19th Dentis, 2718
Leo had never thought of himself as one who would be willing to bend the knee to anyone. An independent soul, he preferred his life that way, without allegiances to anyone, save those who paid for his loyalty with coin. It was the easiest arrangement: short-lived, constantly evolving contracts with no direct and enduring ties that would hold him down… or hold him back.
That had changed a few days ago, when Silas Hawke had formally recruited him into the Bad Brothers, Old Rose Harbour’s - and Anaxas’ - premier crime syndicate. It wasn’t an arrangement he had planned for, and it certainly wasn’t an arrangement he had wanted. At first, he had been… resentful, was probably the best way to describe it. In that game of Rooks, he had watched the table interact with Hawke, how they all conceded to him. He had watched how Hawke interacted with all of them too, specifically with the galdor, Corwynn, Leo remembered his name. Hawke had spoken to him as if he were a pet, property.
If he could to that to galdori, to his own race, what could he do to a hateful passive? As the days passed, however, Leo came around to the idea… a little. Silas worked outside the remit of other galdor doctrines. Leander had been coasting by as a nobody. Existing but not really living, at least not like he had always dreamed he would. Under Hawke, maybe he had a chance of achieving the goals he once had. His name would be remembered…
Not that he had any intentions of cowering or snivelling… or debasing himself with prostration before this so-called King.Truth be told, Leo had found another master, long before Silas Hawke strolled into his life, all leers and dares and threats. Leader’s first master controlled every inch of him, mind, body and soul. Leo had to visit him a few times a month, for fear he would go insane. It hurt him to be away for too long, he would start to feel weak, his body aching, his soul screaming out, his mind struggling to act rationally. When he would finally see his master, everything would seem whole, the world became whimsical and wonderful.
He showed no mercy, a few careless encounters and Leo was entranced. In those moments of closeness, his master became his everything, all he could ever need, all he could ever want. To Leo, like so many others before him, he was perfect.
Legs dangling over the edge of a pier in the harbour, smiling to himself as he tried to stretch his leg to skim the surface of the water. With each attempt, he managed to get slightly closer, but never quite reached it. He didn’t mind, though, the journey was far sweeter than the destination. The boy’s eyes were drooping and, though the sun was low in the sky, his pupils were pinpricks as they stared out over the violet horizon. Ice trickled though his veins, never seeming to settle. but, despite the cold, Leo also felt content, and there was a warm energy settling over her. Everything felt so clear. He could see the each feather on the birds swooping over the water. He was able to do this because everything had slowed down to the point where he could really focus on the individual patterns of each bird’s wing. They truly were beautiful…
That had changed a few days ago, when Silas Hawke had formally recruited him into the Bad Brothers, Old Rose Harbour’s - and Anaxas’ - premier crime syndicate. It wasn’t an arrangement he had planned for, and it certainly wasn’t an arrangement he had wanted. At first, he had been… resentful, was probably the best way to describe it. In that game of Rooks, he had watched the table interact with Hawke, how they all conceded to him. He had watched how Hawke interacted with all of them too, specifically with the galdor, Corwynn, Leo remembered his name. Hawke had spoken to him as if he were a pet, property.
If he could to that to galdori, to his own race, what could he do to a hateful passive? As the days passed, however, Leo came around to the idea… a little. Silas worked outside the remit of other galdor doctrines. Leander had been coasting by as a nobody. Existing but not really living, at least not like he had always dreamed he would. Under Hawke, maybe he had a chance of achieving the goals he once had. His name would be remembered…
Not that he had any intentions of cowering or snivelling… or debasing himself with prostration before this so-called King.Truth be told, Leo had found another master, long before Silas Hawke strolled into his life, all leers and dares and threats. Leader’s first master controlled every inch of him, mind, body and soul. Leo had to visit him a few times a month, for fear he would go insane. It hurt him to be away for too long, he would start to feel weak, his body aching, his soul screaming out, his mind struggling to act rationally. When he would finally see his master, everything would seem whole, the world became whimsical and wonderful.
He showed no mercy, a few careless encounters and Leo was entranced. In those moments of closeness, his master became his everything, all he could ever need, all he could ever want. To Leo, like so many others before him, he was perfect.
Legs dangling over the edge of a pier in the harbour, smiling to himself as he tried to stretch his leg to skim the surface of the water. With each attempt, he managed to get slightly closer, but never quite reached it. He didn’t mind, though, the journey was far sweeter than the destination. The boy’s eyes were drooping and, though the sun was low in the sky, his pupils were pinpricks as they stared out over the violet horizon. Ice trickled though his veins, never seeming to settle. but, despite the cold, Leo also felt content, and there was a warm energy settling over her. Everything felt so clear. He could see the each feather on the birds swooping over the water. He was able to do this because everything had slowed down to the point where he could really focus on the individual patterns of each bird’s wing. They truly were beautiful…
