roneal | (no subject)

It's not unexpected that Jade stops him at some point. While grumbling, he lets Jade's hands guide him. It hurts when his back hits the mattress and, wincing, he attempts to roll onto his side and take the pressure off the weals and cuts.

"I guess it's bedtime for me now, huh?" He's not tired, but his body needs some rest. Going to bed early sounds like a good idea. Still, he waits for confirmation.

"If you like." He pushes himself up as soon as Shinjirou tries to roll away, turning so his legs hang off the edge of the bed, feet flat on the floor. "Though I'd prefer it if you use your own bed."

"Don't worry, I will." His movements are sluggish and his posture is geared towards causing the least of pain. He slides off Jade's bed and crawls into his own, pulling the blanket up until it covers even his nose.

"Jade?" He only looks at him long enough to make sure he's got his attention, then turns towards the wall. "Thank you."

It looks like that much had been difficult for him to say. Jade decides to go easy on him.

"You're welcome," he says simply, then continues on his way. He still can't shake off the feeling that he had done Shinjirou a disservice, especially when he remembers the careful, gingerly way he moved. But the simple gratitude in Shinjirou's voice makes Jade think that something good may have come out of this.

That would be for the best. Jade knows they'll be doing this again; better for Shinjirou to enjoy it than not.

The next morning, he allows Shinjirou to sleep in for awhile. The clock is nearing 8:30 by the time he finally shakes Shinjirou awake.

"Do you still want to go out?" He asks, without bothering with a good morning.

This is already the second time that Jade has nearly given him a heart attack waking him up. And like before, Shinjirou shoots up -- though now he groans and buries his face in his hands at the pain flaring up on his back. Looking at Jade through his fingers, he blinks until the light doesn't sting in his eyes anymore.

"Go out?" Oh, yeah. He slips out of bed, sitting down right beside it. Ready to start his day outside the safe haven that is the futon. "Yes, I do!"

Actually, he can't wait to see Irvin again. Spend some time alone with the dog, without Jade working on figuring him out. There's nothing special about loving dogs, but who knows. Jade's mind isn't any less crooked than his own.

Jade has to smile at that burst of excitement. "Oh good," he says. "I was worried you wouldn't."

He straightens up properly again, secretly glad that Shinjirou hadn't slammed their foreheads together when he had woken. "I've picked out some clothes for you." He nods at his own bed, where a neat stack of clothes lay waiting: a button down shirt and some long pants. "You might need to roll up the pants, but they should fit. More or less."

At the sound of voices, Irvin pads over to the bedroom, ears pricked up inquisitively. Well-trained, he stops by the doorway, pacing restlessly and casting longing glances into the room.

Looking from Irvin to Jade, Shinjirou beats down the urge to run over and greet the dog. Later when they're alone, he won't need to behave. And so he gets up and walks over to Jade's bed to inspect the clothes. Definitely not what he likes to wear; it's not an outrageous choice either.

They don't fit perfectly, but well enough that he won't look strange. Glancing down, tugging on the shirt, he wonders where he could hide the chain. He doesn't think Jade has changed his mind in the meantime. "Feels like a uniform." Which reminds him of school and annoying best friends.

"Uhm, and do I get a coat?"

After all this time, it's almost strange to see Shinjirou clothed. He looks startlingly normal like that, collar and chain aside, although his hair could do with a trim.

Of course he looks that way. He had deliberately chosen the clothes to create that effect.

He raises an eyebrow, a gesture directed more at himself than Shinjirou. "To conceal the chain? I suppose I could find something. By the way, would you like a map of the area or would you prefer to explore?"

"Yeah, uh, the chain's kind of an eye-catcher, you know?" He can't stop pulling on the clothes. Apart from the slight ache when the fabric stretches over the collection of wounds from the past days, they simply aren't him.

"Won't need a map. I remember leaving that one morning." Time to greet Irvin and pretend his first encounter with Jade wasn't a night of intoxicated sex. He kneels down and scratches the dog behind his ears. "Hey, good morning. We're going for a walk, Irvin!"

"I bet there's a time limit." Not that he needs one. He'll definitely be back before school's out. "And a list."

"Ten-thirty," he confirms. "And I have the list outside, along with some money. I'll give you a watch too."

He had briefly considered telling Shinjirou that he's can use the change to treat himself, but decided against it. He's being too soft. Shinjirou is here to work, not to enjoy himself. True, rewards have their uses, but something as simple as a shopping trip doesn't merit one. Being able to go outside should be enough of a reward in itself anyway.

Turning, Jade rummages through his closet, and pulls out a dark jacket for Shinjirou. "Here."

He raises an eyebrow at the jacket, but slips into it anyway. There's little that differentiates him from a student in these clothes and he doesn't appreciate that at all. Complaining about it would give too much away, possibly, and maybe even keep him locked up. He's been looking forward to spending time outside and not naked for the first time in days. He's not going to risk it now.

Standing unnaturally upright instead of his usual slouch, thanks to his back hurting too much if he does the latter, he nods at Jade. "Thanks. I'll be back by then. Uhm." He returns to Irvin's side, giving the dog a quick pat on the head. "When I come back, should I, uh. You know, undress again or how's this going to work?"

He pauses for a moment, then nods. "Unless I say otherwise, keep yourself undressed. It's how other slaves are presented."

Not that it's much of a concern for him. Mostly, he's worried about Shinjirou's back. Shinjirou looks a bit uncomfortable in the clothes - lots of tugging, a bit of fidgeting - it makes Jade want to order him to keep them on for longer, but he resists.

"Now, are you ready? I have a leash for Irvin waiting outside as well. Everything you need should be on the table. You can take my shoes."

If Shinjirou doesn't run this time (and Jade doesn't think he will), they'll have to see about getting clothes for him that actually fit. It'd be a good opportunity to take him shopping for something else as well.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

It's odd. It's normal. Irvin follows him excitedly as he leads him outside and then howls when Shinjirou doesn't immediately start walking. Taking one step at a time, he moves at a pace far too slow for Irvin's liking at first. Just a few days and he needs to get used to this pseudo freedom. It's hard to believe he's still a slave; nothing about that has changed.

The collar's still around his neck, the chain pressed against his bare skin where he's hidden it away. Without a doubt the situation is the same. Yet he passes people, throws sticks for Irvin and buys everything on Jades list without anyone treating him any different than before.

He's more than a little out of kilter when he returns, almost perfectly on time, and stands in the hallway for a few minutes, dazed.

Even if the sound of the front door hadn't been enough to alert Jade, Irvin's happy barking is more than enough to tell him that Shinjirou had returned. Jade continues to work at first, but when five minutes had passed and Shinjirou still hadn't reported back to him, he sighs and gets to his feet.

Thankfully, it doesn't take long to find Shinjirou. He looks curiously distant, staring blankly off into space, seemingly unaware of his surroundings. It's striking enough that Jade pauses and stares for a moment.

"Oh, you're back." He feigns surprise as he walks forward. "Did you get everything?"

Jade's voice snaps him out of it immediately. He throws his head around and stares, wide-eyed. "Yes." Right, he's back now. There's Jade and -- wasn't he supposed to undress upon returning? He strips right where he stands and carefully folds the clothes up before putting them down on the cabinet.

"The change." He drops the money into Jade's hand, frowning at his own mechanical movements. At least his back feels better now that there's no fabric to rub over the irritated skin. Irvin's fur's soft when the dog pushes his face against his legs, barking up at him. Smiling down at him, Shinjirou picks up the bags to carry them off to the kitchen. There's stuff that needs to be put into the fridge.

There's no sensuality at all in Shinjirou's movements, but Jade finds them fascinating all the same, the swift, almost hurried way he transforms himself from a student back into a slave. When Jade takes the change, his eyes are still focused on Shinjirou's face.

"Go do your regular chores after you're finished with this." He follows Shinjirou into the kitchen, inspecting his purchases. "Did you enjoy yourself today?"

Being watched like this is uncomfortable and not at all like the people outside mostly ignoring him entirely. He tries his best to mostly turn his back towards Jade, nevermind that he'd consider it too dangerous to do so ultimately. There's enough to do, thanks to Jade's everyday list of tasks.

"Uhm, I think I did."

The answer is what he had expected, and he nods, satisfied. "Would you like to go out again tomorrow? We need to get you some things."

Irvin is nosing curiously at his legs. Jade shifts away slightly and the dog stops, turning around to go bother Shinjirou instead.

Crouching down, he feeds Irvin a few snacks without once so much as glancing at Jade. Get you some things could mean clothes which would be nice, though he doesn't expect he'll get to decide what kind of clothes exactly. On the other hand, things could pretty much mean anything else as well.

"Yes. Same time?" Being seen with Jade would be even worse than Aki catching him in clothes that aren't his, with a dog, doing grocery shopping with money that also can't be his.

Shinjirou's body language is unacceptably closed off, but no hint of displeasure shows on Jade's face. It simply means he'll have to continue applying pressure to Shinjirou. This is a work in progress, and he finds he's enjoying himself more than he thought he would, twinges of guilty conscience aside.

"Same time," he confirms, just a hint of carefully-manufactured coolness in his voice. "I'll leave you to your work."

He doesn't emerge from his study again until Shinjirou is almost done. Casually, he settles down on the couch and turns on the news, Irvin settling on the floor next to his feet.

"Join me when you're done," he calls. "And bring some tea." No alcohol this time; he wants Shinjirou sober from now on, unless there's no other way to manipulate him.

"Yes."

The longer he deals with the daily repetition, the more he comes to appreciate it. He doesn't like every part of the work Jade expects him to do, like cleaning the bathroom, but even that doesn't matter. It's a relaxing pattern and almost refreshing, despite breaking out in a sweat. He definitely feels better when he's done.

"Didn't forget the milk this time."

More at ease than before, he pours them both a cup of tea and then plops down beside Irvin, more interested in stroking the dog than having tea with Jade. He can touch Irvin whenever he wants to. He can't do that with Jade. He doesn't want to -- Jade probably already thinks of him as clingy and that's not how Shinjirou wants to be seen. It's embarrassing.

One slow sip later, he's nodding his approval. "Thank you."

He's content to sit quietly for awhile, more interested in watching Shinjirou than the news - he had already read all of it back in his study anyway. The reporter's voice is a pleasant hum in the background as his attention hones in on the dog, wondering if what its owner had told him is true. It seems innocent enough, its tail wagging slowly from side to side along to the rhythm of Shinjirou's pets.

"Have you had a dog before, Shinjirou?" He wonders aloud.

"Huh?" One hand still on the dog's back, he tilts his head to look at Jade. "No, never had enough money for that, but at the--"

His mouth stays open for a moment before he snaps it shut and turns his attention fully back onto Irvin. Jade doesn't need to know anything about his past. It's bad enough that he already does know so much, about Shinjirou's body and mind. No need to spoonfeed him more information.

"Everyone's got a favorite animal."

The what? Orphanage? An animal shelter? Some place on the streets? Jade is curious, but he's not given to prying when faced with such clear reluctance. Everyone deserves the chance to keep their secrets - although perhaps that doesn't apply to Shinjirou. But it isn't a line Jade wants to cross yet, so he lets it slide.

"Why dogs?" He asks instead. Irvin is nuzzling at Shinjirou's thighs, his nose cold and wet. "A kindred spirit, perhaps?"

"I'm not a dog." Glaring at Jade, he takes a sip of tea, combing through Irvin's fur with his free hand. "They're loyal and really smart. They know when you're happy or sad."

He shrugs and pulls Irvin's head up to get him away from the bruises. Maybe he should have brought some snacks or a toy. "What about you? Snakes, spiders?"