ic inbox (duplicity);

[driving]

[video/voice/text]

Comments

text;

[occultatum]

Do you have a new black eye yet?

[driving]

no


ok maybe a bit but i won that fight so it doesn't count

[occultatum]

Is it really better than sex?

[driving]

it's power
something i kind of have a shortage of here
a black eye here and there is worth it

i wouldn't say it's better than sex though. just a different kind of release

[occultatum]

Do you want to fight in the arena?

[driving]

hell yeah but like everything else here i need a fucking permission slip

[occultatum]

From a Dominant? That you're contracted with.

[driving]

yeah
they’re really pushing this contract shit on me huh

[occultatum]

Listen.

Do you want me to help you out?

[driving]

how so

[occultatum]

You can sign a contract with me.

[driving]

[ He hesitates to reply. He has too many trust issues not to be a little suspicious about anyone wanting a contract with him. ]

why would you want that
i haven't exactly made myself out to be the ideal sub, have i

[occultatum]

Ideal isn't important to me.

I can make it work. We'll find you an apartment in the Up.

[occultatum]

Hey Hargrove. Still thinking about that contract offer?

[driving]

if something like that thing with the headbands ever happens again
will you look out for me?

[ He still isn't sure about contracts, but he really doesn't want to be caught alone and uncontracted in a bad situation again. ]

[occultatum]

Yeah, of course I will.

I wouldn't let anyone else touch you without your consent.

[driving]

ok
i'll make a contract with you

[occultatum]

I'll write one up and come over in a few?

[driving]

alright. i'll be waiting.

[occultatum]

[When he arrives with his contract, it actually is not that much later. He knocks on the door and looks around the room, a little bit unimpressed and very grossed out.]

I admire that you didn't run screaming from this place.

[The Down is disgusting.]

[driving]

It sucks here, but I'm not a wimp.

[ ...Except when this place fucks with his head and makes him act like a wimp, anyway. ]

You'll really let me have my own place?

[occultatum]

Sure. You can't live with me, and I don't think you want to live here, so.

[He tips his head.]

Come on, let find somewhere in the Up for you to sign this.

[driving]

Awesome. I've always wanted to live on my own.

[ If he has to belong to a Dominant, at least he can have his own apartment. That's already one step ahead of his situation back home. ]

Let's go.

[occultatum]

[He takes him up; they find a cafe that has booths that ensure some privacy. He has a contract; the terms are not quite as regular as a contract that is more common around here. There are things that are strict (obedience, specifically to Nick) and there are things that are oddly unrestricted (he can have as much sex with whoever he wants, as long as it doesn't interfere with the above obedience).

The thing about it is this.

While most contracts are words, legal bindings, Nick sort of. Added a spell to his contract, to make it more physically binding. Breaking the terms would be difficult. Nick doesn't particularly like cells, or bars, or cages. But he does have this...thing, leftover from being a warlock his whole life. Signing a contract by choice that eliminates choice is just so.

Well.

Satisfying.

He produces a pen, and offers it over.]

Take your time.

[He's sort of banking on Billy just not reading it at all.]

[driving]

[ He reads it, but his eyes glaze over a little. The language is complicated, and he doesn't really get what it's saying. Billy's not the type of guy to read for fun, and he hasn't kept up with his studies, either.

But what's he supposed to do? Say 'hey, explain this for me, I'm an idiot'? No. It's a contract like everyone else here has, it can't be too bad.

So he just quietly signs it. ]