||= Little Puppet Boy //closed- Shady

[Black Thorns]

Little puppet-boy, won't you come and play? the voice murmured, sensual and dangerous as she toyed with his marionette strings. Little puppet-boy...

Sobrius lowered his head, tucking it into his chest and feeling his legs begin to move, a slow and exaggerated Spanish walk. He felt new fingers pulling on his strings, new soft coaxing words in a new voice. Come, little puppet-boy, let us play in the cliffs. Little puppet-boy is pretty all smashed up. Why he was! He was all pretty colours of red all smashed up. The others showed him, all broken and red. Red was love-colour and they loved him so he should show them love too. Let them paint little puppet-boy pretty.
Little puppet boy is no fun with no dance. Dance little puppet-boy, dance... The voice was the small, innocent voice of a child. The little one grapsed his strings now, his spanish walk turning into a piaffe, the little voices ticking for him to switch his feet. They were all around him, all watching him dance. Dance for them, let them watch him perform.
Little puppet boy needs to show off more dances or he will show no pretty colours. The strings tightened, tightened, his muscles coiling as they did. Marionette, marrionette, let your strings pull. Let them never knot or tangle or they will cut you out and little puppet-boy is no more. Capriole boy! Dance for the pretty love-colours! Dance for them all or your strings will tangle... Leaping out in the air the crowd of little puppet-masters roared in applause.
Dance! Dance!
"Have I not danced enough?"
Never shall the dance be enough! Dance for us boy! Dance to the cliffs for a little game!
His dirty coat shone with sweat as he reared, hopping on his back legs for them all. Dance! Dance! He landed softly, before throwing his head into the air and whinnying loudly in protest.
DANCE, BOY! DANCE OR WE SHALL NEVER LOVE YOU! DANCE, DANCE! DANCE AND SING FOR US! DANCE AND PLAY PUPPET BOY! she screamed, jerking madly on his strings. His body contorted wildly in response, bucking and curving and rearing and jumping and twisting until the hands stilled. Good little puppet-boys always do as they're told, she hissed, low and deadly. Show us that you love us and you will be a good boy.
Sobrius couldn't still his body as it moved to the jagged edge of rocks, couldn't stop it as he pressed into it and walked along it. Lines of red rose on his coat, shallow, blood running down before they quickly scabbed over.
Now be a good little puppet-boy and dance. His feet picked up again, no matter how badly he wanted it to stop. Stop! No playing games, no dancing-

Come and play little puppet-boy.

[lady shady]

Sheba

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The Arab mare trotted along, steps still dainty, but definitely audible. Her ears flattened in annoyance at her loss of her soundlessness, which she had always prided herself on. Whipping her head around, she nipped at her swelling belly, catching her own skin beneath her teeth. Rama's foal--no, her foal was huge, and it was costing her her advantage when traveling. No longer could she travel as swiftly or silently, thanks to the foal. Stupid thing, she'd very much like to get rid of it, but she couldn't do that. This foal must be protected. This would be her way of ensuring her invincibility. She had carried it this long, might as well keep at it. Besides, patience was vital. "Patience" she cooed to herself in attempt to pacify the half of her repulsed by the growing fetus cradled within her alabaster body."Patience..."

She kept up a steady pace, headed towards the cliffs that she knew lay ahead. There was sufficient grazing in the area, enough to support her while she waited for this nuisance to be born. And best of all, not many horses ventured into the area, due to those dangerous cliffs. Granted, it wouldn't be the best place to foal given that, but she'd see what happened. She needed to recuperate. Rest. Relax. Perhaps find a stag or two to torment. She needed to play a little. Though there was no way that she'd let them as close as she'd let Rama. After this foal, she swore to herself she'd be done with all this nonsense. She'd have what she needed, and no other stag would she allow to breed her.

Suddenly, her ears picked up an unfamiliar noise. A odd cadence, a beating of hooves upon rock in a weirdly melodic rhythm. She moved slowly towards the source, more cautious than usual now that she wouldn't be able to escape as easily. A strange sight met her brown eyes. A muscular stag, sweating from the effort, was dancing. Intricate little movements, precise and measured. This was something new. And exactly what she needed. She floated forward, stopping a few feet away from him. Her standard greeting parted her lips:
"Why hello, handsome..."

--commentary--
like 389 words?
here we go!

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[Black Thorns]

"Why hello, handsome," she whispered, whoever she was. The puppet masters hissed in response. New! Someone new was here, and they didn't like it. They didn't like it at all. His dance stopped, the rhythmic tapping of his hooves falling silent as he stared. Stared. The hands pulled at his strings, telling him to go away. He didn't want to go away! She was new, and she was pretty, and she was- wait. Wait. Why was her belly so large? There was only one explaination that he knew of and that was that a foal was growing inside of her. A foal. He really didn't like foals, he found them bothersome. They found them bothersome. They interfered with the carefully strung strings and made them all tangled up. Foals and others. That was bad, very bad. They made his loyal worship lessen... It was then that Sobrius learned. The puppet-masters owned him. Puppet-masters were all that mattered.

But she was new! Brand new! Sobrius pulled against the strings, forcing his head to arch against the strings pulling him back and away. He wanted to stay and talk. His hooves dug into what little there was to grasp, legs stiffening to brace himself as they tugged. Little puppet-boy doesn't listen! Little puppet-boy is bad, bad! Little puppet-boy will learn!

Sobrius gritted his teeth in response, still and unmoving as they yanked at him. He didn't want to leave! They couldn't make him, no matter if he was the puppet-boy or not! He liked her, even though she held that thing in her. The strings fell slack, letting him be for just this once. Little puppet-boy could be Sobrius now, if only for a moment. His body relaxed, taking on a normal stance. Soon enough he found himself dipping into a low, respectful bow before her in greeting. "Pleasure to see such a marvelous beauty as yourself," he returned, sliding back into his normal stance. As he did, he felt the fingers grasp him once more. He was no more Sobrius. He was the little puppet-boy and the masters wanted to talk to her now.

His mother's voice cooed to him then. Mares like compliments and gentlemen. You must always upon greeting compliment them, or they will not like to speak to you. Be kind. Be a gentleman. You will be my little gentleman, won't you?


--behind the post--
about 400 words.
Sobrius wants to talk to Sheba. The voices don't like her but are curious, if that makes sense.
This will be interesting. very interesting.

[lady shady]

Sheba

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"Pleasure to see such a marvelous beauty as yourself," he replied smoothly. Mhmm, she'd bet it was. They all said that. No matter, he'd be fun to play with, twist, tear, make hers and eventually devastate. Even now, he was doing what they all did, raking his eyes greedily over her frame. Wait, what was he doing? He'd paused at her belly. Her ears twitched. The foal. Stupid Rama was so huge, and this baby seemed to be taking after him. This better be worth it; it was getting in the way of her life. It was ruining her game.

She coughed delicately, and turned in a way that minimized her size. It would be difficult convincing him that there was no foal in there, his eyes said that he knew. No matter, if she repeated it enough, it would become a fact to him.

"And lovely to meet you, such a talented stag," she continued, "who dances so very nicely." She inched closer, twitching her tail, ready to circle him and size him up. There was something...strange...about this one. In a way, he reminded her of Rama, but he lacked that extreme rage and power. She'd have to watch this one and see.


--commentary--
idk how many

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[Black Thorns]

"And lovely to meet you, such a talented stag, who dances so very nicely." The voices hissed, yanking on his strings and pulling them taut. He didn't dance for her! He danced only for them! Kill her for her foolishness! they cried, Kill her for her idiotic ways! He yanked his head against how they pulled it, reaching high into the air and pulling it forwards. The strings were tight, but they loosened as he pulled.

"She doesn't know," he whispered, hardly audible to even himself, "She can't know I dance only for you... Won't you let her live, now? Please?" Small voice, weak, the voice of a beaten child as it asks a favor from its abuser.

The mare stepped forwards.

He stepped back. "Please!" he breathed frantically, taking another one back. They wouldn't hurt her, not this one.

But don't you love us, little puppet-boy?

"You know I love you, don't say that!" he'd forgotten about the mare now, not caring if she could hear him.

Then show us! Prove it!

"Don't I prove it enough? Don't I do all you ask for? Can't you let me be just this once?" he pleaded.

Never. She yanked on his strings, throwing his body about wildly in a series of contortions that would be nearly impossible if he hadn't done them before.

"Please!"

[lady shady]

Sheba

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As she moved forward, he moved back. Oh, a shy one now? He wouldn't get away so easily. She took another step forward. "Please," he whispered, only making her smile charmingly. She tilted her head questioningly.

"You know I love you, don't say that!" What now? Who had said anything? Much less about love? Before she could do anything, his head jerked up, twisted at a weird angle. His eyes rolled back in their sockets, and his body went stiff.

He was almost screaming now, caught up inside his own head. "Don't I prove it enough? Don't I do all you ask for? Can't you let me be just this once?" Ah, that was why he reminded her of Rama. He was possessed. Either that, or insane. Whatever the case, she wasn't sure she liked it. Rama had taught her that control of a spirit was at times more than challenging. And she didn't want a fight right now. She wanted to play. Yes, Sheba wanted to play.

But perhaps it would be simple insanity. She hoped so. The insane ones had such fantastic reactions and were deliciously fun to twist. They were stretchable beyond the normal limits if she did it right.

So in that hope, she stood before him quietly, waiting for him to come out of it.

--commentary--
idk how many

[/blockquote]

[Black Thorns]

Little puppet boy has been bad! Little puppet boy will be punished! He was shoved onto his front knees, his breath knocked out of him with the force. He gasped for breath, body trembling in anticipation of what was to come. Oh god! They always punished him so, they always hurt him so very badly... ((Though of course there was no force, no pain- only what his mind told him he felt.)) He felt the whip hit his back, cutting deep into his skin. His head shot up with a frantic, pained cry escaping his lips. "Stop! Please!"

Little puppet-boy must learn! He felt it hit again, this time across his face and sending it snapping to the side.

"Please! Please! I promise! I promise I will! Just... give me time and I will, I promise!" He shrieked as it fell against his side, sending him straight onto the ground. He could feel the blood running in thick, dark streams down his body, though there wasn't a single mark on him.

Will you? it growled, striking him once more, Do you swear that you will?

"Y-yes..." He waited for the fall of a weapon or another hateful word, but nothing came. Nothing. Strings fell slack and here was Sobrius.

Sobrius rolled to his feet, standing once more with ease. Ducking his head in shame, he took a step towards her.

"I apologize, sweet," he said, struggling for something to call her, "They aren't all too happy with new ones. Won't you give me the pleasure of learning your name?" It was here that his head raised, cocked ever-so-slightly in an inquisitive pose. Seem weak, they hissed, Let her think you are weak. But he didn't want to hurt her! She seemed so nice, and she hadn't run away...


--behind the post--
about 300 words
OOOOOO this will be fun.

[lady shady]

Sheba

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The stag fell to his knees, and because he couldn't see, Sheba allowed a thin smile to crawl across her face. He was bowing. What a perfect little twisted toy he'd make.

He fell to his side, cringing as if he were being beaten, gasping for mercy. Her smile faded. Ugh, he was weak. Good. He ought to serve as a reminder to her that this was what all stags were. With the exception of her Rama. She suspected he was weak too, but he was a vessel to such power...

Suddenly, it was over as quickly as it started. He rose, and moved towards her. Sheba eyed him suspiciously. If he was indeed possessed, she wanted no part of it. She wanted to relax. To twist with ease...

He spoke. "I apologize, sweet. They aren't all too happy with new ones. Won't you give me the pleasure of learning your name?". Ah, so she was to be sweet to this one. When he wasn't racked with pain, he acted like the rest of them. But they? Who were they? She stared at him, trying to delve into his mind. If only she knew if there was a spirit within. Sheba thought back. Though he had certainly acted in the same manner as Rama, when he lost control of himself, he had really lost control. Not a simple behavior change like Rama when the spirit seemed to take over, but full out writhing on the ground. Was this the behavior of a possessed horse? She puzzled further. Maybe it was a different kind of spirit? But no, she hadn't sensed any large, dark presence ebbing from him as she had with Rama. Maybe they were weak spirits? If so, they might be conquered. But she didn't want to conquer down the road. She wanted her fun right now. Her extraordinary patience was wearing thin.

She would find out. "You may call me Sheba," she answered smoothly, stepping forward and past him, allowing her warm hide to tickle his. She began to circle him like a cat, trailing her ivory tail after her. Stopping at his rump, she stared past him to the cliffs. "My dancing one, you mentioned they?" she asked delicately, seeming uninterested in the answer. "Who are they?" The alabaster mare nuzzled him, hoping the distraction of her attention would help coax an answer from his lips.

--commentary--
415 words
she can't figure out if he's insane or possessed xD

[Black Thorns]

"You may call me Sheba," the mare replied, her voice as smooth as silk.
Sheba the voices repeated, curious. She stepped fowards, beginning to circle in a slow, predatory way. He snorted in response, unsure if he should like this attention or hate it. Her warm hide tickled his own, the satin ivory of her tail trailing along with her alabaster body. He felt her stop, suddenly, looking off into the cliffs behind her. He turned his head to look at her inquisitively, wondering why she had suddenly stopped moving. It felt nice when she was next to him. The voices murmured in his head, little worried whispers that she could distract him. No, he thought back, his tone loving- how could he be less than loving to them? Even when he was angry he always loved them...Never. You are everything... They quieted in happiness, sure he would keep his promises.

"My dancing one, you mentioned they?" she continued, "Who are they?" Her voice was delicate, uninterested. Her pale muzzle nuzzled at his body, almost as if she was trying to distract him.

He jumped away from the mare in absolute fury, the voices screaming at her for the fact that she dared to ask about them.

"They?" he asked, his voice far more than angered with her, "They are everything! They are more than you can ever ask to be! They are a legion of hundreds, each one with its own turn at my puppet-strings! I dance not for you, you mean nothing, nothing to me! I dance only for them! They are the only thing I need to survive, and they are the ones who choose how I act for they are the ones pulling at the little puppet-boy, little Sobrius the marionette! Oh how they anger when I don't obey! How they punish me! Can you not see?" he asked frantically, "Can you not see the dozens of bleeding wounds upon my body? And what worse they do to my head! Oh!"

Though, of course, he had not a single mark on his body. "They are everything," he shuddered, his head dropping to the ground and chest heaving. His body trembled, trying to support the force of hundreds grasping for control of him.

Little puppet-boy has told. Little puppet-boy is bad today. Little puppet boy must be punished later...

"They are angry with me now," he muttered, "They do not like that I have told you. They promise to hurt me later... little puppet boys look so pretty all smashed up and don't I love them I promised that I did and little puppet-boy is a bad one now even though I do! I do love them! I dance for them and I let my coat run red with love..."

--behind the post--
erm. just under 500 words.
He kind-of just started babbling. o.o She'll probably know now. LOL

[lady shady]

Sheba

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The stag exploded in anger at the question. "They?" he screamed "They are everything! They are more than you can ever ask to be! They are a legion of hundreds, each one with its own turn at my puppet-strings! I dance not for you, you mean nothing, nothing to me! I dance only for them! They are the only thing I need to survive, and they are the ones who choose how I act for they are the ones pulling at the little puppet-boy, little Sobrius the marionette! Oh how they anger when I don't obey! How they punish me! Can you not see? Can you not see the dozens of bleeding wounds upon my body? And what worse they do to my head! Oh! They are everything."

She twisted her head to look at him. So they were in his head and could punish him, but that still didn't help her understand whether he was insane or possessed. His anger, she could see, gave him a bit more power, but it was nothing compared to the insane fury of Rama. And still no dark presence. She sighed inwardly. Patience. The stag would reveal himself eventually. And she was desperate for a twisted toy, so he--Sobrius, he had called himself--would have to do for now. Why did she always have to come across the insane ones? Wasn't there a nice, normal, lustful stag out there who only had one master in his mind that she could easily control just by being female? Ah, the good old days.

She spoke again, remembering that he didn't like it when she spoke of the voices. She could always use that later if she needed a little anger or just a bit more of a reaction. "I don't mean to alarm you, my dancing one. We shall speak no more of these if it upsets you. How about a little history then? You seem to be one who would be fantastic at telling stories. How did you come to be here, Sobrius?" Her voice was low and soft, and she focused her large brown eyes on his wild ones. "I'm sure it is an intriguing tale."


--commentary--
she still can't figure it out xDD

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