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Post by Lion on Feb 1, 2018 21:04:33 GMT
The air was heavy with the scents of perfumes, spices, and various delicacies the likes of which few outside this room had cause to taste. It was a rich aroma that seemed to intoxicate those new to the delights of one of Master’s parties. Truth be told, the smells had intoxicated Nero too, at first, but now the leopard barely noticed them as he sat in his designated corner and strummed the thick strings of his guzheng gently, caressing each note with a pluck of one claw filed to a dull tip so as not to harm the instrument. His other paw pressed against strings higher along the guzheng’s neck, toes exacting a lilting tune from the instrument as his lips formed words and his voice rang out in the open space of his master’s grand rooms, the tone of Nero’s voice hauntingly beautiful with a northern lilt to his accent. “Oh he was a lord of high degree,
And she was a lass from the low countree.
But she loved his lordship so tenderly…”
Nero never looked up when he sang. He kept his eyes shaded with thick lashes and concentrated on his playing. The other masters did not like to be looked in the eye by a slave. They considered it rude, or impertinent, or revolutionary, or threatening, or something. Nero did not know why it bothered them truly, and he did not care. He avoided their gazes if it suited them. He played his instrument if it suited them. He sang sad love songs if it suited them. No one cared what suited Nero, so he didn’t care, either.“Oh sorrow, sing sorrow…
Now she sleeps in the valley
where the wildflowers nod,
And no one knows she loved him
but herself,
Master was coming. Nero knew the sound of his steps, heavy and familiar and frightening. The slave’s eyes still did not lift, even when he heard the hard breathing, felt the anger rolling from his master in waves.“Play something else,” Master barked. He did not lash out and kick Nero, like he would have if they were alone, but Nero’s frame shied away on instinct, cowering closer to his guzheng, the only thing in the world that seemed to bring him any sense of safety. The leopard’s golden eyes, clear and brilliant as he peeked up just once, met his master’s gaze briefly and then dropped again.“I will play whatever it pleases my master to hear,” the leopard said in a soft voice near-strangled by fear. “You’d better sing something worth listening to this time. This is a party, not a funeral,” his master hissed before marching off to attend to his guests. Taking a steadying breath, Nero began plucking at the strings of his guzheng again, this time plucking them at a faster rate, giving the instrument a soft tap to create a steady rhythm. His accent curled warmly around his words as he began to sing a more upbeat ditty, his hind paw tapping along to the song.“I’ll tell me ma when I go home
The boys won’t leave the girls alone
They’ll pull my hair, they stole my comb,
Well that’s all right ‘til I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the bell of Rynidaan City,
She is courtin’ one, two, three,
Please won’t you tell me, who is she?” He continued to sing, trying to focus on the music, but though his well trained voice remained smooth, his paws hitting the notes with ease, his heart trembled at the fear that his master, displeased with his performance, would make Nero pay for his failings somehow.The leopard did not notice if anyone listened. He did not care. He simply played. He tried to play because he loved it, because listening to the music and feeling the warm pull on his vocal cords reminded him of a happier time. But ultimately, he played because he had to, because stopping would mean punishment, a beating, no food for a week, and Nero knew better than to invite that misfortune by now. That is partly why Nero did not notice that someone in the group of guests gathered about him had noticed the lean, elegantly dressed slave with the captivating voice. He did not notice that this stranger watched him with interest, did not even look up, he just played and sang, as always.flameh
OOC: Sorry it’s kind of long, I got carried away lol. Anywho, once Chase is done, we can get things rolling mwahaha.
Word Count: 762 |
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Post by flameh on Feb 2, 2018 5:09:54 GMT
Chase stood next to the wall, observing the crowd. His amber eyes scanned the room, trying to find someone new to talk to. He was getting bored of this party already, it was mainly older nobles showing off. Many of the party's attendees were parading slaves behind them, showing off what amazing slaves they could afford. Chase found it disgusting, he didn't understand how anyone could keep another person like that. He hated the idea of slaves and the status symbol they represented. He rolled his eyes as he watched a Lion around his age use his slave to impress some heiress. Chase shook his head and pushed himself away from the wall. There's gotta be something more interesting here he thought to himself as he walked away.
He moved towards the opposite side of the room, smiling as he picked up on someone singing. What a beautiful voice he thought as he approached the corner. When he reached the edge of the crowd he was surprised to see a gorgeous leopard sitting there. He was absolutely enthralled by the song, and decided he wanted to hear if his speaking voice was just as beautiful. He stepped closer to the slave and smiled down at him. "What a pretty song from such a beautiful man" he said, cringing at how greasy it sounded.
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Post by Lion on Feb 2, 2018 13:29:55 GMT
Nero’s paws froze for a moment at the sound of a voice close by, someone commenting on his playing. And his appearance. The voice was deep, warm, the kind of voice that belonged to a young male. It sounded confident, the truth of his words mired in the awkwardness of the delivery, but Nero could sense he wasn’t mocking him. The leopard did not look up from his instruments and resumed playing after the brief pause, his senses alert for any sound of his master’s anger returning this way. “My lord is welcome to look and to listen. This one thanks him for his praise, on behalf of the Master.” Nero’s voice was low and soft, his accent heavily northern. His master had tried to force him to change it and adopt a more southern style of speaking, but when he realized his noble friends liked the eccentric tones of his musical slave he let Nero be. Intending to look for but one brief moment, Nero glanced up, drawn to the deep voice. He saw that a tiger stood before him, an imposing creature with the stature of a soldier rather than another simpering noble. Nero’s vibrant gold eyes took in the sight, and his heart seemed to stutter in his chest as he realized that he had looked too long, and that he had liked what he’d seen. The slave flushed and looked back down at his instrument, self-conscious. He did not like to be noticed. And he liked even less to notice. Anonymity was a slave’s friend. And Nero could not imagine what his master would do to him if he caught Nero flirting with one of his guests. Except… what if that guest flirted with Nero? The tiger seemed to be flirting, though Nero had no threshold to tell those sorts of things. He’d thought females flirted with him sometimes, but he did not usually care, since usually they were not the sort of creatures that drew him in. This noble or soldier or whoever he was… he was a different thing entirely. Which made Nero nervous, to say the least. flameh OOC: And so it begins lol. Word Count: 356 |
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Post by flameh on Feb 18, 2018 18:28:22 GMT
Chase smiled, as Nero spoke to him. His speaking voice was as beautiful as his singing voice. He felt his breath catch when Nero looked up at him. The leopard's golden eyes drew him in, they made him appear even more handsome. He wanted to spend the whole event standing here by the slave. He wondered if he could convince the slave to disappear for a while. He wanted to get to know him better, listen to him speak more. "Is this lord allowed to know your name?" he asked, hating referring to himself as such. Lion |
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Post by Lion on Feb 18, 2018 19:33:27 GMT
At the tiger’s question, Nero’s gaze lifted for a single moment to look at the stranger’s face, a mixture of uncertainty and interest revealed in the leopard’s expression as he did so. Nobles did not often speak directly to Nero, preferring to pay compliments to his master when they had any, for a slave’s talents reflected only on his master, not himself, and to address a slave and ask his name was, in a sense, to treat him like an equal. A creature worthy of addressing by name. Needless to say, the only creatures who thought Nero worth addressing as an equal were those truly of equal status to him, namely, other slaves. While Nero could not be sure what the protocols were for such questions, he did not think his master would tolerate any rudeness on Nero’s part, and besides, the leopard wanted to speak to the tiger. He wanted to hear that deep voice more, wondered what words and strange questions would come from his mouth next. “I am called Nero, my lord.” He did not ask the tiger’s name, even though he wanted to. It would be impertinent of a slave to ask anything of a noble. Still, as Nero continued to pluck the strings of his guzheng, he couldn’t help but keep his ears and eyes directed towards the tiger, every bit of his attention draw to whatever words he would speak next. Or perhaps he would grow bored and wander away, finished with whatever strange, idle fancy brought him in this direction to pay compliments to a mere slave. The thought rankled, but Nero listened all the same, a small part of him denying the much louder voice in his head that told him his interest in the stranger was unwarranted and futile. flameh Word Count: 300 |
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