Nanashi would not look at me when we entered the room, which I later realized was lavishly decorated in Victorian style, but at the time I only noticed the romantic fire lighting the dim room and the huge, heavy bed covered in red sating sheets and blankets.

Removed for content.

And so I condemned both myself and Nanashi to a night of torment, and could only hope to make it somewhat enjoyable for him. I felt vaguely nauseous, and would be happy merely to escape the night without vomiting.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I reached out and touched Nanashi's shoulder. My fingers grazed one of his rings and he flinched away from the touch. Nervous or repulsed, I couldn't tell, and I wasn't really sure it mattered. I sighed loudly.

Removed for content..

"Yes, Master Zechs," he said, lowering his head and backing away.

I repressed a sigh as I noticed a bottle of brandy, and promptly made my way to it. It had been laid out just recently, as the ice had not begun to melt, but with no idea how many occupants would be using the room, for there were several glasses on the tray. After a moment's hesitation, I filled two glasses, though mine was significantly fuller than the second, then turned and offered one of the glasses to Nanashi. He took it, but only stared at it, so that I began to regret my decision.

"You don't have to drink it," I offered as he continued to stare at the glass.

"I am allowed?" he asked, never moving his eyes.

"I thought it might... allow you to relax."

"But I am allowed to drink it?"

"Yes, as long as the Duke doesn't have any rules against it," I said. The boy shook his head, then promptly downed the contents of the glass in a single gulp. It was bound to burn, but not an ounce of pain showed on his face and I was as impressed as I was concerned. It was impressive that the boy should have such a poker-face, but it worried me how well he could hide his emotions.

"You know, you don't have to be so hidden now," I told him, "There's no one here who will harm you."

"I am sorry, Master Zechs."

"It's alright, but things will go more smoothly if you relax," I told him. His face was troubled and I worried that I was simply upsetting him more instead of calming his nerves.

"I am not used to freely expressing myself. Please, I am not trying to disobey you..." he said, visibly upset. I was not confused to why this time. Masters at Collar had shown a preference for emotional slaves, as long as those emotions were lust and affection. So a slave who was unable to fake these emotions, let a lone a slave who was unable to show any emotion at all, would not be highly prized at Collar. To Nanashi, this was the final test as to whether or not I would take him away from the Duke's three harpies. It must have been at the forefront of his mind, that if he failed me he would return, not only to the henpecking of the other slaves, but also the wrath of the Duke for failing to please me. Until he was mine, there would be no relaxing for either of us.

I took the glass from the boy's hand, turning to fill it so that I would not have to look at him. I was angry and frustrated with the situation, and with myself for not being able to stop it sooner, but I did not want the boy to think that my anger was directed at him. I filled the glass half way, then paused, thinking that it would not do to get the boy drunk. I reconsidered a moment later, however, for what did it matter if the boy was drunk or not? Perhaps if he were drunk he could more easily put this night from his mind, for I doubted he would find much pleasure in it.

I handed the now full glass of brandy to the boy with a command to drink it. I hadn't paused to think of how the command would be interpreted and almost dropped my own glass as the boy proceeded to chug the fiery liquid.

"Not all at once!" I snapped, taking the glass back from the boy. He released it to me readily enough as he hunched over, falling to his knees, and made a small choking sound, covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Are you alright?" I asked him as he continued to hold his mouth. Not that I blamed him. The brandy was powerful and even I, who had been capable of drinking like a sailor in my younger days, had been a little overwhelmed by its potency.

The boy nodded from his place on the floor, but continued to cough. I finished my own glass of brandy, then placed both glasses on the tray. I would not ask the boy to drink any more, he had taken enough, and I did not want to risk a repeat performance. It didn't seem like I could do anything right with him.

Removed for content.