A Change of Scenery (Midnight)

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake was glad to finally be out of that cramped carriage. He walked over to where Cynthia was waiting for him and looked up at her home. It was huge. Though surely he wouldn't be living inside. There was probably a holding cell or something somewhere like with his old master. He stayed where he was and didn't move any further or speak, awaiting instructions.

[Nightmare]

"Come." Cynthia said, beckoning for Alsake to follow her. She headed down a small path that went along the front of the house towards the pool of water that was just out front of the manor. There were two young, female slaves nearby tending the garden, both of which Cynthia beckoned over. When they got to her, she simply pointed to Alsake and said, "Clean him up."

The slaves nodded and each one took one of Alsake's arms and began leading him towards the pool.

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake obeyed and followed Cynthia once more. When they got to the pool of water he was shocked. When Cynthia told her other slaves to clean him up, he was even more shocked. He couldn't remember the last time he had done anything that closely resembled hygiene in any way.

Alsake was comically much larger than the slaves that led him, but he didn't care. He just wanted so desperately to be in that water. When he stepped into the water it was the most amazing feeling in world. It reminded him of how he used to swim almost every day in the ocean back home, even though the water in this small pool only made it up to his waste. He left the other slaves to do whatever it is they had to do as he just enjoyed the feeling of actually being in water.

[Nightmare]

While the slaves cleaned Alsake, Cynthia looked out at her garden. The small pool Alsake was in was connected to another larger pool by a small waterfall, which was then connected to a river that went all the way through the rest of the garden on this side of the path. In this garden there were many kinds of herbs, vegetables and fruits to be used for medicine and food. The different colors and smells were refreshing and thrilling to the senses and the flavors were even more exquisite.

It reminded her that she needed to check in with her chef when she brought her new slave inside. She would need to make sure there was a meal prepared soon. After a moment of thought, she turned back to see how her new slave was doing. "Make sure to clean the wings as well as you can."

[Wicked Basket]

Though being cleaned as opposed to washing himself was somewhat awkward, it still felt wonderful after having gone so long without bathing at all. He was used to having his wings washed by others though, as he had always needed help with that. It was hard to reach his wings to clean them effectively on his own. However, his wings need to be opened, which was still painful for his poor stiff wings to manage. The slaves had to pull them straight in order to clean them, but Alsake didn't mind the pain. He was just glad to have his wings finally taken care of after so long. Hopefully they would be gentle and have at least a slight idea of what they were doing with his precious wings.

[Nightmare]

The slaves did the best they could, though Alsake was decently taller than them and cleaning wings was not something they were used to. They were at least attempting to be gentle but knew better than to take too long. After a few more minutes, one of the girls looked over towards Cynthia. "He's clean, mistress."

Cynthia motioned for them to bring him back over to her. "Good. Follow us back. I will need the two of you when we get there."

She then turned and began walking back to the entrance of the house, the two slave girls still escorting Alsake.

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake was feeling better than he ever has in a very long time. It was amazing how something as simple as being clean could feel so refreshing. His wings had also loosened up a bit and he could move them a little, but not much. He would have to rebuild the muscle that he had lost during his wings' incarceration.

[Nightmare]

When they arrived back at the entrance to the manor one of the slaves at the door opened it for them. Cynthia walked in and motioned one of her guards over. While the slaves were of all different races, most of the guards were elves. She decided if she had to pick a race to favor it would be the elves due to their natural beauty.

When the guard was close enough for Cynthia to talk to him, she gave him an order. "Get my new slave ready. I have some matters to attend to."

She waited for the guard to take Alsake before turning to the two slave girls and whispering something, sending them scurrying off. She then headed upstairs while the guard walked Alsake down the hallway.

[Wicked Basket]

Of course it was only a matter of time before an armed guard became involved. It was a bit concerned as to how a guard would get him ready. Elves being naturally tall creatures, this guard had come the closest thus far to matching his height, but Alsake was still a bit taller. As to what this guard planned to do with him, He was unsure if he wanted to find out.

[Nightmare]

The guard walked with Alsake down the hall until they got to a place where the hallway came to a corner. There were stairs to the second floor, but instead of going up them the guard went to the side of them and opened a door, which appeared to lead to some kind of closet. The guard grabbed a single pair of white pants and handed them to Alsake. "Put these on."

Meanwhile, Cynthia was in the main dining hall talking to the chef about the night's meal. When the arrangements had been completed, Cynthia came back downstairs and started heading down the hall to where Alsake was.

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake looked at the guard and then down at the pants. He reached out and took them, though somewhat hesitantly, and then put them on in place of his old pair. A bath and new clothes? This was definitely far more than his old master had ever down. Wearing a shirt was, of course, impossible for him due to his wings, so pants were all that was really possible. His feet were still bare, but he had never in his life worn shoes, so he didn't really care. He wondered what was next.

[Nightmare]

When Cynthia arrived at the end of the hallway Alsake was already dressed. She dismissed the guard, who returned to his duties at the entrance of the house. She looked at Alsake and smiled. "That's much better. I simply can't have you looking all dirty and beat up, you see. It would make for a terrible sight for my business partners, as well as my other guests."

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake examined himself. He did look in a lot better shape than before. It would be even better once the bruises faded away. It was then that his stomach growled. Alsake put a hand on his noisy abdomen and looked away. His old master always got angry when that happened and complained about how he was already feeding him plenty and that he had no reason to be hungry. Though he could always hope, he wasn't expecting to be fed.

[Nightmare]

"Come with me. I'll explain to you how this house works." Cynthia said, turning down the hallway away from where the entrance to the manor was, thus taking them further into the house. "Pay attention and learn the layout of the estate. It shouldn't take more than a few days for you to figure out."

As they walked, they passed many rooms on each side, all without doors. "These are the slaves' quarters. You'll share a room with two others. I assure you that these living conditions will be far better than whatever was provided for you by your last master."

She walked over to the entrance to one of the rooms and beckoned Alsake over so that she could show him the inside of the room.

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake wasn't so sure about learning the layout of this place. It was huge; much larger than any building he had ever been in thus far. Well, besides the Colosseum, but that wasn't someone's home. This was. She then assured him that the living conditions would be better than what he had before, but considering what he had before that could very well not mean very much. Cynthia then stopped in front of a door that would he guessed would be his room. He wasn't too keen on having to share it as people usually didn't take to him very well, but at least he would have something.

[Nightmare]

When Alsake arrived next to her, he would be able to look in the room and see that, while it was no where near as extravagant as the rest of the house, it was still quite something to behold for a slave's quarters. There were no beds, instead a large mattress that could easily fit five people of Alsake's size, with space left over, took up most of the space in the room. In the back right corner there was a large wash bin for the slaves to clean themselves. "Though they are both occupied right now, you will be sharing this space with an elf and another human."

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake stepped into the room with eyes wide with shock. This was far better than what he had before. There was even a place for him to clean himself. The single mattress concerned him though. Despite being as large as it was, Alsake's wings made him take up the space of two people. He walked around the room slowly, taking it all in. There was even a window. Though simple to a normal person, this was luxury to him.

[Nightmare]

"At the end of the hall, there is a larger chamber for the slaves that need to learn a lesson. That's likely closer to the conditions you are used to. Don't do anything to get yourself there and you won't have to worry about it." Cynthia said, turning to leave the room and motioning for Alsake to follow her. She then turned back down the hall the way they came. "If you forget which room is yours, I'm sure one of the other slaves will remind you. It shouldn't be hard for them to keep track of you with the unique characteristics you have."

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake certainly hoped he didn't do anything to end up in that room. Of all things he had been shown thus far, there was one thing he hadn't yet been told. What would his job be.

"What you have me do," he asked.

[Nightmare]

Cynthia thought for a moment before answering, though it didn't result in much. "I have to figure that out still. I don't want to waste your strength, after all."

She then paused to think again. When she reached a conclusion, she added, "For now, you will attend me personally."