Set hated the display halls, the parade, the inspection. Hated that whole time of day, honestly; he generally tried to make enough trouble to get him on lockdown whenever it started to loom, but sometimes the guards were too obtuse, sometimes the other slaves wouldn’t take the bait no matter how attractive he made it or how obnoxious he got.

Which left him here, today, sprawled out on the couch like a ragdoll cat in whatever passed for “Sunday best” in a place where they dealt in flesh. All slick shit in the suit he’d come in, a couple buttons undone, cleaned up the best he could get like it was a fucking GQ photoshoot, and so he still had a few cuts and bruises that hadn’t healed up as fast as he would have liked, but it gave him character or some shit. Maybe would gain him a few sympathy votes. Plan B. Fine, they wouldn’t let him opt out, he’d be the best damn slave he could be, maybe hook a Dominant who wouldn’t fuck him over for the day, or would at least feed him, stranger things had happened. At least it was out. Somewhere “not here”. And he could do recon. Things went south, he could improvise.

"Well hey there," he drawled, a devil-may-care smirk on his lips as someone finally stopped. A beat passed as he seemed to try to find the right words, but he only let out a self-conscious chuckle, the smirk never dropping an inch, only gaining a conspiratorial edge to match his voice. "…alright, I’m gonna have to stop there, truth be told the cliche bullshit drives me nuts. So I’ll just lead with ‘hi’ and leave it at that, if you don’t mind."

Feartheblood:

Why is he even here?

Gabriel doesn’t have a valid answer for that. He hates these parades as well. It’s not that he has any objections against the slave system. Humans really are no more than that and if any vampires or wolves did something to demote themselves down to slave status, it’s on their own head. His heart bleeds for none of them. What he hates is this attempt at making something other than the filthy practice that it is. This constant attempt at classing up the vampire’s basal urges and trying to veil it in sophistication is something he doesn’t understand and hates, even if he falls into the same blasted trap as the rest of his kind. Why else would he be here, all dressed up to the nines as if he is dining with kings and not looking for cheap entertainment.

After several strolls around the display halls, he finally comes to a stop in front of one of the few vampires there. The humans seem too fragile and he already has a wolf to play with. This slave, though, he amuses Gabriel from the moment he lays eyes on him. All cleaned up and sprawled out like a whore, trying to act the part, but looking like a surly child dressed up for the family photo. Gabriel doesn’t buy the smirk, and the insecurity in the chuckle registers right away. He crouches down in front of the man’s chair, taking the time to slowly examine him from head to toe. “You look like shit.”

The casual slouch says bad boy, the intent way he watches the other says either grifter or hard living, the tattoo that snakes out of the collar of his shirt before slipping under the cheaper one around his throat implies the second more heavily than the first. “Just what every girl wants to hear when she’s all dressed up for the party,” he throws back, smirk widening, teasing while he looks over the other. Could go either way, he figures, all depends on whether he thinks that’s a good thing or a bad one. Whether it’s enough to tug at his heartstrings, although Set’s banking on no. Doesn’t really seem the type. So he doesn’t dress it up like he might have otherwise, doesn’t try to make it out worse than it is.

"Don’t know the right people, I missed the cut-off for the platinum club. Gotta make do slumming it, but what are you gonna do."

Feartheblood:

"Wasn’t talking about your clothes," he says, more curious than concerned. "You’re not healing right. How come?"

He reaches out to take hold of the guy’s chin, looking him over like he can fix this. “Don’t they feed you?”

There’s a few beats of resistance, a curled lip that runs counter to the easy demeanor he’s projecting otherwise, feeding into the uncertainty he’s already established. Seems the right tactic, he’s banking on it getting him somewhere. Maybe. That or worse, but hell, it turns out that way, not like he’s going to give a shit later. “Like I said, don’t know the right people. Or I know the wrong ones. Got the wrong end of one of the other doms, got my schedule fucked to hell.”

Feartheblood:

"That’s a damn shame. You should know better than to fight it. The kinda people who come here for a thrill… there’s something wrong with them, you know?" He chuckles and licks his lips before standing back up, straightening his suit. He reaches down, offering a hand to the sitting slave.

"Come with me, promise you’ll behave, and I’ll let you gorge yourself on tonight’s menu."

The slave chuckled bitterly, a matching smirk twisting his lips. “I don’t promise anyone anything, that’s how I ended up in this mess. You want somebody who’s tripping over themselves to suck your dick and play the good little slut, you’re looking at the wrong bitch.”

…Not to say that the offer wasn’t tempting. Given the gnawing in the pit of his stomach and the flagging in his muscles, he could see how some slaves might be more than happy to take it. And what’s more, he probably would behave, no matter what he did or didn’t promise, because of it. Need does things to people, human and vampire alike, makes them desperate. But like hell would he play that hand, he had his pride. Knew he could find other ways to get what he needed if this didn’t pan out; he was a survivor, had been one his whole life. Best way to get screwed over is to let someone who’s actually got some power over you know exactly how much. He slipped off the couch, ignoring the offered hand to glower at the guy. “Best I’ll guarantee is you let me gorge, I won’t actively try to sabotage or kill you.”

Feartheblood:

"No. You misunderstand. I never said I wanted you to suck my dick. I asked if you’d behave. I have no energy to chase a runaway slave that’s under my care and no patience to deal with the enforcers."

He motions for Set to walk with him, but offers no explanation as to what he does have planned for him. If he wanted someone that he had to explain this stuff to, he wouldn’t have opted for a slave. But what he has plans to do isn’t something a normal person, human or otherwise, would easily agree to.

"Do as I say," he says while leading him over so he can officially check his slave out, "and I’ll return you fully fed and with your lazy ass in one piece. Sound good?"

The correction catches him a little off-guard; sure, the uses for slaves are numerous and not solely based in sex, but it’s the main purpose regardless, so the idea that it’s not the case here, or at least not wholly, comes as something of a surprise. It’s enough to get a dismissive agreement out of him as he stalks alongside, stopping when indicated and standing still while he looks him over, even if he rolls his eyes.

"Whatever. Fine. You caught me on a pisser of a day so why the hell not. Good enough. You do know you’re not supposed to haggle with us, right? What do you want me for, if it’s not a hole to stick it in."

Feartheblood:

"I know, and merchandise shouldn’t take it upon itself to tell the buyer what he should or shouldn’t do," he barks quietly, but there’s no real malice behind that. If anything, he’s just putting on an act that fits the scene, using it as an excuse to not answer his question and also tell him that he has no intention of answering it just yet.

He guides the slave with him out onto the streets of the island. It’s not far so he doesn’t see the point of rushing or trying to find transportation. He likes a good, quiet stroll, and his slave for the night better have the patience for it.

The walk is short enough, relatively, and before long Gabriel stops outside one of the small shops in town. This seems to be their destination. He reaches for a key to unlock the door, then swings it open for Set. “After you.”

Set only scoffs at the reprimand; if he truly takes offense he’ll show it, otherwise it’s fangless words, and those he can handle. It’s frustrating, having to go with the guy without a straight answer, having to approach a situation without knowing what he’s getting thrown into, but it just means he’ll have to try to find clues. Adapt. Try to figure it out in advance.

He’d just as soon walk, easier to escape if he needs to, and he looks around as they do, keeping close enough to ease the tension on the leash without walking too close. He eyes the shop when they stop, then shoots a look at the Dom before stalking inside. ”Yours?”

Feartheblood:

"Recent purchase."

He tugs carefully on the leash to lead him over to the bar. There, he pats one of the stools to tell him to sit and ties the leash up on the railing. Not really necessary, but it amuses him.

"So. You were starving. Let me see what I have for you here."

He walks around to the other side of the bar and browses the bottles before picking out one. It seems random, but it could be that this particular bottle has been waiting for him the entire time. “Do you want a glass or are you a straight from the bottle kinda guy?”

"Lucky you," he drawls, following him about as reluctantly as he can manage while keeping enough slack to be comfortable. He prowls to the seat when indicated and slides into it, glancing over the bottles across from him and pointedly ignoring the way the other vampire ties him up like a pet, like he’ll wander or take off if he’s not secured. The bottles are more interesting anyway, and when Gabriel asks him his preference he shrugs. "Bottle’s good enough, not pretentious enough to need a glass. Seem pretty particular for a guy who’s not even drinking it."