[ for a long stretch of days, he ignores sasuke's existence entirely.
he's taken care of; laurent sees to it with an easy, disinterested command. sasuke is fed and watered and even given time in the baths, always under heavy guard, his chains tight, his range of motion severely limited. he is kept dressed in sheer finery, the pulse points of his skin doused in fragrant oils. his hair is kept clean and silken. none seem to understand why laurent has taken a slave, and in laurent's absence, the prince's guard speaks freely of all manner of filth regarding what the prince might be up to with his new prize. laurent, at least, leaves his collection of books within reach.
when laurent does return to his chambers, it's always deep into the night, sometimes a mere hour before the sky threatens to lighten. he sleeps little and says even less to sasuke, sometimes a brief mutter to extinguish the lamps after laurent has already slumped into the softness of his sheets. of course, they are never extinguished, because laurent never releases the shackle chaining sasuke to the floor — until the night that he does, entering silently and leaning down to unfasten the link tethering the chain to the silver collar. the collar stays. the chain falls like a serpent to the floors.
laurent straightens — and sways, catching himself against a table and knocking over a tray of gilded cups and very nearly a bottle of wine he will never drink. his breath comes hard but evenly paced, as if by great effort of control. if his uncle has poisoned him, it's unlikely he'll be dead. it's far too obvious a play. no, he'll simply be in for a night of rage and suffering, and if he's lucky someone will storm through his doors to drive a knife through his heart.
he tries to be upright again, slowly. cautiously. his face feels aflame, the cadence of his heart akin to a hundred thundering hooves. he tries to focus on sasuke, but his eyes hurt. ]
You've had enough time to slowly imagine all the ways you'd like to kill me. See, I can be generous. [ laurent holds out a hand, wrist up. ] Now get up and attend me. In two hours we'll attend a banquet and I'll show you off.
perfect
he's taken care of; laurent sees to it with an easy, disinterested command. sasuke is fed and watered and even given time in the baths, always under heavy guard, his chains tight, his range of motion severely limited. he is kept dressed in sheer finery, the pulse points of his skin doused in fragrant oils. his hair is kept clean and silken. none seem to understand why laurent has taken a slave, and in laurent's absence, the prince's guard speaks freely of all manner of filth regarding what the prince might be up to with his new prize. laurent, at least, leaves his collection of books within reach.
when laurent does return to his chambers, it's always deep into the night, sometimes a mere hour before the sky threatens to lighten. he sleeps little and says even less to sasuke, sometimes a brief mutter to extinguish the lamps after laurent has already slumped into the softness of his sheets. of course, they are never extinguished, because laurent never releases the shackle chaining sasuke to the floor — until the night that he does, entering silently and leaning down to unfasten the link tethering the chain to the silver collar. the collar stays. the chain falls like a serpent to the floors.
laurent straightens — and sways, catching himself against a table and knocking over a tray of gilded cups and very nearly a bottle of wine he will never drink. his breath comes hard but evenly paced, as if by great effort of control. if his uncle has poisoned him, it's unlikely he'll be dead. it's far too obvious a play. no, he'll simply be in for a night of rage and suffering, and if he's lucky someone will storm through his doors to drive a knife through his heart.
he tries to be upright again, slowly. cautiously. his face feels aflame, the cadence of his heart akin to a hundred thundering hooves. he tries to focus on sasuke, but his eyes hurt. ]
You've had enough time to slowly imagine all the ways you'd like to kill me. See, I can be generous. [ laurent holds out a hand, wrist up. ] Now get up and attend me. In two hours we'll attend a banquet and I'll show you off.