the rhythm of life

“The club?” he wondered, arching an eyebrow “Are you one of the dancers?” He almost teased, shaking his head. The master took a moment to consider the others words and nodded slowly “Targets is a simple way of putting it, yes. But I always go for those that can serve me an actual purpose for my needs. Much like a demon will know that an easy target to get a soul is a human, there are targets for every aspect of approaches in life. So I’m extremely calculated in any decision making, especially with what I find in these cells…”

the slightest hint of a sulky pout appeared on his lips before he forced the expression away, his arms crossing loosely.  ❛ i’m a bartender. i get people drunk and give my ear to those who are looking for one, ❜ he answers with the barest of nods, perhaps a little proud of his role. better than sitting in the cells all day. listening to the response, he had to remind himself that kitsunes and demons didn’t usually mix very much, perhaps for the very reason he was hearing.  ❛ that’s fair. better than using and tossing them back in there on a whim. ❜

“Ahh, that one isn’t a club that I spent my time in, it answers my question” she nodded, having only ever really being found around Elite or some of the other bars- since she still enjoyed in males too. “Well, you’re strong spirited- at least that’s what it comes across as, it could be something useful to someone” she nodded slowly, almost smirking at him.

❛ its not too bad a place, you’re always welcome to drop in, ❜ he chuckled, amused that even when he wasn’t working he was still trying to bring people into the bar. maybe he was growing fond of it after all.  ❛ thats the most positive thing i’ve heard said about me in a while. i appreciate it. as for whether i’m useful, well... i suppose i’ll just have to see if someone thinks the pros out weigh the cons. ❜

Ugh why did everyone need to talk. Then again it was Hae Soo who wasn’t used to all the talking people did. Taking out her note pad she gently smacked the boy’s head with it and then began writing. ‘Don’t be causing trouble. Didn’t you learn tricks are not nice.’ She doubted the other would listen since he seemed set on his little string trap. 

curiosity instantly sparked as she chose to write rather than speak, his actions temporarily put on hold in order to now fully take a look at her, barely even registering the whack on the head with anything but that stubborn grin of his. skimming the message, he twirled a bit of the string between his fingers before answering,  ❛ who said i was ever nice! ❜

— Hey neighbor! — Benji sighed and tried to pay attention to the other man’s voice. — Well, sometimes even when you give them something in return they still treat you like a toy. It’s really bad but… I don’t know, in here they at least can’t fisically hurt us. — The blonde shrugged and kept eyes looking up at the small window of his cell. — Had a tough night?

settling his body down into his barren excuse for a bed, his back leaned blissfully back against the cold wall, eyes closing to let his ears do the work for him for the moment.  ❛ that’s because most of us ARE toys to them. which is exactly why i make myself perfectly unpleasant to deal with, ❜ he stated, arms crossing in a way that can only be affectionately described as like a huffy child.  ❛ i mean, at least there’s that. ❜ a pause.  ❛ no worse than usual. i shouldn’t complain, at least i get to go outside every day. ❜

McKenna had meant suffering through other activities. Things like a heated bondage session with D/s, or a moment of passionate sex where toying and teasing was involved, but it was easy to see how someone’s mind might go to the obviousness of suffering. There were many ways to have fun and being the expense of someone else’s foul food wasn’t something McKenna considered fun. 

At least he apologized. Maybe he wasn’t totally hopeless. 

Her mood seemed to lift when she heard the apology. “If you want to do something fun that doesn’t involve making me a victim, I’m open to discussing that.” Her eyes followed the item being thrown out and then she looked back at him.

if there was anything that he may have suffered from truly, it was obliviousness. irritating, willful and grouchy, he was; but one might say clueless was on top of that pile of negativity as well. his hands soon made themselves busy, wiping down washed glasses, tucking them back into their respective homes; the busy work that existed inside a bar that normally blissfully let his mind wander. though this time, he went about it simply to have something to do with his body as they spoke. 

❛ well, i can hardly say no to that, ❜ he replied with the grin returned back to his lips, a hum sounding in the back of his throat for a moment.  ❛ i’m certainly not in a position to lose the opportunity for fun. ❜

“I’d like to think so without sounding big headed over it” She chuckled “Then why have I not seen your face before, especially if you have suffered two summers there?” The woman wondered, tilting her head at the other as he explained that he’d been in the cells long enough. “I either must have not ventured in the direction of your cell, or you are a popular one on many rentals?” she offered, pursing her lip as she considered the options.

the grin remained for a few more moments before he let out a puff of air, the warmth turning into white wisps in the cold air.  ❛ perhaps. i spend a lot of time at the equinox, as much as i can to not be in the cell, you may understand, ❜ he chuckles, briefly wiping hair off his forehead before continuing.  ❛ i believe i’ve been described as willful, infuriating, stubborn and unpleasant. one might even say i’m the opposite of popular. ❜ was he proud of that? maybe a little. did he suffer for it? absolutely.

“Perhaps so, prove yourself useful and those powers will be handed back soon enough. Maybe even find yourself work in the city to get yourself seen more?” The master said with a shrug, not too fussed about what the other did at all. “I am still a demon, I still adore my mind games, but as a creature of Hell I know which souls my torment will affect more. I work in mysterious way” He said simply, folding his arms.

❛ i work at the equinox, actually, ❜ he stated simply, an almost mimicking shrug moving over his shoulders. the idea was too conflicting. a claim for the potential to get his true form back or boredom and this mortal body in exchange for not having to kneel. his lips twitched into a slight frown as that thought passed before he glanced back towards the master, grinning slowly at ‘working in mysterious ways’ phrase. something about that just tickled.  ❛ then you’re still more kind than some that i’ve seen here. demon or not; you pick targets, yes? ❜  

Sight. Sight was one thing the girl had learn to advance on her own. Being silent herself and not hearing she was easily one who could become invisible to others. Which meant she could just as easily see things happening. She didn’t need to hear in order to gain information. That’s when she spotted him. A man who seemed to know what he was doing. Know a little too much what he was doing. Silently she stood and moved through the crowd. She was good at being silent as well. Wires? What was h- oh. Hae Soo understood when she witnessed him attaching the string to things. Walking closer she reached out touching his shoulder and giving a look on her like a mother about to scold a child. 

the wicked little grin continued to spread across his lips as he continued his actions, truly taking every ounce of enjoyment into the simple act of tying knots with barely visible string. he froze when the tap on his shoulder pulled him out of his bubble, fingers pausing midway through their deft actions as he glances over his shoulder, meeting the girl’s gaze with what can only be described at his own attempt at casual innocence. but, of course, he couldn’t maintain it, so the grin returned.  ❛ what will it cost for your silence about this? ❜ he asked, already going back to finishing the knot he’d been making right before. adam was nothing if not willing to risk it all for some laughs.

As the night was quite too cold outside, for a moment Benji was glad he wasn’t living in the streets anymore, that place was no heaven but at least he wasn’t dying yet, his blue eyes focusing on the small window above him as he sighed and tried to keep his mind into some positive thoughts. Few hours ago he got a little bruise on the cheek from a master so he was trying to keep himself out of trouble for the night and maybe as long as it can go. It was so quiet, he could hear the sound of the wind outside, his clothing had a smell of food since he was working at the kitchen, getting food to his fellow slaves buddies, he took the shirt off, laying in his bed to get some rest as he heard someone nearby. — If I can’t have my healing powers I could at least have a really good health care. — He said while trying to get a grin out of himself. — Or at least a nice blanket, it’s christmas, people are usually kind at this time of the year, aren’t they?

❛ —— okay, okay, don’t push. i know where i’m going, ❜ adam huffed in exasperation as one of the guards nudged him down the hall towards the room he’d called ‘home’ for a while, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he walked far too casually. the sound of the lock signified his entrapment once more and he grumbled, hearing the sound of another slave’s voice a few moments later, eyebrows raising upwards in initial response. the fox was tempted to stay quiet, his sociability after a full day’s work at a low, but he found himself compelled to open his mouth after kicking off his boots.  ❛ around here? kindness tends to only exist if you’re giving them something in return. or maybe i’m just a bitter fuck who is tired of being stuck in here, ❜ the last few words were louder, his voice raised as if he could make the guards hear him; not like it would make a difference, but his grouchiness was peak at the moment. 

once cleared from the initial glances, he happily went around his mischief. laying gentle trip wires across doorways, tying objects to other objects so that when picked up things would go flying; every little thing he could do that would be entertaining and relatively harmless, while still as chaotic as possible. this was a close as he was going to get to any real fun anyway, maybe if he was lucky he’d get to witness a few of his small tricks come to life. he was nearly giddy at the very idea. truly, this place had brought him to deathly boredom. 

   boredom isn’t exactly good for lukas.  boredom leads to mischief, which has been known to lead to arson and other crimes of the felony-variety.  “ please tell me you’ve got something to do.  i’m about to go fucking bonkers.  hell, i’ll go grocery shopping if i have to. ”

❛  don’t i know the feeling,  ❜  adam replied, his back pressed to the wall as he sits and watches the goings on of the area, the time ticking away agonizingly slowly today.  ❛  grocery shopping would be more entertaining than being stuck here. i have an errand to run involving restocking the booze at equinox, if that sounds any more appealing.  ❜ he offers with a shrug, dark eyes taking in the person before him.

“Well, a good leader is one that makes personal sacrifices..That has always been my standing” she hummed, adjusting the sunglasses on her face, her vision steaming up a little with her breath being caught in the cool air. “Mm, they are very delicious, though I have heard they can be extremely uncomfortable in the cells. It might be in your best interest to get yourself claimed before then” she smirked. 

❛  i’m sure your kind appreciates you greatly then,  ❜ he responds out of courtesy, the tips of his fingers idly brushing across the cold metal he leaned against. a soft, quick laugh can’t help but escape him at the words and he grins a little, now looking at her with something that can only be described at entertainment.  ❛ i’ve suffered two summers in those cells already and i’ll certainly agree with that, they do get uncomfortable. if ever i wished i had my fur and natural cooling system back, its during the summer. ❜  

“It depends on how forceful you are, had you had more power you could rip your own hearts out” He chuckled “Then befriend Masters or Mistresses that might take an interest in feeding you better?” He wondered, tilting his head “I don’t rent unless I know that it is a sure thing for myself, I consider myself extremely selfish but at least live up to the nature of my being” He smirked.

❛ well, if i had even an ounce of the power i normally do, i certainly wouldn’t be this hungry, ❜ adam grumbled, the slightest hint of a frustrated growl in his throat. useless human body. stupid brand. foolish mistakes.  ❛  i could do that, i suppose. ❜ a pause. the idea of being meek to just anyone in an effort for better food went against every inch of his nature.  ❛ at least you’re forward about that, i’ve seen too many playing mental games with some of these hopeless creatures. it even makes a heart like mine feel pity. ❜  

Looking the boy over Chance found him to be not bad looking. It was rare to see more, Asian backgrounds among slaves and masters. However he very much enjoyed it. He couldn’t complain since he knew more people and species and diversity would be coming to the city. “I do too. I think of we themed each shop it would interesting. Give people a reason to stop in and explore. I don’t think so. I feel like the scent of pine is relaxing and would greatly improve the moods of those around.”

Of course Chance was a bit bias. He had always loved Christmas and the colors. He would enjoy seeing Blu and perhaps others decorating a tree in his home.

❛  that would be interesting, yes,  ❜ he hummed his own approval somewhere deep in his throat, fingers lightly tapping against his cheek as he thought more about what the area would look like with a bit more cheer. heaven knows the cells would look nicer with a decent pair of string lights.  ❛  it would be nice to bring more nature into this place. i miss the scent of a good forest. ❜ with that said, he pushed himself back up from the bar, straightening his back.

❛  i’ll bring it up with the owner that it was a suggestion from a patron, im sure they’ll take it into consideration. it would be a nice change of scenary, ❜ he adds, already grabbing a notepad that normally just had drink orders, scribbling down a few markings distinctly in another language.

“Hmmm, was it now?” There was little interest that shadowed her face, not for the awful food anyway, Wren was sure the food that was given to the slaves by the city was perhaps not the best ever, that was to not spoil them, get them used to wanting more when you held the key to give them such things. Her head tilted just slightly in a curious manner, eyeing the slave before she offered a small smile that soon spread over her teeth for a moment. “Mm, the whole point is for you to suffer, although, now I am somewhat curious.”

he was still convinced that the food they were offered slaves was entirely edible, but no one had died yet from it. yet. maybe he’d be the first. a poor fox, withered away out of his own stubborness and the lack of real food. adam could almost roll his eyes at himself with those thoughts, the snack still held out slightly towards the woman.  ❛ —— yeah, yeah, i know, ❜ he grumbled, though at this point, it was all good-natured, a warmer smile now showing on his face. ❛  go ahead and try. guaranteed to remind you of the good life, for sure.  ❜

“I have to be here to represent my species. I am an Elder here in the city, and Gorgons are very private in their homeland community, so they are in need of a outside voice so that we can still be a part of the world and the runnings of it” she explained, having found that her role could be extremely isolating with not being around her own kind as often as she wanted to be. “I simply wish for my people to have that voice and shall put aside my warmth for it” she chuckled.

that explained that, at least. yet another elder he hadn’t met until now. he allowed himself to turn his attention back towards her, taking in the female with this new knowledge.  ❛ ——     ah, i see, my sympathies then that you have to suffer the cold in order to keep your voices heard then, ❜ he nodded, surprisingly soft spoken considering his usual temperament. perhaps it was just the cold, fresh air reminding him he was lucky enough to be temporarily outside and should be on his best behavior. or maybe he just felt empathetic today.  ❛  well, the winter can’t last forever and from what i’ve seen, the warmer months here are quite pleasant. ❜