forum I really want an OXO right now

Started January 04, 2020 by @Painted-Iris group

tune

Jesse eyed to food suspiciously, as well as the girl, but she seemed genuinely surprised by his accommodations. "Do you want to stay and eat with me?" Jesse asked before she got to the door. "This room might be nice, but it's terribly lonely. You're alone a lot too, aren't you? Maybe we could both use the company." He flushed slightly, but kept his smile on. This wasn't flirting; it was more just his desperate need to talk to someone. But he realized maybe it was more than that. How long had it been since this girl had had a decent conversation?

(It's okay lol)

The girl spun on her heel, staring at the boy who had asked her a question. After a few moments, she shook her head. "I can't. I-I'm not supposed to," she stuttered nervously. She was fed her own rations here. It was plenty. While it wasn't wonderful, her work was for a purpose. Her family would no longer be hungry. Silvano promised to allow her family a bit of protection when it came to rations if she would work for him. It's to save your parents, sweetheart~ he had cooed at her. It was evil bribery, but at least she wasn't hungry. Her family was okay. She wanted to be polite and accept his offer of company, but worried she would get into trouble.

Jesse frowned, feeling bad for the girl. “Do they treat you like a servant here?” he asked, disgust easy to read on his face. “I don’t want to get you in trouble,” he added, softer. “But I figured we could both use the company. I think we both need a friend right now.” He chuckled softly.

The girl paused a moment. "It's what I'm supposed to be. It… could be worse," she said, trying to give a light smile. She wasn't exactly mistreated, but Silvano wasn't exactly the greatest person. "I… I'd like that though. The friend thing, not taking your food. I've already eaten," she explained quickly.

“Sure, let’s be friends then,” Jesse responded with a small smile. “I’m Jesse, by the way. What’s your name?”

This time, a true smile crossed the girl's lips. "It's Kiara," she replied happily.
At that moment, the door opened for the ruler himself to walk inside. His amber eyes briefly lingered on the servant girl standing near the door before landing on Jesse.
"Settling in nicely, I hope," Silvano said, not caring if the other replied or not. Kirara swiftly turned around to face her superior with a quick bow. She took few steps to the side as to walk around and leave. Silvano usually preferred his castle staff to be seen and not heard. The young servant froze as she felt a cold hand on her shoulder. "I haven't dismissed you," the ruler said in a quieter tone. It was a warning. Kiara didn't dare move as she was turned around to face Jesse, hand still on her shoulder. The male spoke again, tone returned to the way it was before.
"Your opposition cannot be overlooked. You will be here for however long your reformation will take," Silvano started, voice a bit too chipper and eager. "I promise, if you're a good little boy, I won't lock the door anymore. Hell, I'll even move you into nicer quarters if you'd like."
A pause.
"I'll even assign your little friend here to you. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Jesse’s expression contorted in anger. “Are you trying to threaten me? I’m not going to, as you put it, ‘be a good little boy’. So while you wait for me to be fixed or whatever, you can rot in hell.” He crossed his arms, continuing to glare at Silvano.

One would have assumed the ruler would have frowned. Silvano did the opposite. He expected this of the rebel. Clicking his tongue, he waved a ringed finger in the air. "Ah, ah, ah. Wrong answer," he said in a sing-song voice. "I didn't come here bearing threats. I'm already being more than fair. if you insist on acting like this…" Silvano started, shaking his head in mock sympathy. "I'm not afraid of testing your limits. See, I helped your little friend here. Her family would have starved without me. She's living very well for her age. Because she knows to yield to authority."
Kiara bit her lip to hold back tears. She would not cry before the cruel person who blackmailed her into this situation. She dared not speak for her family would be cut off if she did.

“Cut to the point,” Jesse responded, getting annoyed. “What do you want from me? You’re not going to get it, but the sooner you tell me what this whole villain speech is about the sooner I can be out of your company.” He couldn’t help but notice Kiara’s expression, though he didn’t think he could do anything to help her. Still, it made his heart hurt, which in turn made him want to hurt Silvano.

Silvano shook his head. The boy was starting to frustrate him, but he didn't let that show. "Please. I'm only the villain if you force me to be one. I tried being nice, but if you insist on the hard way… I'm warning you that I am prepared to do what I must for you to do as I say," the ruler stated, now holding Kiara's cheeks in his hands. He was threatening someone else in trade for Jesse's cooperation. And smiling while he did it.

Jesse blinked, horrified. The confident mask that he had been wearing slipped for just a moment, but he could not admit defeat yet. "You're a monster," he growled, glaring at Silvano with a more intense hatred than before. "For the last time, what do you want?"

Silvano finally gave up his "charming" smile and rolled his eyes. He let go of the girl in front of him for a moment. "I already told you what I want. I want you to accept your situation as it is, and understand where your current position is," the ruler started, taking a strand of Kiana's hair to twirl around his finger. "You can accept what I'm giving you, a chance to life a life you can only dream of; or… you can make me your enemy, make your existence painful to the point where you wish I had killed you."

Jesse glared at him, trying to think of a way out. “You know I’ll never really accept your offer,” he spat, though he hesitated slightly at the thought of this man hurting anyone else because of Jesse’s choice. It would still be Silvano’s fault, obviously, but Jesse couldn’t let him hurt another person. What if he had to say yes, just so Silvano wouldn’t hurt the girl he’d only known for a few minutes? It was terrible to give up his cause so early, but he couldn’t allow anyone to get hurt because of him.