Ice Castle
'Wow this thing goes fast!'
Yuri quickly learned those who are members of such clubs like the Ice Castle are always of high class. Between whoever owns the establishment and the person hosting an event at the club always sends private, luxurious transportation to pick up the guests along with their partner.
'How can slaves be a plus one though? What the hell?'
At the entrance, outside, there is always someone waiting to escort the patron upon their arrival to the front desk of the establishment. There, the host provides the patron's human partner a half mask. Yuri didn't ask questions and put the golden mask on over his eyes. Even from the desk, Katsuki could hear and feel the walls almost shake from the upbeat, sultry, instrumental music. The smell of smoke and booze struck Yuri's senses so hard the next to unbearable odors almost made him want to run away, but he knew he couldn't even if he wanted to.
Since he was new, a matter was formally explained by the head manager at the front desk. A certain safety measure to discourage human partners from running away or claiming to getting lost was in effect. Every patron is given a clip chain to use. Before they headed inside, Victor used Yuri's choker to slip the chain around and through before clipping the chain in place. The polished piece of golden metal was a good length, but made Yuri feel like an animal. Victor, finally, ordered for him to take off his red guards off his skates and hand them to coat check. Once that was done, they went past the doors to the club.
'Oh God! Please don't let me fall!' Yuri took a deep breath. 'Brush side to side Yuri…bend your knees…Oh. My. God…'
The place was a sin unto itself. It was an eclectic spectacle on ice, of gluttony and vanity jazzed-up with a tizzy of neon, multi-colored lights bouncing off the walls and around everyone. Strategically placed all over the large expanse of the cold rink were tables of guests that were being served by skating waiters. If you weren't eating, you were talking, or spinning, dancing, on the ice to the music in one of the reserved spaces. Meanwhile, on each of the smaller tables were single, scantily clad, exotic dancers. Yuri saw guests give a piece of food to a dancer of their choosing and the dancer would, without hesitation, sexily take the piece into their mouth. Sometimes it was fruit, other times cake, regardless the dancers never used their hands. During such exchanges there was a chaste kiss between the giver and the taker, sometimes on the shoulder, a hand, neck, even directly on the lips.
All humans similar to Yuri's position were also dressed to their master's taste…not that he understood Victor's, but the likelihood this was actually the girls' taste kinda scared him more.
The situation was made clear, however, the masters wanted to show off their possessions and Yuri was sure Victor was no exception. So he was stuck, in tow, forced to accompany Victor on his rounds to greet those who were there. Yuri paid little mind to whom Victor was talking to and was rather grateful for the mask for it allowed his eyes to wander until Victor tugged the chain to signal it was time to move on. Sure he heard a comment here or there about how Victor looked, or a congratulatory remark about Victor's accomplishments, but they were far and few between with the noise.
The event quickly became a colorful, rambunctious blur. Yuri didn't know how long he had been standing there, drinking in the sights of such bizarre entertainment, counting his blessings he hadn't fallen down yet, until he felt a tug of someone's hand around his hip. Only then did Yuri snap out of it.
In front of him, Katsuki saw a shorter Colbran woman. She appeared to be around his age, give or take a few years, had thick, red and purple pigtails tied in place with baubles which slowly pulsated neon blue lights and was dressed in an entirely silver, flouncy, strapless, cocktail dress and lacey gloves. The one who had Yuri's hip was taller than both of them. A stoic man with a black chain down his chest who never looked at Yuri but instead stood at attention with his other arm placed around his back. When Yuri returned to looking at the Colbran girl before him, the punky master gleefully eyed Yuri up and down and leaned in.
"Don't worry," she yelled over the noise with a large, mischievous smile. "He took a hold of you because action seems to get people's attention faster than yelling over the music."
Yuri frantically looked side to side, unsure what to do. He realized, in his daze, Victor had slipped away.
The Colbran girl before him continued to smile. "Like I said, don't worry, I am friends with your master and I am here to keep an eye on you. He had private business to attend to so let's go grab a table." She looked up. "I'm thirsty, Georgi, let us head over there."
Yuri found himself unable protest as this Georgi, dressed to compliment his master, pushed Yuri forward, almost making him trip. The girl just laughed and toe looped on ahead before plopping herself down a plush velvet seat at the closest, available table.
"Aren't these chairs the best? Oh, they are just the softest things ever!" She let out a squeal of excitement, clearly drunk off the atmosphere to be elated over something so basic. Although Yuri privately admitted the fabric was rather nice, what wasn't was being awkwardly squished between the young woman and her partner. After the misfit trio was settled, Victor's mysterious friend rested both arms on the table before she set her chin on the back of her petite hands.
"You do not speak much do you, huh?" The young Colbran remarked candidly. Her head then perked up as she raised her hand. "Waiter! A house drink and two waters please!" She ordered.
"W-Well I have a tongue if that's what you are wondering," Yuri finally replied, still annoyed Victor just disappeared like that on him. Not that he really cared.
'But still…' Yuri's bothered thoughts wandered off.
The girl's dual eyes widened slightly before a smile played on her lips. "Well, well, I guess you do indeed. Victor told me you were new. He must have yet to break you into the Colbran customs."
"With all do respect, I don't intend to be broken," Yuri shot back, but quickly regretted ever saying such a thing. He didn't want to get into trouble while surrounded by Colbrans.
Instead of hearing harsh words or any reprimand, the pigtailed girl threw her head back into a carefree laughter. "Y-You are s-something else, ha ha! Victor must have his hands full with you, I'm sure, ha ha!"
When she cooled down a bit she placed a hand on Yuri's forearm before glancing at her partner. "Georgi." She snapped her slender fingers.
"Yes, ma'am," the tall man replied before turning slightly towards Yuri. "This is Lady Mila Babicheva, she is the daughter of owner."
'Of course I run into the her.' Yuri's throat tightened. 'If I offend her I'll be in deep trouble for sure!'
"And this here is my main man, Georgi Popovich," Lady Mila replied proudly. "He's been by my side for years."
'It feels weird that they appear so friendly though.'
The drinks arrived and she quickly took a couple sips before a wistful look came about her. She leaned to the side, resting her body against Yuri's arm, much to his surprise. She next gestured to what was all around them with a wave of her hand and began to speak to him close to his ear.
"If you haven't figured out by now, the stories you must have heard on Alborja moon aren't necessarily true. You hear about becoming doomed slaves and tales of poor treatment, which I am sure has scared all humans. However, those here as well as many others of high status believe treating his or her servants, maids or butlers, with decency and treat it as part of being a good Noble. We don't condemn our servants to whipping or anything of the sort. Any Noble worth knowing in my opinion do not anyway." She sat back up and gave a bright smile. "I hope you come to see that someday, Yuri."
'There's that word again, servants, someone who is paid to help. Well, I knew there was a pay system and true slaves would never be paid, but even Christophe called me a slave once when I first met him. Besides, have any of you tried to improve Albjora's conditions? I doubt it…'
Yuri sat there lost in his thoughts; for the first time since he had arrived on Colbran, Yuri took the first, tiny step towards re-evaluating their integrity. However, tiny was the key word. Lady Mila seemed kind, but the one Yuri was more concerned about, and had a great sense of mistrust for, was the one who had just approached their table.
Lady Mila became like a little excited girl again, leapt up and wrapped her thin arms around Victor' arm. "Ah! Victor, darling! How was that meeting of yours? Did you accomplish what you needed? Come and sit."
The moment Lady Mila let go, Victor bowed to her elegantly. "It was fine, I did, but I regret to deny your request. I need to return home for the evening, but I promise to owe you a favor in return to look after my partner."
"Oh poo!" Lady Mila pouted before switching back to an impish grin. "Heh heh, Yuri here is quite the looker. I told him you must have your hands full."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
Lady Mila's grin broke out to a full smile, she nodded and patted Yuri on the arm in a friendly manner. "Do bring him again, he is certainly entertaining unlike the other you used to bring around here. What was her name again?" She shrugged. "Oh well, I'm sure you know what I am talking about," she giggled.
Victor nodded. "Yes, I have a pretty good idea. She wasn't really suiting my needs for the night life so I ventured a little."
'Is that true? Is that all there is?' Yuri thought.
"And brought back this young man? Why, Lord Victor Nikiforov, you are full of surprises."
Victor smirked and shook his head. "I do my best, Milady."
Lady Mila picked up her drink. "To new pursuits."
Lord Victor followed suit and toasted with her.
'Good grief…' Yuri thought, greatly desiring to face palm.
Chapter split again
