him carefully, trying to figure out what sort of man he might be.
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x"...to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength."
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:16 am
“Whoever said money cannot bring happiness must not know where to shop.”
________________________________ absalom ᎷᎪᏞᏦᏌᎢᎻ levite
INDENT After crossing the threshold of the room, Malkuth found himself surrounded by a peculiar smell. It reminded him of one of his male commodities - a particularly foul-mouthed one that made a bratty woman very happy. He was always covered inp aint, all over his fingers, his clothes, his hair, his face... Ah, that was it. It was the smell of that thick paint - the kind whose stains were impossible to get out of fabric. So she was a painter. How peculiar. Hopefully she wasn't as messy as that brute.
INDENT "Rowena," the man repeated. His voice was soft and gentle; coupled with the slight smile he wore, he predicted that he would have a disarming effect on her. "You must be a beautiful woman, then. You may call me Malkuth."
INDENT He slid his hand a few inches down the black-lacquer of his cane and held the handle of it out to indicate the general direction of the table and chairs within the room. That he was able to indicate the area was probably due to all the rooms having the same layout. He continued, "Why don't we sit and chat for a moment? Unless, of course, you are busy, dear Rowena."
INDENT Of course she would say she wasn't busy. Even if she was occupied, it was expected that she drop everything and attend to a prospective purchaser, wasn't it? That's how he trained his goods and, in his opinion, that was how any trafficker worth their salt should do. (Of course, there were always the one or two "wild ones" put aside for customers with eccentric tastes, but those were special order.) Though the deep waters were dark with business-oriented thoughts, the Malkuth's surface was smooth as calm water to maintain a sense of amiableness. Not many got a chance to know what lurked in those deep waters and with any luck, neither would poor little Rowenta.
(Assuming that she goes along with him...)
INDENT Malkuth adjusted his grip on his cane and, as he drew closer, tapped it against the floor until it bumped into a piece of furniture. Once it was within arm's reach he was able to trace it with his fingers and find the proper side to sit on it. He lowered himself into the chair and, after crossing his legs, carefully sat his doll upon his lap. He kept it sitting sideways, just as he was carrying it, and so it continued to face forwards - in the direction he was. Green glass eyes bore ahead in place of his own concealed eyes.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:17 am
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Unlike the unknown painter, Rowena was a careful sort of artist. She didn't believe in messes and while some artists were eccentric, in their paintings and habits, messy rooms and stained clothing, the young woman was always careful and particular. There were thin gloves on her hands to keep them from being stained, the apron covering her dress, her sleeves rolled up far enough to keep any paint off of them. The room was immaculate, everything put away neatly, nothing out of place. If she was comfortable, perhaps it would look more lived in, but still neat and tidy. She had grown up with very few things and had learned early-on to take good care of what she did have.
It was a surprise when he told her to call him by a name, rather than 'master' or 'sir', some form of address, but she nodded out of habit. She returned his slight smile with one of her own, small and nervous, his charm catching her by surprise. As he gestured to the chairs, Rowena was already anticipating what he was going to say and peeled her gloves off, setting them in the tin before lifting the apron over her head.
"Of course, si - Malketh," she quickly corrected herself, unused to calling anyone their name as of late. As he went over to the chairs, the young woman quickly and neatly folded her apron and set it on the chair before smoothing out her dress and pulling her hair back over her shoulders. It was more of a habit, to make herself presentable, than vanity or trying to impress him. And he was blind, she reasoned, and couldn't see her anyway no matter how glamorous she might look - which was a ridiculous thought in and of itself.
She noticed the care he took with the doll and again wondered at it, but it was none of her business. Even if he did take her home - and he didn't seem like a horrible person, though she knew looks could be deceiving - it wouldn't be. Masters had their own business and slaves only played a very small role in their lives. Rowena had been told about slaves that had married their masters, or run away to freedom, or all sorts of things, but didn't believe any of it would happen to her. She wouldn't run away and nothing else would ever change. That was a bit of a lonely thought, but it was what it was.
Taking a seat in the chair opposite him, she almost asked if he wanted anything to drink before remembering she didn't have anything to offer him. Again, it was a habit, this one from her previous master who liked her to entertain guests while he was busy or running late. "She's very beautiful," Rowena offered quietly, not sure if calling her a doll would offend him or not. Some people were very...particular and she was doing her best to keep from offending him at all.
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x"...to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength."
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:18 am
“Whoever said money cannot bring happiness must not know where to shop.”
________________________________ absalom ᎷᎪᏞᏦᏌᎢᎻ levite
INDENT So far Malkuth gathered that Rowena was a quiet individual. She spoke quietly and she moved quietly. She was probably the type to be seen and not heard - which was not necessarily a bad thing - but if she lacked a sense of independence and will then she would be too boring. Taking into account that she may be intimidated, uncomfortable, or scared, it did not necessarily mean that she was as broken as the last one. This was the thread of hope on which he would pull. Malkuth figured shifting the subject to something she enjoyed (or he hoped she enjoyed; he would look like a fool if his guess about her painting was incorrect) would be a good way to loosen her up.
INDENT It wasn't long after he had sat down that he heard her follow suit. He was content with silence for a moment; it would be like a game to guess what topic, if any, the slave would bring up first. When she picked little Lieselotte as the first topic, Malkuth's composure broke just enough for a quick flash of teeth before lowering his head as if to look fondly down at the little being in his lap. When he had tamed his rebellious lips and ironed them into submission, he lifted a neutral face back towards Rowena.
INDENT "I only own the finest," Malkuth admitted. It wasn't the most humble response and he knew it. However, nothing else was more satisfying to say. He was rich. He lived the life of total indulgence, of shameless luxury. At least he wasn't boasting about the little one's price; as much as he loved flaunting wealth, that was too uncouth even for him. He continued, "This one belonged to my late wife. When she passed I kept her doll collection. You could say it is one of my few eccentricities."
INDENT As if to prevent her from commenting - or perhaps he was just eager to ask such a question - he quickly changed the topic and asked, "Tell me - what is your favorite subject to paint?" Malkuth leaned forward slightly, as if interested. "You see, I am an art lover. I prefer sculpture but I can appreciate painting as well."
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:19 am
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The quick flash of smile surprised her, and made her relax just slightly. So she hadn't offended him and had hopefully even pleased him, at least somewhat. The doll truly was gorgeous, much more so than any she had seen, and Rowena tipped her head a bit as she listened to him explain about her. Hearing him mention a 'late' wife made her wonder if she had actually brought up something he would rather not speak of. The quickness with which he changed topics seemed to suggest that, but at least he didn't seem annoyed with her. She brightened up when he said he was an art lover and the smile on her face widened as she relaxed a margin.
"Oh! I never really had much practice with sculpting, I always seem to make more of a mess than a shape," the young woman told him, the eagerness in her voice a change from how meek she had been a minute ago. Art was her passion, the one thing she was able to have completely to herself and do as she would - being asked about was a rare thing and almost a treat. "I liked clay, though, it was - I'm sorry, you asked about my painting." Interrupting herself with a faint blush of embarrassment, Rowena looked down at her hands for a moment to gather her thoughts.
It had been quite some time since she'd had the opportunity to paint anything but landscapes, or what she saw in her own imagination, but..."I enjoy portraits," she told him after a moment of thought. "I like nature studies as well, but there's something about capturing someone's image on a canvas...I heard an old belief that having your picture taken by a camera would steal your soul. I guess...I think being painted is sort of like that, if the artist is good. They can look into you and see what it is that really is your soul, and bring that to life." She trailed off thoughtfully, before realizing that it probably sounded as if she were bragging, saying she was that good.
"I'm not near as good as that," Rowena added honestly. "But I hope to be, one day. It's something to strive for, even if it never happens at least I can say I worked towards something in my life." She shrugged a bit, a little embarrassed at her outburst. It had just been so long since she'd had the freedom to talk about something she loved. "I'm sorry, you asked a simple question and I babbled on like that," she apologized, sounding sheepish.
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x"...to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength." `MaliceMizer 'sokay, if it weren't for the word limit I wouldn't even mind at all, haha, as long as I have something to respond to.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:29 am
“Whoever said money cannot bring happiness must not know where to shop.”
________________________________ absalom ᎷᎪᏞᏦᏌᎢᎻ levite
INDENT Such enthusiasm! Malkuth was thoroughly pleased at this new development. Though he had entered with expectations for disappointment, this game of chess was panning out otherwise. As he had guessed, all it took was a good, relevant question for her to relax. She had her own will, her own thoughts, her own values, and she could communicate those values: check one. Time for check two.
INDENT "No need to apologize, dear Rowena. I find your words interesting. You see, I collect art. As a collector, I only hear the side of the finished piece, the aesthetic, and of money. It is enlightening to hear the side of the artist, like yourself, in regards to the work, emotions, and dreams that go into it." Yes. Feed her. Build her up. "Right now I only have landscapes in my house but I have been thinking about commissioning a portrait. Though, there is a problem with that. You must have heard the phrase the eyes are the windows to the soul, correct?"
INDENT Rhetorical question.
INDENT "All the portraits you see place such emphasis on the eyes," he explained, leaning back in his chair. With his cane leaning in the crevice between his leg and the chair, Malkuth folded his hands in his lap just in front of his doll. Shoulders back, sitting tall, head held high, it was a picturesque pose. He continued to inquire, "But what about capturing someone's soul on canvas... without including their eyes? Could it be done?"
INDENT She could very well have been the next abstract Picasso and Malkuth wouldn't know the difference. He had no idea where her skill level was at but it wasn't relevant (yet). All that mattered was she enjoyed art and she held the opinion that she had some skill. That was all he needed for this little test: her willingness to help and a desire to please not just anyone, but him. Oh, pity, the poor blind art-lover who wants a portrait! Someone could take advantage of him! Any cad off the street could hand him a blank canvas and he wouldn't be any the wiser, right? Or have a child scribble on it and he could believe it was the next big masterpiece? But here he was, asking such a leading question to a helpless enslaved girl!
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:30 am
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Rowena had no idea she was being played, for whatever his real purpose was. The only saving grace was that she wasn't as easily flattered, or as blindly naive, as another girl might have been. While she did like compliments, as almost every person did, she wasn't one to place herself on a pedestal. Nodding when he asked the question about the phrase, because of course she had heard it, her head tipped a bit thoughtfully as he continued and spoke of portraits and eyes. Hearing his final question, her own eyes brightened and she nodded, though the gesture could easily be lost on someone who couldn't see her. Still, she was practically vibrating with enthusiasm. There was no pity for him, no desire to save him from someone taking advantage of him - that never even entered her mind, in all honesty. She had no emotional connection to him and wouldn't think him a fool enough to be conned anyway, he didn't give off that innocent sort of air.
"Oh, I think it could be done easily!" Rowena told him enthusiastically, leaning forward a bit as she thought. "There's so much more to a person that reveals who they are, you know? Body language, their voice, how they dress and style themselves - even how they sit, how they choose to be painted...all of it! The eyes are a...a crutch for artists sometimes. All the detail into them, adding things that might not even exist just to make it look 'deep' and expressive, and all the other detail lost." She sounded almost as if she were lamenting such a loss even as she spoke, biting her lip as she paused to think. It was exciting, to get to think about this, as no one had ever posed such a question to her before. Certainly she was happy to get to talk.
She didn't think he would be asking her to do such a thing, merely believing that he was making small-talk, trying to see what she thought. While Rowena would have been more than happy to attempt such a challenge, it would be for the sake of improving herself and her skill, for trying - while she did many things to please others, her art was an exception. She could never bend and throw herself into something she loved for someone else, no matter how much she liked them. Her paintings always lacked something when she did. Though still beautiful, there was a dullness about them, a flatness, that made her discard them in disgust.
He looked about ready to post for a portrait right now, she thought, seeing how he was sitting. He was statuesque, very handsome and firm, leaving no doubt in her mind that even if he was blind, he wasn't a weak man. Nobody's fool, that was for certain. So what on earth was he doing in here, talking to someone like her? That made no sense whatsoever to her and while she certainly wasn't going to complain about the opportunity to talk, it was curious.
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x"...to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength."
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:28 am
“Whoever said money cannot bring happiness must not know where to shop.”
________________________________ absalom ᎷᎪᏞᏦᏌᎢᎻ levite
INDENT Cute girl, she was. Malkuth would dare to say she was naïve. So innocent, so unsuspecting. She unfortunately didn't tread the path he had laid for her but that was fine. He still held the roadmap; he just needed to guide her back to the trail. It's not like he could just come out and say what he wanted; after all, it was always better if the other person believed it was their idea first. He needed to lead her by the nose with a silken thread so fine, she wouldn't even realize it. It was nothing he hadn't done before.
INDENT "Easily, you say," he repeated.
INDENT "If that is true, then it won't be long before I meet the artist with the skills I seek. Perhaps I've already met them? Well, all in due time. I am in no hurry." He ended with in a low, warm voice. To start a new topic, as was typical in English speech, he began on a higher note. "Tell me about your experiences in this," he motioned vaguely to the room around them, "--world. The rooms here are quite nice; do they treat you well? Have you been purchased before?"
INDENT If she was indeed used goods, then hopefully she would also divulge why she was returned or sold. If it was for any terrible reason - perhaps she killed someone or was a terrible brat or she betrayed her owner - there was no guarantee she was telling the truth. In fact, there was always the possibility that she was trying to play him for a fool. Try as she - or anyone else - might, you couldn't harm someone if you didn't have ammunition. He never gave anyone enough information to hold against him without him always having something to ensure their compliance. He made sure of that. Perhaps the only thing he had to hide was the fact that he had died but there was no way for anyone to know. He was a warm-blooded, breathing, fully functional human again. There was that other secret but no ordinary person would ever come to such a conclusion. He believed his deepest secrets were impervious to discovery; there was no need to be wary of some ordinary little girl trying to undermine him! There was no reason for him to be paranoid! The fact that she wasn't asking him questions meant that she wasn't fishing for his information - not that that mattered, of course, as he was invulnerable. There was still the small chance she was putting up a front just to be purchased, but he doubted it. She was probably genuinely like this.
INDENT Malkuth's smile was so warm and pleasant in contrast to the twisters of doubt and paranoia that raged within.
Color Me Fubar Urgh. Can't wait to get them out of the hotel, then I can have Malkuth loosen up and be less crazy.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:00 pm
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There was just something about art, about how limitless it was in the hands of the right person, that made her get carried away. Rowena was sure she sounded foolish, going on about souls and eyes and everything else, but she couldn't help but get excited when given the chance. It was rare someone asked her opinion, much less listened to her as if it actually mattered what she thought, though she had a feeling he was simply indulging her for some reason. Perhaps he thought it was funny, a slave getting so worked up over a rhetorical question. No matter. Now he'd given her a new idea, something else to work towards. Another goal to keep her focused, to keep her from feeling depressed and alone.
As he changed the subject, Rowena calmed down a bit and pursed her lips when he asked her questions about her experience as a slave, her treatment, etc. She wasn't sure why he would be asking something like that, but it seemed harmless to answer. There was nothing in her past to hide, after all, and she folded her hands on her lap.
"It's actually very nice here," she admitted with a small smile. "I'm left alone for the most part and can pain, do whatever, just not leave my room. They don't abuse me." In her opinion, it would be stupid to hurt what you were trying to sell, but she had seen things that didn't make sense quite often. "Yes, I've had several masters before," Rowena told him with a nod, unsure if he was trying to find out what they were like or what she was like, or if she was oversharing again and he'd just been making small talk. "I was brought here when my last master's business collapsed, I was sold by his company to try to make up some money," the young woman continued. She wasn't sure what there was really to say about her short life as a slave, as it had been fairly uneventful. No one had mistreated her, no one had hurt her. It had hardly been a terrible experience so far.
Biting her cheek as she thought, Rowena decided it couldn't hurt to try to ask him a question of her own. "Um, I was just curious...what are you looking for a slave for?" she asked him, wondering if she was the best fit or not. He couldn't see her charms, so had someone told him the sorts of things she could do beforehand, or was he going to ask her about her skills? "I just - don't want to waste your time if I'm not the sort of person you want," Rowena added, rubbing her arm with her hand absently.
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x"...to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength." `MaliceMizer Haha, I know the feeling.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:21 pm
“Whoever said money cannot bring happiness must not know where to shop.”
________________________________ absalom ᎷᎪᏞᏦᏌᎢᎻ levite
INDENT Rowena's background wasn't bad - at least, the bit that she shared. Though she only mentioned her most recent master, the story wasn't particularly farfetched. The vagueness did make Malkuth wonder what business such a man had been in. If it was something like his own - which was likely, since a company that buys a slave for whatever reason and later resells them must have decent connections to the market - she might be a little more difficult to sway than any other girl. No matter! He would just have to take that into consideration when toying with her. Unfortunately he missed his chance to inquire further about her former masters (it would have been in poor taste, anyway) and instead received his first question of the day from her.
INDENT "You could not possibly be a waste of my time, dear Rowena," Malkuth assured pleasantly. "It is not often I meet an artist, you know. If anything, it would be the Hôtel des Esclaves' fault."
INDENT Cue a smile for effect. To finally tackle her serious subject he wiped his face clean and moved his arms onto the armrests of the chair. Malkuth explained, "You could say I am looking for a certain kind of companion. As you can see I am impaired. A long cane is degrading. An animal is dirty. What I seek is a person - a guide-person - someone to help me when I am in an unfamiliar environment. For that purpose I need someone who is calm, obedient, and submissive yet capable of objecting or intervening in dangerous situations."
INDENT It wasn't a lie. He really did want someone to help him navigate. There was nothing more disconcerting than getting stared at in a market or store, having bystanders whisper, or struggling to get things accomplished when his arms were already full. Though he disliked the idea of having to rely on someone, if that someone was his possession he wouldn't really be relying on them. They would be little more than a tool. Using someone was far different than helplessly relying on them. By admitting he wanted someone to use as a guide he wasn't lying - but he was omitting what else he had in mind for that person who would be near him so much.
INDENT Malkuth punctuated his explanation with another charming smile and a soft, "Does that make sense, Miss Rowena?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:10 pm
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That brought a faint smile to her lips, as she rarely got compliments lately and it was always nice to hear them. Even if he'd asked about her former master's business, she couldn't have told him anything. She'd been kept ignorant of anything he did, as it wasn't relevant to her history or herself, and all she knew was that there had been bad investments or something of that sort. As for her other masters, there was nothing spectacular or particular that stood out to her to mention, although no one had ever asked her about them to start with. They weren't terrible people, was that worthy of mentioning? It was really all that had come to her mind, which was why she was so vague and brief. Rowena was a terrible sort of liar, getting tongue-tied, and didn't like to anyway. It seemed to make doing other bad things so much easier and she didn't want to be that sort of person. It would taint her art, she thought.
Listening to his explanation of why he wanted a slave, she sat quietly and respectfully, not even fidgeting or looking around. Her gaze rested on him, even though he couldn't look back. Just because he couldn't see her didn't mean she could just ignore him, she felt. It seemed rude, and even more wrong than if she'd done it to someone who could see her. Calm, obedient, submissive...she hated that last word, but had heard it applied to her plenty of times, whenever someone bought her and was told how she behaved.
She's a good girl, this one. Nice and submissive, won't give you any trouble. She'll talk your hear off if you let her. Her first master had said that when he sold her to a friend.
"It makes sense, Mr. Malkuth," she told him with a nod. Adding on the form of address to his name made her a little bit more at ease, feeling like it was disrespectful to address him by just his name, and it was a habit years in the making. She'd been taught to respect her elders, as long as they treated her nicely, and had never been able to call an adult by their name. Even though she was now an adult, he was still older than her and the same principle seemed to apply, at least in her mind. Maybe if she spent more time with him and got used to him, it wouldn't bother her so much. But for now, it was impossible for her not to use some sort of form of address.
Thinking it over, she frowned a little bit. "I'm...not sure what you mean by dangerous situations, though," she told him honestly. "I mean, if it's something like...stopping you from walking out in traffic, that's easy. But if there's someone...I don't know, waving a gun around, am I supposed to get shot for you?" Rowena asked in confusion. If he bought her, she knew she wouldn't have a choice and would be expected to do exactly that if he said so. But she at least wanted to ask and try to get a sense of what he expected from her, so if he did purchase her, there would be no nasty surprises.
Unfortunately for the human girl, it wouldn't matter how many questions she asked. There were bound to be nasty surprises.
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x"...to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:37 pm
“Whoever said money cannot bring happiness must not know where to shop.”
________________________________ absalom ᎷᎪᏞᏦᏌᎢᎻ levite
INDENT Mister Malkuth? He did not like the sound of that, nor did he like the sound of that horribly overused that's my father! joke. Not like he could use it, either - Malkuth was a nickname in no way related to his own name or anyone in his family. If he had corrected her he supposed the best thing to do would be to replace it with father but perhaps it was too early for that. Some people were uneasy calling him father. Perhaps they were scared of proving Freud's Electra complex or the possibility of religious connotations concerned them? He decided to let it pass for now. When things got more... intimate, when she was inseparably tied to him, he would correct her. For now he just had to grin and bear it.
INDENT With a light chuckle, the prospective master explained, "No, no, miss Rowena, I would never knowingly put you that sort of situation. Just make sure I don't fall down stairs, walk into traffic, bump into doors, things like that. No heroic taking the bullet for me... I have more meat on my bones than you do for that. I just need someone who will follow when I saw follow, wait when I say wait, yet they will defy my orders solely for the sake of our safety. I need someone to be my eyes."
INDENT Malkuth gathered his doll into one arm again and found his cane with the other hand. As he stood he shifted his cane to the other hand. With the newly freed hand he extended it towards her, palm-up, requesting her hand. This would be the final test. He would take her hand and kiss the top of it as any chivalrous gentleman from some princess fairytale would. If she became flustered or embarrassed or even if she was overcome with childish delight, she would be the one he would take home and coming to the hotel would not have been a waste. If she was just merely surprised or merely pleased then he needn't take her. He didn't want a girl who wouldn't produce amusing reactions to simple things like that. While a kiss on the hand would be nothing compared to the things to come, it was a good starting point on which to build upon.
INDENT He didn't want a desensitized slave. He wanted one that wouldn't be prepared, that wouldn't be able to keep it together, when it was finally time to have some fun. Waiting for her hand he asked, "What do you say, miss Rowena? Would you be willing to be the companion I need? Will you be my eyes?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:03 pm
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Rowena brightened when he explained the sort of person he needed, what he would need them to do. She was growing more hopeful she was going to get to get out of this place and he seemed like he would be a good-enough master. Hopefully kind, which he seemed to be, at least to her. She could do what he needed, she knew she could, and it was better than some of the other things a slave had to do for a master. Maybe he would let her paint as well, she thought, since he didn't seem to mind an artist sort of person. The girl was craving companionship and kindness at this point and everything Malkuth had said and done had suggested that he was the sort of master she'd wanted from the beginning, if she had to have any at all.
When he stood, her heart momentarily dropped. Was he leaving? Had she failed some unspoken test and he was going to find someone else to go with him. Rowena quickly got to her feet anyway, out of politeness. Though she knew it was the men who were supposed to rise when a woman stood, it seemed respectful enough since she wasn't...equal to him, she guessed, although she hated thinking that. She'd grown up thinking everyone was equal on some basic level, after all, and adjusting her way of thinking to this new sort of life was more difficult sometimes than others.
Her eyes widened a bit when he offered his hand and then asked if she'd go with him. Relief flooded her and she nodded automatically, momentarily speechless. Rowena put her hand in his, only to have him kiss the back of her hand lightly with old-fashioned manners that made a blush spread from her cheeks down. Stammering for a moment, obviously flustered, she took a breath and let it out in a quick huff. "I'd love to go with you," Rowena told him honestly, a smile lighting up her face. She had nothing but hope that this would be a good sort of change, instead of sitting here and wondering what sort of master or mistress would come to take her. Now it seemed she had an answer.
Of course she had no experience in being someone's eyes, but she had been a companion of sorts to her last few masters. Even if he didn't want her for company or conversation outside of serving as his eyes, she wouldn't complain. It would be nice to talk to someone and feel as if she were using her brain for once, but most masters didn't want a slave for intelligent conversation, at least not the ones she'd had. By now the young woman was more than used to being treated as a pet rather than a person and it didn't offend her anymore.
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x"...to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength."
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