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[Tristan believes it's real, the space he's being given is real, and it's a relief. He steps back, cradling his broken wrist but not going away. Just half collapsing into the nearest chair. Dazed by everything. It's too much to process all at once. June dead, his brother responsible, his brother being like this. It's all out of whack. He can focus on that question--he wants things back to normal. He wants to exist peacefully like they have been. Satisfied? No. It's what he wants more than anything in the world, satisfied doesn't start to cover it.]

Of course I am.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You are simple-minded that way.

[He lets it be casual for the moment, as least as long as he's eating this cookie. After that he'll exert a little effort. It's enough time for Tristan to breathe, and that means it's enough time that he'll be newly shocked and apalled when Ariel comes after him again, which is, of course, the point.]

[Tristan is still holding the hair clasp, clenched so hard in his hand it's leaving marks. His uncurls his fingers, not his broken wrist at least, looks down at it. Trying to slow his breathing. This is closer to normal, as close to normal as things could be in this situation maybe.]

You didn't... Have to hurt anyone Ariel.

[The reality is hitting him, his voice thick with emotion and choked grief.]

Wanting things simple isn't bad. I--there's no way I'd have abandoned you. You're my brother.

You're being awfully thick tonight.

[Cookie finished, he finally sits upright, gesturing casually at Tristan as he does. Even with his own magic suppressed, it'll still be obvious enough he's being targeted, just as an invisible force abruptly blocks his breathing.]

I'll tell you again. Before your brother, I'm your Master, and I'm not sharing my things with people below us. Your opinion doesn't matter.

[Tristan has time to stiffen and try to--what? He can't defend himself, even if he can recognize what's being used on him he doesn't have any power to call to counter it. It's frustrating, at Ariel's age he could have defended himself from this. Now he's absolutely powerless and the feeling is terrifying. Horrifying. He thought they were done, he thought--was he naive?]

[Is he naive to want things how they were before this?]

[His response is a choked noise, as he tries to breathe and can't.]

Are you afraid? Do you feel powerless?

[He gets up from his chair, an easy movement, not hurried. He's not at all tense -- for him, this kind of behavior is completely natural, and he smiles as he crosses the space between them, breathing just a little more thickly at the sound of Tristan's choking.]

Let this remind you that there's nothing you can do if I don't want you to, and nothing I can't make you do if I decide to. You can think whatever stupid things you want to, but the reality is that you're mine to control, and the rest of the world will follow.

[He'll make that reality abundantly, painfully clear by further dismantling that pointless "brotherly" relationship. Tristan is much more interesting when he's upset, in pain, and Ariel's already learned what the newest level of "thrill" he's felt lately is and how to respond to it. He really shouldn't have been given so much time alone to inflict himself on the town. But he was, and he's experimented, and he has no hesitation in grabbing Tristan's broken wrist in one hand and his jaw in the other, leaning over him to force a kiss.]

[He's afraid. He feels powerless. It's in his expression. He doesn't know what to expect, but the feel of his brother's lips on his own was clearly not it, not with the way his eyes widen, close to tears of pain at the pressure on in his wrist. His mouth opens, meaning to yell at his brother, but instead making a pathetic, muffled noise against his lips. It's not a happy noise, like a trapped animal.]

[His heart is beating so fast and he feels like he might pass out, trying to breathe in and failing.]

[He does't just feel powerless, he is powerless. He's physically stronger than Ariel still, but what good is that? He can't stop his brother from doing this. His brother who is kissing him not like a brother should.]

[When he breathes into Tristan's mouth, he loosens the spell, letting that borrowed breath go through. He doesn't think he has to explain that one. If he wants to breathe, Ariel will give him breath. He'll allow him life, because he's decided to, but he'll have to submit to get it. It's a lovely little game of subjugation.]

[Like a drowning man is a phrase for a reason. Tristan sucks in the breath with a sob. His free good hand, still with the hair clasp in it, reaching up to curl desperately against the front of his brother's shirt. This is wrong, this is horrible, this is enough that he's crying, tears falling down his cheeks. But he doesn't have the air to sob and he couldn't stop himself from seeking to breathe if he tried. He gets it, he gets the game here, he doesn't want to but he can't pretend he doesn't when he can't breathe and the only way to fill his lungs is to do what Ariel wants.]

[He tugs on his brother's shirt, presses up, mouth open and inviting, lips sealing against Ariel's as firmly as he can, desperate, the noise he makes absolutely wrecked and distressed and miserable.]

[He hums into Tristan's mouth, self-satisfied like a cat in the cream. He wins this one, of course. And because his brother's being so good he'll let him breathe, taking in air through his nose and letting it out into Tristan's mouth. Of course it's only just enough to keep conscious -- he takes plenty of pause to just kiss him, exploring his mouth with his tongue and making no effort to hide how much enjoys every bit of that misery.

After awhile, when he too is a little dizzy, he pulls back, releasing the spell and the hold on Tristan's jaw to run his hand gently through his hair.]

Good boy.

[Tristan whines into the kiss, sucking in every moment of air he's allowed. Hating himself but pressing his tongue against his brother's willingly after a while, half hoping the indulgence will make Ariel happy enough to give him more air, half just delirious from lack of oxygen. As kisses go it's filled with urgent need, at the very least. Clumsy from dizziness but far from his first kiss.]

[When the kiss is over and he can breathe in truth, he collapses back, vision edged in black as he takes in huge, heaving gasps, a low keening sound of shock, misery, anguish in his throat.]

[He lets him breath for a bit, keeping his grip on his wrist the whole time. His free hand reaches to wipe away the tears on Tristan's face, and he smiles the same pleasant smile he's always shown him, even as he moves to rest his weight on a knee between his legs.]

That's right. Let it sink in. You're mine, only mine, however I want you. I'll never let you forget it.

[The new position makes Tristan look up, horrified at the direction this is going. Has been going. He's too messed up to try telling himself maybe it'll stop with this, that maybe Ariel's made his point. He's just trying to brace himself, catching his breath in a painful hiccup between tears and gasping.]

Ariel you're my brother.

[For all his self inflicted denial Tristan isn't stupid, he's scared. He's too scared to tell Ariel to stop.]

This isn't something brothers do.

There's those poor listening skills again.

[He might have stopped. He's not terribly invested in taking it further, and he doesn't have enough experience in this field to jump right to it. But Tristan's arguing with him again, and that's enough to spur him on. He won't stop until his position is entirely secured, and for now that means pressing his knee firmly against Tristan's groin and sliding his hand up under his shirt.]

I told you, I'm your Master first. I don't care about something as worthless as a "brotherly relationship". Our shared blood is only the proof that you're worthy to be mine.

[Well that didn't work out. He leans back in the chair, as if that tiny amount of retreat will help him escape this.]

It's not worthless Ariel, it's what we are. The master thing, that's what we're acting. That's what isn't real.

Ah-ah.

[He lets go of his wrist, to place that hand over Tristan's mouth.]

Your opinion is also worthless. A possession shouldn't talk back.

[His hand flattens against Tristan's stomach, lying still for a moment before slowly lifting, just a bit. When it does, there's a soft glow -- and bright, shining "needles" appear to jab deep into him, easily a dozen or more. They should feel like they're burning hot, and Ariel's made no effort (or perhaps doesn't yet have the skill) to keep them from hitting important places.]

[Tristan screams, muffled by Ariel's palm. Fresh tears falling over his face and Ariel's fingers as he tries to scramble back in the chair. But there's nowhere to go. He won't lash out at Ariel (because he doesn't want to hit his brother or because he knows what happens when you fight back? that they hit you harder?). Nowhere to go leaves him completely trapped and sobbing, trying to do so quietly, to breathe shallowly, because every breath shifts the burning needles in his flesh and he can feel things tearing open. It hurts and it's terrifying, it's not just flesh but vital organs, a new experience in terror and realizing he could die. He could die.]

[He could undo this spell too, he could fix this. A small voice in the back of his head notes that it would be easy. Except he can't do anything of the sort, not any more.]

It would take a long time for that to kill you, just so you know. They're only needles. All those little holes... You'd suffer for hours.

[It's said cheerfully, while he places a fingertip on the protruding end of one needle and wiggles it around. Really, Tristan's face is definitely cutest like this.]

Or you can ask me nicely to take them out, as your Master. Will you do that, or should I keep your mouth shut?

[He knows. It could be days, even, before this killed him. At the most. His blood would drag toxins from his intestines through the rest of him, the bleeding in his organs would damage them, his body would shut down in agony he probably can't imagine and his brother wiggling the needle hurts enough right now.]

[He could let this get worse, he could protest and what? It wouldn't do any good. Ariel is right--if Ariel wants to do something there's nothing Tristan can do to stop it. He feels sick, and he nods miserably.]

Edited 2014-07-31 10:33 (UTC)

[He lifts his hand from his mouth as soon as he nods, smiling cheerfully and waiting. It's kind of nice that Tristan didn't give in all at once. It means Ariel gets to watch him cave piece by piece.]

Go on then.

[He should call him master or something, appeal to that, but he can't. He barely manages a choked please. He feels filthy for playing along with this, humiliated. He thought he'd gotten used to how humiliation felt but this is a different level, begging his own brother.]

Please... Take them out.

[The great thing about needles is he can just put his fingers on several of them at once and move them and it takes no effort at all.]

Hmmm... I don't know, I think I'd like to hear your voice like this a little more. Tell me, what were you to me again?

[He makes a high pitched whine, gasping and going silent a moment in pain. But he meets his brothers eyes again, voice desperate. Don't do this don't make him do this.]

Ariel please.

[He knows exactly what he's doing, of course. Pushing him right up against his previous trauma is cruel, but if he won't otherwise listen, why not? And of course that face and that voice are more than reward enough.]

Please what? You haven't done what I told you, so maybe you're asking for more?

[Tristan exhales slightly, a soft, shivery breath as he closes his eyes, tears leaking out into his hair.]

Please don't do this. You're my brother.

[He's clinging to that desperately.]