Pain and Pleasure [Kris]

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

Shaehern loved mind games and torture, but he rarely had the opportunity to practice these hobbies. It wasn't from a lack of potential subjects that Shaehern suffered this loss, but simple apathy kept him from playing with slaves in such a manner. However, today a rare opportunity had presented itself and Shae found the chance irresistible. A former slave of someone he loved to torment had been captured and taken to the dungeons.

Nothing passed without being seen by Shaehern Azhrarn, or so he claimed. Regardless of how much he actually knew in regards to the rebellion he couldn't help but infiltrate the interrogations. All it had taken was a slight modification of the role assignments and a little blackmail to the right Boogies and here he was. Soon his new plaything would be brought into the dark chamber and the fun would begin.

This was a particularly wonderful torture chamber, in Shae's opinion. Within it there was a small pool of water that was typically used for a variety of dunking tortures, Shaehern's specialty. The Boogie was dressed in a flowing black gown and wearing bone rings just for the occasion.

The door opened and he turned his head. "The prey arrives," he said with a sly grin.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Personally, Kristopher was rather happy about getting out of his small cell and streching his legs. He really hated tight areas, and being somewhat tall just made it worse for him. So when he was called out, he gladly came along. EVen though he knew he wasn't going to have a fun trip at all.

His hands where tied behind his back, the blond was being led by two large boogies and their familiars walking beside them. Kristopher never said a word but was glad his hair was tied back at least. That saved him from getting annoyed with rogue hairs.

When they came to the room, Kristopher looked into it and saw this....well....was it a male or female boogie? He wasn't sure.

"The prey arrives,"

Great. Just what he needed, a freak boogie. Kristopher sighed softly and looked at Shaehern. "You asked for me?" Kristopher stated simply as he stood tall and not looking at all too worried. Afterall, he was innocent and he had no part in the rebellion. His only crime was helping a dying slave and so, he was not afraid of what might happen.

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

Shaehern waved his long and bony fingers at his guest's escort. "I can take it from here. No need to worry about me." The two grunted and left, locking the door behind them. Now Kris was horrifically alone in the room. Shaehern chuckled and snapped his fingers. In each of the corners of the room a small wisp appeared, adding dull illumination to the room. "Observe," he commanded as he stepped forth and looked at the young slave.

"You know why you are here, I am certain. No doubt you're going to tell me that you're clueless and won't be able to provide me with useful information regarding the rebellion. Am I right?" Shaehern's voice was smooth like water gliding over stones as he spoke to the slave. "In the wrong place at the wrong time and therefore blamed for a crime you did not commit." Slowly the slender Boogie approached Kristopher and stopped at about one arm's length from the boy.

Leaning over towards Kris his lips turned into a long and thin smirk. "I feel sorry for you, Kristopher Roberts," he whispered into the boy's ear before straightening himself once more. He paused in his speech to take in the full effect of the slave's response. Gauging his response would set the tone for the rest of the interrogation.

[Kristopher Roberts]

"I can take it from here. No need to worry about me."

Kristopher sighed again and stood as still as ever, he turned his head slightly and watched the other boogies leave. Although on familiar growled at the boy in which Kris looked away and then back to Shaehern. Silence seemed to enter the room for a moment and the blond opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted.

"You know why you are here, I am certain. No doubt you're going to tell me that you're clueless and won't be able to provide me with useful information regarding the rebellion. Am I right?"

The nineteen year old blinked. Apparently taken back by this sudden out burst from the odd boogie in front of him. Kris' hands clasped together from behind his back. This was slightly awkward. "That is correct." said the blond, "And..." once again he was cut off.

"In the wrong place at the wrong time and therefore blamed for a crime you did not commit."

Well, this was new. "I suppose you hear this a lot, don't you Master---?" He did not know the name of this boogie. Actually he was sure he never seen him before. How odd. He watched as the boogie neared him but Kristopher did not move, nor did he even flinch.

"I feel sorry for you, Kristopher Roberts,"

With that smile on Shaehern's face, he was sure that was not the response he was going to hear, but it was and Kristopher looked suddenly confused. He was silent for a long while before tilting his head to the side slightly. "I beg your pardon?" Kris said slowly and carefully. He wasn't sure how to react to this other then with shock and surprise.

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

"I suppose you hear this a lot, don't you Master---?"

"Azhrarn. Master Azhrarn if we're going to be formal about it. I'd prefer if you just called me Shae." Shaehern waved his hand to one side, as though the whole prospect bothered him. "I can tell you that it's what I'd expect any slave to say, but in your case it's honest truth, isn't it? Because of that, it puts you... how shall we say... in quite a predicament." The Boogies wanted answers, but Kris could not give them any. Shae could give them answers, but didn't want to. Regardless, that was not the case.

Taking in the silence and the shock, Shaehern found himself rather enjoying it. "I beg your pardon?" Roughly the response he wanted to hear and he found himself rather giddy about it. He turned his back on the slave and then turned his head to the side. With one hand he threw his hair back so he could keep a close eye on the blond. "I know everything about you, Kris. I can call you Kris, right?" It wouldn't matter what Kristopher said, Shaehern was not the type of personality to honor his wishes in that regard.

"I know things about you that even you might be unaware of. But I suppose that it really isn't my place to tell you those things. At the very least this is certainly the wrong time. You're supposed to be telling me things, after all." Pacing back he approached Kris once more and whispered to the boy again. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"

[Kristopher Roberts]

"Azhrarn. Master Azhrarn if we're going to be formal about it. I'd prefer if you just called me Shae. I can tell you that it's what I'd expect any slave to say, but in your case it's honest truth, isn't it? Because of that, it puts you... how shall we say... in quite a predicament."

Kristopher once again blinked and watched this...amazing boogie. But he had to wonder what the hell was wrong with him..it...her. Whatever, he was going to say a he seeing as how his voice sounded and he went with the title of Master. "Um, I suppose it would put me in an odd spot. But I knew that ahead of time." Kristopher said ever so slowly with his silky voice. He was trying to figure out what was going on here.

"I know everything about you, Kris. I can call you Kris, right?"

"I prefer you don't."

"I know things about you that even you might be unaware of. But I suppose that it really isn't my place to tell you those things. At the very least this is certainly the wrong time. You're supposed to be telling me things, after all."

What was he? A fucking magician? This was really creepy to Kristopher and it most of showed in some form or another cause Kris shifted his weight to one side and averted his eyes away from the boogie. He was really feeling uncomfortable and he wasn't sure how to deal with this...why would this boogie know things about him? He never met him before!

"Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"

Kristopher about ten feet in the area when Shaehern was right back in front of him again. Whispering and waiting for an answer.

"I'm like raspberrys. No! Wait? What? I'm sorry?"

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

"Um, I suppose it would put me in an odd spot. But I knew that ahead of time."

"I'm sure," Shaehern said with a smile. He walked behind Kris and put a hand on the boy's hair. Moving his face forward he took a deep breath of the hair. Just as quickly as he had advanced he withdrew. The look on his face had gone from smug to pleased about something.

"I prefer you don't." That was going to be ignored readily by Shaehern. "Whatever you say, Kris. I go out of my way to be personable with people. I think it's a rather nice change from most of my comrades and you should be grateful for it." That may have been as close to an honest opinion from Shaehern that anyone had ever gotten. He was generally unconcerned with what people thought about him, but with slaves he made it a point to try and be friendly and amiable. Most of them just ended up with the creeps when dealing with him, though. Maybe it was the instinct of an animal that they knew they were still eyed as prey.

"I'm like raspberrys. No! Wait? What? I'm sorry?"

Shaehern actually giggled at that. How silly this child was. "I knew that. I also know that you like sweets, but I'm afraid that isn't what I'm looking for." Circling around the child Shaehern reached forth and grasped the boy's chin. Slowly his face moved in towards the blond and he stared into his eyes. "I would love to get to know you better, but I'm afraid this is where you need to tell me if you do know anything about the rebellion." He was close to the slave. He could feel Kris' breath and was certain that the boy could feel his.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Once again, Kristopher stood as still as a piece of metal. He watched the boogie for a moment until he disappeared behind him. Wait a minute, did something just...

Kristopher quickly side stepped and half turned to look at Shaehern. Something, he did something and Kris had no idea what it was but he did not like it. It gave him the creeps, like he was some sort of animal getting the once over before being purchased.

"Whatever you say, Kris. I go out of my way to be personable with people. I think it's a rather nice change from most of my comrades and you should be grateful for it."

"I'm sure." He said carefully once again and this time watched Shaeron like a hawk.

"I knew that. I also know that you like sweets, but I'm afraid that isn't what I'm looking for."

"How do you know things like that when I never met you or evens poke with you. Furthermore, I am sure my Master and Madam have never spoken to you either and they have well, they never say anything." The blond's green eyes narrowed for a moment. He opened his mouth then to speak again but he was taken by surprise when his chin was suddenly grasped. Any words that he wanted to speak disappeared from him as Shae leaned in close to him.

Far to close for Kristopher's liking and his heart skipped a beat.

"I would love to get to know you better, but I'm afraid this is where you need to tell me if you do know anything about the rebellion."

Kristopher quickly jerked his head to the side and then promptly took five steps back as fast as he could. He wanted to put space between him and this boogie! "I--I--" He stuttered and then tried to get himself under control again.

"I do not know anything about the rebellion. All I know is what the rumors say and I am sure you know ever single rumor that floats about." He had too, seeing how much he knew about Kristopher and that startled him. Did that mean he knew about Augusta as well and that Augusta lead the rebellion?

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

Shaehern's head bobbed from one side to the other. He was silently surveying the slave presented to him and all of his reactions. Shaehern did enjoy when he could play a slave like an instrument, but it had a tendency to get really boring really quickly if he didn't keep things too interesting. Thankfully, when it came to Kristopher Roberts Shaehern had more than enough information to keep this entertaining for a long, long time. Who knew? He might even find out something useful that the higher ups wanted in this session. If he did there was still the question of whether or not he'd care to share any tidbits he discovered.

That, however, was not his concern now. He was far more interested in continuing this game with the sad creature before him.

"How do you know things like that when I never met you or evens poke with you. Furthermore, I am sure my Master and Madam have never spoken to you either and they have well, they never say anything."

Well, he was certainly trying to be an intelligent one. However, his logic was faulty in numerous areas and Shaehern simply wouldn't allow that. "There is nothing saying that a Master has to tell their slave anything. You might have once been the favorite of Miss Ezel, but that really isn't the case anymore, is it? You passed ownership recently. A tragedy for you, I am certain." Shaehern started to bat his two bone rings together. They made a loud tapping sound that penetrated the silence that Shaehern left for a couple seconds. If this kept going the way it was the boy would be completely unable to talk.

Useless. Entertaining, but utterly useless for what the Boogies wanted. Kristopher was the type of slave most Boogies would kill to have, of that Shaehern was convinced. Maybe if he played his cards right he could own the slave someday himself. That, however, would be a very tricky game indeed.

With little new information out of his toy Shaehern decided to bring something new to the table. "While it's absolutely fascinating to listen to you stutter and tell me things that I already know about you, it is a horrific waste of my time. Tell me, might I learn more if I asked your lover? He's been a notable malcontent for a long time." Shaehern actually occasionally kept an eye on Augusta, but it rarely gave him anything other than an amusing story to listen to in the evening.

[Kristopher Roberts]

"There is nothing saying that a Master has to tell their slave anything. You might have once been the favorite of Miss Ezel, but that really isn't the case anymore, is it? You passed ownership recently. A tragedy for you, I am certain."

True. He had a very vaild point. Just because he was Naelona's favorite doesn't mean she would tell him everything. So it is possible they know each other and could of shared some information. But Naelona wasn't always so king on talking about Kristopher to other boogies. She was rather, whats the word? Selfish, with Kristopher. She never shared him with anyone if she could help it in any form or way. So this really blew the blond mind.

And that annoying clicking sound was getting on his nerves. He really wanted to break those bone rings right now. So the boy looked way then for the moment. "I don't need a history lesson, Shae." He said, using the name the boogie perfered for now.

What in the world was this leading too? What good would it be to ask the middle Roberts child questions? He knew nothing, Augy never talked about the Rebellion with him. Never shared anything, hell he didn't even know who was a rebel. Kris would be utterly useless to the boogies! At least, that's what he thought. So he sighed again.

"While it's absolutely fascinating to listen to you stutter and tell me things that I already know about you, it is a horrific waste of my time. Tell me, might I learn more if I asked your lover? He's been a notable malcontent for a long time."

Oh that caught his attention. Kristopher gave Shae a side long glance. "He is always notably malcontent. That is nothing new and just because he is my roommate does not make him my lover." The blond was getting a bit annoyed now. He wanted to know how this boogie knew so much, it was unnerving. "So how about you just drop all of this and let me out. You are just wasting your precious time with me. Especially, seeing as you already know almost everything. There is no point in asking me things. Is there."

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

"I don't need a history lesson, Shae."

"I never said you did. I was just pointing out how silly it was that you were telling me everything that I already know." Shaehern was brimming with energy right now. He was having a grand old time and it had been a while since he had encountered a slave that just continuously enabled him regardless of what they tried to do. It was much the same effect as giving Shaehern a large quantity of wine and letting him drink it all at once, minus the potential hangover later.

And the boy's body language was speaking volumes. Uptight and nervous even though he had been calm and collected when he had walked into the room. Even more notable, the mention of his lover definitely touched something inside of the child.

"He is always notably malcontent. That is nothing new and just because he is my roommate does not make him my lover."

That spoke volumes. Either Shaehern's information and observations were very, very wrong, or the slave was trying to hide something. "No reason to be ashamed. I know when you're lying and when you're telling the truth. Your body language has a tendency to betray you. Also, given what observations I've made I find your statements rather peculiar. Maybe you're just really affectionate room mates?" Shaehern laughed at the thought. Not his cute giggle, but a relatively more masculine chortle this time. "No reason to be ashamed. After all, I like little boys too."

While probably more information than anyone would want to hear about Shaehern, the Boogie was intent to start going on the offensive here. Maybe he could punch a hole through the child's defenses. Naelona would have his hide tanned for a new bag if she had any idea some of the ideas that were slithering into the recesses ofhis mind at that moment. "You see, child, I can't let you go just yet. It is true that I know almost everything, but that means I'm still missing something. The point in asking you questions is to get at that last bit I don't know. You deflected my question about dear Augy, though. Would I learn more if I interrogated him?"

Shae started stepping closer to the child. He spoke in a hushed voice that was above his whisper but not quite at the level of regular speech. "Understand this... I'd love to let you go, but they need something. Do me a favor and I might be able to do you one."

[Kristopher Roberts]

"Then why ask me anything?"

Kristopher shifted his weight to the side and took a few steps away from Shaehern again. He really did not like the idea of the boogie getting close to him in any way or form. He was freaky and Kris did not like him and he had that look in his face. That kind of look peddy's get when offering children candy to get in their vans. It was fucked up.

"No reason to be ashamed. I know when you're lying and when you're telling the truth. Your body language has a tendency to betray you. Also, given what observations I've made I find your statements rather peculiar. Maybe you're just really affectionate room mates?"

Kristopher looked away then and did not look at Shaehern. The damn thing could pin him on the spot pretty well. Was he so easy to read because of his body? Well crap, that made lying even harder even more seeing as this person seemed to know everything. So why bother lying if he already knew the truth? Ugh, this hurt his head.

"No reason to be ashamed. After all, I like little boys too."

Epp! Kristopher took five more steps back, putting at least six feet between him and the boogie. "I'm not ashamed." Kristopher answered at last. "You just make this really uncomfortable for me on a lot of different levels." he muttered softly.

"You see, child, I can't let you go just yet. It is true that I know almost everything, but that means I'm still missing something. The point in asking you questions is to get at that last bit I don't know. You deflected my question about dear Augy, though. Would I learn more if I interrogated him?"

The blond did not look up at the boogie still. He was thinking, was there no way he could keep Augusta out of this mess? He sighed softly, looking very disgruntled at the moment, very displeased.

"What is it you want to know?" He asked at last, "You won't get anything out of him. His much more stubborn then I am." His green eyes rested on his feet and then noticed that Shae was in his bubble again but he caught the others words before he backtracked way and smacked right into the room wall with a grunt.

"Understand this... I'd love to let you go, but they need something. Do me a favor and I might be able to do you one."

"I'll answer what I can, within my range of knowledge and reason, that is if you can get them to let me go. Afterall, I've done nothing wrong and thus, do not belong here."

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

Shaehern's glee was becoming uncontainable. He had just successfully opened up the door to Kris' inner mind it seemed without actually doing anything physical. Having been Naelona's favorite for the longest time must have made the slave soft, but that is what made Shaehern's job easy. Too easy, perhaps, but still enjoyable for the short amount of time it had lasted. It was a shame that he hadn't brought anything to drink with him, he could sure use it right about now.

"You won't get anything out of him. His much more stubborn then I am."

There was nothing that Shae didn't know already, but Kris had said a lot while trying not to say anything. Granted, Shaehern was jumping to a conclusion and would be acting on a hunch, but those were often the investigations that provided the richest rewards. And if it proved to be a dead end? Hardly a failure in Shaehern's book. Most of the other Boogies were blissfully unaware of his methods of operation. That was the way Azhrarns had always liked it, or so his father had once said.

"I'll answer what I can, within my range of knowledge and reason, that is if you can get them to let me go. Afterall, I've done nothing wrong and thus, do not belong here."

The knocking of rings together stopped very suddenly. That most certainly marked the end of that chapter and Shae was quite pleased with the results. Now it was time to move onward. Shae didn't make any motion to invade Kris' personal space, but kept his feet firmly planted to the ground. He was eyeing the pool of water in the center of the room for a brief moment before he began to pace slowly around Kris to put the child between himself and the pool.

"Truth be told, there really is nothing you can tell me that you haven't already said. I'm very grateful for your compliance thus far. However, there is a myth that is lodged in your head that we need to address, and I'm afraid I'll be the only one who will confront it." Shae's voice turned very quickly from the smooth and kindly tone into a harsher and sharper voice. The contrast was as though it was two different people performing this interrogation. "You are not innocent by any measure of the word, and don't you ever think that it can protect you. You certainly must understand the concept of duty and know what a dutiful slave must do for his or her master."

Shaehern was silent for a moment as he ran his long and bony fingers through his hair. He pulled a loose strand out and let it fall to the ground slowly before continuing. "You provided aid to the humans present in that burning wing. As far as the law is concerned you are an accomplice, even if you didn't think you were doing anything wrong. Your pretense of innocence won't protect you in a harsh existence such as this. Your duties as a slave would require you to either inform your master immediately of such a disturbance, especially if you knew about it in advance. And even if you did not, it would have been in your best interest to avoid the conflict after happening upon it." Did Shaehern think that Kris knew about the rebellious action in advance? Hardly. But what he thought about this didn't matter much. This was an unimportant matter to Shaehern Azhrarn.

"The survivors would have received the medical treatment they deserved later." Shaehern's voice became as hard as stone for that particular statement. "A dutiful slave should defend their master and do their master's bidding, even when presented with a conflict of interests. That is where your guilt lies. Is it as horrendous a crime as what those others did though? Well, what do you think?"

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kris really didn't like how he was stuck in a room with a boogie and a pool of water. He really didn't like it, it bothered him but he did his best not to show such emotion on the matter. The blond moved again and looked at the boogie without much care. Kristopher was staying firm on his claim of not having done a damn thing. Helping the injured or not.

"Truth be told, there really is nothing you can tell me that you haven't already said. I'm very grateful for your compliance thus far. However, there is a myth that is lodged in your head that we need to address, and I'm afraid I'll be the only one who will confront it."

Confront? What was there to confront? Kristopher knew where he stood at this current moment. He knew the situation he was in and what could possibly happen to him. But not having been part of the rebellion or the rebels he figured he was good and clean. Apparently, that was not to the case to this boogie when he spoke again, it simply annoyed the blond.

"You are not innocent by any measure of the word, and don't you ever think that it can protect you. You certainly must understand the concept of duty and know what a dutiful slave must do for his or her master."

"I know where I stand with my Master and my current situation. But I do not see the point you are trying to make." Kristopher said calmly with glaring eyes. He wondered what he was trying to pull out his ass.

You provided aid to the humans present in that burning wing. As far as the law is concerned you are an accomplice, even if you didn't think you were doing anything wrong. Your pretense of innocence won't protect you in a harsh existence such as this. Your duties as a slave would require you to either inform your master immediately of such a disturbance, especially if you knew about it in advance. And even if you did not, it would have been in your best interest to avoid the conflict after happening upon it. The survivors would have received the medical treatment they deserved later. A dutiful slave should defend their master and do their master's bidding, even when presented with a conflict of interests. That is where your guilt lies. Is it as horrendous a crime as what those others did though? Well, what do you think?"

Kristopher looked at the boogie, offended. Kristopher did not agree with this boogie not in the long shot. "I am a doctor by nature and hold a neutral standing point when it comes to those wounded. I would of easily healed anyone injured that I could reach. Be it human or boogie. If you are saying that I am a criminal for aiding someone injured then that in itself is an injustice. I know very well that if I let them be, they would get no treatment and die. It is easier to save a slave rather then replace one and have to retrain them, is it not?"

He waited a moment, looking rather irritated at the boogie, his hands clenched in a fist behind him. "I can not be pegged for not being able to reach my master. I was going to see him during the time of the attack and was cut off on route. If you know so much, then you know I could not of stayed out of the line of fire nor could I abandon someone screaming in pain. Begging for help. I am not heartless and I will help those in need. Even if it puts me in between a rock and hard place, which apparently it has at this moment. But my loyalties lie with my Madam. I would protect her easily if I could of reached her." And as for Sin. Who could say if Kristopher would of protected him or not. "And I do not think I have committed any kind of horrendous crime that you think I have done. And my crimes, if any, are to be decided by the one who currently owns me, and not you. Is that not correct?"

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

Could it be that the slave before him was really that stupid? This was something that Shae thought was common sense and even the most basic of minds would be able to grasp what he was hinting at. No, Kristopher must have just been dense. Deep inside he must have known what Shaehern was trying to say, but it was not the first thing that came to mind. That thought was probably the only thing keeping Shaehern from providing a more visual demonstration of the point he was trying to make.

"I know where I stand with my Master and my current situation. But I do not see the point you are trying to make."

"The point I am trying to make, dear Krissy, is that there need not be any reason. We don't need a reason to do the things we do and if you ask for a justification we can make it. It isn't hard for us. After all, it's just what we do."

"I am a doctor by nature and hold a neutral standing point when it comes to those wounded. I would of easily healed anyone injured that I could reach. Be it human or boogie. If you are saying that I am a criminal for aiding someone injured then that in itself is an injustice. I know very well that if I let them be, they would get no treatment and die. It is easier to save a slave rather then replace one and have to retrain them, is it not?"

Another point attempted, and this one actually touched a raw nerve. Oddly enough, the longer he thought about it the more absurd it became. After a few seconds it was actually funny. "The little boy talks of nature and neutrality? HA! That's a good one. You don't really hold yourself to those ideals, do you? Sure, you can say them and they sound all pretty... but that's all they are... words. No matter how hard any human tries, they will never be neutral. To pretend otherwise just flaunts your naivety. And it's your nature? Let's not get into a discussion about what REAL human nature is." Shaehern knew that he could go on for days about a subject like that. Oddly enough, he paid a great deal of attention to human behavior. It made his plots so much easier to enact.

"And I do not think I have committed any kind of horrendous crime that you think I have done. And my crimes, if any, are to be decided by the one who currently owns me, and not you. Is that not correct?"

Shaehern felt his eyebrow rise. So it seemed that the boy could actually fumble across a valid point in his own defense. "I don't think you've committed any crime. You misunderstand me if you ever thought that was the point that I was making. I will concede that one point to you, however. It is not my place to decide your punishment. A terrible shame, too... since I know the truth and the person in charge of your punishment doesn't actually care. By the time he's done with you, you'll wish it had been me."

Shaehern started into a labored laughter for a few moments before he calmed himself once more. "Dismissed," he said in a stern tone of voice. The dim colored lights blinked out and it got very, very dark.