Implied/referenced Rape, Murder, Mutilation, Minor character death, OC, OC death
Another rp from my lovely Canada, freshly edited and ready to be enjoyed. This one also carries some dark themes so be wary of the tags but I certainly hope all who give it a chance find plenty to enjoy!
Ivan was taking a drive to relax after a particularly draining appointment; a young woman who was convinced the world, including Ivan himself, was out to get her and refused to take her medications which would help with such delusions. Ivan paused at a red light and continued his musings. One appointment and he already knew there was no profit to be found; first and foremost in that she was a woman he had no interest in her but seeing how far beyond even his professional help he had no regret assigning her to an underling to be taken care of; at least then the, supposedly, caring family's money would continue, not that they cared enough to actually see that she was being cared for.
He had driven for quite some time before he found himself on the other side of town surrounded by clubs, bars, and brothels. Ivan sighed softly to himself and continued on, his intent to go home until he stopped at the next light and spotted a beautiful young blond with the most entrancing eyes. He eyed the scantily clad man for a moment before correcting his gaze and waiting for the long light to turn; there was no need to spread his name further, especially in such an area.
The fluorescent lights lit up the begrimed cityscape as the two blonds stood on the street corner. They were both skimpily dressed in frills and lace, one of the blonds tugging at the garter straps that held the thigh length socks in place.
The other blond had glanced toward the car that had stopped at the light, noticing the man's glance, and whispered something to the other with a slight smirk. "He was looking at you, Mattie" the blond said in a hushed tone, tilting his head toward the car before his blue eyes shifted back towards his friend.
The blond glanced over quickly at the car and then looked at the other. He honestly hated this and knew that Alfred's friend would take care of him, but Alistair could not have cared less about what happened to Matthew, evident from the bruise on his arm. 'Word of advice, Babydoll, this world doesn't give two shits about you.' And Alfred had just watched. 'I know someone who can help you.' Bull. He'd known what would happen from the minute he told Matthew. It was as if Alfred had told him so that he would be just as miserable, knowing that he was too deep into this scandalous work.
After some convincing, Matthew walked up to the car with a sway of his hips; the white silk hugging his slender form and high heels clicking against the ground. He tapped on the window.
Ivan turned his head and spotted the blond he had been eyeing just a moment ago tapping at his window. He rolled it down to speak "Yes?" as he took in the few details he could make out in the dimly lit street.
Matthew wore a charming little smile, trying his best to hide the uneasiness he felt as he leaned down "How are you tonight? Looking for a good time?" The script felt so unnatural, but he attempted to deliver it just as he had been taught. He had to keep thinking about the money he'd earn at the end of the night.
Ivan smiled and he noticed the fresh bruise out of place on the pale arm "I am looking to relax but it seems you need to have a good time." He titled his head in a gesture towards the passenger's seat "Get in and I will treat you but you might want to change into something more casual" he said as he unlocked the doors with a soft but audible click.
"Ah, okay" Matthew nodded, hooking his hair behind his ear. He walked back up the street and disappeared inside the tall, dark green building.
Alfred noticed the interaction and went over to the car, crossing his arms "If you're going to take him somewhere, you have to pay upfront, sir."
"That's fine" Ivan said before reaching into his pocket and handing over the indicated amount to the more confident blond. He noticed a couple of visual similarities but didn't ask if they were related, it would have been rude to request such private information. Ivan simply parked in the little lot by the building and relaxed as he waited for the younger blond to return.
Alfred counted the man's money before strutting back up the street and into the building. A few minutes later, Matthew walked back out to the car in artfully torn shorts and a t-shirt with a light, unzipped black hoodie flowing behind the blond as the wind picked up. He placed a hand on the handle to the back seat, but then remembered what he'd been told before. "Where do you want me to sit?"
"Passenger's seat is fine unless you would like to sit in the back" Ivan offered casually "have you eaten dinner?" he asked. He had been planning on waiting until he had gotten home but he wouldn't mind spending more time in the city if he was relaxing with good company.
Matthew opened the passenger door, recalling that Alfred told him the client is always right, and climbed inside the luxurious car "No, I haven't."
Ivan nodded and started driving to the strip of road known as the restaurant district "What would you like to eat?"
Matthew quirked a brow at the man's kindness. He wondered if this man was just trying to disarm him, but even so he seemed genuine. And even if the man did have other plans, the blond had no choice but to oblige him. He had already paid for him after all "Anywhere you choose is fine with me"
"Are you sure? I may have paid but I said I was treating you to a good night, therefore, what we do is up to you" Ivan said, flashing the man a pleasant smile. "I have no ulterior motives if that is what concerns you but if it would make you more comfortable I will drop you off somewhere and you can relax for a while."
Matthew's eyes widened a bit, taken aback by the other. This is certainly not how Alfred said clients would act. Still, he didn't want to let his guard down completely. But then he thought that a chance like this might not come around again. "I could go for a burger" his stomach growled loudly in response to hearing the word. A shy blush tinted his cheeks.
Ivan chuckled "Wonderful, some positive responses, and I know the perfect place" he said as he drove up to a little homemade burger joint and parked "Any objections to eating inside?" he asked, thinking it would be best for them to stay in public view to keep the other calm as he was obviously new to the job.
Matthew sighed, feeling as if he was being strung along. "Why are you being so nice to me?" he asked the other, sincerely confused as to why he wasn't stopping at a cheap hotel—or an expensive one, judging by his payment and his lavish ride.
Ivan chuckled "There's the question I was expecting, though not in the way I had expected" he said vaguely "to answer it, I saw you from a distance and you caught my eye but it sealed the deal when I saw the bruise and you took my offer. I wanted to let you relax for a night without having to please someone and it's always nice to eat with good company, yes?"
"Yes" Matthew said as they both left the car and walked inside. They sat at a booth, with Ivan on one side and Matthew on the other.
There was the sound of clinking plates and faint beeps in the background as a waitress came up in a striped uniform dress with a small notepad in one hand and a pen in the other "What can I get for you boys?"
"Rare steak with baked potatoes as a side, thank you" Ivan said going for one of his usual outside of home choices.
Matthew raised a brow at the other's answer before ordering a burger and fries. The waitress walked back through the double doors to the kitchen after telling them their orders would be ready shortly. The fluorescent sign hanging just outside the window where the two sat cast a bluish outline from Matthew's hairline to his jawline, softening his features further. He fumbled with his sleeve through the moderate silence, though the faint wail of country music made calming background noise "…Ah, thank you."
"For what?" Ivan asked as he admired the other's features, tinted by the odd lighting in the old diner. He could smell something as well, though it had been stronger in the car away from the smell of beef and chicken, some kind of cologne as it was too concentrated to be a lotion and a bit too heavy to be a natural scent.
"For not being some creepy old perv…and for the meal" he said sincerely, rubbing the back of his neck. He sighed, running a hand through his hair "How did I get mixed up in this…?"
Ivan chuckled "Thank you for not thinking that I was and for the company." His smile widened "How did you get mixed up in such a thing, if you don't mind me asking, and does it have anything with the bruise marring your lovely skin?"
Matthew's eyes widened a bit, realizing that he'd said that aloud. He propped up his elbow on the table, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. He shook his head, "I was doing okay, and then I hit rock bottom, trusted my 'friend' and got screwed over…" He pointed to his arm "The bruise is because I tried to run."
"That's unfortunate" Ivan gave an understanding smile "I sincerely hope things improve for you soon, then perhaps you could find another employment opportunity."
Matthew thanked the man for his encouraging words with a smile though he scowled in his mind. He knew the only way he could ever get out was if Alistair dropped dead. And the odds of that happening were certainly low.
Soon, the food was brought out and Matthew realized just how hungry he really was.
Ivan thanked her before ordering a hot black tea to compliment it. The first cut was the most telling in how well a steak had been cooked and as Ivan sliced into it, it revealed a beautiful bright red as a bit of darker red juice flowed out to the potatoes, flavoring those.
Matthew's mouth salivated as he stared at the well prepared beef burger on toasted buns with all the usual ingredients. He picked it up and took a huge bite, tearing ravenously into the chunk of juicy, tender meat layered with melted yellow cheese as a content little noise escaped him. He opened his eyes, unaware that they'd been closed, and lowered the burger upon seeing the other's amused gaze on him "It's…really good" he felt his face heating.
Ivan was smiling, he had been savoring his own bite when he heard the little moan and had turned his gaze on Matthew only to see near ecstasy adorn his face "I'm pleased that you approve."
Matthew's face burned at the man's prominent features twisted into a pulchritudinous grin at his delight, the violet eyes gleaming merrily. He cleared his throat and attempted to change the subject "So, um…were you just coming from work, or…?"
"I was; I had just finished with a client and had decided to take a drive." Ivan glanced at his watch "That was roughly an hour ago but I don't mind the extended drive as it brought about this encounter" he smiled as he took another bite.
Matthew nodded as he took another bite of his burger and then put it down on the plate again. "So you're a doctor?" he asked, curious about the kind of employment the man was invested in to be on this side of town, as well as generally intrigued by his seemingly mysterious albeit chivalrous demeanor.
"Yes, a psychiatrist actually but I am more well known in the ranks of psychologists because many of my patients arrive irreparable and are therefore studied to further understanding and benefit others with similar conditions" Ivan explained.
"Oh" Matthew nodded at the explanation before looking down at the plate of sliced pink meat swimming in red juice on the plate across from him. "Won't that make you sick?" he asked, voice tinted with concern as he glanced back up at the other.
Ivan chuckled "Not at all. It's actually cooked through, though steak need not necessarily be, but it is very chewy if uncooked." Ivan gently stabbed a slice of potato and scooted it along in the juice "It also holds the best flavor this way and allows for the juice to flavor the potatoes."
"Ah, that makes sense" Matthew nodded, slightly startled by a sudden buzzing in his jacket pocket. He slid it out to look at the screen and saw his employer's number at the bottom. He hit the ignore button before shoving the phone back into his pocket and going back to his food and his pleasant conversation. "Will I be seeing you again?" he asked with a hopeful tone.
"I would enjoy that immensely" he responded genuinely "I suppose that was your boss by the look on your face."
"Yeah" Matthew nodded; his eyes went from his pocket back up to Ivan. He honestly didn't want to be uprooted from such a pleasant little sanctuary he was given by the other in the diner; he simply wasn't ready to return to a hellish reality.
Ivan noticed his reluctance and made an offer "You are new to the job and I want to offer before you get trapped completely; would you like to work for me as a secretary of sorts, handle appointments and scheduling? You would of course be paid and it would be steady rather than dependent on clients."
Matthew's lavender eyes broadened, shining as he looked up at the man. He thought of taking him up on his offer, pinching himself just in case he might have been dreaming at the moment. But then he supposed it would be better not to get this nice guy mixed up in his life and keep their relationship professional. Or unprofessional; whatever the case was. "I can't ask you to do that, mister. I mean—we don't really even know each other" he shook his head reluctantly, opening his mouth to say something further when he got an urgent text from Alfred "ah, I have to go back soon."
Ivan smiled "The offer stands and my name is Ivan, Ivan Braginsky." Ivan took a sip of his tea before remembering the exchange that had happened while the other was changing "Do you see any of the money your clients pay?" he asked, knowing that in some cases the employer keeps the vast majority of the earnings.
"I was told that we get to keep ten percent of what we earn but, since I'm new I have to earn it" Matthew replied before sipping his water. The profit was mostly for the boss but his 'dolls', as he called them, were allowed to keep at least ten percent of the money. Newer recruits, like Matthew, didn't have such privileges quite yet. The policy was also set to give the underlings just enough of the cut to get them hooked, no different than any other addictive drug.
Ivan frowned "I wish you would take my offer but until then, here" he said as he took out his wallet and took out a crisp hundred and handed it to the blond "if nothing else it will give you a little spending money, think nothing of it but hide it well, I doubt it would go well if they found it."
"Ah, really? Thank you so much, Mr. Braginsky!" He beamed an entirely genuine smile for the first time that night as the man handed him the hundred dollar bill "Oh, yes sir!" he nodded pocketing the bill after folding it "thank you—really!"
Ivan chuckled "An improvement to your mood is all I need as thanks but you're welcome. I hope that you have been able to relax a bit at least."
Matthew wiped his mouth with a napkin as he finished his food "Thank you for everything." He smiled at the other "…I hope you come back soon." For a moment he conformed to the delusion of the rest of the night going smoothly.
"I would enjoy it, what are your hours?" Ivan asked, hoping to be able to enjoy another night with him soon.
"Ah, I'm there all the time, so, you can just come in and request me whenever you want." Matthew responded, looking toward the window as he started to hear the growing patter of rain against the glass. The torrent was followed by strike of lightning, with the faint sound of thunder echoing not too far after.
Ivan glanced out the window "Will you still be on the street in this weather?" he asked.
"I hope not…" Matthew stared out the window absently at the storm 'Surely Alistair was not nearly so cruel as to make him stay out there' he thought.
The waitress walked up to their booth "Sorry, boys, but we close in a few minutes" she explained to the two men, picking up Matthew's empty plate and glass. She turned to Ivan; judging by younger man's outfit, he wasn't the one paying "Anything else you need?"
"No thank you" Ivan said in response before taking the final bite of steak and handing the plate to the waitress. He turned back to Matthew as the waitress left "Whom should I ask for to get you?"
"The other blond on the street, he's in charge of the rest of us" Matthew explained. "He's on the third floor, sixth door down with star stickers collaged on the front. Go to him and tell him you want to see Babydoll" he said in a quiet tone, as if someone else might be listening.
Ivan nodded "And do I have a name to call you when we are out like this?"
"My name is Matthew" the blond responded with a smile. He appreciated the fact that the other preferred calling him by his actual name.
Ivan smiled "That is far more fitting than what they call you." His eyebrows rose in muted realization as he pulled out his wallet again and slipped a couple of small bills under the saucer of his teacup. He flashed Matthew another smile "Would you like me to take you back now?" he asked.
Matthew's cheeks tinted pink at the compliment "Yes…but no" he laughed in spite of the horrible situation.
Ivan chuckled "I suppose it's best not to anger them so I'll take you back but remember to hide what I gave you, they shouldn't get all of your earnings."
Matthew nodded, checking his pocket to make sure that the money was still there, as well as looking up to see that the man in front of him was not merely an illusion. The entire situation just seemed so surreal. They walked back out to the car, thankful for having parked in front of the building. Matthew listened to the rain beating the side of the window, similar to his heart pulsing in his throat as the dark green building came into view.
They arrived and Ivan parked where he had picked Matthew up "I will see you soon, Matthew" he said with a soft smile.
"Thank you again, Mr. Braginsky" Matthew nodded, returning the man's warm expression with a sad smile as he opened the door and got out, running up the street and out of the rain. He gave one final little wave before disappearing inside the building.
Ivan watched him disappear before heading home, thoughts of the young blond flitting through his mind 'How could someone so bright and innocent get caught in such a trap and with that pay rate there is very little chance of escape.' Ivan couldn't help but wonder above all, why the other had not taken the opportunity of a better job, a steady job, but that was a question best saved for next time.
Ivan continued his drive and arrived home within the hour, tidying up and taking some time to shower before retiring to bed.
Matthew found himself inhaling a thick smell of smoke as he walked through the building, hearing moans coming from inside closed rooms that made his stomach churn in knots. As he climbed the stairs and walked down the narrow hall to his room, he noticed that the door was open and that two men were standing inside the room with wide smirks on their faces as they looked at him. The devices scattered on the bed would certainly have been considered taboo by any normal person. But the world within these walls could not possibly have been more strange and harrowing to the naïve little blonde "I-I think you have the wrong room…" His eyes widened and he took a step back down the hall as he heard the seemingly older but shorter one cat called at him as the other taller and younger man walked towards him.
"Mein Gott… even more beautiful than we were told" the ominous tone in the man's voice sent chills up Matthew's spine as he undressed the blond with piercing red eyes.
"Where are you going, Babydoll? We've been waiting for you…" the other man said as he cornered the young man, pinning him against the wall.
Matthew froze for a moment out of pure fear before a rush of adrenaline kicked in. He kicked the man below the belt and fled messily down the stairs as the man doubled over in pain. The blond panted as he stopped at Alistair's room, the man was busily smoking a cigarette while reclining at his desk. "Alistair" Matthew panted, trying to catch his breath "th-there are two men, they look like Alfred's clients, they're in my room and—"
"—I know" the man interjected, blowing out a dark ring of grey smoke. "I paid them to teach you a little lesson, Babydoll" he said darkly, the cigarette hissing as he stamped it out in an ashtray on his desk. "So go back up and play. And remember who owns you next time you decide to ignore my calls."
Matthew's eyes amplified, fear strumming through him with the harsh shrill sharpness of violin strings. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then walked toward the door, knowing nothing he could possibly say would get him out of this.
"Wait a minute." A drop of hope hit him as he turned on his heel, though it was gone just as quickly as Alistair pointed to a skimpy, black leather outfit draped over a chair "Put that on." Matthew swallowed hard as he picked up the indecent costume and walked out again, toward the stairs.
As he got back to his room, the men were waiting for him.
"That wasn't very nice, Babydoll" the shorter one shoved him onto the bed and started to tear at his clothes, and Matthew started screaming and fighting against him, searching for any excuse to make him stop.
"WAIT!" he cried out, tears already staining his face "c-can I change first…?" he said shakily as he showed them the outfit.
"Make it quick" the albino man responded.
His friend said something in a thick German accent too low for Matthew to understand, and the other man laughed.
The bed creaked as Matthew sat up and walked to the bathroom. He closed the door, locking it as he dropped the outfit to the floor, having no intention of putting it on or going back out there. He started to hyperventilate, realizing just what he'd gotten himself into. With shaky hands he reached for the bottle of pills on the sink, and popped two in his mouth, swallowing them dry. He quickly looked at the window and then back at the door as the men started to pound on it. "What's taking so long in there?! I wanna see that pretty outfit on you."
Matthew went towards the dusty window quickly, keeping his steps light and quiet "Just a minute…" He pulled at the little latches on the sides and opened it just enough to squeeze himself through. His shoelace caught in the brick and he fell from the second story onto the hard concrete below. He grimaced, yelping in pain as he clutched his now broken leg, but it was nothing compared to what would happen if he was discovered, and that was motivation enough to keep going. He hissed in pain as he stood and started to limp along the rain slicked street as quickly as he could.
Matthew had dragged his leg along for hours in the rain until he neared a cathedral. He pushed open the door, noting the brightness inside of it with candles lighting up the grand room. Thankfully it was empty, so the young man curled up on a pew and tried to sleep. But he couldn't close his eyes, for fear of seeing Alistair or the other two men from a few hours before.
He stayed there wide awake all night until the morning came, and a priest had walked in, discovering him. Before the man could help him, Matthew ran out of the heavy doors he'd entered by, and walked until he found a coven of boxes in an alley way. He crouched down and huddled inside, drawing up his leg to his body as much as he could before the pain became too much. He stayed hidden as the sky darkened and the boogeyman started to roam the dingy, damp streets of the city, seeking to cause chaos and malevolence to whomever they came upon. He trembled, pressing himself as far back as he could against the flimsy shelter.
I would be positively thrilled to hear about any and all points that might have caught your eye. I'll be updating weekly with them same schedule I held for my first story and, because nursing school can be kinda crazy, if I'm ever late a day to upload the next chapter I'll post two back to back the moment I realise.
~Poison