This... is something different. This is a character sketch of Vlad Masters. Specifically the Vlad Masters as found in Care and Training. Includes hints of philosophy.

This short is rated T for the barest mentions of philosophical things.

-00000-

Power.

That's what it's all about. Power. The power to do what he wanted. His right to take what was offered. And people offered a lot, really. Without even knowing it.

Humans offered, actually. They offered their loyalty, their fealty, all in return for protection and strength.

Vlad had that strength. At least, now he did. Once he didn't. Once he was a simple human like the rest of them. Weak. Blind. Offering the world his submission and not even realizing it.

Something to thank Jack for, he guessed. Jack showed him that he could be so much more. Showed him in the most brutal, most total way possible. By stripping him of his humanity. Made him more, made him powerful, made him cognizant of the exchange of power, the constant flow of strength in the world, in interactions, in humanity.

Vlad wanted that power. It was his, after all. His to take, his to use. He started trying to use it for the good of things, of course. Only steal enough to pay off student loans. Make sure the people around him were safe. Until he realized those people he protected, his so-called "family", his "friends"... They were using his power as surely as he did. And they were benefiting. And they were taking and using and violating...

So he left them to take from each other until there was nothing left. He would rise above the petty squabbles of humanity. He would grant them only the power that he felt they deserved. He would rule over them. Money was his best bet. No matter how powerful the dictator they always owed their power to their economies. Become that economy then he would become that power.

He is better than them. Because he could see humanity for what it was and could choose where in the power structure he wanted to be. And he wanted to use his own power in his own way, not in any way dictated to him.

And so he learned to rule. To take. To keep. To manipulate.

This had some side effects. Relationships became almost impossible. The flow of power was too obvious to him. A partner who demanded something equal simply used flowery words to cover how they grabbed power and held it, coveted it as anyone else did. So Vlad dropped the act and ended up paying for most of his companionship. At least there both parties agreed that power flowed where it did. But it wasn't enough. Wasn't fulfilling. Wasn't real.

Vlad discovered BDSM. The extensive ritualized aspect attracted his esoteric ghost half. But the exchange of power... There it was, all out in the open. It was obvious to him who held all the power and who wielded it.

The submissive was powerful. But that power was wielded by the dominant. One single note of power used by both parties, understood and in the open.

It was refreshingly honest.

Vlad liked holding that power, liked letting someone else use it. But sometimes the burden of all that power was tiring and he just wanted to let it go. Then he learned to wield it. He learned he had an animalistic aspect, what that was, that he liked giving himself over to it and what that meant.

Then came Maddie. She was quite powerful, could hold his power like the reigns of a pony boy. He would let her take him, collar him, make him submit. He would be willing to let her have those reigns and make him prance. He would not take her power and wield it, no, not unless she allowed him. But as time went on he realized that she would not allow him. The one time he offered her his reigns she threw them back in his face.

And so he plotted, schemed. Never forgot who and what he was. And then...

Then power was offered freely. But not from someone he expected. Daniel. The boy is powerful, very powerful. He'd managed to overpower Vlad, enticing his lust, dragging that animalistic side out. When they fucked against the wall of his lab that first time Vlad had been... surprised. Very surprised.

And as Daniel handed over more and more of his power, always and only within the boundaries of sex, Vlad grew more and more addicted to it. And now that he has all of it, all of that power at his fingertips...

It's heady. It's frightening. He never wants to give it up. He might even be willing to give the boy his reigns, if Daniel could be trusted with them. That... remains to be seen. But every day Vlad sees more and more.

Together they are powerful. Vlad just needs to get Daniel to see that.