PSL; master and servant

[magnetaligned]

It's been years, but Erik has still never fully adjusted to his confinement, to his state. He still tries to fight every chance he gets, and he knows that his price has dropped and dropped and that the records on him reflect his poor temperament and his distaste for cooperation. He doesn't mind. Let him go unsold. It's better that way

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[xprofessor]

Charles has his shields tight.

This is a place of abject human misery, cruelty and appalling behavior and absurd, ridiculous levels of pain. Charles cannot save them all. He would if he could. He would without hesitationBut there would be too many consequences

[magnetaligned]

Erik glares up at the man, wordless anger radiating off him. So they're trying to sell him at last. He will show them why he cannot be sold. The collar rips itself from Charles' hand, falling to the floor of the cage.

[xprofessor]

Charles pauses.

He reaches out, with his mind. That, he says, wasn't necessary.

Erik is bound on his knees, and Charles steps closer. He crouches before Erik, as though speaking to a child.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he says. "In fact, if you come with me, you'll be free in a year or two." He pauses, then emphasizes: "It's never taken any slave I've owned longer than that to earn it."

He shrugs. "If that doesn't sound appealing to you, I can take my money and go."

[magnetaligned]

That little mental touch makes Erik still. A free mutant, then, not just another man looking for slaves. He does not fully understand, but he instantly trusts the man at least a little more than he would a human making the same offer, the same promises.

"Fine," he says at last, hoarsely. "Fine."