Losing Control: Karen Renford
@wildfaewhump said they’d be interested in seeing Seb as Karen’s target instead of Dex, so here’s a short drabble of just that!
Henry and Wright Farling (referenced) belong to @spiffythespook
CW: CHOKING/loss of air/breathing restriction, caning, blood. Pet whump and some dehumanization. Reference to forced starvation.
“I didn’t ask for you,” Karen said, using the end of the cane to tip Sebastian’s chin up and force him to meet her eyes. “I asked for Dex.”
Sebastian swallowed, hard, the movement shifting the collar she had tightened to the point of pain. His eyes were glassy and frightened with his need for air, but still so pretty. He was, she thought, handsome in a way wholly different from her others - Dex and Peter were both dark-haired, brown-eyed, willowy and lithe men rather than Sebastian’s natural tendency towards a shorter frame and stronger muscles.
Even Henry was thin, and would have fit right in at the Facility…
“I, I know you did, Madam,” Sebastian managed, his voice strained and forced out through the constriction around his throat, heaving in what breaths he could manage. “I, I know. But he needs… needs to rest. To heal. I c-can… take his place.”
“And so you have.” She tilted her head, looking him over, thoughtfully. “You’ve never put yourself forward for discipline like this, Sebastian.”
“You’ve neh-…” Sebastian fought to get enough air to speak the words, and she could see the dizziness as it passed across his face, as he fought his way back from threatening unconsciousness. “Never… hurt him so much… and for so long. He’s… d-dying-… like this…”
“He has never so thoroughly betrayed my trust.” She walked around behind him, letting the silver head of the cane tap along the ground, click click click, an unhurried motion. Caught his attempts to be still and not flinch at every single sound. She paused to take in how lovely the silver head of the cane looked in her hands, encased in black leather. “Why not send Peter, darling? He’s younger. He’ll heal more quickly.”
Sebastian’s jaw set, his eyes narrowed. Karen watched the emotions move across his handsome face, and appreciated it, so very thoroughly. “Peter… needs to rest… ah, too,” He managed. “Helping… H-Henry… adjust.”
Karen paused behind him, and slowly rested the silver tip of the cane against Sebastian’s back, just between his shoulder blades.
She watched him flinch with a feeling of deep satisfaction that twined within her - but then faded, as quickly as it had been. Nothing lasted any longer. All satisfaction was temporary, a burst of contentment that slipped through her fingers like sand.
“Did you know that Dex was in love with Wright Farling?” She asked, her voice very, very calm and very, very cold.
Sebastian fought to pull in enough air to answer her, and the shifting muscles in his back as he heaved in oxygen were genuinely beautiful. The light caught them just so, illuminating the shadows along the curves of his ribcage, the indentations of his spine. Dex’s stuck out more than this, now, since he’d lost so much weight, making the shadows dance even more spectacularly over the lines of his bones beneath his skin.
“No, M-Madam… I didn’t…” He groaned and fell forwards, ducking his chin to try desperately to get a little more space in his throat. Karen took the moment as the gift it was and brought the cane down on his back. Sebastian jerked forwards, curling over himself, gasping at the flash of pain. “I didn’t know!” He managed, and his voice was so beautifully weak.
“Did you know he was lying to me?”
She brought it down again.