writinggremlin

[writinggremlin]

Some more scientist Whumper cause apparently people really like it + it's my favorite. Maybe closer to Carewhumper territory though.

"Nope, we're not doing this again. Out from under the bed now. Don't make me drag you out by those pretty ankles.

"Come on then, let's get your blindfold on, I know you don't like seeing my tools.

"Time for your medicine pup. Aww, don't pout you'll make me feel bad. You can have some ice cream after, ok? There we go, there's that smile."

"Welcome back. (chuckle) I was worried I might have gone to far this time. You'll be fine though, you always bounce back don't you my little lab rat?"

[writinggremlin]

Caretaker picking an injured Whumpee up off the floor and pulling them into their lap, back against their chest.

Whumpee being semiconscious, only able to manage a groan as their head falls back against Caretaker’s shoulder.

[writinggremlin]

what a beautiful man but☝️he could be beautifuller... guards! cover that man in blood

[writinggremlin]

This is how me and my mutuals look interacting with each other’s content

[writinggremlin]

Yeah... Maybe just a liiiitle bit stronger... Perchance...

Also HEEHEHEHEH FITZ FITZFITZ FITZ FITZ FOTZ FITZ FITZ FITZ FITZ FITZ FITZ FITZ

My prediction is that Fitz might try to get Lex to lighten up and stop stressing out over Oliver and enjoy himself, but he's gonna fucking fail. And it might get angsty. I do hope that my angst prediction is correct I'd love to see them all as drenched cats once more >:)

The Rare Bookseller Part 94: Oliver's Protection

Previous > Masterlist

tw: mind control, self harm

"I want training, too, sirs!" Oliver blurted out. Everyone turned to look at him quizzically.

"Oliver, I appreciate that you want to help, but you can't even walk right now, much less --"

"I know, sir, and I don't expect to be trained as a hunter. But if I could help with the magic, perhaps…" His hands twisted the fabric of his pants. "I would at least like to know how to carve the protective rune, the one Vivian uses. Just in case your sire…"

Just in case there came a time where Alexander couldn't protect Oliver from his sire, a true emergency where a moment of lucidity might make a difference. He didn't dare say it, as it seemed disrespectful to point out the possibility that his master might fail. Any protection offered by the rune would only shield Oliver briefly at best. Still, the thought of having this tool in his arsenal made him feel slightly better, as though he wasn't a complete sitting duck. He looked up at his master, pleading with his eyes.

But his master was scowling. "Absolutely not."

Oliver realized how his request must have sounded, like he was looking for a way to prevent himself from being enthralled by Alexander himself, when that hadn't been his intention at all. He shrank away, embarrassed.

Before he could try to explain himself, Miss Lily chimed in. "Why not? I don't see the harm in it. Wouldn't it be good for him to have some emergency protection against other vampires, especially your sire?"

"That was what I was thinking, sir," said Oliver, eagerly agreeing. "I didn't mean anything against you at all."

Alexander softened. "I'm sure you didn't, but still…" His arms gripped Oliver a little tighter. "I can't bear the thought of being unable to enthrall you, even temporarily, even as a test for your own protection."

"You wouldn't have to test the protection. I could do it," said Miss Lily. "Why don't we chat for a bit while my Vivian gives Oliver a lesson? If he can successfully gain the protection, I can do my best to enthrall him." She stroked Vivian's hair. "If you're willing to play nicely with my declawed hunter, then surely Oliver gaining a little of her knowledge isn't a threat."

"I know Oliver isn't a threat, it's just…" Alexander sighed. "Fine. I suppose you do make a good point, that it could provide him some desperate option in a worst-case scenario. As much as I detest the idea of Oliver being out of my reach, I also detest the idea of my sire puppeting him to his whims. I suppose it wouldn't do any harm for him to learn, just as long as he never tries to use it against me."

"No, never, sir," said Oliver emphatically. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"You say that, but… Well, I suppose I owe you a bit of trust, considering how much trust I ask of you. Especially considering I have failed to protect you on multiple occasions. Very well, learn the protective rune, and let Lily test if it worked."

"Thank you, sir." Oliver hoped that his master wasn't upset by his request. He just felt so utterly helpless in the face of their risky plan to kill the Maestro, and having even a small bit of knowledge would help ease his mind.

With that decided, Alexander and Lily moved to a couch nearer the fireplace (but still well in view of the thralls), and Oliver settled next to Vivian as she pulled a thick book from her bag and placed it on the table. Up close, Oliver could see that it was practically falling apart from use, dog-eared and marked everywhere with notes. She flipped it to a page showing instructions for how to carve a particular rune.

"This is the book on witchcraft and hunting that's been passed down in my family for generations. It's all I have left of my mother, so please be careful with it," she said.

"Of course. I would never mistreat a book, even if it weren't so precious as that."

"It might be easiest if you read these few pages first, to get an idea about how the rune works. I've never taught anyone, so I'm probably poor at explaining things."

"That's fine with me. I learn best by reading anyway." Oliver began reading over the descriptions of each portion of the rune and what it represented. He found he was growing a bit excited about the prospect of doing magic, real magic, instead of having all of the supernatural happenings done to him. Perhaps if this went well, he could convince Vivian to teach him more.

Nonetheless, he couldn't help but be distracted by his master's quiet chat with Miss Lily.

"I'm surprised that you're okay with this plan," said Alexander. "I would have assumed you'd be dead set against anything so risky as this. If you're thinking of sabotaging this for my own good, I swear --"

"No. Nothing like that." Miss Lily leaned back into the couch. "And I still do think this plan is risky, but I hardly have a choice but to allow you to do it, unless I can think of something better."

"I can guess what's caused the sudden change of heart. Or rather, who has caused the sudden change of heart. You really have become attached to that hunter, haven't you?"

Miss Lily waved him off. "Yes, yes, feel free to say 'I told you so' all you want. You have me dead to rights. I couldn't stand the thought of our sire getting his hands on Vivian. Happy?"

Alexander chuckled. "It is a bit gratifying to see you getting so attached after you've admonished me so much," he said. "But all joking aside, I think you needed this. I could tell how you haven't truly been yourself since Miriam was… compromised. You lacked a thrall that was wholly your own."

"I didn't want to think I needed it so badly," she said. "I think maybe that's part of why I was so insistent on foisting Oliver on you. I could tell that you were perfect for each other, and I thought at least you should have the indulgence I was denying myself."

"Well, I certainly don't mind that you did. I was upset at first, but you were right. Oliver is perfect, and I'm glad to have him."

Oliver stared down more intently at the book, cheeks burning from the praise. It was still so strange and wonderful to be so wanted. He forced himself to focus on what he was reading and tune out his master's conversation.

Once he had finished, and Vivian had gone over the material with him -- then came the moment when the discussion turned from the academic to the practical. Oliver had put out of his mind the fact that this rune would need to be carved into his skin, and felt a bit dizzy as Vivian produced her silver knife.

"I recommend first drawing or painting it on your skin. You certainly don't want to make mistakes when you're handling the knife."

"I certainly don't." Oliver rolled down his left sleeve and kept his hand as steady as possible as he took up his fountain pen and drew the rune on the meat of his forearm, exactly as it was in the diagram, taking care not to scratch himself prematurely.

Vivian looked on approvingly. "You're a natural. That looks exactly right. You've even properly drawn the character at the 3 o'clock point -- that one often trips people up." She unsheathed the knife, turning it around and handing it to him. "Now you know what you have to do. Make sure it's cut in the correct order. Shallow cuts, just barely breaking the skin. I don't think your master would appreciate it if you waste too much of your blood."

Oliver glanced up at Alexander, who had ceased chatting with Miss Lily and was now staring right at him, giving him a small nod that seemed to indicate that Oliver should proceed. "I can make it painless, if you'd like," Alexander said.

"No, sir, if I truly need to use this, then --" He didn't want to say it out loud, to invoke the possibility that his master might not be there to defend him. "I wish to be able to do it on my own, if you please, sir."

"If you're going to do this at all, then I suppose that seems the most sensible."

"You can do it," said Vivian. "Just a little scratch, and it will be over soon enough."

Oliver gathered his courage and pressed the tip of his knife to one of the lines he'd drawn on his skin. The knife was razor sharp, and it didn't take much pressure at all for a bead of blood to well up under the point.

"That's it," Vivian encouraged. "No deeper than that. Just enough to draw blood. And don't forget to speak the words we rehearsed."

"Right." He almost considered calling it off, saying it was a mistake for him to want to learn to defend himself in this way, but some stubborn part of him refused. He was safe here in the library, with his master nearby, and Vivian had thoughtfully laid out some bandages. There wouldn't be a better time to try this.

He took one more deep breath and began to scratch the rune into his skin, as quickly as possible without sacrificing accuracy, trying to ignore the pain. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke the words, blood dripping down his arm and onto the table in front of him. When he had finished carving the symbol, he felt a kind of warmth from the self-inflicted wound, a strange tingling sensation.

"I think it took, at least a little bit. Well done," said Vivian. "These bandages are coated with a powder that hides the smell of blood. Otherwise, the vampires will be able to smell you out from miles around."

Indeed, Alexander was looking at Oliver like a man possessed, and Oliver knew that his master would be taking a meal after Miss Lily and Vivian went home. Miss Lily seemed affected as well, staring at Oliver as he bandaged the wound.

"Well, let's see if it worked, then," said Miss Lily, sauntering over to sit next to Oliver on the couch. "You're such a delightfully susceptible thrall. Let's see if a bit of magic can truly make you immune to my voice."

"All right, sir."

Miss Lily gripped his chin, directing his eyes straight into hers. "Relax, dear, relax and slip under my control. You won't be able to resist."

And the rune on Oliver's arm burned.

He pulled away from Miss Lily, not hypnotized in the slightest, but nonetheless incapacitated by the blinding pain from his arm. Seething, he curled up into a ball, trying to calm himself down from the pain.

"It's okay, Oliver, you're doing well," said Vivian, rubbing his back.

Before Oliver could respond, Alexander had snatched him up, holding him in a bridal carry. "Are you all right?" he said. "I knew this was a bad idea."

"It's fine, sir!" Vivian protested. "The brand is meant to hurt. That's part of how it protects you from hypnosis. It'll be the same for you, when you've devised the modified rune, I would think."

"You should put him down, Lex," said Miss Lily. "He wants to test it, don't you, Oliver?"

"Yes, sir," he said through gritted teeth. There was little point in exposing himself to this pain if he didn't gain some knowledge from it.

"Fine, but I will be comforting him once you're done," said Alexander, as he begrudgingly set Oliver back down.

"Are you ready, Oliver?" asked Miss Lily.

He nodded, trying to look determined.

"Then focus, dear. Focus on my voice and allow it to relax you. Focus only on me, and become so sleepy, so very sleepy…"

Oliver could feel the influence tugging at his mind, even through the pain, but the rune was keeping him awake and alert. "I think it's working, sir."

"Is that so? Then do something else for me." She reached out and pressed a hand to his forehead. "Quiet, Oliver. Just be oh so quiet for me."

It was Miss Lily's trigger that she'd implanted in him back at the auction house, and despite everything he'd been through, it still had a hook in his mind. He struggled against the sensation of his thoughts slowing and grinding to a halt, trying to resist the growing urge towards obedience. And all the while, the brand on his arm burned so strongly that it was starting to feel numb and cold.

"Come here, Oliver," said Miss Lily, opening her arms to him, and it felt magnetized, like he was being drawn in regardless of his own will. But even through the growing haze and the pain, he remembered he was meant to be resisting.

"No," he said in a strangled voice, backing away into Vivian, who was behind him.

"No? You don't want to rest in my arms?" Miss Lily said teasingly.

The rune carved into his arm felt like pins and needles, compelling him to resist the influence on his mind even as Miss Lily's voice coaxed him to let his guard down. Without thinking, he stood up to get away from her, until a sharp pain in his knee forced him to remember why that was a bad idea. He half-collapsed onto the table as his master rushed to his side once more and picked him up.

"That's enough of this," said Alexander, holding Oliver in an iron grip. "You've caused my thrall quite enough distress for one day."

"I wanted to try, sir. It was my decision," Oliver pointed out.

"And he did great! He was able to resist Miss Lily, at least for a few moments," said Vivian. "He achieved at least some protection on the first try. I had a feeling he would have a natural aptitude for magic."

Oliver's pride at this was dampened by the disapproving look on his master's face. "That may be," said Alexander, "but that doesn't make magic any less dangerous. I'd prefer to keep my thrall out of such things, if you don't mind." He sat Oliver down on a chair by the fireplace and fussed with his bandaged arm.

Oliver couldn't help but feel a small sting. Having a natural aptitude for magic was exciting, something he didn't know before, a skill he could cultivate to be useful. The way his master shut it all down was…

"I suppose I had better not try to take your pain away, lest I cause you more," said Alexander, staring at the bandages as though the rune were carved to offend him personally.

"There isn't much pain, sir," said Oliver, and indeed, it had subsided since Miss Lily had stopped her attempt to enthrall him. "Thank you for allowing me to try."

"You're welcome." Alexander sighed, the bad mood seeming to bleed out of him now that Oliver was once more in arm's reach. "And I suppose some emergency protection doesn't hurt, but no more magic than that, all right?"

Vivian leaned forward. "But sir, I think Oliver would be adept at healing magics, which could --" The withering stare from Alexander caused her to shrink back into her seat, surprisingly meek. "I suppose you know best for your thrall, sir."

"That I do," said Alexander. "And once I complete this plan to dispose of my sire once and for all, I'll truly be worthy of the title of master."

Previous > Masterlist

I'm sure this won't have any relevance later. Thanks for reading.

Next week, Fitzwilliam attends the Maestro's ball and meets his former master, Alexander.

@d-cs @latenightcupsofcoffee @thecyrulik @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @wanderinggoblin

@whumpyourdamnpears @only-shadows-dwell-where-we-are @pressedpenn @pigeonwhumps @amusedmuralist

@vampiresprite @irregular-book @whumpsoda @und3ad-mutt

@sowhumpshaped @whumpsday @morning-star-whump @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @light-me-on-pyre @theauthorintraining @whump-me-all-night-long @anonfromcanada

@typewrittenfangs @tessellated-sunl1ght @cleverinsidejoke @abirbable @ichorousambrosia

@a-formless-entity @gobbo-king @writinggremlin @the-agency-archives @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi

@enigmawriteswhump @bottlecapreader @whump-on-a-string @whumpinthepot

@cinnamoncandycanes @avvail-whumps @tauntedoctopuses @secret-vampkissers-soiree @whatamidoingherehelpme

@strawbearydreams @ghost-whump @tippytappytyping @natthebatt @fire-bugg14

[writinggremlin]

how to explain to mutuals that while yes you can have my discord, and i wanna hang out! my response time is anywhere between 3-7 business days

[writinggremlin]

brainwashing fantasy scenario. mild dubcon, not actually as intense as you might expect from the word "brainwashing," but still a bit creepy and ominous.

---

though adrianus had given victor his lab months ago, the way they walked around it, it felt like they still owned it.

"ah, yes, i've had a new device installed here," they told him, gesturing toward the lab chair.

he didn't recall asking for anything like that, but he supposed he shouldn't complain about it - it was free, and perhaps he could have some use for it. "what is it?"

"i could explain, but... why don't you try it out for yourself?"

he stepped closer to the back of the chair, thinking he was going to go press some buttons there, or that they would hand him a remote, or something, to activate the device himself, but they stood between him and the controls, their body facing toward the seat. they stared at him, their eyes simply tracking him as he moved, with the same placid smile that they always seemed to have on their face. it felt almost like a video game npc, silently staying in its spot, waiting for him to activate the next trigger. and it seemed that it was not triggered by him approaching the buttons.

victor blinked, before smiling and forcing a small chuckle. "i'm ready for you to show me how it's operated," he said.

their expression didn't change. they looked especially uncanny under the green glow of the laboratory. almost unmoving, they simply replied, "good. then let me show you."

they both stood and looked at each other, with only the sounds of various machines humming and whirring, chemicals bubbling, and victor's heartbeat pounding in his ears.

"the machine is ready," adrianus said.

"then... i can start it, if you... tell me how..."

"i'll be the one starting it."

"you don't mean..." he trailed off.

"is something the matter?" they asked. "the chair is much more comfortable than it looks. the restraints won't hurt you."

he laughed. "you- you're- you mean you want to use this device on me? you want to subject me to... i don't even know what exactly this does. you expect me to try out a random..."

they continued to stare, not reacting in the slightest. it gave him this odd feeling that it was pointless for him to argue. that nothing he could say could change the situation. that perhaps his thoughts didn't even matter to begin with.

but of course they mattered! he swallowed, his eyes darting between them and the chair. "why don't you... explain it, first, actually?"

their face finally changed, ever so slightly, their smile widening, just a bit. their expression seemed... softer. "you don't trust me?"

"it isn't about that, i just- i would like to... know what exactly i am getting into. i mean, it- you gave me this lab, so i don't see why you would... hurt me, or anything, but..." he tried to maintain eye contact. "i'd just like to know what to expect... what you're going to... do to me."

"it's just a brainwashing device," they said.

he could only stare, unable to react.

what would be the appropriate reaction? they had said it so casually. it was so surreal that the usual feeling of danger one should have from such a statement was drowned out entirely by pure disbelief. was it a joke?

"excuse me?" he finally asked, his voice quiet.

"it's a brainwashing device," they repeated, with the same tone.

"you want to brainwash me?"

"i thought i'd let you give it a try. it's quite an amazing device."

a chill ran down his spine.

it was strange. all of it was strange. there was nothing stopping him from running away, or even just refusing. if they had wanted to force him to do it, they wouldn't have just asked him, they wouldn't have just told him what it was.

somehow, that was all the more unsettling. it was as if they expected him to just comply. as if they didn't think it was a particularly big deal. as if it was so obvious that he would let them brainwash him, that they didn't have to do anything except ask.

for some reason, rather than arguing, he meekly spat out a few questions. "what exactly does this brainwashing... entail? is it permanent? what exactly do you plan on doing to me?"

"it feels very good," they said, caressing the device as they spoke. "it feels tingly. your brain is overloaded with pleasure. it runs all the way down your spine, through your whole body." the words were punctuated by a single finger trailing down the machine.

his turtleneck and lab coat were starting to feel uncomfortably warm. "but what would happen to me? my personality? my self?"

"you'll still be yourself. i wouldn't want to change that. in fact, you'll be able to be returned... mostly to normal, even afterward. it's more like another state you can enter." they tilted their head, that same smiling expression on their face. "it's really something you have to experience for yourself."

his fingers ran through his hair, his eyes wandering to the tile on the floor. "but what is that... other state, exactly?"

"of course it varies a bit for everyone, and also depends on the settings in the machine, and what someone tells you as you are being brainwashed. but, perhaps it could be described as your mind being opened. just feeling a bit more willing to listen. to act without having to think so much."

there was no circumstance in which he should even consider such a thing. even though he knew that, the casual way they explained it had almost made it feel safe, harmless. normal.

"and what would you be telling me, while i was in such a vulnerable state?"

"oh, just to listen, and obey, and to enjoy the feeling of being brainwashed."

he nearly shivered.

"is there something specifically that you want to make me do? is there any reason you need me to be more obedient? i just- is there something that you want to use me for?"

"i don't think you understand, victor." even that simple statement made him squirm. "if there were something in particular that i wanted to use you for, i wouldn't have to resort to something like this. i am already the one providing you with this lab, and all of these machines. even your outfit. in a way, you could almost say... that i own you, or at least your villain persona."

"i- i wouldn't go that far..." and yet, it certainly felt that way, with how they spoke to him.

"i only want to see the blissful look on your face as you give in to it."

his mind went blank. this was... this was...? what was this? flirting? sexual intent? somehow, this felt even more perverse than the scenarios that had been flashing through his head, of being turned into their henchman, or their drone, or emptied out entirely and made into some sort of husk. this wasn't about some sort of special evil plan of theirs, about accomplishing some sort of goal, it was about him.

"don't you want to try it? don't you want to know how it feels to be deeply brainwashed? i would love to brainwash you, victor."

their voice was slow, gentle, seductive. he could hear his own breathing becoming heavier.

"why don't you just remove your lab coat, and sit down?"

he found himself taking off his coat, staring ahead with wide eyes at nothing in particular, as if they had already done something to him, though he was pretty sure they hadn't. he was more reluctant to follow the other part of their request. his eyes focused again, looking back at adrianus.

"you... you really aren't going to... do anything else to me..."

"would you want me to do anything else?"

"no, no, of course not," he said quickly, throwing his coat to the ground. "i- i'll just... get in the chair..."

he was really going to do this. he didn't entirely understand his actions himself. he supposed he... was a bit curious, and it didn't seem as though adrianus had bad intentions... he would just... try it.

the seat was quite comfortable, and adrianus adjusted the restraints for him, asking him to try and move, until they were tight enough that he hardly could. they had lingered on that for just a bit too long, until it really began to sink in that he was now completely at their mercy. he couldn't help but pull his arm more seriously, as if he was really trying to escape. he was thoroughly restrained.

"that's right," they murmured. "that's perfect."

what was the point of the restraints in the first place? to prevent him from backing out of it? or was the brainwashing process intense enough that he would have to be held in place for his own safety?

or perhaps adrianus had just wanted to see him struggle against it.

they pet his head, lightly scratching it with their gloved fingertips, a strangely tender gesture which caught him off guard.

it made him feel sort of like a dog. not quite a possession of theirs, but still... theirs, when you came down to it. this was what they were doing to him, while he was stuck here, while they knew he couldn't resist, or do anything about it... petting him.

he became very aware of the fact that they had encouraged him to wear a harness when picking out his outfit.

"are you ready to be brainwashed?" they asked softly.

sure enough, there was affection in their voice, almost like the way you would talk to a pet, although there was an undertone that certainly wouldn't be present in that case.

"i... i suppose i am."

"good," they said, pulling down the helmet.

when it made contact with his head, he realized there were little bumps all over the bottom of it, slightly pressing into his scalp and part of the back of his neck. there wasn't a visor, or headphones, but it seemed as though either or both of them could have easily been attached to it. the holes for the headphones allowed it to accommodate his twin tails. or... were they specifically there for that purpose in the first place?

come to think of it, didn't his hairstyle sort of look like big, fluffy ears?

"just relax... i'm going to switch it on in a moment."

"ah, right..." he still felt tense from the anticipation.

"oh, it's alright. even if you cannot relax now, you'll relax very soon."

the helmet vibrated, the little bumps providing something like a massage. that sensation alone made him tremble, but then he could feel... shocks? it didn't hurt, but he didn't know what else he would call it. they were sudden and powerful, and sent waves through his brain, down his spine, all the way through his body. he couldn't stop himself from shuddering and squirming, just out of sheer... pleasure. it was good, it was so good... he could hardly believe it. he could hardly even think.

suddenly, it was like some sort of switch had flipped in his body, and even though the tingling had only become more intense, his shoulders sank, his body going limp. as if all he could do was give in to the feeling.

all the while, adrianus had been watching him very intently. he felt their gaze, even as he had stopped thinking about it, but he became aware of it again. he was... being brainwashed. in front of them. they were brainwashing him.

he was supposed to be... bothered by that, wasn't he? or at the very least, embarrassed. he could feel the heat in his face. it must have been bright red. no, his whole body... his whole body was warm.

adrianus cooed at him, telling him how good he was doing, that he could just relax and give in, as the shocks seemed to become gentler, slower. their words produced a similar sensation to the machine, each sound that came from their mouth reverberating through his mind. he could almost feel it in his brain, a dull, tingly feeling in his head, pulsing, releasing something... signals, chemicals, dripping down... down... down.

"you're responding very well to this. as i expected... you love being brainwashed, don't you?"

he nodded, overcome with something almost like dizziness.

"you want to be good for me, don't you?"

he nodded.

"very good."

the machine sent another shock through him, making him twitch. as if the sound of those words alone wasn't enough of a reward.

his muscles relaxed again, perhaps even more so than before. he felt entirely and utterly helpless already. it wasn't impossible to think, but he could only think enough to be aware of the fact that he would likely do anything they asked. that he wanted to do anything they asked. he wanted to be rewarded, praised, until his brain was fried, until his body no longer responded to his own commands.

there was this sort of emptiness, this quiet that came in response to those thoughts. he expected to feel something, some sort of pushback, fear, unease. but there was almost nothing. just the slightest trace of resistance, so faded it was hardly there, like when you erase something that you had written in pencil, and if you look closely, you can see that light gray smear, but you can't quite make out what it used to be.

"it's good for you, you know," adrianus said. "it's good to be brainwashed. it can help you relax. it can help you with any goals you might have. you can change things about yourself..."

it was as if the words were slipping directly into his very being.

"i like your stubbornness, of course..." they caressed his cheek. "there's no need for you to always be so open... but i suppose that's why it's such a treat when you are."

a treat... that's exactly what it was. he melted at their touch, or perhaps he was melting at the words, or the machine, or all of it at once. it blurred together.

"it feels good to be brainwashed. you'll let me do this to you again, won't you?"

he nodded.

"that's right... very good."

another zap, followed by another wave of deep relaxation.

"do you want me to train you? even if your personality is in tact, wouldn't it feel good if i could override it with just a few simple commands? if you could follow without even thinking about it? without even being able to fight it? even while you were awake?"

he found himself nodding, even as something tugged inside of him. it was an exciting idea, one that made his heart speed up, that felt oddly satisfying, that felt right.

adrianus seemed satisfied, as well. "perfect..."

shock.

relaxation.

"it's so nice to obey me, isn't it? why don't you tell me that, out loud?"

"it feels... good to obey you..."

"very good."

shock.

relaxation.

it did feel good.

"listen very closely," they said. "when i tell you to watch, you will look at me, listen to me, only me, and wait for another command. do you understand?"

"yes..."

"watch."

though he hadn't been looking at much in particular before, his eyes focused again, pointing directly at theirs. his thoughts, which had already been sort of distant and blurry, almost seemed to freeze.

"very good."

zap.

release.

weakness.

"watch."

he straightened up and stared.

"good."

zap.

release.

"even when you aren't connected to the machine, when you hear that command, you will stop and listen. you will know when i mean it as a command. it is not about the word itself, but the way that i say it. do you understand?"

"yes."

"very good."

there was no shock this time, but his body still reacted almost the same.

"i'm going to turn off the machine. your thoughts and focus will return to you, but you may still feel a bit fuzzy for a while. this is normal, and nothing to be concerned about."

as soon as the device was shut down, and the helmet lifted from his head, he blinked rapidly.

at the very least, he was back to normal. he was himself again. he could feel it. even some of his tension returned to him, although his body did still seem more relaxed than before.

"how do you feel?" adrianus asked.

"i- i feel... clearer, i guess. but..." he pulled against the restraints.

"ah, you're still trapped in that chair, aren't you?" they said, not making any effort to move or change that.

"yes, i am..." he paused for a moment, but they remained still. "we- we're done with the brainwashing, aren't we?"

"are we?"

he struggled a bit more, not quite panicking, but with a vague sense of confusion and desperation. his heart pounded in his ears again. how long were they going to keep him here? what had he gotten himself into? he had only agreed to try it. it should have been over now, shouldn't it?

they seemed to enjoy watching every second of his squirming. their gaze as they looked down on him put a sort of pressure on him, a pressure he could almost feel, weighing him down until he was too self conscious to continue moving.

"victor."

"y... yes?"

"watch."

his eyes widened, fixed on their face.

"very good."

the same feelings from before flooded through him, making him shudder. he hadn't thought about it earlier, but it was sort of humiliating, reacting so visibly in front of them. it was like being naked before them, allowing them to see everything, to touch him however they pleased.

"watch."

his eyes were forced back up to them, his embarrassment becoming just a warm feeling in the back of his awareness.

"relax."

the tension left his muscles immediately, his shoulders sinking back down, a mild tingling sensation running through him.

"what is... how..."

he did remember the command they had given him earlier, but it was another thing to actually experience it, to know it worked.

"you're doing so well."

he tried to resist, but the nice feelings from the praise still went right through him.

"you... you said that you just wanted to see the look on my face, didn't you?"

"oh yes," they said. "but is it so wrong for me to want to see it a few more times?"

it was dizzying, in an entirely different way from the machine. his tension, his nervousness, his... excitement, those were the things that were frying his brain now, in a much more metaphorical sense. he was all too aware of their enjoyment of this, the way they were staring at him, teasing him. the way that, at any moment, they could simply lower the helmet again... just thinking about it gave him chills, and he had been feeling so much of that that his back was starting to feel weird.

"i find it very interesting," adrianus said, in a low voice, "how at no point have you told me to stop. you struggled, but you did not ask me to free you. you asked if we were done, but you didn't tell me you've had enough. how do you really feel about this, victor?"

"i- i just- it's a habit of mine, to be polite, and... especially when it's... you. you're..."

"watch."

he obeyed.

"tell me if you want to stop."

"i don't," he said in a flat tone, the words escaping his lips before he could even process them.

he blinked. "i-i mean- that's- i..."

their hand moved back to the helmet, the simple gesture sending his mind into a frenzy. "you love being brainwashed, don't you?"

"i... it... i mean, it felt good, but... you can't just..."

he froze as the little bumps made contact with his head.

"just indulge me for a little while longer, alright?"

the shocks returned. his body twitched and spasmed, strange noises escaping his throat, before going limp, completely still and quiet.

"very good."

it was so nice. it was so, very, nice.

[writinggremlin]

I saw someone Mention the idea of whumpee being branded with whumpers family crest, organization mark, initials, ect, ect.

And I'd like to add to that with the idea of a freed whumpee, being found in the bathroom by caretaker, blood slowly dripping to the floor as caretaker carefully approaches, asking a shaking, tearful whumpee to just hand the blade over.

Caretaker has to clean up the blood from the overlapping cuts and whumpee finally breaks down when they see that the old mark whumper left is still visible.

They promise caretaker they won't hurt themselves like that again but they already know it's not true.

[writinggremlin]

[writinggremlin]

bring back tumblr ask culture let me. bother you with questions and statements

[writinggremlin]

a writing competition i was going to participate in again this year has announced that they now allow AI generated content to be submitted

their reasoning being that "we couldn't ban it even if we wanted to, every writer already uses it anyway"

"Every writer"?

come on

[writinggremlin]

The Rare Bookseller Part 94: Oliver's Protection

Previous > Masterlist

tw: mind control, self harm

"I want training, too, sirs!" Oliver blurted out. Everyone turned to look at him quizzically.

"Oliver, I appreciate that you want to help, but you can't even walk right now, much less --"

"I know, sir, and I don't expect to be trained as a hunter. But if I could help with the magic, perhaps…" His hands twisted the fabric of his pants. "I would at least like to know how to carve the protective rune, the one Vivian uses. Just in case your sire…"

Just in case there came a time where Alexander couldn't protect Oliver from his sire, a true emergency where a moment of lucidity might make a difference. He didn't dare say it, as it seemed disrespectful to point out the possibility that his master might fail. Any protection offered by the rune would only shield Oliver briefly at best. Still, the thought of having this tool in his arsenal made him feel slightly better, as though he wasn't a complete sitting duck. He looked up at his master, pleading with his eyes.

But his master was scowling. "Absolutely not."

Oliver realized how his request must have sounded, like he was looking for a way to prevent himself from being enthralled by Alexander himself, when that hadn't been his intention at all. He shrank away, embarrassed.

Before he could try to explain himself, Miss Lily chimed in. "Why not? I don't see the harm in it. Wouldn't it be good for him to have some emergency protection against other vampires, especially your sire?"

"That was what I was thinking, sir," said Oliver, eagerly agreeing. "I didn't mean anything against you at all."

Alexander softened. "I'm sure you didn't, but still…" His arms gripped Oliver a little tighter. "I can't bear the thought of being unable to enthrall you, even temporarily, even as a test for your own protection."

"You wouldn't have to test the protection. I could do it," said Miss Lily. "Why don't we chat for a bit while my Vivian gives Oliver a lesson? If he can successfully gain the protection, I can do my best to enthrall him." She stroked Vivian's hair. "If you're willing to play nicely with my declawed hunter, then surely Oliver gaining a little of her knowledge isn't a threat."

"I know Oliver isn't a threat, it's just…" Alexander sighed. "Fine. I suppose you do make a good point, that it could provide him some desperate option in a worst-case scenario. As much as I detest the idea of Oliver being out of my reach, I also detest the idea of my sire puppeting him to his whims. I suppose it wouldn't do any harm for him to learn, just as long as he never tries to use it against me."

"No, never, sir," said Oliver emphatically. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"You say that, but… Well, I suppose I owe you a bit of trust, considering how much trust I ask of you. Especially considering I have failed to protect you on multiple occasions. Very well, learn the protective rune, and let Lily test if it worked."

"Thank you, sir." Oliver hoped that his master wasn't upset by his request. He just felt so utterly helpless in the face of their risky plan to kill the Maestro, and having even a small bit of knowledge would help ease his mind.

With that decided, Alexander and Lily moved to a couch nearer the fireplace (but still well in view of the thralls), and Oliver settled next to Vivian as she pulled a thick book from her bag and placed it on the table. Up close, Oliver could see that it was practically falling apart from use, dog-eared and marked everywhere with notes. She flipped it to a page showing instructions for how to carve a particular rune.

"This is the book on witchcraft and hunting that's been passed down in my family for generations. It's all I have left of my mother, so please be careful with it," she said.

"Of course. I would never mistreat a book, even if it weren't so precious as that."

"It might be easiest if you read these few pages first, to get an idea about how the rune works. I've never taught anyone, so I'm probably poor at explaining things."

"That's fine with me. I learn best by reading anyway." Oliver began reading over the descriptions of each portion of the rune and what it represented. He found he was growing a bit excited about the prospect of doing magic, real magic, instead of having all of the supernatural happenings done to him. Perhaps if this went well, he could convince Vivian to teach him more.

Nonetheless, he couldn't help but be distracted by his master's quiet chat with Miss Lily.

"I'm surprised that you're okay with this plan," said Alexander. "I would have assumed you'd be dead set against anything so risky as this. If you're thinking of sabotaging this for my own good, I swear --"

"No. Nothing like that." Miss Lily leaned back into the couch. "And I still do think this plan is risky, but I hardly have a choice but to allow you to do it, unless I can think of something better."

"I can guess what's caused the sudden change of heart. Or rather, who has caused the sudden change of heart. You really have become attached to that hunter, haven't you?"

Miss Lily waved him off. "Yes, yes, feel free to say 'I told you so' all you want. You have me dead to rights. I couldn't stand the thought of our sire getting his hands on Vivian. Happy?"

Alexander chuckled. "It is a bit gratifying to see you getting so attached after you've admonished me so much," he said. "But all joking aside, I think you needed this. I could tell how you haven't truly been yourself since Miriam was… compromised. You lacked a thrall that was wholly your own."

"I didn't want to think I needed it so badly," she said. "I think maybe that's part of why I was so insistent on foisting Oliver on you. I could tell that you were perfect for each other, and I thought at least you should have the indulgence I was denying myself."

"Well, I certainly don't mind that you did. I was upset at first, but you were right. Oliver is perfect, and I'm glad to have him."

Oliver stared down more intently at the book, cheeks burning from the praise. It was still so strange and wonderful to be so wanted. He forced himself to focus on what he was reading and tune out his master's conversation.

Once he had finished, and Vivian had gone over the material with him -- then came the moment when the discussion turned from the academic to the practical. Oliver had put out of his mind the fact that this rune would need to be carved into his skin, and felt a bit dizzy as Vivian produced her silver knife.

"I recommend first drawing or painting it on your skin. You certainly don't want to make mistakes when you're handling the knife."

"I certainly don't." Oliver rolled down his left sleeve and kept his hand as steady as possible as he took up his fountain pen and drew the rune on the meat of his forearm, exactly as it was in the diagram, taking care not to scratch himself prematurely.

Vivian looked on approvingly. "You're a natural. That looks exactly right. You've even properly drawn the character at the 3 o'clock point -- that one often trips people up." She unsheathed the knife, turning it around and handing it to him. "Now you know what you have to do. Make sure it's cut in the correct order. Shallow cuts, just barely breaking the skin. I don't think your master would appreciate it if you waste too much of your blood."

Oliver glanced up at Alexander, who had ceased chatting with Miss Lily and was now staring right at him, giving him a small nod that seemed to indicate that Oliver should proceed. "I can make it painless, if you'd like," Alexander said.

"No, sir, if I truly need to use this, then --" He didn't want to say it out loud, to invoke the possibility that his master might not be there to defend him. "I wish to be able to do it on my own, if you please, sir."

"If you're going to do this at all, then I suppose that seems the most sensible."

"You can do it," said Vivian. "Just a little scratch, and it will be over soon enough."

Oliver gathered his courage and pressed the tip of his knife to one of the lines he'd drawn on his skin. The knife was razor sharp, and it didn't take much pressure at all for a bead of blood to well up under the point.

"That's it," Vivian encouraged. "No deeper than that. Just enough to draw blood. And don't forget to speak the words we rehearsed."

"Right." He almost considered calling it off, saying it was a mistake for him to want to learn to defend himself in this way, but some stubborn part of him refused. He was safe here in the library, with his master nearby, and Vivian had thoughtfully laid out some bandages. There wouldn't be a better time to try this.

He took one more deep breath and began to scratch the rune into his skin, as quickly as possible without sacrificing accuracy, trying to ignore the pain. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke the words, blood dripping down his arm and onto the table in front of him. When he had finished carving the symbol, he felt a kind of warmth from the self-inflicted wound, a strange tingling sensation.

"I think it took, at least a little bit. Well done," said Vivian. "These bandages are coated with a powder that hides the smell of blood. Otherwise, the vampires will be able to smell you out from miles around."

Indeed, Alexander was looking at Oliver like a man possessed, and Oliver knew that his master would be taking a meal after Miss Lily and Vivian went home. Miss Lily seemed affected as well, staring at Oliver as he bandaged the wound.

"Well, let's see if it worked, then," said Miss Lily, sauntering over to sit next to Oliver on the couch. "You're such a delightfully susceptible thrall. Let's see if a bit of magic can truly make you immune to my voice."

"All right, sir."

Miss Lily gripped his chin, directing his eyes straight into hers. "Relax, dear, relax and slip under my control. You won't be able to resist."

And the rune on Oliver's arm burned.

He pulled away from Miss Lily, not hypnotized in the slightest, but nonetheless incapacitated by the blinding pain from his arm. Seething, he curled up into a ball, trying to calm himself down from the pain.

"It's okay, Oliver, you're doing well," said Vivian, rubbing his back.

Before Oliver could respond, Alexander had snatched him up, holding him in a bridal carry. "Are you all right?" he said. "I knew this was a bad idea."

"It's fine, sir!" Vivian protested. "The brand is meant to hurt. That's part of how it protects you from hypnosis. It'll be the same for you, when you've devised the modified rune, I would think."

"You should put him down, Lex," said Miss Lily. "He wants to test it, don't you, Oliver?"

"Yes, sir," he said through gritted teeth. There was little point in exposing himself to this pain if he didn't gain some knowledge from it.

"Fine, but I will be comforting him once you're done," said Alexander, as he begrudgingly set Oliver back down.

"Are you ready, Oliver?" asked Miss Lily.

He nodded, trying to look determined.

"Then focus, dear. Focus on my voice and allow it to relax you. Focus only on me, and become so sleepy, so very sleepy…"

Oliver could feel the influence tugging at his mind, even through the pain, but the rune was keeping him awake and alert. "I think it's working, sir."

"Is that so? Then do something else for me." She reached out and pressed a hand to his forehead. "Quiet, Oliver. Just be oh so quiet for me."

It was Miss Lily's trigger that she'd implanted in him back at the auction house, and despite everything he'd been through, it still had a hook in his mind. He struggled against the sensation of his thoughts slowing and grinding to a halt, trying to resist the growing urge towards obedience. And all the while, the brand on his arm burned so strongly that it was starting to feel numb and cold.

"Come here, Oliver," said Miss Lily, opening her arms to him, and it felt magnetized, like he was being drawn in regardless of his own will. But even through the growing haze and the pain, he remembered he was meant to be resisting.

"No," he said in a strangled voice, backing away into Vivian, who was behind him.

"No? You don't want to rest in my arms?" Miss Lily said teasingly.

The rune carved into his arm felt like pins and needles, compelling him to resist the influence on his mind even as Miss Lily's voice coaxed him to let his guard down. Without thinking, he stood up to get away from her, until a sharp pain in his knee forced him to remember why that was a bad idea. He half-collapsed onto the table as his master rushed to his side once more and picked him up.

"That's enough of this," said Alexander, holding Oliver in an iron grip. "You've caused my thrall quite enough distress for one day."

"I wanted to try, sir. It was my decision," Oliver pointed out.

"And he did great! He was able to resist Miss Lily, at least for a few moments," said Vivian. "He achieved at least some protection on the first try. I had a feeling he would have a natural aptitude for magic."

Oliver's pride at this was dampened by the disapproving look on his master's face. "That may be," said Alexander, "but that doesn't make magic any less dangerous. I'd prefer to keep my thrall out of such things, if you don't mind." He sat Oliver down on a chair by the fireplace and fussed with his bandaged arm.

Oliver couldn't help but feel a small sting. Having a natural aptitude for magic was exciting, something he didn't know before, a skill he could cultivate to be useful. The way his master shut it all down was…

"I suppose I had better not try to take your pain away, lest I cause you more," said Alexander, staring at the bandages as though the rune were carved to offend him personally.

"There isn't much pain, sir," said Oliver, and indeed, it had subsided since Miss Lily had stopped her attempt to enthrall him. "Thank you for allowing me to try."

"You're welcome." Alexander sighed, the bad mood seeming to bleed out of him now that Oliver was once more in arm's reach. "And I suppose some emergency protection doesn't hurt, but no more magic than that, all right?"

Vivian leaned forward. "But sir, I think Oliver would be adept at healing magics, which could --" The withering stare from Alexander caused her to shrink back into her seat, surprisingly meek. "I suppose you know best for your thrall, sir."

"That I do," said Alexander. "And once I complete this plan to dispose of my sire once and for all, I'll truly be worthy of the title of master."

Previous > Masterlist

I'm sure this won't have any relevance later. Thanks for reading.

Next week, Fitzwilliam attends the Maestro's ball and meets his former master, Alexander.

@d-cs @latenightcupsofcoffee @thecyrulik @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @wanderinggoblin

@whumpyourdamnpears @only-shadows-dwell-where-we-are @pressedpenn @pigeonwhumps @amusedmuralist

@vampiresprite @irregular-book @whumpsoda @und3ad-mutt

@sowhumpshaped @whumpsday @morning-star-whump @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @light-me-on-pyre @theauthorintraining @whump-me-all-night-long @anonfromcanada

@typewrittenfangs @tessellated-sunl1ght @cleverinsidejoke @abirbable @ichorousambrosia

@a-formless-entity @gobbo-king @writinggremlin @the-agency-archives @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi

@enigmawriteswhump @bottlecapreader @whump-on-a-string @whumpinthepot

@cinnamoncandycanes @avvail-whumps @tauntedoctopuses @secret-vampkissers-soiree @whatamidoingherehelpme

@strawbearydreams @ghost-whump @tippytappytyping @natthebatt @fire-bugg14

[writinggremlin]

The Rare Bookseller Part 92: Oliver's Homecoming

Previous > Masterlist > Next

tw: mind control, ableism

November 1925

"I can't believe how well I slept last night, doctor," said the man in the bed next to Oliver's. "It was like I didn't have any pain at all."

"That's what everyone in the ward has been saying for the past couple weeks." The doctor shook his head and made some notes. "I'd almost say it's a miracle."

Oliver stared out the window at the bright, sunny morning, and tried not to feel guilty that the miraculous pain relief was about to be over. The certainly wouldn't think it was a miracle if he knew the truth. Alexander, true to his word, had been arriving every night to chat with Oliver, bring him books, and sing away his pain. To conceal his coming and going, he would put the entire ward into a deep, painless sleep. A convenient mercy.

"And how have you been this morning, Oliver?" asked the doctor, arriving at the foot of his bed. "Did you sleep well? Any pain?"

"Yes, and very little," he said. Over the course of several evenings, he'd been hypnotized by his master into being almost entirely unable to feel his leg pain. He'd been transferred into a smaller and lighter cast and taught how to use crutches, and Alexander said that he'd made all of the necessary preparations at his manor, Oliver's home.

"You're cleared for discharge today," he said. "Do you have someone coming to pick you up?"

"Yes. A -- a friend."

Alexander had told him he'd considered simply taking Oliver from the hospital in the night, but Oliver had convinced him to let him stay as long as the doctor felt it was necessary. Of course, the hospital normally conducted visitation and discharges during the day, so Alexander couldn't be the one to collect Oliver, as much as he was eager to do so. Alexander had assured him that there would be someone -- a "surprise."

It would have to be a human, not a vampire. Oliver couldn't think of who it would be, apart from some of the other thralls he'd met. Katherine, maybe, who seemed reliable and who had known Alexander for some time.

And then, he'd be returning back to the manor, unlikely to leave under his own free will ever again. He could only hope that his master's vaguely described plans to destroy his sire came to fruition and that the two of them would be allowed to live in peace. He could just close his eyes and imagine the safety of the library, with his master near…

"Oliver Pines?" It was the same kind nurse who knew about vampires. Oliver hoped she'd never have to deal with them again. "Your friend has arrived."

It took Oliver a good minute to recognize the person approaching his bed. She was tall, with a thick dark braid, wearing a floral dress with a wide neck, a relaxed smile on her face.

"Hello, Oliver. Glad you've made a recovery."

Oliver's eyes were popping out of their sockets. "Vivian?"

She shrugged. "Lord Alexander sent me to get you. My circumstances have changed significantly since we last saw each other. Didn't he tell you?"

"He said you were with Miss Lily… but…"

But somehow, Oliver hadn't anticipated quite this complete transformation. He remembered Vivian dressed in her leather vest and sturdy pants, with knives and stakes strapped to her belt, everything well worn with evidence of past blood stains. She'd had an air of exhaustion underneath her tough and practical exterior. This Vivian seemed relaxed and well-rested, and the only indication of her former occupation was her muscular arms.

"Miss Lily is my new madam. She's been… surprisingly kind to me, given everything. I think I understand your point of view more than I did, to say the least," she said.

"I see." A sharp pang of guilt stabbed Oliver. This was his fault. He was sure that Vivian would have rather been killed than serve a vampire, especially Miss Lily, who had been responsible for making so many of the thralls Vivian had dedicated her life to rescuing.

Especially Miss Lily, who might have to give Vivian over to the Maestro any time he demanded.

"We should be having this conversation in the car," she said. "Don't you want to get out of the hospital?"

Oliver nodded, and the next thing he knew, Vivian was lifting him out of the bed and plopped into a hospital wheelchair. A nearby nurse squealed with delight to see it. "Oh, you're a strong one, aren't you?"

"I try," said Vivian, and she wheeled Oliver out of the ward and out into the sunlight. He took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling the sun on his face, not knowing when he'd enjoy the sunshine next, if ever. Vivian took him to a car parked on the curb. His memories of the night he'd been kidnapped were hazy due to the sleeping potion, but he was fairly sure this was not the same car.

"It's Miss Lily's car," said Vivian, answering his unspoken question. "She had me borrow it for this errand." She got Oliver out of the wheelchair and placed him in the passenger's seat. "I'll be right back - I need to take this wheelchair back inside. Your master has a new one waiting for you at home."

Home. Oliver, alone in the car, stared down at his hands. He was going home, where his master was waiting to welcome to him. It should be a happy occasion. Why did he feel such awful dread?

"Are you all right?" asked Vivian as she got into the driver's seat and started the car.

"I think so. I'm just anxious."

"I've only known you a short time, but that seems to be a common state of affairs for you, doesn't it?" she said. "I don't think there's anything for you to worry about. Your master is going to be very glad to see you."

Vivian's complete about-face was certainly driving his anxiety. It was one thing to meet other thralls. It was another thing entirely to see someone so vastly changed right before his eyes, like Emily had been. Vivian, who seemed to believe that the only good vampire was a dead vampire, who insisted that Alexander could never care for Oliver, who had an incredibly dim view of thralls defending their masters -- now she seemed to be firmly under the control of Miss Lily. Certainly, his master trusted her enough to carry out this errand.

"So…" Oliver fidgeted awkwardly. "Are you all right, then? With Miss Lily."

"I am," she said. "I thought it would be terrifying, a fate worse than death, to be under a vampire's spell, but it seems I was wrong. Serving Miss Lily makes me feel fulfilled in a way I never was as a hunter."

"You think so?"

"Being a hunter seemed like such important work, but it was so thankless. Killing vampires only caused more vampires to target me. Rescuing thralls… well, it was always a coin flip as to whether they'd be grateful or furious with me. Like you were."

Oliver blushed, embarrassed that he'd ended up back with Alexander, just as he'd told Vivian he wouldn't. He could see now that escaping his master's orbit had never been a serious possibility. It was where he belonged, tucked away in his master's manor, his busy mind safely under Alexander's thumb.

"I understand that now," said Vivian. "I couldn't fathom how thralls like you could be so defensive of a monster, even when I lifted their hypnosis. But now, if someone tried to tear me away from Miss Lily, I would fight them with everything I had." She turned to Oliver with a frighteningly intense look on her face. "Nothing is more important than protecting my madam."

"I suppose not."

"We were never going to root out all of the vampires, and it was futile for us to even try," Vivian explained, "and vampires require thralls for their well-being. My madam's work is crucial for ensuring that vampires have the thralls they need and that the thralls are content and don't suffer."

"That's… all true, I suppose," said Oliver, taken off guard. "Miss Lily has been good to me. So you don't think vampires are incapable of caring about humans any more?"

Vivian looked thoughtful. "I think they must care in a different way than humans do," she said. "But ultimately, maybe it doesn't matter. I know my place and I intend to carry out my duty."

Oliver could see so clearly what Miss Lily had done, trading out Vivian's fervor for destroying vampires for an equally strong fervor for protecting them -- or at least, for protecting Miss Lily herself. But even though he understood the mechanism, he was in no way equipped to argue against it. After all, he'd been taken just as thoroughly by his own master.

There was really only one thing nagging at him. "But what about your revenge against the Maestro? Aren't you worried?"

"No. Not any more," she said with conviction. "Miss Lily is as devoted to his destruction as I am -- we're very much of one mind in that regard. She's working on a plan along with your master, and I'm pleased to be a part of it. I believe you'll be involved as well, once you've had a rest and settled back in."

"I'm glad there's a plan," he said. "If only he were gone… I would love to see my master happy and at peace." He thought of how content Alexander was when he was holding both Oliver and Fitz, how that contentment had filled Oliver in turn. That was the way things ought to be, and the only thing standing in their way was the Maestro.

The Maestro said he had potential. Oliver could only hope that the plan to kill him would succeed before that potential was ever realized.

They came to a stop at the curb in front of Alexander's manor. "Wait here, and I'll go get your wheelchair from the house," said Vivian.

Oliver watched her go and knock on the door, which opened after a very long moment. She disappeared inside. It was strange that the last time Oliver had seen the manor, he was being dragged out of it by Vivian, and now his master was simply allowing her in. Alexander must have been exceedingly confident in Lily's ability to turn a dangerous vampire hunter into a docile thrall.

He wondered if his own opinions had changed as much as Vivian's, and he simply didn't realize it. Vivian did seem to be aware of her about-face, but still… He knew he had been opposed to Alexander enthralling him once more, but his concerns seemed so immaterial now in the face of the calm bliss.

Perhaps humans really were weak things, meant only to serve vampires.

Vivian emerged from the house with a fine, sturdy looking wheelchair, carrying it down the stairs, which only raised further questions. Even in a wheelchair, how was he going to navigate the cluttered manor with its many staircases? How would he even get inside?

"There's an entrance around the back that doesn't have stairs," said Vivian, seeing his confusion and answering his question before he had a chance to ask it. She lifted him and placed him in the wheelchair, pushing him down a narrow path that led around the manor. The unkept bushes pricked at his arms and legs as he thought about how he was more at the mercy of his master than he'd ever been, unable to even walk without assistance.

The back door led to a small room with shelves of cleaning supplies. It must have been an entrance used by Alexander's rarely-seen housekeeper. Down a short corridor and through another door, Oliver found himself back in the familiar surroundings of the manor, the cluttered entranceway filled with bookcases. The scent of book bindings and dust filled up his lungs.

He was home.

Alexander stepped out from the library, looking absolutely exhausted; after all, it was the middle of the afternoon, when he would normally sleep. That exhaustion did nothing to dampen the intense desire in his eyes. He approached Oliver, taking his chin in his hand and tilting his face upwards.

"Welcome home," he said, sharp eyes gazing directly into Oliver's soul.

Oliver could feel his aura bearing down on him like ocean waves, soothing, but threatening to pull him out to sea. "Master," he managed to get out.

"Seems I should leave the two of you alone, sir," said Vivian.

"Thank you very much for helping return Oliver from the hospital," said Alexander. "You've made a most excellent thrall, Vivian. Do give Lily my regards and my compliments."

Vivian seemed enraptured by the praise. "Thank you, sir."

"We'll see you both Thursday."

"Thursday, sir," she repeated.

"What happens Thursday, sir?" asked Oliver.

"Discussing the plans to destroy my sire once and for all," said Alexander. "But just for now, I want to put him far from both of our minds. You've finally come home."

"Home, sir," he said in a daze. Yes, this was home. He would be safe with Alexander.

Alexander saw Vivian out the door, then swiftly returned to Oliver' side, yawning. His yawn was catching, and even though Oliver had spent most of his time in the hospital sleeping, he found that he was also quite tired.

"I have moved your bedroom to one of the rooms downstairs, so that you have easier access, just as I promised," said Alexander. "But today… I have sorely missed your presence. Won't you join me in sleep, Oliver?"

"Yes, sir." There could be no other answer. Oliver was already so drowsy. He didn't resist as Alexander effortlessly picked him up and began to carry him up the stairs.

He'd be helpless to descend those stairs on his own now. More than ever, his existence was dependent on Alexander's help and his whims.

His master's bedroom was exactly as he remembered it, cool and dark and cluttered. Oliver was placed down so gently to sit on the edge of the bed, and Alexander wasted no time or words as he started to unbutton his shirt.

He would need Alexander to dress him, too, just as the nurses had to help dress him in the hospital. Any hope of choosing what he wished to wear was gone. But he'd prefer to wear the clothes that best pleased his master, anyway.

Right now, his master wished to strip him to his underwear, to prepare him for bed. Oliver had sometimes worn pajamas, but it seemed that those weren't in Alexander's plans. A darkly possessive eye roamed over Oliver's body, reminding him of when he was on display at the auction house, the first time he had truly known what Alexander was.

"I hope you realize that you are my most precious treasure," he said to Oliver, "and I don't intend to let you go ever again."

"Thank you, sir," said Oliver, sinking deeper into Alexander's spell, which seemed more powerful than ever.

"We will have much to discuss." Alexander unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. "But that can wait. I don't want you to think of any of your troubles or mine. I don't want you to think anything at all. It's time for both of us to rest."

"Rest…" Oliver's eyelids fluttered.

Alexander was only in his underclothes now. "Rest, yes. I haven't had a single decent sleep since you've been gone, Oliver. Not only did I miss the warmth you provide, but… it's difficult for my mind to quiet when my thrall is so far away."

"I appreciate you coming to see me each night, sir."

"I would have stayed during the day if that were practical. But now it's over, and you're here." He picked up Oliver and placed him in the bed with his head on the pillow, and pulled covers up over him. Oliver's breath hitched as strong, cold arms wrapped around his chest.

"Mine. My ideal thrall. My Oliver."

"I'm yours, sir." Oliver was already half asleep, lulled by the proximity of his master.

Previous > Masterlist > Next

And with that, the second act of Bookseller is officially complete!

The first act covered Oliver's time at the auction house and his purchase by Alexander. The second act covered so many things -- Oliver's new life, Fitz's life as Alexander's thrall, the introduction of the Maestro, Alexander's back story, Vivian's fall.

The third act will be focused primarily on the final fate of the Maestro and all the characters connected to him, and will be followed by an epilogue.

Thank you so much for reading my story!

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[writinggremlin]

Left-handed Ena Dream BBQ fan animation yayyy

[writinggremlin]

I LOVE YOUR WRITING!!! ONLY WROTE ONE WORD? BEAUTIFUL. WROTE TEN PAGES? AWESOME. HAVENT WRITTEN IN MONTHS? YOURE STILL DOING GREAT SWEETIE