Sold! (Leonidas)

[troylus]

Michelle was nervous for the first few weeks of serving the Windsor family. The other avox that had been serving them for years wasn’t very helpful or friendly, but she did teach Michelle how to communicate using her hands, in an intricate and complex sign language, that apparently many Avox used. The family never paid her much attention, treating her a bit like part of the furniture as she desperately tried to do everything right so she wouldn’t get in trouble. She rarely saw the household members, as she was deemed too lowly to see to them herself. She did all of the menial tasks like scrubbing the floors and the laundry while the other Avox served their mistress.
She was finally starting to feel like she was getting used to the work, and the routine when their mistress became sick. At first there was even more work to do, and she was utterly exhausted at the end of every day.
She was woken one morning by the other avox nudging her awake. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and sat up, her whole body still aching from the day before despite the sleep.
‘Get up.’ She signed at Michelle. ‘Have work to do.’
Michelle glanced at the tiny window in her room. It was still dark, only the hint of the sun on the horizon to suggest dawn was approaching.’Already? Just another hour, please? I’m so tired.’ Her fingers moved confidently these days, as she learned more and more how to communicate with her hands.
The older woman glared down at her’Mistress is sick. She will need us soon. So we have to work now. Closing up the house.’
’Cosing up? Why?’ She reluctantly drew back the covers and started making her bed. She knew better now than to leave it unmade and ‘slovenly.’ That had got her struck three times with a stick across the back and she wasn’t about to make that mistake again.
’It’s too big. Too much work if there are no guests. The Mistress just wants us to leave the kitchens, the downstairs parlor, and her suite.’
Michelle forced herself to hurry and help prepare the house to close it up. It was a huge task, because in order to keep things nice they had to be spotless, everything covered in sheets of material to keep the dust off, and all the nooks and crannies sealed tight to stop animals and dust getting in. It took several weeks, in the snatches of time they weren’t serving their mistress, when they would have otherwise been sleeping.
Sheer exhaustion made her slightly numb to fear when she was summoned before her mistress one late afternoon.
The women wasn’t old, but illness had made her seem frail and listless, and the chair she sat in dwarfed her as she looked up at Michelle, “Oh, there you are, Avox.
Michelle bobbed her head in greeting, and stood attentively, her eyes on the ground as she had been taught.
“I expect you know that I’m unwell, and the house is to be shut up until further notice.” She didn’t seem to expect a reply, which was good, and carried on, “I don’t need two avoxes if it’s only me to look after and I won’t be entertaining, so I am going to give you to my son.”
Michelle couldn’t help it, as a small choking sound came from her throat. She didn’t really know her mistress’s son. She had been told when he was coming to visit, which didn’t seem terribly often to her. But what did she know of normal families, let alone here in the Capitol. She didn’t like the idea of being sold off though. It was gruelling work here, but other than the other avox she wasn’t really hit or punished. Most people just ignored her like she didn’t exist, and that was much better than being shouted at or hurt.
“I expect you will behave yourself. I don’t think he will put up with anything but your best effort.”
That did NOT sound good, like her mistress knew something about her son that made him scary. Perhaps he was impatient, or easy to anger? No matter what she wanted to stay put. She fell to her knees, lifting her clasped hands in a pleading gesture. Not having a tongue made it difficult to have any dignity when you really needed to express yourself. She shook her head, her eyes full of fear and longing to stay.
“No, no. Let’s not have any of that, Avox,” her mistress sounded tired and disappointed in her, “I am going to tell him to come and collect you tomorrow morning. That will give you a chance to clean your sleeping area.”
She wanted to scream and shout a garbled nonsensical noise, but it would only risk angering her mistress further. It sounded like her mind was made up on the topic. Michelle guessed that this had been decided before they even started closing up the house. Tomorrow was very soon, but in a way that was good. If she’d had weeks to contemplate her fate it might have been worse. She climbed back to her feet, nodding demurely that she would clean up after herself. Like I was never here, like I never existed.
Her mistress waved a hand in dismissal, but as Michelle was leaving she called out, her voice soft and tired, “DO behave yourself, Avox.”
Michelle nodded again, and hurried out on quiet slippered feet.

The next morning she waited in her room, her mattress stripped bare and leaning against the wall with the bed frame, the floor cleaned carefully, and her tiny bag of clothes held in her hand, ready to leave as soon as he came for her. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she tried, just as she had most of the night, unable to sleep with anxiety, to remember anything she could about the man who was now to own her, command her and potentially destroy her if he so wished.
(ooc JaneD )

[JaneD]

Leonidas stood in front of the mirror adjusting every detail of his suit and scrutinizing himself critically. His hair was slicked back, sleek and shiny with a tiny hat perched on top jauntily askew. The suit was neon green and shiny clinging so tightly to his frame he felt that if he bent his arms even slightly the sleeves would burst open. He hated this suit; it was too tight, too flashy, and made out of scratchy material that made his skin raw, but it was fashionably in at the moment and made by the most popular designer in the Capitol. Despite that it cost at least three times more than the suits he usually buys, Leo thought this one of his worst purchases.

On a normal day, Leo wouldn't be wearing an outfit that would overshadow his good looks, but this was not a normal day. He was receiving a present today from his sick mother, a new toy one might consider it. He wanted to look elite, wealthy, and powerful which is why he now stood in an uncomfortable, scratchy suit that was the envy of nearly all citizens.

Once he deemed he looked appropriate for the occasion he crossed his room swiftly and ripped open the door, excitement building in his gut. His penthouse home was one floor, but large, sitting at the top floor of one of the finest skyscrapers in the Capitol. The entire penthouse was lined with upgraded windows that were not only dirt repellant but finger print proof, allowing crystal clear views of the city and sky.

Leo walked quickly through his home and entered the garage that was attached to his top floor flat. This garage not only housed his most prized possession: his car, it also had the ability to raise and lower it’s self from the top floor to the first meaning he could go directly from his house to the streets below.

The engine purred loudly as he sped away the moment the garage door released him, weaving in and out of traffic, cutting people off, and completely ignoring speed limits. Driving was therapeutic to him, but in Leo’s mind if he wasn’t driving fast it wasn’t worth it to drive at all. However with this ride he was less conscious of the thrill as he usually was as his mind was racing about other matters. He was looking forward to seeing his mother. He hadn’t seen her in a while, but he knew she would be even more ill than last time. This made him laugh for the thought of her being bedridden and hopelessly sick brought him cruel enjoyment. She deserved it for being so weak.

Finally he arrived, screeching to a halt in front of the mansion that his mother owned. The second she dies I’m selling this place for all the fucking money it’s worth, he thought scowling at the building. He let himself in, his footsteps echoing on the marble floors as he headed, not towards his mothers chambers, but towards the servants quarters. He was suddenly a child again, too impatient to wait to open his new toys. The door to the servant’s quarters flew open with a bang as he pushed and entered staring at the newest addition to his home.

[troylus]

Michelle tensed when the heard the tires screeching outside. Her hearing was very good but she couldn't follow the sound of the footsteps until she heard them out in the hallway outside her room.  Even though she knew he was coming the violent way he through the door open made her shrink back into the mattress in absolute terror.  Her rapid deep breathing making her ample bosom heave appealingly.  The banging of the door made her ears hurt and she let out a frightened whimper, avoiding looking at her new owner, clutching her bag to her chest as if it might offer some sort of protection despite it being tiny and only contained a few rags.  Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of having to go live with someone who scared her this much just by walking into a room.  

[JaneD]

Leo smiled at the girl who was practically shaking with fear in front of him. Excellent, he thought as plans of manipulation and fun exploded across his brain.

"Hello, little mouse." He said gently, relishing the way her eyes refused to meet his. A smirk stretched across his lips, "I'm so excited to bring you home today, please follow me." He moved close to her, one hand reaching out and stroking wetness away from her cheek before turning and exiting the room and heading upstairs to the bed chambers.

His parent's always had the largest bed chamber, a fact that he did not understand. When it was two parents sharing it, it seemed appropriate, but after his father passed he could not follow the logic as to why a woman much smaller than him required more space. There were five bed chambers in this estate, each chamber housing at least a foyer, a bedroom, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom. Three chambers also had studies and balconies, and on top of that the master bed chamber had two closets and a library. Beyond the double door entrance, his mother's chambers opened upon a large living space decorated in white, pale pink, and gold trimmings, the epitome of elegance.

A prickle of annoyance crept slowly through Leo's veins as he threw open the double doors that guarded his mother's space and walked with purpose towards his mother's closed bedroom door, not even bothering to knock or find out if his mother was asleep. An Avox stood outside of the door, head bowed, waiting for any moment that she might call for aid. 

"Mother!" He called out hasting towards the next set of double doors directly across from the entrance and shoving the Avox away before bursting through them as well. His mother looked older and thinner since he last saw her. She was sitting up in bed, holding a book in her frail arms. Leo had walked quickly enough, that he was able to enter the room and shut the door behind him before his following party had crossed the foyer. The last sound that could be heard before the click of the door was his mother's exclamation of, "Leo!" 

A mere three minutes passed before Leo had strolled out of the bed room again and was now flying off towards his car, desperate to leave this God forsaken place and head home. It wasn't until he was outside and climbing into the driver's side that he stopped and took a moment to check if his new play thing had caught up. 

[troylus]

"Hello, little mouse."

His voice was gentle, soothing, but it made her feel like he was a cat ready to pounce on the helpless prey it had found and cornered.  She scolded herself; it wasn't Master Leonidas' fault that she'd been sold to him, and he seemed to be happy to have her.  That had to be good, right? She needed to give him a fair chance to be a kind and reasonable master, before deciding she disliked him.  

She tried hard to be good and not flinch away when he reached out to touch her.  The gentleness of wiping away her tears was so not what she'd been expecting from this whole visit and once again she instructed herself silently to be obedient as her mistress had ordered her to be.  

She followed him as close as she could as he had asked her to, and waited obediently with the other Avox while he spoke to his mother.  She ignored the other avox's hands, instructing her to listen and behave herself.  She wouldn't miss that one at all.  

Michelle was shocked at how little time Leo spent speaking to his mother, but reasoned that perhaps that was a kindness due to her failing health; she must be tired and long visits would surely wear her out too much.  

He seemed to be racing the clock as he went out to the car and she had to hurry on her quiet slippered feet to keep up. She startled a bit when he looked back to see if she was there.  She hadn't been expecting him to stop so she felt far too close to him for comfort and took an embarrassed step backwards blushing.  Then she silently waited for further instructions or to get in the car if he gave no other directions.  The car was amazing, and she was quite excited to go in it; she'd only ever been in the big vans they used to transport the avox about the country from the train. Her excitement wasn't enough to overcome her sense of fear and dread as to what her life was about to become however.

[JaneD]

The car roared to life as Leo turned his key into the ignition. He even had his hand on the gear shift before looking through the wind shield and noticing that his new avox, who was named Michelle his mother told him, was still standing outside. He signed before rolling down his window and sticking his head out.

"Are you getting in? You can sit in the front." He shouted about the rumble of his engine. This car was compact, but powerful, housing a custom made engine that allowed for power and speed. The only trouble was that this meant the car could be heard from a mile away, although Leo liked the attention it drew. 

The second the passenger door closed, they sped away from the house and towards the city. He was a good driver, but he had no self-restraint when it came to speeding and very little concern for other drivers on the road. He cut people off, tail gated, and never bothered with turn signals, but by some good fortune had also never been in an accident. 

"So, I hope you enjoy your new home." He started speaking about half way through their terrorizing drive. "But we have one more stop on the way, I hope you don't mind." He spoke kindly, attempting reassure her fears. He couldn't have her terrified of him before the fun even started, besides unsuspecting prey is always the easiest to capture. "You won't be my only avox after we stop." 

Though his mother didn't know of it, Leo had already purchased an avox before she offered him one of hers. He was delighted at the prospects of having two. His life had been exceedingly dull recently and he's needed some new entertainment in his life. Not to mention that he loves hosting extravagant parties that usually take a turn for the worst, his favorite part. It can be very expensive to keep hiring a cleaning crew afterwards to pick up after the hundred and fifty people extravaganza, but the thrill is always worth it. Now, he'll have two sets of hands to clean up after him and all his guests.

They pull in the driveway of a building that appears to be one grey box. The building is so ugly and sad looking that the only purpose it could possibly be for is housing avoxes, as their wellbeing never seems to matter to the general population. But as depressing as the outside is, that is nothing compared to how it is inside where people are herded and treated like livestock. Most customers will not enter the building, so the avoxes are brought outside to wait with a guard in case they try to make a run for it, and Leo is not disappointed as he sees two figures in the distance as the vehicle reaches the building. 


[ooc: sorry guys I couldn't remember if i was buying a new avox, so if I did this wrong let me know and I'll rewrite it! Sorry!] 

 

[meerclar]

Petros waited silently beside the guard outside the building. It was the first time he had seen the sky in weeks and he turned his face to the sun, helplessly enjoying the warmth on his skin.
As much as he has tried to pay attention to everything that had been going on around him, he was unsettled that he had very little idea of what was going to happen to him now. He hadn't been kept long at the detention centre, and tried very hard not to think about what had happened there. The pain was enough of a reminder, and he wondered how long it would take to fade. Once he'd been taken from there, he had been kept with the other Avoxes for sale, in pens, sometimes dragged out for cleaning, or some kind of reclassification system that eluded him. Some Capitol citizens had been past to peer in at him, and he had done his best to look appealing and useful, although he wasn't quite sure what they were looking for. None of them spoke to him, not that he could have answered any questions anyway. He knew that his picture had been taken, so there was possibly another system of searching through the avoxes for sale without actually having to come in.
He wrinkled his nose, the displeasure at his lack of information making him even more unsettled.
The guard beside him nudged him and ordered, "Stand still. Stop fidgeting. Eyes down," and Petros dropped his face from the sky and watched the ground instead.
He heard the car well before it came into view, the engine startlingly loud. He dared the guard's irritation and raised his head enough to watch it approach, screeching to a halt in front of them.

[troylus]

Michelle felt bad for Leo. He was trying really hard and seemed like such a nice guy, she should have been grateful.  The sound of the engine to her overly sensitive ears was agony though, and it was all she could do to not throw herself out of the rapidly speeding vehicle.  When the car finally pulled to a stop she let out a relieved whimper and lifted her head, taking her hands off her ears tentatively. A boy a little younger than herself stood with a guard outside the squat building that she recognised from her own trip a year ago off to the Windsor's home. She had been expecting another girl avox and was surprised to see a male instead. She gave him a little nervous smile, her eyes still full of tears from the pain of the loud noise.  She hoped she would be allowed to explain to Leonidas, if no one had told him already, about her strange medical condition that left her super-sensitive to loud noises and to physical pain.  She didn't want him to feel bad, and blame himself for her reaction.

[JaneD]

The suns warmth was the first thing that Leo registered as he put the car in park and stepped out. His eyes glanced quickly over the grey building in front of him, and he wondered momentarily what it was like inside of it. The thought didn't linger though, as he could never quite wrap his head around pain that didn't exist to him. Finally he set his eyes on his new pet, Petros, if he remembered correctly from the registry he had picked him from. He was skinny and pale, like he had been hiding in a closet for a very long time, and although he wasn't at Leo's level of attractiveness (or even playing the same game in Leo's mind) there was something pleasant about his appearance.  

"He'll do." Leo told the guard squinting in the sunlight. He passed over a check he had waiting in his pocket and grabbed Petros by the upper arm, squeezing harder than necessary. He opened the door for him and guided him inside the back seats. Although Leo was trying to put his best foot forward, at least for appearances, his impatience was getting the best of him. He was looking forward to toying with his new additions. 

"Alright you two," he chimed happily as he slid back into the front seat, waving cheerfully to the guard who's back was receding towards the building, "introduce yourselves." There was a moment of silence as he glanced between them, before bursting into a fit of laughter. "How silly of me, you can't!" He playfully smacked his forehead with an open palm, "geez I swear sometimes I don't know how I even put my pants on in the mornings. Petros this is Michelle, Michelle this is-" He hadn't looked at her in a while, but was startled to see her eyes were full of tears.

"Are you alright?" He asked kindly in a way that was starkly different than how he was feeling inside. The sight of her tearing up over nothing enraged him. Hadn't he been kind thus far? Hadn't he been working as hard as he was to pleasant? Bitch, he thought bitterly as he plastered a smile on to his face and patted her knee comfortingly. He was lucky he was so practiced at feigning emotion or else he was sure he was going to lose it. 

"Well, we'll figure this out when we get to your new home." He turned away from both of them and put both hands on the wheel, speeding off onto the road. 

Before they knew it, they were back at Leo's apartment, rising up in his garage elevator and walking through the doors into his spectacular loft. He waved at them to follow him as he walked towards the kitchen area and through a door that led into the servants quarters. He was no longer speaking, but rubbing his hands together somewhat maniacally as he led them down a hall way to show them their rooms. The servant's quarters were nice and clean compared to quarters in other less decadent homes, but they were also bare with plain furniture and no windows to speak off, surrounded by beige walls. 

"Here's your room." He opened the door at the end of the hall showing an empty room with two twin beds on either side. "Now I'll let you get settled for a bit before dinner, but Michelle-" he winds his arm back and slaps her across the face hoping to send her spinning towards the ground.

"I hope you can learn more appropriate times to cry." He said in a low, dangerous voice before exiting the room. 

[meerclar]

Petros had been feeling unsure about his new ‘Master’. His first thought was he wasn’t dressed as outrageously as he had expected, and that perhaps people in the Capitol dressed up for the Hunger games as much as they dressed up the tributes. The grip on his arm had been tight and rough, pulling him impatiently in the car, and Petros had watch him warily through the drive. He seemed odd; his voice cheerful and friendly, but something about him suggested that he was impatient for something. Perhaps just to be home.
The house itself was more richly furnished than anything Petros had seen in his life, and he followed Leonidas silently, until they reached the room that Leo said was theirs. It was small and bare and Petros was still examining it when their master drew his arm back and struck Michelle hard, knocking her to the floor.

Michelle felt like her eyeball was about to explode out of her head, and she cried out a garbled sound of distress as she cradled her face. The blow had been so unexpected after thinking that Leonidas seemed so kind and friendly. The offence she had committed seemed so trivial too, her eyes had been full of tears, but only unshed ones from the loud noise of the car engine hurting her so.
Petros recoiled from the violence, so shocking and sudden, but their master didn’t hit him, just turned and left them alone.
Michelle was relieved to hear the door close and Leo’s retreating footsteps down the corridor. She held her face close to the floor, still recovering from the blow, and also ashamed to look at Petros.
Petros knelt slowly next to Michelle. He realised he didn’t know anything about her, other than her name, and had no way to find out. After what he had been through in the detention centre he was unsure what kind of trauma she might have been through, and he hesitated to touch her, waiting instead for her to look up.
His close silence, and the hesitation she could hear in his breathing made her lift her head and peek at him nervously.
His brow was creased in a worried frown and he mouthed, slow and deliberate, ‘you okay?’
She smiled, her eyes once again filling with tears, but this time at his apparent kind concern for her wellbeing. She couldn’t be sure though, she’d just foolishly trusted her new master, thinking him kind, when clearly it was just an act.
Lostly struggling to communicate without his tongue, Petros pointed to the door where Leonidas had just left and shrugged in a questioning kind of way.
Her fingers raced through the letters and words but they meant nothing to him, and he just shook his head, looking baffled.
She sat up, cross legged on the floor and pointed to herself, then slowly and deliberately showed him the sign for ‘M’ mouthing the sound. When it looked like he understood and could imitate the gesture, she continued on with the rest of her name. It was too slow though, there was too much that needed to be discussed, and she slid her hand into her apron pocket, producing a small notepad and pencil that she used when out shopping or needing to communicate simple things for her old mistress. She scribbled on it rapidly, desperate to feel a connection with another person to alleviate her distress.
‘I’m Michelle. Been an avox 1 year. Was with Mrs Windsor, his mother. Just transferred today. You, Petros, right?’ She handed him the notebook expectantly.
He didn’t waste the precious paper, just pointed to his name and nodded. Underneath her writing he wrote, ‘New avox. Will he tell us what to do?’
She was peering over his shoulder as he wrote and shrugged before he’d even finished writing it. She had no idea. He seemed unpredictable to her.
‘What do we DO?’ He seemed worried. He liked having lots of information, and he had none. Less than he’d even had in the detention centre.
She took the notepad back gently, noting how he’d cleverly avoiding using up too much space, and wrote in small legible script, ‘Used to clean, cook for-’ she pointed at where she’d written ‘Mrs Windsor’ before. ‘But think we should stay here unless instructed otherwise.’
Petros nodded slowly and looked thoughtful. Cooking and cleaning he could manage. He indicated where she’d written that and gave her a thumbs up, but then pointed to the red mark on her face and scrunched up his own questioningly.
She looked at his face, seeing the concern and smiled. She shook her head, stroking her bruised cheek, as if to say it was washed away, even though in truth it still ached horribly. She pointed at him and mouthed ‘OK?’
He shook his head, unable to glean all the information he wanted this way. It was better than nothing, but he didn’t even know where to start. He took back the pencil and wrote desperately, ‘He OWNS us? Can he just hit us like that? What else?’ The total lack of power from the detention centre had been oppressive, and he was starting to feel it again.
She gave him a worried look, and shrugged again with a knowing smile. It was a daunting concept, to be so powerless and at someone’s mercy. But she suspected Petros knew it to be true, and was just struggling with accepting that truth. In her own life she’d often been at someone else’s mercy and it was less of a shock for her. Even so, it was terrifying.
‘Kind?’ He wrote hopefully, ‘don’t make angry?’ Leonidas had seemed kind enough, until he had perceived a misbehaviour. He might have a temper, but only if they weren’t totally obedient.
She scrunched up her face, unsure how to save paper on this one. She decided it was worth a bit of space, needing someone to understand her predicament. She pointed at herself again, ‘Medical condition. Hypersensitive hearing and nerves.’
Petros grimaced sympathetically, imagining going through the detention centre with an enhanced sensitivity to pain. It had been bad enough with regular sensitivity. ‘Ouch,’ he mouthed, pointing to her face again.
She nodded, his kindness making her feel close to tears again. She turned the notepad to a new page even though it wasn’t needed yet and wrote, ‘Where from? Why here?’
‘Petros Miller, District 3’, He wrote, his letters small and neat. ‘Killed a peacekeeper,’ he paused and glanced at her face, worried suddenly that she might object to him having murdered someone. She did look slightly pale and worried, her eyebrow raised in a questioning arch at the idea of this slight young man, barely more than a boy killing a peacekeeper when he seemed so kind.
He pointed to the word ‘peacekeeper’ and wrote next to it, ‘he killed my family.’
She gasped audibly and pressed her hand to her mouth in alarm.
With a grimace, and relieved suddenly to be telling his story to someone who might actually care, even if they couldn’t DO anything, he wrote, ‘I thought they’d just kill me for it, but they arrested me. Didn’t even know what an Avox was till they cut out my tongue.’
She put her hand on his arm and gave him a supportive squeeze and a sorrowful smile.
He offered her back the pencil with a sad smile of his own and pointed to her own words, ‘Where from? Why here?’

[troylus]

(this and the post above were written blurbing with Meerclar and myself working together and then splitting it up for posting purposes)


Michelle was able to simply point at his own answer for where, District 3, the same. She held up 3 fingers to confirm it. She wasn’t sure how to answer the next question and hesitated.
He gave her a sudden grin and pointed to ‘killed a peacekeeper’ with a cheeky questioning look.
She laughed, the sound surprising herself, pressing her hand to her mouth again.
The noise was odd without a tongue and it took Petros a moment to realise that it WAS a laugh. His own chuckle was more of a silent breath, but he was relieved to have been able to make her smile.
She shook her head and carefully wrote, ‘Made to steal by family. Wrong building caught in, government facility I think. Not sure. Just did as told.’ She pointed to his words about not knowing about avoxes and nodded in agreement, she too had had no idea.
He took the pencil back and wrote, ‘Makes sense. As if they’d do their own chores. They kill us for entertainment, and make us work in the districts for them, why not make us clean their homes and look after them here as well?’
She stared at the words for a while before glancing at him, making sure he was done. ‘Want to write more sedition before we eat this page?’
He considered that carefully and nodded, writing ‘The peacekeeper who killed my family lied and said they were working against the government. They weren’t, but I would now, if I knew how.’ He glanced at her, wondering if she would somehow report on him for this, but not really caring in that moment. If she did, his master might be more lenient of a brand new avox, and if he couldn’t trust Michelle, best to know it now. He thought carefully and wrote the worst thing he could think of in that moment, ‘I want to contact the rebellion. We’re IN the capitol. Surely that’s useful to them, right?’
Her eyes were wide with fear but she nodded. ‘You know them from D3?’
He shook his head regretfully and pointed to the word ‘lied’.
‘How?’ She pointed at the words for contacting the rebellion.
He shrugged and wrote, ‘Keep my ears open, pay attention? Hope?’
She pointed at her own ears and back over at the other page where she’d mentioned her sensitive hearing and smiled at him bravely.
He smiled gratefully at her, then at the page, and his own mouth, offering to eat it himself and save her a gutful of paper.
She ripped it in half, handing him the slightly larger one apologetically.
He took it easily and ripped off a small piece to chew on.
She did the same, rubbing her tummy in an exaggerated ‘yum yum’ gesture, designed to make him see the funny side of this dreadful situation they were in together.
He let out a strange noise that was intended to be a laugh and grimaced at himself.
She showed him the sign for M again as she chewed and he repeated it carefully
She nodded approvingly and then looked at the ‘safe’ remaining words, finding an ‘a’ and teaching him the sign for the letters, working their way through the alphabet. He was a fast learner and seemed to barely need her to repeat any of the gestures. She had taken much longer to learn it herself, and was impressed.
After they worked their way through the alphabet, he slowly signed his name at her, looking at her face to check that he’d got it right. She nodded encouragingly. He then pointed to the two beds and signed slowly, ‘You which bed?’
She blushed. For a moment she had considered asking him to sleep next to her, hold her so that she might feel just a little safer. Her stomach was twisted in a knot that seemed to be growing tighter the more she thought about the words they’d just eaten, as if the danger of them had soaked from the paper into her guts and was burning holes in her. She pointed at the one furthest from the door. It would be the quietest, and if she were to get any rest she needed quiet. Also she wanted to be as far away as possible when Leo or anyone else, barged their way in here.
No nodded, not really minding either way. As if reading her mind he signed with patient slowness, ‘tell him?’
She glanced at her notebook. She could leave her master a note explaining what was wrong and why she had been crying. But would that make him angrier or more understanding? She forced her fingers to move slowly and asked, ‘Seen and not heard?’
He tried to sign an answer, but it was too long and he reached for the pencil apologetically, finding an empty space on the page he was halfway through eating. ‘Might be nice, but get angry if he thinks we’re bad? Crying for no reason bad. Reason is good?’
She nodded and carefully ripped the words ‘Medical condition. Hypersensitive hearing and nerves.’ Adding in tiny letters, ‘Dear-’ she looked to Petros questioningly, mouthing ‘Sir? Master?’
He shrugged unsurely, realising that he didn’t even know the name of the man who owned him. ‘Sir?’ He answered, moving his fingers carefully.
She agreed, ‘Dear Sir, Medical condition. Hypersensitive hearing and nerves. Sorry, your respectful avox, Michelle.’ She showed it to Petros skeptically, considering using a full sheet of paper and just doing it properly, but there seemed so few pages left and she didn’t know if she’d get another notepad soon.
Petros nodded. It got the point across, even if it wasn’t pretty. If their master didn’t accept it, then he likely wouldn’t accept the excuse either.

Petros stood and stretched, then took a few seconds to properly explore the room. There wasn’t much there. He turned and signed to Michelle, ‘no toilet?’ What were they supposed to do, if they weren’t allowed out of the room? And what about food and drink? Did they just have to wait and hope their owner came back soon?
She grimaced, suddenly feeling the need to relieve herself at the thought she couldn’t.
He shook his head and sat on the bed closest to the door, ‘Teach more signs?’ He signed hopefully. She had been signing at him before, and he was sure there had been more gestures than the ones she had taught him so far.
‘You learn fast,’ she signed, happy to have something to take her mind off her bladder and the weight of the paper in her stomach. She sat on her bed, and resumed her lesson, teaching him some simple and frequently used words to speed up the communication. They even came up with some new signs themselves, words that they felt might be useful, and she felt the contrast doing this with Petros compared to the avox at Mrs Windsor’s house.

[JaneD]

Pure excitement was coursing through Leo's veins, a type of excitement he hadn't felt in a long time. He was even a little eager, his leg bouncing rapidly as he fought to sit still. He was lounging in the living room of his apartment, sprawled out in a luxurious, white leather arm chair as one hand was placed gracefully under his chin, the other fingering the handle of a new whip he had recently purchased. His whole body seemed to be buzzing with gleeful electricity, while his eyes remained cold as ever and fixed upon the large monitor hung against the eastern wall. It currently displayed video footage of his new play things, sitting on the floor and communicating using a pad of paper and pencil. They seemed completely oblivious to the cameras he had placed in there, although to be fair they were extremely well hidden and smaller than half a pinky nail. These camera's could not, however, pick up what they were writing, despite their high definition. 

Leo was amused by their attempts at secrecy and, what he could only assume, was a bond forming between the two. Well, he chuckled a little to himself, it wouldn't last long with mind games he intended to play. A point in their "conversation" peaked his interest when he watched the boy and girl tear a notebook page in half and, apparently, consume it. His leg stopped jiggling and his hands left his chin and his whip as he leaned forward in his chair his mind straining to understand what just happened. Clearly there was something on that page that they had not wanted read, and now it was out of his reach.

The anticipation that had flared in him extinguished quickly as it was replaced by annoyance. It wasn't their attempts for secrecy that ticked him off, he loved that they were trying to keep secrets for players with things to hide always made the game so much more interesting, but, rather, the fact that they got away with it. Sure, he could call them both in and torture them until they told him, but how could if he know if they were lying? He slammed his back against the chair and scowled thinking they would certainly pay for this.

"Michelle!" He called out loudly, shutting off the monitor and waiting for her to shuffle in obediently. He smiled as she entered, giving her a glowing expression before patting his leg, indicating where she should sit. His hand trailed against her cheek as his face morphed into what he hoped was a sympathetic appearance. "I'm sorry it had to come to that earlier. Trust me I don't enjoy hurting you, but I expect the utmost respect from you." His hand continued to travel down her neck and arm, gently exploring the feel of this object. 

"Perhaps, this would be a good time to set some house rules." He said quietly, his eyes hungrily tracing her face, "Please go ask your new roommate to join us." His hand stopped abruptly and reached for the whip resting on the arm of the couch. He ran his fingers through the leather, letting the long tendrils off the handle slide through his hand as he waited in exhilaration. 

[troylus]

(ooc note: this and the following post were written blurbing with Meerclar and myself writing together and then splitting it up for posting purposes.)

Michelle started at the loud voice calling her name. She looked at Petros in alarm, suddenly not sure what to do, even though it was obvious there was only one thing to do - go quickly to her new Master and see what he wanted.
Petros pulled a face at the door, looking unsure, then pointed at Michelle and smiled, trying to remind her to please their master.
She plastered a fake smile onto her face and stood, tucking the note into her palm ready to give it to Leonidas when she got the chance and slipped quickly out of the room.

Her breathing hitched up a notch when she saw him, but she dipped into a polite curtsey. Then he patted his knee for her to sit down. She REALLY didn’t want to sit there, even next to him would be too close. But he was smiling and seemed pleased with her, and she wanted to keep him that way. She perched carefully on his lap, working hard to keep the smile on her face. She didn’t even see the whip on the arm rest - she was so focused on him and trying to make him happy. The way he was touching her was too intimate, but quite pleasant, making her skin tingle pleasantly with each caress.

She nodded at the mention of rules; she wanted to know what they were so she wouldn’t make him angry without warning again. When he asked her to fetch Petros she slid from his lap and gently pressed the small piece of paper into his hand with a demure smile.

‘Dear Sir, Medical condition. Hypersensitive hearing and nerves. Sorry,
your respectful avox, Michelle.’

And then she saw it - that vile instrument of torture, caressed as affectionately as he had been stroking her just moments before. Her legs nearly gave way beneath her, such was her terror. She gasped audibly, and then remembering when he struck her before, attempted to smile. It must have been a fairly dismal sight, but she was clearly trying at least, as she curtsied messily and raced out the door.

‘Whip,’ she signed far too quickly at Petros, tears streaming down her face.
Petros had been pacing their small room, wondering what was happening in the rest of the house. He turned as soon as she opened the door, his face falling at her expression. Her hands flew and he shook his head at her. He waved his own hands at her in a ‘slow down’ gesture, mouthing the words at the same time.

‘W h i p,’ she signed again, each letter clear and distinct despite her hands shaking so much it looked like she was vibrating.
Petros’s eyes widened as he translated her gestures. His gaze flicked over her body, checking for an injury even as he gestured, ‘Hurt?’ at her.
She shook her head and pointed at him, indicating he should come with her. ‘He wants you. Telling us house rules.’

[meerclar]

His head swimming, Petros wanted more time. Needed more time, to question her properly so he knew what was happening. Was he about to be whipped? From the frantic, impatient look on Michelle’s face, there wasn’t time for him to even get his thoughts in order.
Her fingers flew so rapidly he could only make out a word here and there in the flurry of movement, ‘We need ... hurry. Don’t ... keep ...waiting. ... the ... like he loves it. What ... do?’
Taking a deep breath, Petros wanted to take her hand, to comfort her, but he hesitated, not wanting to hurt her, and nodded instead. Decisively he signed, ‘Let’s go.’
He fell into step behind her as she led the way back to Leonidas, thinking quickly. Why would their master have a whip, unless he was just trying to scare them into good behaviour. It made no sense to actually whip them when they hadn’t done anything. On the other hand, hitting Michelle hadn’t made sense either, and he had still done it. He resolved to do nothing at all that could annoy his master, until he had heard all the rules, and knew more about what his expectations were. He squeezed his hand tight. I can do this. Keep your mouth shut. Obviously. Eyes down, but look respectful, like you’re paying attention.

Michelle felt incredibly grateful that Petros was with her and she didn’t have to face this alone. Before she opened the final door she gave Petros a tentative hug, wrapping her arms around his chest and clinging onto him.
He hugged her back, gently. For a moment he didn’t want to let go. He knew when he did they would have to keep walking, and face their new future, and he wanted to put that off as long as possible.
She drew strength from Petros’ warm embrace and was the first to pull away. Leonidas did not seem like the sort of man to be kept waiting, and the thought of him coming to see what was taking so long and finding them clinging to one another seemed almost more terrifying than just going in to face him.

Despite his resolution to keep his eyes down, Petros couldn’t help stealing a glance at the man who would control his life for now on. He was attractive, pleasant looking, sprawled on the couch in a picture of comfort and relaxation. The whip in his hand made Petros’s stomach tighten. It was a fearful thing, and the loving way Leonidas was holding it only made it worse. He dropped his gaze again and fell into line beside Michelle, trying to radiate obedience and attentive servitude as best he could while doing nothing that might anger his master or actually draw attention.

[JaneD]

Michelle slid off Leo's lap and slipped a piece of paper in to his hand. He eyed her questioningly as she made to leave, but then noticed her eyes had fallen onto the whip in his hand. He smiled at the fact that she seemed frozen for a moment before turning and walking out the room. He shook his head in a bemused way, thinking that she need not be scared. At least not yet. So far they both seemed like obedient little puppies, and although obedience was not something that would protect them from pain, it still pleased Leo to know how much control he had.

His left hand twitched and he was made aware again of the piece of paper crinkling softly in his clenched fist and he stared at it contemplating whether or not it was worth his time to even open. There is nothing that his new slave could communicate to him that would be of interest, and he wondered why she even thought she had the right to give him notes. The more these thought intruded his mind, the more pronounced his scowl became. Leo somewhat enjoyed the swelling anger with in his chest and he found himself smoothing out the crumpled sheet of paper, know that whatever it contained would only encourage his temper. 

"Dear Sir, Medical condition. Hypersensitive hearing and nerves. Sorry, your respectful avox, Michelle." 

That all familiar heat spread instantly through his body, his chest tightening, and cheeks burning red. His hand wrapped into a tight fist, taking the little piece of paper with it and smashing it into a tiny ball. A medical condition? His mind was racing, although to be fair, his mind was usually racing. Leo suffered from constant intrusive thoughts that most often were about alleviating the boredom he typically drowned in, but the thoughts that were flying by at this moment were of indignation and surprise. His mother, his own flesh and blood, has given him a defective gift. Was this some kind of joke? He expected his servants to be whole and sturdy, ready to take on the work he required from them, and the pain he wished to inflict, but now he wasn't sure she would last the week. 

Footsteps echoed against the marble flooring, bringing Leo out his revery. He looked up to see the two of them had returned and although Michelle had kept her eyes locked to the floor, as a sign of respect Leo decided, Petros had glanced up making fleeting eye contact with his master. Although his eyes made a race to the floor, Leo's eyes stayed locked on his face and squinted slightly. 

A palpable silence fell between the three as Leo studied them, he could almost feel their apprehension radiating off of their skin. Finally, he stood and began to circle them, whip still in hand. 

"So, rules." He spoke out in a unnecessarily commanding voice. "First, when I call for you I expect you to be at my feet in sixty seconds or less. I don't need slow avoxes. Second, that locked door on the right on the way to your room is your bathroom. I will unlock it later tonight, but you are not allowed to use any of the other bathrooms in my home. Third, I expect my living space to be clean and my servant's able to cook, so if you don't have those skills I suggest you learn quickly. Lastly, any misbehavior will be punished severely. I will not tolerate incompetence, or excuses including," he leaned in close to Michelle, "medical conditions." 

Leo continued to circle, this time stopping behind them. "In case you were curious for a taste of this punishment." He drew the whip back behind his head and slashed his arm down, the whip whistling through air and snapping against Petros' back. Blood began to bloom against his shirt as once more Leo yanked the whip through the air with another slap of leather against skin. 

He stepped over Petros body and moved his face mere centimeters from Michelle's. "I don't want to hear excuses from you again or else he pays the price." Leo backed away, looked quickly at Petros on the ground and then walked away heading towards his room. "I expect dinner in forty minutes." He called over his shoulder before slamming the door.