1x1 TrippingTirger & The Doctor

[TrippingTirger]

Taisiya blushed deeply, embarrassed that her master would actually do work to make her more comfortable, washing away the smell that obviously affected and bothered her. Particularly because he'd picked up on a fact she hadn't stated. Most masters thought of their slaves as a piece of furniture, a tapestry, something with a function, no needs, and no thoughts. It startled her to find that he recognized her as worth paying enough attention to that he would pick up on how bothered she was by the scent of blood.

Not drawing attention to her surprise at his kind actions, she tried hard to force her blush down, her flushed face turned towards the ground as she found a little smile dancing across her lips. "Yes sir." She answered softly as she dared to peek up at him, though she didn't meet his eyes. It was disrespectful to dare to look a master in the eyes. And she refused to disrespect him. "Thank you, sir....Your kindness is greatly appreciated...." She added, her voice a tad stronger.

All her life she was use to being abused, so an act of kindness was rare for her. Particularly from her master. In all truth, she didn't know how to accept it or react to it. Pain, anger, hatred, abuse. All that was fine with her. But kindness? Caring? It was a concept foreign to her. She was the caretaker, she watched over those she knew, protecting them with her life. That simple act, just riding the area of the blood and bodies, it meant more to her then she could say.

Offering him a tiny smile, she found herself realizing that she had finally found a master she wanted to please. This man, as odd and cruel as he could be, had earned her respect and loyalty. And to some extent, love. She actually cared about him. Enough that she wanted to make sure his life was perfect. Not because she felt she should be protecting him, she hardly ever went out of her way for a master, just for the slaves, but this man.....she found herself willing to do anything he asked of her. All because he had shown her kindness.

Still slightly flushed, Taisiya walked over to her master, lightly touching the bucket device. "Sir? Let me take this. I can handle it. If you're going to carry the wolf, please let me take this. It's not right that you should do more work then I. And this alone is far more then just my simple basket of-Oh! The laundry!" She cried. Having gestured at the basket while speaking, she had glanced over only to see the freshly washed clothes trampled by the wolves, the basket over turned and the neatly folded outfits spilled across the mud and into the water.

Darting over to it, she murmured a soft song under her breath, one that would call lost items back to her. It had been intended for when a basket of small seeds or grains over turned, but it worked as well with clothes. Scooping them up and into her basket, she sighed, realizing she was going to have to wash them all over again, a few pieces bloodstained, having soaked up the blood that was spilled upon them. "I'm sorry, sir, I should have been watching after the laundry. Forgive me my fear overtaking reason. I meant not to leave the basket where it could be trampled." She said softly, expecting a blow and already preparing herself to be struck.

Glancing over at him in almost fear, not at being struck but, oddly, at having upset him or having been a waist of his time. She was terrified to have made him displeased in the least, all because she wanted to make sure he was always satisfied and happy, not for fear of what he'd do to her. And that shocked her. But she didn't deny it. So, simply praying he wasn't made at her, she sighed, kneeling next to the river once more as she set to washing, brushing her stray hairs out of her face, her soft song once again filling the air as she did her best to make sure she got the work done as fast as she could, without missing a single stain, spot, or speck of dirt.

[The Doctor]

Instead of striking her, like he was sure Taisya expected her to, Endar kneeled down next to her and gently put a hand on her shoulder. With a very calm tone, he said "Don't worry about it. We were attacked. Frankly, I'd have been angry if you had tried to save the clothes."

Continuing, he said "You just take your time with the clothes. Don't rush. There's absolutely no need. Alright? In fact, if you want to take a few moments to sit back and rest, that's fine too. But whatever you do, slow down. I don't mind you taking a little extra time, especially considering the circumstances."

He straightened up and began to walk back to his makeshift chair. Halfway there, he stopped and turned to face Taisya again. "And I already told you. I'm carrying the water...and the wolf! Now, I don't wanna hear any more about it. Understand?" His tone was now forceful, but soft so he didn't seem too angry.

He turned again and continued to his rock. He sat down with a relaxed sigh. He stretched out and got comfortable. He then looked to Taisya, hoping she had done as instructed and relaxed some. He knew that working too hard after an adrenaline rush like being attacked by wolves could be dangerous.

(Shortness. Sorry.)

[TrippingTirger]

((It's fine. Lolz, gave me a good chance to add in female emotions. (: ))

With a nod, the young slave girl turned back to her wash, her song growing a little louder as she set to washing, slowing down just a tad, though still going as fast as she possibly could without risking anything. After only a minuet or two, her tumbling thoughts over whelmed her, sweeping her up into a mix of confusion and fear. The tune dying on her lips, she found a tear slipping down her face as she realized she just couldn't sing any more, her emotions and confusion was too much.

Taisiya looked at her master, still confused with his attitude. Most masters would have had her beaten for near to everything there. For being frightened, forgetting the laundry, having to redo it. They'd even blame the attraction of the wolves on her, because obviously they are blameless. Of course...most masters also wouldn't bother saving her. In and of it all, her master had done much more then she'd ever expected him to do. It startled her, and she wasn't sure she liked how she was being treated.

It wasn't that it was harsh or cruelly, she thought of her master as the kindest man she'd ever met. And that was what was the problem. No one was ever nice to her. The other slaves would be polite, and sometimes they'd give her a little thank you gift for taking a blame for them, but they all used her. Masters and slaves alike used her kind nature and willingness to work to their advantage. Her new master, however, refused. And that she couldn't comprehend.

"Please master...." She said softly, rather hesitantly and nervously. "Please sir, why are you doing this to me?" She asked, afraid his kindness was all to tear down her walls so he could hurt her more later. "Please sir, what did I do to deserve this? Sir, I don't understand, what do you want from me?" She asked, looking upset, her confusion and fear evident on her voice, even if she tried to hide it.

Without meaning to, she found herself crying, all the high emotions mixing with her fear and shock. What had just happened wasn't helping any, just adding more to the load. So, as the tears slipped down her cheeks, dropping into her lap, she looked back to him, hands still in the water, a shirt clenched in her hands. She hated when she cried, it made her feel as if she had failed somewhere, as if she was too weak. But for now, she couldn't help it.

"Master, what do you want from me? I don't understand! Am I not pleasing enough? Have I failed to satisfy you? Please sir, I only want to do my best for you. What have I done wrong? Why don't you want me to do as I should? Sir, I don't know what you want from me. I'm doing my best, I swear I am, but why can't I do what's right? Please sir, I know tis wrong to have to ask, but please sir, can you explain what you want from me? I feel as if I've done something wrong while only doing what I know to be right. Sir, please, what do you want from me?" She cried, tears flowing harder as she watched him, pleading and frightened. No slave ever spoke that much without a punishment, but she had to. She didn't know what was going on, didn't understand anything. It was too confusing. So she'd taken the risk, praying she'd be told.

[The Doctor]

Endar stared at Taisya through the duration of her emotion-fueled rant. As he watched her, the look on his face reflected his confusion at what had triggered this state. He had treated her with nothing but kindness since the night he had punished her. As far as he knew, nothing he had done could be the cause of this...or it shouldn't be, at least.

When she was finished, or at least seemed to be, he rose to his feet. He approached her slowly, sure that any faster and he would frighten her. He didn't want to seem like he was going to hurt her. With her emotions clouding her mind, scaring her might be enough to make her run off into the woods, and Endar didn't want that.

When he got close enough, he kneeled down next to her. He gently turned her so she was facing him. He took the shirt from her hands and placed it somewhere that it wouldn't get too dirty. He still had no idea what was causing Taisya to act this way, but he thought he could wing it and make her feel better just by going on what she had said.

He took a handkerchief from a pocket on the inside of his robe and carefully used it to wipe the tears from Taisya's face. He placed it back in the pocket, put his hands on her shoulders and said "Taisya, you have done nothing wrong...and I am not punishing you. I simply don't want you to have to do too much on your first full day."

Still unsure of what the cause of this was, he continued. "At the moment, I only want you to setlle in and be happy. Until then, I don't mind doing some heavy lifting to help you, alright? Now please, dry your tears...and honor me with a sincere smile." His tone was as calm and comforting as he could possibly make it, hoping it would help to calm her down.

[TrippingTirger]

Lost in her confusion and how upset she was, Taisiya wasn't thinking quite right, her decisions rather rash. Flinching away as he came over, she didn't move, knowing it would be worse to run. Trembling, she watched him in terror as he knelt down before her, taking and removing the shirt. Wiping away her tears just made her flinch and cringe each time, as if it burned her.

More kind words certainly were no help. And it was, actually, his polite ways that pushed her over the edge. Loosing all control over her well disciplined mind and body, she slapped him. Hard. She knew it would warrant punishment, but she didn't care. She relished the idea. Punishment she understood. She could handle pain and fear. It was the kindness she couldn't seem to stand.

Leaping to her feet she cried, "Stop it!" Tears starting up again, her voice got louder as she continued to scream at him. "Stop it, stop it, stop it! You're not suppose to act like this! What are you trying to do to me? Master, if you're preening me for your bed, just tell me your desire! It's my duty to do as you please, don't upset me so just so I'll be sweeter between the sheets! Just stop it!" She yelled at him, her mind clicking first on how she'd seen men treating a female slave nicely because he planned on sleeping with her and wanted her to be nicer to him and more willing in bed.

Glaring at him she snapped, "You'd better not be doing this for entertainment. It's not funny! I don't understand what you want of me, master! Stop being so kind! It's not right, you're suppose to treat me as a piece of furniture. That's what I am, so stop treating me like a person! I'm nothing, just a slave, stop being nice! It's not right, I don't understand it."

Dropping to her knees again, she buried her head in her hands, simply sobbing. She was terrified of what her master was going to do to her after that outburst, but at the same time, she almost wanted it. He wouldn't be being kind, he'd be the master she understood, not the polite one. And she wanted that master to appear more then she could say, if only so she wasn't confused. She didn't like being abused, but she understood it. And she was comfortable with what she understood, not with what confused her, such as a kind master.

[The Doctor]

Taken by surprise by the hard slap, Endar fell backward. It wasn't at all what he had expected. It took him a few seconds for him to process what had just happen and for the pain in his cheek to register. During that time, he was unaware of anything Taisya was yelling. He did, however, begin to pay attention just quickly enough to discover what the problem was.

Angered at being slapped and knocked onto his back, he rose to his feet. He marched over to Taisya, who was now down on her knees. "If she wants a cruel master..." he thought "...then that's what I'll give her." He then roughly grabbed her by the neck and pulled her to her feet.

Shifting his grasp from her neck to her chin, he lifted her up so her feet barely touched the ground. The last time he slapped her, he could feel her move away to lessen the blow. The way he held her now would make that impossible. He raised his free hand high and quickly brought it down to slap her across the face.

Just after he slapped her, he tossed her aside. As she lay on the still damp ground, he turned to look down at her. He folded his arms and said angrily "You will finish the laundry and you will fill the barrels. You will bring the laundry, the water and the wolf back when you are finished. You will then wait on your hands and knees with your head down at the back door and pray that I am in a good mood when I come for you."

He then turned and left without even giving Taisya time to speak. What Taisya didn't know is that Endar was a master of all forms of magic and becoming invisible was very easy for him. To accompany that, years of sneaking through enemy-filled dungeons and his time in the Guild of Thieves had given him the ability to move silently even over noisy things like the dry leaves and twigs that covered the forest floor. Instead of returning to his mansion like he had made it seem was his intention, he would wait silently in the trees to keep an eye on Taisya.

[The Doctor]

Taken by surprise by the hard slap, Endar fell backward. It wasn't at all what he had expected. It took him a few seconds for him to process what had just happen and for the pain in his cheek to register. During that time, he was unaware of anything Taisya was yelling. He did, however, begin to pay attention just quickly enough to discover what the problem was.

Angered at being slapped and knocked onto his back, he rose to his feet. He marched over to Taisya, who was now down on her knees. "If she wants a cruel master..." he thought "...then that's what I'll give her." He then roughly grabbed her by the neck and pulled her to her feet.

Shifting his grasp from her neck to her chin, he lifted her up so her feet barely touched the ground. The last time he slapped her, he could feel her move away to lessen the blow. The way he held her now would make that impossible. He raised his free hand high and quickly brought it down to slap her across the face.

Just after he slapped her, he tossed her aside. As she lay on the still damp ground, he turned to look down at her. He folded his arms and said angrily "You will finish the laundry and you will fill the barrels. You will bring the laundry, the water and the wolf back when you are finished. You will then wait on your hands and knees with your head down at the back door and pray that I am in a good mood when I come for you."

He then turned and left without even giving Taisya time to speak. What Taisya didn't know is that Endar was a master of all forms of magic and becoming invisible was very easy for him. To accompany that, years of sneaking through enemy-filled dungeons and his time in the Guild of Thieves had given him the ability to move silently even over noisy things like the dry leaves and twigs that covered the forest floor. Instead of returning to his mansion like he had made it seem was his intention, he would wait silently in the trees to keep an eye on Taisya.

[TrippingTirger]

Taisiya lay trembling on the ground for only a few moments, staring at her hand in shock, as if she couldn't believe she had struck her master with it. But duty called and, always the perfect slave at heart, she got to her feet, stumbling over to the river, still quite numb with the surprise of what she'd done. The cold water helped, though, as she splashed it on her face and rolled up her sleeves, getting wet up past her elbows as she set to once more washing the laundry.

Sighing, she did it all by hand, deciding she didn't deserve the help her magic would give her. She could easily make her magic do it all for her, but she didn't want to. She didn't deserve the ease of using her magic. Besides, she figured she'd need all the strength she had to survive through her master's anger. So she didn't use it, simply scrubbing by hand, taking near to twice as long, but getting the clothes as clean as they could be.

Once they were folded and put away, she sat down to let the water clear of the dirt washing had caused to filter up from the bottom of the river. Once it had all been washed downstream, she filled the buckets with the fresh water, carefully helping a little fish that had gotten caught. Cupping it in her hands, it seemed completely calm, not struggling in the least until she had settled it in the water and let it drift off.

Getting to her feet, she muttered a curse as she realized that she needed to use her magic to carry everything. Using only the smallest amount she could, she hauled it all up, about to turn away when she heard something. Turning, her eyes widened as a young woman struggled up the river, literally in the river, splashing through the frigged water, crying, and calling the young slave's name. Dropping what she carried, Taisi ran out to see the woman.

"Lucy? Lucy, what are you doing here?" She asked in fear, looking the woman over for cuts. "Are you alright? Where are the children?" The woman responded by bursting into tears and clinging to Taisi. With a sigh the young woman hugged her, softly saying, "Come back with me. I'll find some way to smuggle you in. You can have my bed and half my meals. Once you're a little more presentable and ahve told me your story, we'll talk to my master, alright?" She said soothingly.

Lucy drew back in fear, shaking her head. "You can't! I'll be returned or killed. You can't! You know what it's like. Please, keep me a secret. I'll move on soon, I promise..." She sobbed, clinging to her friend.

Wth a small sigh, Taisi nodded, lying as she answered, "Alright. I won't. Not yet..." The last two words were whispered, keeping it from being a true lie, but making sure Lucy wouldn't hear it. Taisiya thought her master should know, but she couldn't turn her friend in if she'd be killed. With a sigh she decided to just see if she could somehow figure out what his reaction would be before telling him. For now she'd keep it a secret, help Lucy through this first. Then she'd do what she thought best. "Come on, my friend. I'll take you back to my home." She promised. "Just stay out of sight till I come get you. I'll find somewhere safe to hide you before I go try to enter." She promised as she loaded up once more, the barest about of magic keeping her from struggling. Leading the woman back, she headed home, head racing with plans and options.

[The Doctor]

Endar crept along the branches to the edge of the trees where he could see the rest of the river. He had heard the same sound that had first drawn Taisya. When he first saw the woman, he felt sorry for her and wondered a good number of things. "Who is she? Where did she come from? How did she make it this far into the mountains without dying? How does she know Taisya's name?" Were all questions that ran through his mind.

A few of those questions were answered immediately, as he listened to the conversation through the sound of the river. Most of it was easy enough to work out. "She and Taisya must have once served the same master. She only made it because some children didn't. She wanted Taisya to hide her." Were the answers he worked out. He still didn't know where she came from, but the important questions had been answered.

His curiosity satisfied, he remembered his anger. He walked along the tree limbs just above Taisya and the woman, whose name he had failed to hear. He did, however, hear that Taisya planned to hide her. Normally, he may have been okay with the woman staying at his home, even if Taisya didn't admit to him that she was there. But, angered as he was by Taisya, he was dead set against it.

As he snuck along, keeping fairly alert to anything and everything around him, he contemplated exactly what he was going to do about the woman. He knew she was an escaped slave, so perhaps he'd send a message to the authorities without telling Taisya, then lead them to the girl's hiding place when they arrived. Or perhaps, to teach Taisya a lesson, he'd take the girl from her hiding place, stash her in his torture chamber and tell Taisya he found and killed a trespasser. Or maybe he'd save himself the trouble of dragging her up four floors and actually kill her.

Before he could decide on something definately, he heard a roar from somewhere in the forest. He knew what made the roar, too. He had heard them many times. It was a hungry troll. He moved a few trees away and cast a spell on himself. This spell summoned a bow and some arrows to him.

He dropped to the ground silently so he'd have a better view through the trees. He drew an arrow and readied it on the bow. It only took a few seconds for him to spot the charging troll. He had to kill it now so Taisya and the woman wouldn't discover the fresh corpse and work out that they were being watched.

With a single, well-placed shot, the troll dropped to the ground, dead. Endar looked around to make sure there wasn't another troll running around. Satisfied that they were safe from attack, he climbed back into the trees before Taisya and the woman got too far ahead. He couldn't let them get so far ahead that she could be hidden without him seeing.

[TrippingTirger]

As the roar ripped through the forest, Lucy shrieked in fear, clutching to Taisi, who barely managed to shout out a spell to keep the buckets from spilling. With a sigh, the girl pried the girl off her. When she'd finally detached herself, she sighed, calming the poor girl as best she could.

"Lucy, settle! We'll be alright. I promise." She lied, not sure if she could promise if they'd be safe or not. She only hoped they would. "Come on, let's keep moving, I don't want to be caught out here..." She said with a sigh, trying to keep her cool. She was as scared as her friend, she just didn't show it well.

In all truth, Lucy wasn't even a friend. But she was as close. As close as she could be, at least. With a small sigh, Taisi found herself admitting that she might never have any real friends. Though she had to wonder if she would ever actually have a friend. Or ever try for one. Hell, for that matter, if she'd care. She doubted it.

Dragging the now treambling Lucy along, Taisiya hurried for her master's home, eager to get from the forest. Startled at the memory of the troll attacking her the first day, she shivered, the roar reminding her that not all the creatures of the forest stayed in the forest. Glancing at her friend, she decided it was too dangerous to keep her outside. She'd have to present her to her master that day. As in, when she arrived.

"Lucy, I'm sorry. I have to tell my master about you. now. I promise, I won't let him send you back. I promise. Not until he's heard your story...hopefully it'll convince him to let you stay." She said with a little smile. Sighing she hung her head as she admitted, "He's a very kind master...I'm sorry I abused his kindness. "

"What do you mean?" The other girl asked, looking more then confused, for the time being fear forgotten. She trusted Taisiya, she'd agree to meet the master if she had to.

"He's been so wonderful to me so far. Life here is....near to perfect. But....I couldn't understand it...I let confusion rule my mind and I acted as a slave never should." With a sigh she admitted, "I guess I'll have to appologize...and find some way to make it up to him. He's what every slave dreams of as a master. Even when I slapped him, he didn't kill me as he had the right to. I almost wish he had. I wouldn't have to live with my shame..."

"Oh Taisi, it'll be alright..." The girl said with a small sigh. Trying to take the laundry so she could help her friend, she was a little surprised when the other refused to give it to her. Shrugging it off, she simply followed after Taisiya, arriving at the castle soon after. Nervously standing near the girl, she shifted her weight and looked terrified as Taisi set the buckets down, settled the wolf so it wouldn't get dirty, and put the laundry beside her. She hesitated, not sure if she should knock or not. With a sigh she figured her master would simply come to check at some point and not to risk angering him by seeming eager to get in, so she simply dropped to her hands and knees, head bowed as directed. Lucy, however, remained standing, shifting nervously and looking terrified.