Blood from Stone [AU]

[NPCs]

"Please what?"

[GamesMaster]

"Please, stop," he whimpers, shuddering again.

[NPCs]

"Good Kitty!" Pandias croons, petting Don's head again. "Very good. Would you like some water to rinse your mouth out, kitty cat?"

[GamesMaster]

He gives a small, almost imperceptible nod. Just a cat. Should have known better, the imp in his mind insists. 

[NPCs]

A moment later, a saucer filled with tepid but clean water is put in front of him. "Here you are. Now... you still have to make your decision. Are you going to be obedient or am I going to have to hurt you more?"

[GamesMaster]

Don's eyes burn with shame as he laps up the water, like the filthy, blood-splattered animal he is. When the water's gone, he whimpers, "What do you want?"

[NPCs]

"I need you to sign this," Pandias says simply. "I'll even bandage your hand first, with some numbing cream in fact." Reaching into his vest, he pulls out a slim sheet of vellum. 

[GamesMaster]

"What... what is it?" he whimpers, trying to make his eyes focus on the page. Surely whatever it is can't be worse than this pain, than whatever's next, can it?

[NPCs]

"Does it matter?" Pandias asks bluntly. He has to sign it either knowing what it is or choosing to not find out for it to count. Annoying, but rules are rules.

[GamesMaster]

"M-maybe," he whimpers. Bright Gods, please, I want it to stop, I want to sign. But I can't betray my people.

[NPCs]

"Hmmm. Well... if it really matters, then... I suppose I was curious about whether you can remove the claws from your lower paws the same way." Leaning slightly to the side, Pandias hums thoughtfully. "Or... Well. There is the matter of your.... most personal theft."

[GamesMaster]

"No, please, I'll-- tell me what it is, I'll sign," he whimpers, shaking his head as best he can. 

[NPCs]

Damnit, so close, but that conditional. Hmm. I have to tell him, but it doesn't have to be... complete or direct. "It... says that you'll give back what you took to who it really belongs to. And pay a... fee to my patron for putting us all through this trouble."

[GamesMaster]

"I... took?" he whimpers, struggling to make the words make sense. I was in a fight. I didn't take anything? There was a riot... does he mean the Lightship? He can have it. 

[NPCs]

"Yesss," the human hisses, sounding far more beastal than Don in that moment. "You stole. From me, from the city, from good, honest people that deserve what you were handed on whim and luck."