Here's a longer update, remembering that I won't be here next week. Have fun, I'm really proud of these chapters. And, yes, Duo finally comes in.
"But why?" I heard Quatre ask, "What do you need another slave for?"
"Not to replace any of you, that's for certain. I don't want anyone getting upset over this. It's simply that I want each of you to have a partner if I should go anywhere, or if you should go anywhere without me. You're safer in pairs. As it is, there are three of you, granting that Wufei is only with us for a week, and I want to have an even number of slaves when we get back to the house, understand? No one's being replaced, alright?"
I wasn't sure whether to grateful to or offended by master's comment. While he hadn't mentioned me specifically, it had been obvious that he was only buying this slave so that I would have someone to be with. Didn't he trust me alone? Did he think I'd be angry that Quatre and Trowa were so close, and that he needed to buy me a friend to replace them? Did he really believe you could force people to be friends?
On the other hand, it would be nice to have a spotter to help me with my work outs. As much as I didn't want master thinking I was weak, could I really take the chance of happiness away from whichever slave he chose? Would that be fair of me?
But eventually it dawned on me that I truly had no control over the situation. Master would do what he thought best, regardless of my wishes or demands. He was not a master like the others at Collar, but he was still... dominant. He was the leader and protector. He was... a king to us, I suppose. He often made choices we did not like, but he always made them with our benefit in mind.
We were, as Master wanted, early to the party and were able to speak with Master Grindel before any other guests arrived. Master had commented on Master Grindel's obviously German name, and had quickly found that Master Grindel's hometown was one he had traveled to as a teen. Master made such an impression with our host that I doubted he would be offended if Master hung from the chandelier, let alone leave early. But Master made an impression on everyone he talked to, and had gained an amazing amount of popularity in a very short time. Of course, it didn't hurt that a rumor had circulated that he was a prince, either.
I wasn't sure I believed that Master was a prince. Rumors at Collar always had some ring of truth to them, but were usually more false than true. If Master had come from a country that had a prince, it was possible for Collar to skew it into such a rumor. And while Master certainly looked the part of a prince and acted like one in formal situations, he never seemed proud or aloof to even his slaves, the lowest of servants. How could someone raised with such a lineage not look down on such humble and homely creatures? It was very difficult for me to believe.
The party went well, but I wasn't sure Master was enjoying himself. He never really seemed to, at parties. He rarely drank and never had to be helped back to the room from intoxication. He wasn't fond of other drugs that were available, and he refused to smoke. He also wouldn't let his slaves have any drugs, but I for one was not in the least bit disappointed. I hated feeling out of control, of waking up and not knowing if you had done something very bad or not. For a slave who was drugged was not excused from punishment. I often remembered a drugged slave who had broken a plate or spilled a cup later being punished for the infraction, and having no idea what they had done wrong. I had been the recipient of such punishments a few times.
Removed for content.