The towel smacked Kuanie in the face before he caught it, for he'd been too distracted by Ilari to properly catch it--or, rather, he'd been distracted by watching the man with all the intensity of a skittish animal getting ready to bolt at the slightest movement as he clutched the shower curtain, holding it up to his nose. He released it, though, to grab the towel and, vanishing back behind the curtain modestly, he dried himself off there out of sight before toweling his hair dry, then he promptly wrapped the towel around his waist and knotted it at the hip. Sure, he'd be forced to get into the damned bath tub with the pointy-earred freak soon, but he sure as hell wasn't going to be bare around him for as long as he could help it.
That done, he finally forced himself to step out of the shower stall, taking a deep breath and walking reluctantly toward the tub. By that time, Ilari was already waist deep in the water and looking much calmer, but that did nothing to ease the tension that had settled in Kuanie's neck and shoulders, his pulse still racing. Yeah. He had been calm before he had gone all spastic and slapped him and tore his clothes off and threw him around. A convulsive shudder ran through him, and he raised a hand to touch his cheek, poking it lightly. Ouch. Yeah. That would probably bruise, and he didn't have to touch his lip to know that it was swollen. Damn...
Suddenly Ilari stopped and handed him a comb. Blinking, Kuanie took it.
And then came the instructions.
...It got worse. How the hell could it get worse...
Once the man pointed to the oil, Kuanie could hear the warning bells ringing like mad in his ears. Okay. But it was just for hair. That he could do, even if it seemed...weird. But the next part? The body oil?! Kuanie's mouth dropped open in protest before the scene of his attack replayed in his head, and then he promptly shut it so quickly his teeth clicked together. But his green eyes were wide, and his face had gone pale. Rub him down...with body oil...ALL OVER? Okay...all over as in...all over, or as in...like...his back? Fine art of massage? Nononono, this guy could not be serious! He would not do it. He was so not doing it.
Except if he didn't, mister sunshine would go psycho on him again.
As Ilari rattled off more instructions, Kuanie only listened dully, beginning to feel not only panicked but now overwhelmed. Do this. Do that. Say this. Say that. Do this when this happens, but not when that happens. And Ilari only told his slaves this once? How was he supposed to remember it all?! Oh crap, right, he had better remember it all or else. Shower everyday. That he could do. Wear what he gives him or nothing? Er, he'd take what he gave him! Don't speak? Kuanie bit his lip, fidgiting. The guy was going to try and kill him. That's what this was all about...
And then it hit him.
The man was a slave. Now he had a slave...this was a power trip. That's what it was! He was controlled, so he got off on controlling others to vent! Now he was trying to make his life hell!
But he was relieved that the guy was going to keep his sex a secret. That he could do, and gladly--in fact, he would have pleaded with Ilari to keep it secret the first chance he got to speak, because, given Gat had bought him...he had no idea how the guy would react when he found out he hadn't gotten what he'd paid for. That set him at ease a little, and he listened as Ilari explained the robes, the feminine clothing. It wasn't like he liked wearing those things, but if it would keep him safe, hell yeah he'd swallow his pride and do it uncomplaining!
The relief was only temporary, because then he was going on about drying and dressing him. As if the freaking body oil wasn't enough!
Of course, it wasn't the worst part. Ilari grinned wickedly, and Kuanie's blood went cold. Wait, what? Do what with him? Uhhh...
His mind went blank suddenly (probably a defense mechanism with all the freaky information the guy was loading him with), and he hardly even heard what Ilari was saying, about their master. Truth be told, he was starting to feel a little dizzy. Maybe that was because he hadn't eaten much, maybe it was because he'd only been knocked around minutes ago, had his hair yanked and all, or maybe it was just...he didn't even know. Everything was starting to catch up with him, crashing around him. This was his life. Everything this guy had just named off...this was his life for who knew how long! If he could even escape! If he couldn't...this was forever!
He swayed a little, feeling a little nauseous, but the Ilari spoke the magic words.
By yourself.
As though some switch had been flipped, he brightened suddenly, perking up. Nights...by himself. Alone. To himself. No Ilari. No anyone. The guy would be dining with their master.
Those two words were like a godsend, and he latched onto them and imprinted them into his brain, those two simple words giving him the hope he needed. He could do this. He could survive this. If only he had some time alone to himself, to gather himself, to think. Maybe he wouldn't have to be confined to the room...maybe he could get out. Oh, Ilari said he should never go anywhere alone, but already Kuanie was thinking. He could wait a few nights, gauge how much time on average Ilari spent with their master. After he got a feel for it, he could sneak out, wander around, and be back before anyone even knew he was missing!
What he would be looking for...he hadn't he slightest clue. But at least if he could get out a little, walk around on his own...Gods, even a few moments of partial freedom would be something! He could do it! He'd been a thief all his life, he knew how to sneak around and be quiet!
Of course, before he could get too excited, Ilari spoke up, told him to go to him, and Kuanie jerked and was forced to put those thoughts away for now. First, he had to survive this...might as well get this over with he guessed.
Nodding slowly, he gathered up the oils in his arms and crept closer reluctantly then, after an uncertain pause, he sat down near Ilari--though not too close!--and mimicked him, lowering his feet into the tub, the towel still wrapped around his waist. It was a perfect imitation...except that he wasn't all relaxed, his back stiff as a board as he sat there awkwardly. He set the bottles out near him where he could reach them, then, grimacing, started applying a drop of each oil to his free hand. Then he paused, looking up at Ilari and trying so hard not to outright glare at the man. Erghh...he hated him so much. And that was the mantra he repeated in his head as he rubbed his hands together to warm the liquid up.
I hate you, I hate you, I hate you...
Just stay angry. Anger would get him through this! It was an easier emotion to deal with than everything else.
Finally when he was satisfied that it was warm enough, he reached up, paused again, uncertain, and then bit his swollen bottom lip and tentatively started to massage the guy's scalp. It was to tempting to just...grab his hair and yank that too, see how he liked it! But, given what would happen then, he behaved, lowering his head to try and shield his eyes.
I hate you, I hate you, I hate you...
"...Like this?" he asked, voice a low grumble. And then he jolted. Ack. No talking. And he hadn't meant to grumble! He winced. "I'm sorry!" he said quickly, and he just as quickly redoubled his efforts as though to make up for that.
