Hanni's arms burned as she scrubbed the glass container, a mysterious humanoid creature resting within, dazed and catatonic. She gave it a sympathetic smile it did not return. She took a breath and kept working, getting the cracks and crevasses so as not to upset her master. He had acted funny that morning, and she did not want to gain any more of his ire. It was well past opening hours at this point, but she did not want to risk waking him; she was starting to suspect his mind was not kept as well as the items in his collection.

Well, she figured, after a few billion years, who could blame him?

The thought did little to console Hanni, but it made the bitter pill easier to swallow. She suddenly heard the familiar clicking footsteps of her master behind her, but did not turn around. She heard him pause and wondered if he was watching or waiting for a word from her, but she paid him no mind and kept to her task instead. Eventually, he walked away from her and opened the doors, though no one was waiting to be let in and they spent the first several hours of the day in silence. Hanni desperately wanted to embrace him, place kisses upon his brow, console him and take his mind off of whatever was troubling him, but she was still stung and unsure.

Tivan sat in his usual plush chair, running a finger along his lower lip as he watched Hanni scrubbing and polishing the cages of his collection.

Perhaps I should apologize, he thought, debating, but figured it would be a lost formality. She's my slave; she will learn to accommodate me.

The thought gave him little relief or assurance, however, and he found himself watching her more intently than usual, as if she would try to rebel or run.

I've apologized to her before, when I was in the wrong, he tried to reason, but it was of little use. Something within him burned like a nagging little ember; he could not place its source, but it tore at his insides and made him both furious and exhausted. He finally sighed, grabbing a cherry leaf cigarette and lighting it, inhaling deeply and blowing smoke rings with boredom. Hanni turned at the smell, but did not meet his eyes. He considered for a moment, then snapped his fingers for her attention and motioned for her to approach. She did, and he slapped his thigh in a gesture for her to sit. Again she complied, though she still avoided his gaze as she rested on his lap. She felt him run a bare hand up her back and settle on her neck; she shivered, but did not say anything or respond beyond her initial shudder. Suddenly irritated by her lack of desirable response, Tivan grasped her chin roughly and forced her to look at him. Hanni gazed at him apathetically, though she felt her heart doing somersaults and tried her best to remain calm. Even when she was mad at him, she couldn't resist his touch.

"Do you still fear me?" he asked bluntly, tapping the ashes of his cigarette into a dish on the table next to them.

"Yes," she said without pause.

"I told you that you didn't need to."

"Your actions say otherwise," she said, despite her concern over what his reaction might be. It was a minor act of bravery, but one she likely wouldn't have been capable of even before she had been abducted. It's funny, she thought, I had to become a slave to find courage. Her master narrowed his eyes at her as he took another drag from his smoke, contemplating as he brought his brows together.

"Are you forgetting yourself?" he asked, a frightening edge to the tone of his voice.

"No," she said, her voice rising with her fear. She continued anyway. "I know who I am."

Tivan felt the little dig and was irritated by it, but did not react beside setting aside his cigarette and blowing cherry smoke into the air.

"Do you now?" He smirked and waved a hand for her to elaborate. "Please. Enlighten me."

Hanni wasn't sure what to say – to be honest, she wasn't sure how he was going to react, but his smug patience wasn't a scenario she had played through her head.

"Well..." she stammered, unsure. She looked at Tivan and he raised his eyebrows, making an over-dramatic, expectant expression.

"Well?" he said. "I'm waiting."

Hanni scowled and readjusted herself on her master's lap so that she was facing him more directly. The little bit of courage she has mustered was leaving her quickly and she dropped her gaze. She heard her master give a condescending chuckle.

"Get back to work," he said, shoving her off his lap lightly. Hanni suddenly stomped her foot and turned to face him.

"No," she said.

"Oh?" Her master stood over her and she could feel his sudden anger radiating from him like the heat from a sun. He stepped forward, frowning deeply and intimidating her. She did not shrink, however, and raised her chin to face him, without his assistance for once.

"You need to be clear with me," she demanded.

Tivan lowered his head and narrowed his eyes, keeping them on her. She breathed deep and continued.

"I understand you purchased me. I know that I'm a slave. But..." She took another deep breath. "What more am I?"
"You told me you know who you are," he said lowly, dangerously.

"I do know who I am. But I don't know what I am – to you." She bit her lip.

Tivan stepped back and raised his head, looking up at the ceiling and contemplating. When he looked back down, his expression was unreadable and Hanni found it unnerving.

"What do you want?" he asked stoically.

"You, Tivan," she said softly.

"Master."

"What?"

Tivan crossed his arms and scowled at her.

"You will refer to me as master," he corrected unemotionally.

Hanni felt as if her heart was tearing in two, but nodded and hung her head like the perfect slave she now knew she was doomed to be. Tears welled in her eyes and she tried biting her lip to hold them back, but she felt that morning's wound opening and tasted blood once more. Tivan walked away quietly, a hand to his temple as a headache suddenly made an unwelcome appearance. He knew this was for the best, however; after all, he thought, what possible future could I offer her?