[Thread] You're my Master, Right?

[veiledimpudence]

Characters: C.C. [AU] and Jing [OU]
When: Some time after this
Where: The entrance of the apartment north of the plaza
Summary: C.C. thinks Jing is her master, but what he's simply trying to do is just show her around the compound.
Warnings: None expected?

Comments

[veiledimpudence]

As a young, dark-haired boy stepped into view, C.C.'s first instinct was to dart away, falling to the ground with her arms positioned as an 'x' over her head, at a feeble attempt for defense against a likely imminent strike. However, the color of his outfit and his voice registered almost instantly within her head, dispelling all notions of her initial reaction.

"Master," she greeted, quietly, lowering her head slightly as if to indicate respect.

Gazing at him timidly, she could feel her breath felt caught within her throat, a variety of emotions swirling through her. Anxiety, uncertainty, fear...she couldn't help but wonder what she ought to do - or say - next. She wasn't even certain if she was greeting him properly. Perhaps she should have started off listing her skills? After all, if he was her master, then he would want to know.

"I can make preparations for cooking and cleaning, carry water buckets, tend cow and sheep, sew..." She tentatively hesitated for the space of a heartbeat before continuing, her voice quavering slightly. "I can only count to twenty, and I can read a little - and I've cleaned dead bodies before..."

[thieveryofstars]

Jing automatically opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it with a sigh. Even just based on talking to her over the messenger, he could tell this sort of behaviour was not going to be as easily altered as reminding her that he wasn't anyone's master. A wiser approach, he decided, would be just to let it slide -- not accept it, of course, but not try to force her to act otherwise. It looked like she was having a hard enough time dealing with her arrival without him trying to correct her entire worldview in the first 20 minutes.

So the thief allowed her to list off her skills and when she seemed done, gave a smile and said, "It sounds like you're quite an accomplished lady, C.C. But let's make sure you're all right and settled. Are you cold? Hungry?" She didn't appear to be warmly dressed and he began removing his coat, thinking she could use it to warm up.

[veiledimpudence]

C.C. couldn't deny that she was rather famished - not having eaten for some time now - as well as more than a little cold, but her welfare wasn't important. Although, she was astonished to hear him voice concern for her status. It wasn't often her master worried about her, but it was a pleasant surprise. Nonetheless, it wasn't one she could accept so easily. She was a slave, and she had long since grown accustomed to discomfort, ranging from extreme heat to intolerable coldness. Her master, on the other hand, may not - and even if he was, it wouldn't be right of her to allow him to freeze while she retained warmth.

"But Master," she began, anxiety blatantly flickering through her eyes, "aren't you cold as well?" She considered lightly placing a hand on his, in order to stop him from removing his coat, but decided against it, afraid that he'd disapprove.

[thieveryofstars]

"Not really," Jing replied, "because you've been outside for a while in this lousy weather. Since you arrived, right? And I just came outside a moment ago." He draped the coat lightly around her, smiling to show it was okay. Indeed, the weather had taken a distinct trend colder the last few weeks.

"The apartment's mild right now, but I'll see if I can warm it up," he added, guiding her inside. Thankfully the apartment he shared with Persephone was on the ground floor, and only two doors in.

[veiledimpudence]

"T-thank you..."

As Jing had led her inside, C.C. could feel warmth envelope her like a close-fitting sphere. She couldn't help but smile, giving him a grateful gaze which she hoped conveyed her appreciation for his kindness. This must have been the first time she ever had such a magnanimous master, and she mentally noted to be sure to serve him well. She would hate to mistreat his benevolence.

(OOC: Sorry for the late tag...! My computer's been moving slowly lately, and I've been having trouble getting anywhere on the internet.)

[thieveryofstars]

"No problem," Jing assured her. "I'm going to make some cocoa, would you like some?" He thought that the chocolaty drink would be as good a 'medicine' for any ill, including confusion.

He beamed at her, looking much younger than his actual 20 years. "Do you have any questions about this place...? I've been here a long time, so I might be able to answer some of them."

[OOC: No problem at all! Hope it's all fixed, I'd go crazy without internet! X_X]

[veiledimpudence]

"Ah...if...if you want me to, Master," C.C. responded, a bit astonished to find that Jing had offered her nourishment. She often received only leftovers, and to have the opportunity for an actual meal...it was truly rare.

"My only question...is what you would like me to do, Master," she replied to his second query, canting her head slightly as a sign of respect.

[thieveryofstars]

Jing scratched the back of his head, then decided that that was about as good an answer as he was going to get and set about boiling water for two cups of cocoa.

"How about..." he said, trailing off as he tried to word this so it came out as a suggestion and not an order.

"Maybe you could tell me the last thing you remember before waking up here?"

[veiledimpudence]

C.C. remained silent for a few seconds, her mind struggling to recall the last activity she had been engaging within before arriving.

"I was fulfilling an order for my master," she answered at last, giving a slight nod. "It was starting to grow cold - much like how it was earlier - and I was beginning to grow tired. I tried to ignore it, but then I fell. When I reopened my eyes, I was where you had found me." She paused for a few seconds, trying to remember what Jing had called it.

"The...plaza, right?" She drew back slightly, uncertain of whether she said it correctly, and, if she hadn't, what his reaction would be.

[thieveryofstars]

Jing nodded thoughtfully. So the incoming procedure really had changed with the Warden no longer available to give people the briefing explaining their presence here.

"Yes, that's the plaza. With the fountain."

The thief poured the water into the cup, and the rich brown liquid swirled around the mug. He carried it to the table and set it down in front of her. "Careful," he said. "It's hot, so don't burn yourself."

Sitting back in the chair, he regarded her. He supposed the first thing he needed to do was see if anyone else in Econtra was from this girl's world. That might give her a familiar face and help her settle down a bit; she still looked like scared rabbit ready to bolt.

"What was your master's name?"

[veiledimpudence]

Tentatively, C.C. reached forward to seize the cup, her arm quivering slightly. Taking heed of his warning, she gripped the handle gently, almost cherishing the sensation of warmth exuding from it. Gazing into mug, she could see the brown liquid whirling slightly, accompanied by a pleasantly scented steam to indicate just how much heat it contained.

Hearing Jing speak once more, she hastily snapped her head back up to focus her attention to her master once more. "I do not know," she answered, quietly, shaking her head. "He had not told me." She often didn't receive the name of her masters, particularly since there was no need. All that she should know was of his position and the orders to carry out.

"I'm sorry," she apologized after a brief pause, fearful of his reaction towards her lack of knowledge.

[thieveryofstars]

"Don't be sorry," Jing replied automatically, setting his mug on the table and sinking one hand into his chin in deep thought.

"You see," he said after a moment. "This place is like a kid playing a game. Did you ever play hide and seek when you were younger? I did, I loved it. But the problem with hide and seek is, even though you may find the greatest hiding spot, someone only needs to catch you in it once. After that, they'll remember finding you there and they'll go back, over and over, and check that spot. Even if they find it empty once, they'll still go back and look the next time."

Jing smiled, sure he was confusing C.C. with his rambling childhood metaphor. "What I mean is, the machine that brings us here is like the kid checking the hiding spot over and over. It looks at different worlds, but sometimes it looks at the same world more than once. So there's a good chance you're not the first person from your world to be brought here, and maybe we can find someone you know."

[veiledimpudence]

C.C. blinked, confusion flickering through her eyes as her mind struggled to process his words. She had heard of hide-and-seek, but it was never a game she had engaged in - she was a slave after all. However, his explanation definitely clarified it for her. Yet, at the thought of having any one of her previous masters brought here...she felt both frightened and anxious at the thought.

"Perhaps," she agreed, softly, nodding. "If that is what my master wants, then I will search."

She didn't really care to see if any of her previous masters had come, considering how very kind her current one appeared. However, if Jing wanted this, she would not disobey.

[thieveryofstars]

"I suppose it's a moot point to ask you what it is you want," Jing sighed. He got the feeling that her 'wants' would suspiciously align with whatever his were perceived to be.

"If you'd rather not find other people from your world, you don't have to," he said. "Although, the compound is only so big, and you're a little distinctive." He gestured towards her vibrant green hair, then cleared his throat. "In a good way, that is. You look very nice."

That... was not smooth, genius.

"There are slaves in my world, in Aquavitae," he said. "In some places, the bigger cities, the so-called upper classes. I don't like it though. If you want to work for someone, or attend to them, because you like or respect them, then that's fine. But people who are slaves because they don't have any other choice, or because they're scared... that's not right."

Jing fixed his gaze on her. "Are you scared?"

[veiledimpudence]

C.C. hesitated for a few moments before answering, waiting for her thoughts to settle so she could draw the correct response of just how exactly she felt.

"Yes," she replied at last, giving a slight nod. "However...you have not really made me afraid...I am simply scared that for any errors I make that may displease you. And I am frightened to find that I have awoken in such a place I had never seen before..." She paused once more, trying to find the right words that would correctly word her next opinion.

"At the same time, I'm a little happy." A small smile briefly passed her lips as she had said this. "You're very kind to me...and I appreciate it very much, Master."

She glanced down at the mug she held before her eyes traveled back up to Jing's face. That small source of sustenance - as well as from the coat he had given her for warmth - was one of the main reasons she found him so magnanimous.

Not to mention the fact that he hadn't raised his voice or struck her even once so far.

[thieveryofstars]

"Arriving in Econtra unnerves a lot of people," Jing replied, taking up his mug again. "When I got here, there was absolutely not a soul around... just me. It was really eerie. I didn't have anyone to ask, or anyone I knew. It was just a big empty prison, and it stayed like that for three weeks until they next person came. Those felt like the longest three weeks of my life."

He looked at the young woman huddled in the folds of his coat. Again he felt a flash, like instinct, renewing his dedication to assist her.

"You don't have to worry about displeasing me or the like. Look, I know you're probably trained or whatever to automatically disagree with what I'm about to say, so just keep it in the back of your mind no matter what you feel you have to say out loud. I'm not your, or anybody's, Master. Nobody's in charge of you here except yourself. But I'm worried that some people will take advantage of your... current mindset. Not all the people here are good or bad, but some are worse than others. So, if it'll make you feel safer, I don't mind if you refer to me as your Master. But it's your choice, okay? Not because I ordered you to."