[Dream | 01]
Warning: Child abuse.
Effects: Fear mostly.
An older man is dragging a young boy by the arm. They're walking quickly through rows and rows of bright tents and sidestepping multiple strange people at the same time. Acrobats are in the background practicing their new routine and ahead of them the boy can see the lion tamers coasting the lion back into his cage.
That night's show had gone off without a hitch except for a small moment in which the boy at lost focus and his aim missed, nearly taking out his assistant's eye. The Ring Master was furious and the boy knew he was to be punished. Finally they reach the end of the tents and he wis dragged into the last one and thrown to the floor.
"Take off your shirt!" The words shoot out of the man like bullets with the intention to find something to hurt. The boy clutches his shirt and squeezes his eyes shut, hoping this time his wish would come true, that this time closing his eyes and praying would make this all go away. It doesn't.
The Ring Master grabs him by his hair and pulls him up enough to put his mouth next to the boy's ear. "I said take your shirt off boy. We can't afford to buy you a new costume every time I have to teach you a lesson." He releases his hold and drops the boy back on the floor.
"Please.." The words clog in the boy's throat. He hates himself for this, for being reduced to begging, but he knew what was to come and it hurt too much. His back burned from the other countless nights he was dragged here and made to suffer. "I've learned my lesson. It won't happen again. Please let me go." As the boy spoke he curled farther into himself, trying to make himself disappear, or failing that, look harmless.
The whip comes down on him without warning. He hadn't even heard the Ring Master pull it out. There was a loud crack as it connected with his back and the pain was so sudden he cried out and fell forward onto his hands. Another blow connected with his skin lower, and then another a little higher, and another and another until finally the boy couldn't keep track and all he felt was pain. His arms shook until they finally went out from under him and his face hit the ground. But still the whip fell and the pain continued. He could feel the blood pool down his sides and spilling onto the ground.
After an undetermined amount of time the blows fell silent, but the boy hardly notices past the burning of his back. Finally a shoe connects with his side and forces himself to look up. The Ring Master towers over him with a look of disgust. "Get out of my sight you worthless brat." The boy aches and every move makes the burning worst but he still gets up as fast as he can and leaves the tent, shirt bundled under his arm. He barley makes it back to his own tent before collapsing.
- - -
Cassian shoots up off his cot drenched with sweat and tear stains trekking down his cheeks. He raises a hand to brushes his soaked bangs off his forehead and then notices the Dreamberry laying next to him, turned on. He reaches for it, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Bloody hell!"
Click! The Dreamberry is shut off.
Effects: Fear mostly.
An older man is dragging a young boy by the arm. They're walking quickly through rows and rows of bright tents and sidestepping multiple strange people at the same time. Acrobats are in the background practicing their new routine and ahead of them the boy can see the lion tamers coasting the lion back into his cage.
That night's show had gone off without a hitch except for a small moment in which the boy at lost focus and his aim missed, nearly taking out his assistant's eye. The Ring Master was furious and the boy knew he was to be punished. Finally they reach the end of the tents and he wis dragged into the last one and thrown to the floor.
"Take off your shirt!" The words shoot out of the man like bullets with the intention to find something to hurt. The boy clutches his shirt and squeezes his eyes shut, hoping this time his wish would come true, that this time closing his eyes and praying would make this all go away. It doesn't.
The Ring Master grabs him by his hair and pulls him up enough to put his mouth next to the boy's ear. "I said take your shirt off boy. We can't afford to buy you a new costume every time I have to teach you a lesson." He releases his hold and drops the boy back on the floor.
"Please.." The words clog in the boy's throat. He hates himself for this, for being reduced to begging, but he knew what was to come and it hurt too much. His back burned from the other countless nights he was dragged here and made to suffer. "I've learned my lesson. It won't happen again. Please let me go." As the boy spoke he curled farther into himself, trying to make himself disappear, or failing that, look harmless.
The whip comes down on him without warning. He hadn't even heard the Ring Master pull it out. There was a loud crack as it connected with his back and the pain was so sudden he cried out and fell forward onto his hands. Another blow connected with his skin lower, and then another a little higher, and another and another until finally the boy couldn't keep track and all he felt was pain. His arms shook until they finally went out from under him and his face hit the ground. But still the whip fell and the pain continued. He could feel the blood pool down his sides and spilling onto the ground.
After an undetermined amount of time the blows fell silent, but the boy hardly notices past the burning of his back. Finally a shoe connects with his side and forces himself to look up. The Ring Master towers over him with a look of disgust. "Get out of my sight you worthless brat." The boy aches and every move makes the burning worst but he still gets up as fast as he can and leaves the tent, shirt bundled under his arm. He barley makes it back to his own tent before collapsing.
- - -
Cassian shoots up off his cot drenched with sweat and tear stains trekking down his cheeks. He raises a hand to brushes his soaked bangs off his forehead and then notices the Dreamberry laying next to him, turned on. He reaches for it, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Bloody hell!"
Click! The Dreamberry is shut off.