Here I am, once again. [OPEN]

[Deleted]

SLAVEBOY ASH !!

The sights and sounds of the slave market were ones that found themselves permanently imprinted into the back of the young man's mind. Throughout his life he had found himself put back into a small cage on the busy street time and time again. As his owners tired of him, they sold him back to the Slavers and went on their way. This time, Ash found himself bound tightly by his hands and feet and forced into a kneeling position into a small metal cage. Unable to fully straighten his back without banging his head on the top, the poor man had found himself hunched over.

Long black hair cascaded around him in a scraggly mess. At least is hides the bruises on my face, Ash would reason with himself as he kept his red eyes fixed on the ground. Hopefully today someone would come around and purchase him. Ash was starving, and another night laying on the ground inside his cage with nothing to eat would be awful. Licking his chapped lips, the man tried to ignore such thoughts as they popped up.

At least his was lucky enough to be fed every couple days, right? Ash thought, once again trying to reason with himself so it didn't seem like he was in the worst situation. Besides, they hadn't threatened him with the whip since the first day back on the market. Daring to look out at the streets before him Ash found himself dazzled by the colorful dress the people of the Crystal Kingdom people wore. The torn, uncolored linens that covered his body made him sad. Maybe one day he could dress as the rich people did-- Ash quickly stopped that train of thought by biting his lip hard.

No good would come of day dreams, he reminded himself. Shifting his weight to the back of his legs Ash found himself stretching his muscles somewhat uselessly. If he sat in such a position any long he was sure his wrists would break. Only a matter of time though, he reminded himself, until someone finds me worth of purchase.

[King Narcisse]

Venturing outside of the castle was always risky business. He rarely ever did it without being accompanied by only the best of the castle's guards and, more often than not, his adviser. However, this time, he left without his adviser. Even he needed his space, and he shouldn't depend on the man for everything. Then again, he was depending on his adviser to keep things in check while he's away from the castle... The king's logic is always right. Do not question it. Keep telling yourself that, Narci. The boy let out a sigh, gazing out of the carriage window with a bored look painted on his face. Inside were three guards, all in full uniform, crystals clutched in their hands as if they would be needed at any moment. Swords and a few other weapons were also strapped to their sides, securely placed within their sheathes. He should feel safe with the guards by his side, but he sometimes grew uneasy. He shouldn't distrust them or doubt their abilities. He would be fine.

He resumed watching the clouds float by, listening to the sound of wheels kicking up pebbles and the pounding of hooves against the ground. As he slowly tuned the world out, the sound of hooves and wheels turned dull as a ringing entered his ears. Such an obnoxious sound, but he was all too used to it. He shouldn't tune everyone out, even if nobody was talking. He was taught better than that, especially after his father's and stepmother's deaths, but he couldn't help it. Traveling was far too boring, even if he rarely found the time to travel anywhere outside the castle.

The scenery began to slow as the greenery became sparse. Buildings came into view as they neared the town that was well-known in the Kingdom. Salem Town. He had never actually been to the town before, not ever in his eighteen years of life. He rarely left the castle as a child, and he never found the spare time after that day. Pale lips parted as a sigh escaped. Why was he here again? Ah, yes. That was right; he was in need of some new... Toys. The castle easily grew boring and repetitive, so he needed some new entertainment. Narcisse sat up, rolling his shoulders and raising his head as he waited for the carriage to stop.

The guards were the first to get out, all three heading over to his side as they opened the carriage door. The guard closest to the door held out his hand, assisting the young king down while the other two scanned the area for possible threats. He might have left his crown at home, but that did not make him stand out any less. Heads turned to stare, only to quickly advert their gazes to bow, as the boy walked on with his head held high. The guards followed, hands on the hilts of their swords, ready to draw them. Narcisse didn't see such a need. Salem Town never allowed Pokemon outside of their crystals; however, he did know that not everybody in the towns support him.

Another sigh passed through his lips as they reached their destination: the slave market. It was such an odd place to be seeing someone of his status, but he wasn't about to let someone else pick out his toys. He had always been a picky child, be it with food, clothing, or toys, and that never changed over the years. Narcisse strode forwards, narrowing his eye at the conditions the merchandise was being kept in. Such a disgusting place. I better pick a new toy and leave as quick as possible. Ugh, that smell... Resisting the urge to hold his nose, he allowed himself to decrease his speed as he approached one of the cages. The cages were not fit for the size of beings they held within, and he could only imagine what it must be like in one of them. That was it, though. He could only imagine. The small pang of sympathy was quick to erase itself as he remembered the smell and his want to leave as soon as possible.

"You." For such a small boy, his voice was loud, commanding, echoing around the market. His visible blue eye stared down at a small cage holding a man with long black hair.  "What is your name?"

ooc: hope you don't mind me dropping in~! narci likes toys. ouo I'm also starting to think he has a thing for dark haired males. pahaha.

[Deleted]

SLAVEBOY ASH !!

The crisp fall air was the only thing keeping Ash awake. The tingling in his hands had long since ceased to bother him and the familiar aches began to soothe the poor man's mind into an almost calm lull. Being able to ignore the atrocities that surrounded him in the slave market was one of Ash's only saving graces. Many a time he had seen strong men break within hours of their arrival. 'Pity,' Ash would often see himself thinking, 'Now he'll be good for nothing more than the mines.' Of course, such thinking was often followed up by, 'His fate, not mine.'

Trying desperately to keep his mind from shutting down completely Ash began to count the pebbles in his immediate view. As people walked by they would kick away ones he had already seen or add new ones to his mental count. Anything to keep himself away really, the last time he had fallen asleep had been horrid. He could still hear the taunting laughter of the passer-byes as he was dragged from his cage by his hair. The beating that ensued had left Ash shaken to his very core. It wasn't often Ash found himself terrified of beatings.

Zoning out the sounds of the market, Ash allowed his eyes to slowly glass over, fixing his red eyes to a spot he began to drift off into his head again, analyzing the dreams he had been having. It had happened again the night prior, he had found himself alone among a seemingly endless field of white poppies. His body had felt different, somehow insurmountably stronger. Black wings sprouted painlessly from his back, consuming his arms and covering his sides and front with a soft layer of black feather. Without hesitation he took off into the air, flying impossibly high, reaching the Heavens and what lay behind it....

CRACK! A splitting pain rocketed him from his day dream. Ash found himself biting his bottom lip to keep from screaming. A large red welt began to form across his back where the Slaver's whip had bit into his skin. Running his teeth back and forth over the scabbed lip was the only thing keeping the man from crying in pain. No, tears were for children. Ash didn't have much of a sense of pride, but he was no child.

It wasn't long after the incident that a voice broke through the haze of searing pain. At first Ash didn't reply, it couldn't be for him, could it? Keep his eyes down Ash only saw the boots of the person before him. Surely they hadn't stopped to talk to him? Most potential buyers steered clear of the slaves with new welts. They only meant trouble, of course.

A low growl from the throat of the slaver made him look up in question. Dark hair fell away from his face as his red eyes locked with those of... Of the king's? Instantly Ash dropped his head, hoping beyond hope such discretion wouldn't mean another whipping, or worse. "I-I am...am Ash," Ash found himself stammering, trying his absolute best to bow despite his bindings. "Y-your Majesty."

Ash found himself looking up, ever so slightly. His red eyes trailed up the man's pant legs, stopping at the belt. It was indeed the King, no questions asked. Ash felt himself trembling, there had been whispers of course, of the brutality of Royalty. Had the King himself come down to the Slave Market with the intent to kill off a few? Surely he couldn't be that cruel... Ash found his mind slowing in fear as he remembered the whispers among other slaves about what Royalty did with their slaves.

The Slave Trader, a tall and rather brutish man quickly hasten forward. Bowing deeply at the waist he quickly began chattering, knowing he could make a lot of money if he played his cards right. "What do I owe this great honor, your Majesty? Here for some slaves, yes? Well please, have a look. Don't mind this one," He said, quickly hammering a fist into the cage that Ash's trembling form occupied, "The stupid pig daydreams and falls asleep. Don't know why he keeps comin' back to the market, something wrong with him. If you're looking for some quality meat, we've just had a shipment come in from the Deserts..."

---

OOC:
Not a whole lot I could do with Ash so I threw in the slave trader, feel free to use him as a NPC and such to get this moving along.

[King Narcisse]

His only useful eye carefully inspected the form before him, looking the slave up and down. He took a mental note of every visible feature on his body--pale skin, long black hair, bony figure, tattered clothing... Due to his clothing, the king was given a decent view of the old scarring on the form's back, along with any bruises and dirt and the bright red welt from where a certain slave trader had whipped him mere moments before he had walked up. Filthy. There was nothing really distinguishing about the slave that he could see, and he was close to turning away before he was even given a name. So, what stopped him? As soon as the man looked up, he was instantly captivated by his eyes.

Red.

Thus, his mind was already made up. This slave was going to be his. Why? Black hair and red eyes made quite the interesting combination, as did black hair and blue eyes. It totally wasn't because his adviser had the exact same setup going on. Regardless, the eyes were captivating. He was sure that with... A lot of work, the slave would become the perfect toy for the king. I will have to put the maids in charge of bathing and clothing him, along with tending to his wounds.

Narcisse blinked, adverting his eyes after finding that he had been staring at the slave for a longer than he should have. Despite being immersed in his thoughts, he was able to catch the man's name. Ash. Sounds like a nickname, unless his parents were really that 'creative'. Turning his head, he fixed his gaze on the slave trader that dared to approach him. His eye narrowed as he listened to the man. Swindler. "I do not require any 'quality meat'. You say this one is troubled to the point of return?" A slight smirk graced his lips, only the smallest hint that he didn't always frown. "Perfect."

Snapping his fingers, he signaled for his guards to approach the cage. He was already dead set on obtaining the slave that he wasn't going to take no for an answer. "How much for this 'inadequate' piece of meat?" The boy allowed his frown to return to his face, looking at the slave trader expectantly. The cage needed to be opened, and the price needed to be told. Of course, if this was a slave who caused trouble to his past masters, then they should sell him at a lower price just to get him out of the place. However, Narcisse wasn't stupid. If this man tried to ask a higher price than the man was currently worth, then he would use intimidation and status to lower the price down once more. The large, armed guards should already do the trick.

[Deleted]

SLAVEBOY ASH !!

The King held an air about him that could make most men tremble when his blue eyes swept over them. Ash certainly felt it, as he tried his best to hide the fear surmounting in his body. Of course, the Slave Trader could as well. "Not so much as troubled to the point of return but they grew tired of him..." The man hurriedly explained, trying not to look as flustered when the King flat out refused his offer for better quality slaves. When the matter of price came to out, the evident shock in the trader's face was almost laughable. Granted, it wasn't his first time selling off the man to those with riches but he couldn't quite place what exactly had them coming back for the rejected slave.

"Ah, for this lovely beast a mere 1,000PP, or the equivalent in jewels, of course." One look at the advisors quickly had the man stammering, "B-but... Royalty Discount!" He almost shouted as the guards continued with their unwavering stares. "Yours for the taking, Your Majesty." The words were obviously forced, even pained as the man spoke them.

Had anyone been keeping an eye on the slave in question, they'd notice a massive smirk crossing his face. Once again his teeth bit down on his lower lip, keeping the smile from turning to laughter. It would not bode well to laugh at his captor, nor laugh in the face of a king. As the trader took a large silver key from the loop on his belt, he opened the door, allowing the metal bars to fall open. "You're sold, slave." He said, spitting on the ground before Ash's knees. "If I hear about you giving our beloved King any trouble, I'll find you and skin you myself."

With that, Ash found himself pulled roughly forward and thrown to the grown before the King. With his bindings still in place Ash had to work his shoulders and ab muscles to sit up before the King. The reality still hadn't sunk in, of course. Red eyes clouded over in wonder, Ash found himself bowing before the Royalty. Bending at the waist, his forehead nearly touched the ground. "T-thank you, Your Highness. Ash will be a good slave." Was all he could mutter as he straightened himself.

Shifting his still bound legs in front of him, Ash was able to maneuver in such a way that he was able to stand up. Ash's form towered over his new owner and King. Instinctively Ash hunched his shoulders, trying to seem smaller and meek. Keeping his red eyes affixed to the ground, he shifted his weight back and forth between his feet as the blood began to rush back into him.

"Thank you, Majesty. Please come by again." The trader said, a large smile forced onto his face. Once again he spit on the ground near Ash. As he turned his back to the royal party and their new toy, one could almost hear his thoughts with every step. 'The boy's more trouble than he's worth.'

[King Narcisse]

Oh? He was prepared to give the slave trader a small bag of jewels for the merchandise, but, if he insisted that it was 'his for the taking', then he would gladly take that discount. A smirk played on his lips as he listened to the babbling man. He was just too easy. Perhaps he should leave the castle more often with the guards. They were great for getting items at a cheaper price. He enjoyed this little fact more than he probably should have, but that was unimportant at the moment. What was important was the cage that was finally opened and the man that was finally freed from the tight space. His eye once more ran up and down the man's figure, finally able to see more details now that he was no longer confined to the rusted cage. He will definitely need a lot of work. Once we're back at the castle, he is getting a bath.

Still finding himself staring at his newly acquired toy, Narcisse didn't even bother to advert his gaze. As soon as the slave spoke, however, the king frowned. Uneducated, it seems. And tall. No, Narci, you are just short. "When in my presence, you must address yourself using the proper pronouns. You will use I instead of your name." With that, the boy turned on his heels. The guards quickly straightened up as soon as they felt his gaze on them. "You," he pointed towards the middle guard. "Carry him back to the carriage." A confused look crossed the man's face at the command. "Carry, my liege?" The boy only narrowed his gaze, nodding once before turning to head back the way they originally came. He didn't even bother to check and make sure the guard did as he was told, though the sound of footsteps behind him told him that at least the other two were already following him.

The middle guard stood there for a few more seconds, watching the retreating back of the king. With a heavy sigh, he returning the stoic look to his face. He turned towards the slave, frowning. Why did he have to carry this whelp? "Orders are orders..." He mumbled, moving to picking up the slave and hoist him over his shoulder. The king said to carry him, but he never specified how to carry him.

Back at the carriage, Narcisse was already in his seat, gazing out the window. Really, he was watching for the guard with his new toy. He better not damage him. His toys were his to break on his own accord, not someone else's. Of course, whether or not he actually broke a toy all depended on the circumstances. Otherwise, he was pretty good at keeping his toys well kept. So, why did he order the guard to carry the slave? Ash was still bound, so walking would be hard for him. What? It wasn't like Narcisse was showing compassion or anything. He just wanted to get out of Salem and back to the castle before his adviser knew he was missing. He probably already knows. He always knows.

[Deleted]

SLAVEBOY ASH !!

The mere idea of referring to himself as "I' rather than "it" or simply his name was almost too unreal. To do so would mean he was something rather than a useless nothing as he had been taught to believe. That would take some getting used to. Knowing that as a slave, being able to adapt was just about the only way he hoped to survive. "Yes my King, As--" He stopped himself quickly, "I will call myself a right pr-pronoun? I will be a good pronoun." If one still had his earned towards the slave trader they would have been buffeted by a hearty laugh at that one.

What came next was something Ash was not expecting in the slightest. Granted, he had heard the King order his guards to carry him, but that didn't really click. At least, until he was slung over the shoulder of the tallest. The mass of black hair fell over his face, covering the view as he was slung over the man's shoulder. The tips of his hair brushed gently against the ground as he was hauled over towards the carriage. That would be something new, Ash found himself thinking, being put in a carriage meant for royalty.

The only time he had ever been transported in a carriage was on his second trip back to the slave market. His former Mistress had felt bad that she no longer needed the boy and thought the fancy way of arrival would make up for her callous abandonment.

It took Ash quite a few minutes of fidgeting once he was seated in the carriage to actually find himself in a comfortable position. Being able to sit fully upright was a pain, the large welt a constant reminder of that. With his hands and feet still bound tightly it really didn't leave too much room for comfort. 'By god.' Ash found himself thinking in sheer delight, 'This seating must be made of clouds from the very skies.'

As the carriage lurched to a start Ash did his best to keep his eyes down and away from the Royalty he now sat across from. He became very aware of his being, the smell and the grime seemed so unfit to be in such a lavish place. Ash did his utmost best not to fidget or shoot side-ways glances at the boy before him. Curiosity got the best of him and Ash could have swore the guards saw him staring at their King.

Ash wished so badly to just besiege the man in a torrent of questions but knew better of it. Speak when spoken to, was a golden rule that often led to having food presented to him more than once a day. Ash went back to trying not to fidget. He focused his red gaze out the window, staring more at the King's reflection than anything that passed by.

Mustering all the courage he could, Ash finally found himself asking in the meekest voice he could muster, "W-what will my King have of me? Once we reach the castle?" The was almost a plea in the man's voice, a small begging to not be thrown into the worst of labor imaginable. Perhaps the King really had bought him for some quick entertainment. Hadn't Ash heard stories of the "slave fights" Royalty would often buy into?

[King Narcisse]

He instinctively straightened up as the guard with his new toy drew near. He shifted around, making himself comfortable while providing a little more room now that the guards would have even less space than before. Yes, he was forcing all of them to ride within the carriage. He may act within his own best interest a good portion of the time, but that didn't mean he couldn't show a little... Compassion? No. Sympathy? No. Hm, it was more of his 'good deed of the day' rather than an act of actual kindness, one that would go unnoticed by the people he ruled. Always acting where the public cannot see you, huh, Narcisse? A sigh passed through his lips as his most annoying conscious decided it was a prime time to speak. The king didn't bother looking away from the window as the carriage door opened and closed for the last time. Moments later, the carriage jerked as the horses were commanded to go forwards. If the Crystal Kingdom is so great at their science, then the scientists better hurry up and make a more efficient mode of transportation.

His gaze remained locked on the window as he fell once more into watching the scenery pass by. To say he was actually watching the scenery was not even the full truth, even if it seemed like it. He found his vision blurring as his eye lost its focus, glazing over as he was swept away into his mind. The world was quickly tuned out, all sounds falling upon deaf ears. He needed to figure out exactly how he was going to present his new toy to, well, everyone of importance. His siblings shouldn't mind too much as they knew he liked to have some form of entertainment. Mending a broken toy or enhancing it to make it better was only one of his many tasks he placed on his to-do list. How many slaves had he kept so far? Hm, four? Five? Five sounded like a good number. How long did he keep them? It all depended on how quickly he was able to fix them before he sold them off once more. The longest he kept one was only a year. How long had it been since his last toy was sold off? Two years ago. Let's see how long this one lasts.

Judging by what the slave trader had said about daydreaming and the like, it shouldn't be too hard. He should start out small, however. Clean the man up, make him worthy enough appearance-wise to be in the presence of the king. He will have to see what the maids can do with this slave. Tend to wounds, bathe, fix his hair--he was going to keep it long, he decided, just braid it or something. Cover up those welts and bruises, properly clothe him, and he might become quite the looker.

Narcisse blinked a few times as a voice brought him out of his thoughts. His vision slowly refocused as he turned his head towards the slave he had just been thinking about. He had only heard half of what was said, but he could easily assume the rest. "I will have nothing of you until the maids deal with you."

[Deleted]

SLAVEBOY ASH !!

Maids, huh? Ash found himself drifting off into his head at the thought of maids. Given the life of a slave, having any sort of relationship with anyone but his owners was unheard of. The few chances he had at sneaking off and rolling in the hay with a woman had always been cancelled due to fear of being beaten. If anyone were to ask, though Ash doubted very highly anyone cared to do so, he was a virgin. He was however, still a man.

The thought of being left alone with the King's maids drew a small smile from the slave. Well, he was heading for bigger and better things now, no? The reality of having a King own him was beginning to set in. Granted, any rules set in place could really lead to a quick death if they weren't followed, but it also meant some luxuries, right? Surely the King wasn't just going to use him as some sort of work horse...

Either which way, he was going to the Palace. Even if he was fated for something as demeaning as scrubbing floors for the rest of his days. Ash allowed himself to wallow in the sheer joy of knowing he would soon be living in a castle. Ash willed himself to glance over in the direction of the King. Keeping his eyes low, he examined the fine silks that made his new owner's clothing. Perhaps one day he would feel the luxury of silk on his skin?

Shaking his head quickly to end such thoughts, Ash looked out the window again. In the distance the palace appeared. The hoof beats of the horses quickened as the approached the large walls surrounding the building. Ash found himself fidgeting again as he looked over every inch of the court yard they were now entering. 'This is it, huh?' The man found himself wondering as the carriage slowed to a stop.

Ash again shifted, allowing the blood to flow somewhat back to his feet. Perhaps they'd allow him to walk this time? The thought floated through his mind, though he found himself doubting that.

[King Narcisse]

The boy turned his attention back to the outside world as the carriage neared the castle walls. He was about to question exactly how fast they arrived at the castle before he remembered that time tends to fly when he gets lost in his thoughts. Accepting his own reasoning, the boy let out a heavy sigh as he tilted his head to one side, resting it against the cool glass of the door's window. He watched as the gate slowly opened. The carriage passed through, the gate closing behind them. The horses took them up the path closer to the castle itself, passing by the various servants working in the gardens and stables. Guards litters the grounds, posted at every entrance, nook, and cranny. After what happened with his father, security tightened around the castle. He was fine with that matter. It meant that he could live with more peace of mind than he would have been able to otherwise.

As the carriage slowed to a stop, Narcisse straightened back up. He waited until one of the guards hopped out of the carriage and opened his door before he slipped out, smoothing out any wrinkles in his clothing. The king turned towards the slave, taking a few steps back to allow the guards to assist his new toy out of the carriage. "Unbind him." The guards didn't question the king as they moved to do so, removing all of the cuffs that the slave traders had kept the man in. Narcisse looked him over once more, hiding his grimace. The maids have a lot to work with, but he will become a suitable toy for the king soon enough. Speaking of maids, he better lay down some rules--more like laws--for the slave. He gave them to the others, and he was going to give them to him.

"Before you get any bright ideas," he began, narrowing his single-eyed gaze at the man, "you are a slave. The help are servants. A slave is below a servant. They have a right to reject you, even the women." Narcisse turned around, motioning for Ash and the guards to follow. One of the guards made sure to follow closely behind Ash in order to make sure he didn't try to escape. The king continued speaking as he walked towards the large double doors leading into the castle. "You are not allowed to event attempt to court another slave or one of the servants. When the maids bathe and dress you, they will not accept any advances you may have." Oh, yes, he knew how the male mind worked. Sort of. On his end and the slaves he had before, at the very least.

Guards pulled open the large wooden entrance doors, revealing a large room with marble floors and pillars, high ceilings, a large chandelier, various doors leading to different sections of the first level, and two large staircases that led elsewhere. Guards were posted everywhere, and a group of maids were already at the ready, bowing as the king entered. "Rise," he commanded. The women lifted their heads, never daring to look him in the eye. "You are to bathe and dress this man. Tend to his wounds. When you are finished, bring him to me." Narcisse turned his head towards Ash, fixing him with a glare. "Remember: no bright ideas. They will tell me everything that happens."

ooc: he's so not possessive.

[Ginger]

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