Understood
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Chapter 45
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Tailgate had been unsure about going to one of Starscream's parties, but Cyclonus had insisted.
He was doubly unsure when Cyclonus took him to his favorite paint-parlor for a thorough scrubbing and a temporary repaint. It had been strange enough going all-red for his new job. But on walking out he was solid black, save for a few silver highlights and his blue visor. He felt so conspicuous out on the streets afterwards. He felt worse yet when Cyclonus took him to a shop hidden away from the main thoroughfare and presented him to the clerk. "For this one, collar with attached manacles, matching shackles, rhodium finish please," Cyclonus told the clerk as he nudged the minibot forward.
The clerk carefully measured Tailgate's wrists and ankles, and soon the minibot was on the thickly carpeted floor tugging testingly against the restraints.
"What are these for?" Tailgate asked apprehensively on leaving the shop, his new 'jewelry' carefully stored in a padded box.
Cyclonus just chuckled ominously as they turned onto a major cross street that would lead them back to the House of Red Curtains. "You'll see."
And Tailgate did see the next night at the party, where he spent the whole time kneeling submissively beside Cyclonus' chair, the bright silver restraints gleaming on his limbs. His head, canted forward at just the right angle, served as a stand for Cyclonus's drink. At least he didn't have to to participate in the debauchery going on at the center of the room atop the purple-draped berth. It reminded him distantly of what had happened that horrible night atop the roof of an abandoned building in Kaon Southlands. At least he didn't have to as long as he didn't spill or drop the cup of energon balanced upon the flat of his crown. "If you do, I'm going to give you to Dirge to play with," Cyclonus threatened.
"Which one's Dirge, Master?" Tailgate squeaked, careful of the etiquette Cyclonus had instructed him in for this sort of function
"He's the seeker over there with the electro-whip," came the answer.
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"Understood" continues in Chapter 46
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