,advnar "You stand in the walkways that seperates the inner chamber of the pod from the outer, observing the material known as 'Ty Lee' for a moment before deciding on your opening strategy."
advnar "She looks much as you'd expect her to; her initial panic and terror having given way to a low, worried concern as she tries to think through her predicament."
advnar "You reckon you could probably set up camp where you are and wait for the isolation alone to provide all the trigger references you'd need, at least so far as 'fear' goes."
advnar "You know from the footage and documents you'd gone over that she's quite suceptible to it as a motivating tool...but also that it's not an all-consuming motivation."
advnar "Afterall, fear was the tool of choice used against her in her home verse, and eventually factors such as loyalty, kindness and friendship won out over it; though you judge this material to be selfish and self-centred to a degree, that doesn't preclude overwhelming acts of kindness toward others."
advnar "Thus, for 'fear' to work and for submission to be achieved properly, these sacrifical characteristics will need to be properly curtailed and suborned."
advnar "Resentment and anger are also things that you'll have to keep tabs on. Such negativity requires whittling down into feelings of satisfaction with her life, rather than building up into an intolerable existence."
m "...Well, concerns for later. Right now all I need to do is get her to submit to becoming a thrall and set the triggers for her instruction."
m "Truthfully I think I'd only need a fear-causing trigger to get her to obey me, but in the case of rounding off the rough edges such instruction would create, I do require two others..."
m "Doubt and relief, I think. Enough use of those two, properly applied, should be able to point her attitude toward more pleasant climes."
advnar "You activate the CMS system using the control-implants behind your eyes, waiting for the data gathered from previous versions of this material to load."
m "Hmm. Normally I'd like to search for these emotional states one at a time, but something like 'fear' strikes me as a pretty messy affair. I imagine doubt and relief are part and parcel of it in how threats appear and dissapate."
m "Perhaps then I'll try to take them all at the same time...give myself the option of switching between the three reference profiles for the triggers."
advnar "You try it out, flicking between the three before defaulting back to 'Fear'."
m "Ahhh, so tempting just to set the triggers now using archived references and go in all guns blazing..."
m "But no, I'm not one for shoddy work. Better to build up toward it."
m "So Mr. Keller, how shall we start..."
[[Waste no time - Bodylock her and explain the situation]]
[[Some questions before an entrance- a bit of light gaslighting perhaps?]]
m "Well, lets not play games. This is pretty straightforward business."
advnar "You walk inside, the inner pod wall allowing your passage, the material within leaping up to her feet, terrified and on guard."
t "WH-WHAT HAVE Y-"
m "-L-D19: Bodylock."
t "-...."
advnar "She siezes up in place, eyes fixed forward to where you used to be as you start to pace around her."
advnar "You wait a moment before saying anything else, letting her predicament sink in while you admire her body."
m "...So, you're probably wondering about a lot of things right now. What's going on, why can't you move, what you're wearing, so on, so forth."
m "Honestly, to explain it all would take quite a while, and though I'm happy to make time for that later, right now I'll just sum up the siutation for you."
m "From the moment you woke up here, you ceased to become Ty Lee."
m "Your new designation is L-D19. And you are no longer a human. You are a thrall- a product created and designed to serve others."
m "Not quite a slave, though for the moment you're free to make the analogy. Certainly your submission to this lifestyle shares some slave-like qualities."
m "I'll repeat that because I'm sure you're reeling a little and only half-listening. You are not Ty Lee, citizen of the Fire Nation."
m "You are L-D19, a thrall. And you belong to Thrallworks; which is the company I work for."
advnar "You pause for a moment, letting the reality sink in for a moment before continuing."
m "As for me, I am Instructor Reinhold Keller. It's up to me to decide what kind of thrall you're to become...or whether you're to be disposed of."
m "Ah, I suppose I should make that clear; if you displease me, or if you-..."
m "...Ah, I see this is causing you some distress, but please do try to control yourself or else we'll be here all day."
"So as I was saying...if you fail to accept your situation, then you will be disposed of, your body and mind repurposed into something more fitting and useful for the company."
m "Believe me when I say you don't want that to happen."
m "So with all that said..."
[[Release her head for some Q & A]]
[[Proceed with a demonstration of punishment and reward]]
m "{i}Well, lets start with a bit of disembodiment before heading in. There's probably some merit to preparing her without a person around for her to focus on.{/i}"
advnar "Staying outside of the inner pod for the moment, you access the comms system for it and the one implanted into her, broadcasting your voice inside and outside of her head."
m "State your name."
t "!!"
advnar "She leaps to her feet, defensive, scared."
t "Wh-what?!"
m "State your name."
t "Who are you?! Wh-what this?! Why-"
m "-Your name."
advnar "You adjust the reverb on the signal to send it bounding in waves, harmonizing and dissolving and overlapping to drown out her own thoughts."
t "--Shut up! Shut--"
t "-It's Ty Lee okay?! My name's Ty Lee!"
advnar "You smile to yourself, dimming it back down.
t "A-And you're gonna be in a lot of trouble when Azula finds out you've done this!"
m "Incorrect."
t "O-Oh yeah that's what you-"
m "Incorrect name."
t "...Huh?"
m "Material's name is L-D19."
t "...Material? What?"
m "You are material. You are a product. Your product designation is L-D19."
t "Wh-I am *not* a product!"
m "Incorrect. You are product L-D19. Please state your correct identification."
t "..."
m "Please state your correct identification to proceed."
t "P-Proceed with what?"
m "Please state your correct identification to proceed."
t "I..."
t "I am not whatever you're saying I am!"
t "Where even are-"
m "Incorrect."
t "-Shut up! Tell me what going on o-or..."
m "Please state your correct identification to proceed."
t "No!"
m "{i}Pretty spunky. I don't dislike it.{/i}"
m "{i}Still, this is enough teasing. I think we can make proper introductions now we've set the stage some.{/i}"
m "Material refuses to proceed. Dispatching Instructor to mediate."
t "...Uhh..."
t "Instructor?"
[[Be patient with her and explain situation.]]
[[Eh, bodylock her.]]
advnar "You unlock her from the neck up."
m "Any ques-"
t "AAAAAA-"
advnar "You reflexivly lock her again, flinching at the volume of her despair."
m "Oof. I get that this is perhaps not an ideal situation from your point of view, but I'm giving you the oppotunity to learn more about your situation here."
m "So I'll give you a few moments to compose yourself and we'll try again, alright?"advnar "You give her those moments, taking a few of them for yourself to adjust the cuffs of your sleeves and other housekeeping."
m "...Right, that should be long enough. I'll release you now."
t "--GAH--- hnnnh-hhnn--"
m "So as I was saying, any questions?"
advnar "She coughs out tears, choking on whatever bile suddenly lurched up into her throat after you relinquished control and she needed to breathe for herself again."
t "Wh--hhh-"
advnar "You cross your arms and wait."
t "Pl-please--I--*Hggk*-"
t "I-I don't--why--"
m "Ah! 'Why'! Well at least it's a question."
m "It's a pretty broad question though. Why you? Why am I doing this? Well to sum up..."
[[It's to Improve Your Life]]
[[Profit]]
[[Fun.]]
m "Perhaps a demonstration of your new existence is in order?"
m "As I say, you are now a thrall. That's why your skin has changed as it has, along with the metal on it. It's known as a 'thrallsuit', and it's what all thralls wear."
m "You being a thrall also allows me to control you. It's why you're currently frozen in place, for instance."
m "And more than that, as I'll demonstrate in a moment."
m "The point is L-D19, your existence is determined by your service now. If you obey me, follow my instruction, and perform, you will recieve pleasures beyond that which you've ever experienced."
m "You disobey me...well existence can become very unpleasant. Thralls are built to obey afterall."
[[Give her a pain sample - Relief]]
[[Give her a pleasure sample - Doubt]]
[[Give her a bit of both]]
advnar "You step inside, being careful to enter within her field of view but not directly opposite."
m "Yes, that'll be me."
t "Ahh!!"
t "Where-how did you-"
t "Listen mister, you better start explaining what going on here or I'm-"
m "-going to get mad and probably punch me, I get it L-D19."
t "And I am *not* L-D19! Why do you keep calling me that?!"
m "Well it's who you are. Thrallworks product L-D19, prospective thrall."
t "...?!"
m "I can see you're considering punching me, but I'd have to advise against it."
m "Based on everything you've seen so far- and your current state..."
m "Do you really think assaulting me is going to pan out well for you?"
t "..."
m "Mmm. I thought not. You know, you're smarter than you give yourself credit for, L-D19."
t "Whatever."
m "...Alright, so lets get to business. Who am I?"
m "I am Instructor Reinhold Keller. It's my job to teach and instruct thralls in their various roles. As for what we've done to you, well we've turned up into one of these said 'thralls'."
t "And what the heck is a thrall?"
m "A kind of servant. Though whether you keep the privledge is up to me."
t "L-Like a slave?"
t "Y-You've kidnapped me and you've enslaved me?!"
m "Actually there are a few diff-"
t "I am *not* a slave!"
m "...No. You're not. You're a thrall, as I said. And to be honest you're going to be much better off as one *if* you are to remain that way."
t "Or what, you'll-..."
advnar "She stops and quiets herself, having blustered her way toward some uncomfortable realities. 'Or what, you'll kill me?' didn't sound as crazy as she would have liked."
m "Well, if I decide you're not actually material suitable to stay a thrall, then there are other options as to what to do with you."
m "Infact, I think I'll show you. Cerise?"
advnar "The pod-comms 'bip' on."
c "Yes Instructor, how may I assist you?"
m "Are there any drones about out there?"
c "A few, Instructor. Shall I send one in?"
m "Please. That will be all."
c "My pleasure, Instructor."
advnar "The comms 'bip' off, leaving a very concerned looking Ty Lee."
m "Oh that was Cerise by the way, another thrall like yourself."
t "..."
m "What?"
t "I'm L-D19?"
m "Yes..."
t "Then if she's a thrall too, how come she has, like, an {i}actual{/i} name?"
m "Huh, you know, that's actually-"
advnar "You're interrupted as the field of the pod wall hums again and another figure steps through. Slender, helmed, and utterly passive."
m "Ah good, stop there Drone."
m "Oh, no need to look so apprehensive thrall, this one's not going to hurt you. It's herely an example of what you're to become if you don't come to terms with your new position...or I don't find you up to scratch."
m "Drone, state your designation."
d "This drone D-7854-8838, Instructor."
m "And before you were a drone, what was your material's name?"
d "This material's name was Chloe Price, Instructor."
m "And what did Chloe Price want?"
d "Stability. Affection. Intimacy. Meaning. Max. Answe-"
m "-That'll do. And what do you want, drone?"
d "To obey orders, Instructor."
m "Why?"
d "Because drones obey orders, Instructor."
m "Why?"
d "Because drones are obedient, Instructor."
m "So you would never disobey a command?"
d "No Instructor."
m "So if, for instance, you we working at a circus and were ordered to leave to go hunt someone down, what would you do?"
d "I would leave, Instructor."
m "Wow, seems you two have something in common."
advnar "The thrall bites back a retort, just a little too intimidated by the circumstances to rise to the bait."
m "Don't you want to do anything else drone? Read? Sing? Go for a run?"
d "No, Instructor."
m "What if you were ordered to harm yourself?"
d "Higher orders prevent self-harm, Instructor."
m "But if those higher orders allowed it?"
d "Then I would obey, Instructor."
m "So really, without any orders to follow at all...what would you do, drone?"
d "I would await orders, Instructor."
m "And outside of obedience, what else matters?"
d "Nothing, Instructor."
advnar "You let the statement stand in the silence that follows; the pods systems humming like blood pounding in the ears."
advnar "You turn fully to face your material. She can only stare back."
m "I trust you get the point? Or would you like to question it yourself?"
t "..."
m "No, I didn't think so. Leave the pod and continue your previous task, drone."
d "I obey, Instructor."
m "...So to review, that is what will become of you if you are found wanting as a thrall, L-D19."
m "Thralls may obey. That's one of their defining features, that they serve, that they perform...but you still enjoy things beyond it."
m "I suppose it's a matter of philosophy as to whether one life is better than the other in utilitarian terms, but I imagine that, as you currently are now, you have a preference for one over they other."
m "Or am I mistaken? Would you prefer that kind of clarity of purpose?"
t "..."
t "Why?"
t "Why are you doing this to me?!"
[[To punish you]]
[[The over-honest approach.]]Basically the same as the 'starting with the bodylock' route, except with slightly different opening text to ellicit some different early readings.
We'll if statement it out. :)
[[Release her head for some Q & A]]
[[Proceed with a demonstration of punishment and reward]] m "The point is L-D19, your existence is determined by your service now. If you obey me, follow my instruction, and perform, you will recieve pleasures beyond that which you've ever experienced."
m "You disobey me...well existence can become very unpleasant. Thralls are built to obey afterall."
m "As an example of what kind of punishment you can expect disobedience to bring, let me give you a sample..."
advnar "You access her Control Collar, going through spinal-nerve information and the Cerebral Monitoring System's secondary cortex to simulate nociceptor firing patterns."
m "Hmm, how punishing to be..."
[[Dialled Low - Pain]]
[[Medium - Pain]]
[[High - Pain]]m "The point is L-D19, your existence is determined by your service now. If you obey me, follow my instruction, and perform, you will recieve pleasures beyond that which you've ever experienced."
m "You disobey me...well existence can become very unpleasant. Thralls are built to obey afterall."
m "As an example of the pleasures you will recieve for obedience, let me give you a demonstration."
advnar "You access her Pleasure Control Unit, opting for something sexual and fullbody, prepping her parasympathetic nervous system for a broader, less subtle burst of pleasure than the suit's default is set to."
m "Hmm, how generous to be..."
[[Dialled Low - Pleasure]]
[[Medium - Pleasure]]
[[High - Pleasure]]m "The point is L-D19, your existence is determined by your service now. If you obey me, follow my instruction, and perform, you will recieve pleasures beyond that which you've ever experienced."
m "You disobey me...well existence can become very unpleasant. Thralls are built to obey afterall."
m "As an example of what kind of punishment you can expect disobedience to bring, let me give you a sample..."
advnar "You access her Control Collar and her Pleasure Control Unit going through spinal-nerve information and the Cerebral Monitoring System's secondary cortex to simulate nociceptor firing patterns."
m "Hmm, how should I mix these..."
[[Pain - Low]]
[[Pain - Medium]]
[[Pain - High]]advnar "You decide to keep to a level of pleasure more within the thrall's wheelhouse; still a considerable amount of pleasure, but not overwhelming."
m "{i}5% of the suit's total capacity sounds about right- around the equivalent of a high dose of heroin for the amount of ecasty it induces.{/i}"
m "{i}But how long should she experience it...{/i}"
[[10 seconds]]
[[1 minute]]
[[10 minutes]]advnar "You decide to go drift toward what's generally considered a mid-tier reward for a thrall; still decidedly more than she'd be used to, but more in-line with what she can expect as a gift."
m "{i}22% of the suit's total capacity sounds about right- A little over the 'normal' peak of human pleasure. It should prove a rather transformative experience.{/i}"
m "{i}But how long should she experience it...{/i}"
[[10 seconds]]
[[1 minute]]
[[10 minutes]]advnar "You decide to go toward the higher end of the spectrum of sensation, deciding that something a little more otherworldly would be best for a demonstration of her new life."
m "{i}60% of the suit's total capacity should be sufficient for this demonstration- Two orders of magnitude higher than the 'normal' peak of human pleasure. Any higher and I'm not sure what would happen to someone unaccustomed to the suit.{/i}"
m "{i}Even this might be a bit much, in all honesty.{/i}"
m "{i}And for how long should she experience it?{/i}"
[[10 seconds]]
[[1 minute]]
[[10 minutes]]m "Ten seconds will be enough for me to get my point across. Lets not string this out any longer than we have to."
m "L-D19: Pleasure Loop, 10 seconds."
advnar "You didn't have to say it, but you're making a point here- that you are the one in charge of her pleasure."
<if pleasure road taken>
advnar "You consider talking to her during the minute, lulling her with more sweet words or reinforcing her position, but you gather that whatever words you might speak at this point would wash over her rather than soak in."
advnar "So you wait, leaving her locked in pleasure for the full minute, waiting until the system shuts off before continuing."
advnar "As an obervation, it's interesting. Even with the control collar feeding her body the signals needed to keep her limbs in place, she still seems to vibrate in place; evidentaly the fact that signals still need to travel between the brain and the body are affecting whatever overlay you're trying to set up."
advnar "Eventually the fireworks of chemical releases in her brain and extended PCU centres ceases, the tremors stopping. You give her another few moments to gather herself...perhaps not enough to fully recover her faculties, but then one can only be patient for so long."
m "That is just a taste of the pleasures a thrall can experience in their servitude. All one needs to do is obey and follow, and you can enjoy such feelings, both higher and lower in grade, than that. Even constantly, in the background, if your owner would will it so."
m "There's also an equally deep and broad scope of pain for you, too. But I trust I won't need to demonstrate that."
m "So lets review. You are L-D19, a thrall owned by Thrallworks. And in a moment L-D19 I will be releasing you from your paralysis."
m "When I do, if you accept yourself, you are to immediately abase yourself, declare what you are, and thank me, your Instructor, for the pleasure I bestowed upon you."
m "Infact, the exact motions are for you to bow, with your forehead to the floor, and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "Any deviation from this will be taken as disobedience and a lack of acceptance of your new reality. Which would be unfortunate."
m "And yes, yes, I'm aware this is quite a shift from how you thought today would be. I'm sure the temptation to plead with me for yourself is overwhelming."
m "But I assure you there's no point in doing so. People beg. Thralls obey. So if you value yourself, that's what you're going to do."
m "You're going to bow, forehead to floor, and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "Nothing more, nothing less. Not until I tell you to do something else."
m "I will release you in...lets say another minute. That will give you all the time you need to make your choice."
m "I can wait. Choose well, L-D19."
advnar "You move out of her eyeline to sit off to the side, curious as to what the outcome will be...and what you'd do, depending."
advnar "The ideal would, of course, be her just capitulating. But you don't actually know if she managed to gather her wits enough to listen to any of that or not."
advnar "Or perhaps- unlikely as it strikes you- she might scrabble up enough pride to defy the circumstances. In which case, what then?"
advnar "The minute ticks by. You move back infront of her."
m "Remember, L-D19. Bow and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "...L-D19: Unlock."
[[Capitulation]]
[[Continued defiance]]
[[Is broken. Whoops!]]
m "A minute will do. No need to be excessive...though maybe this already is excessive? Who can say?"
m "L-D19: Pleasure Loop, 1 minute."
advnar "You didn't have to say it, but you're making a point here- that you are the one in charge of her pleasure."
<if pleasure road taken>
advnar "You consider talking to her during the minute, lulling her with more sweet words or reinforcing her position, but you gather that whatever words you might speak at this point would wash over her rather than soak in."
advnar "So you wait, leaving her locked in pleasure for the full minute, waiting until the system shuts off before continuing."
advnar "As an obervation, it's interesting. Even with the control collar feeding her body the signals needed to keep her limbs in place, she still seems to vibrate in place; evidentaly the fact that signals still need to travel between the brain and the body are affecting whatever overlay you're trying to set up."
advnar "Eventually the fireworks of chemical releases in her brain and extended PCU centres ceases, the tremors stopping. You give her another few moments to gather herself...perhaps not enough to fully recover her faculties, but then one can only be patient for so long."
m "That is just a taste of the pleasures a thrall can experience in their servitude. All one needs to do is obey and follow, and you can enjoy such feelings, both higher and lower in grade, than that. Even constantly, in the background, if your owner would will it so."
m "There's also an equally deep and broad scope of pain for you, too. But I trust I won't need to demonstrate that."
m "So lets review. You are L-D19, a thrall owned by Thrallworks. And in a moment L-D19 I will be releasing you from your paralysis."
m "When I do, if you accept yourself, you are to immediately abase yourself, declare what you are, and thank me, your Instructor, for the pleasure I bestowed upon you."
m "Infact, the exact motions are for you to bow, with your forehead to the floor, and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "Any deviation from this will be taken as disobedience and a lack of acceptance of your new reality. Which would be unfortunate."
m "And yes, yes, I'm aware this is quite a shift from how you thought today would be. I'm sure the temptation to plead with me for yourself is overwhelming."
m "But I assure you there's no point in doing so. People beg. Thralls obey. So if you value yourself, that's what you're going to do."
m "You're going to bow, forehead to floor, and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "Nothing more, nothing less. Not until I tell you to do something else."
m "I will release you in...lets say another minute. That will give you all the time you need to make your choice."
m "I can wait. Choose well, L-D19."
advnar "You move out of her eyeline to sit off to the side, curious as to what the outcome will be...and what you'd do, depending."
advnar "The ideal would, of course, be her just capitulating. But you don't actually know if she managed to gather her wits enough to listen to any of that or not."
advnar "Or perhaps- unlikely as it strikes you- she might scrabble up enough pride to defy the circumstances. In which case, what then?"
advnar "The minute ticks by. You move back infront of her."
m "Remember, L-D19. Bow and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "...L-D19: Unlock."
[[Capitulation]]
[[Continued defiance]]
[[Is broken. Whoops!]]m "Ten minutes. Lets really drive home the heights she can achieve as a thrall, far beyond what she could ever experience as her regular self."
m "L-D19: Pleasure Loop, 10 minutes."
advnar "You didn't have to say it, but you're making a point here- that you are the one in charge of her pleasure."
<if pleasure road taken>
advnar "You consider talking to her during the minute, lulling her with more sweet words or reinforcing her position, but you gather that whatever words you might speak at this point would wash over her rather than soak in."
advnar "So you wait, leaving her locked in pleasure for the full minute, waiting until the system shuts off before continuing."
advnar "As an obervation, it's interesting. Even with the control collar feeding her body the signals needed to keep her limbs in place, she still seems to vibrate in place; evidentaly the fact that signals still need to travel between the brain and the body are affecting whatever overlay you're trying to set up."
advnar "Eventually the fireworks of chemical releases in her brain and extended PCU centres ceases, the tremors stopping. You give her another few moments to gather herself...perhaps not enough to fully recover her faculties, but then one can only be patient for so long."
m "That is just a taste of the pleasures a thrall can experience in their servitude. All one needs to do is obey and follow, and you can enjoy such feelings, both higher and lower in grade, than that. Even constantly, in the background, if your owner would will it so."
m "There's also an equally deep and broad scope of pain for you, too. But I trust I won't need to demonstrate that."
m "So lets review. You are L-D19, a thrall owned by Thrallworks. And in a moment L-D19 I will be releasing you from your paralysis."
m "When I do, if you accept yourself, you are to immediately abase yourself, declare what you are, and thank me, your Instructor, for the pleasure I bestowed upon you."
m "Infact, the exact motions are for you to bow, with your forehead to the floor, and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "Any deviation from this will be taken as disobedience and a lack of acceptance of your new reality. Which would be unfortunate."
m "And yes, yes, I'm aware this is quite a shift from how you thought today would be. I'm sure the temptation to plead with me for yourself is overwhelming."
m "But I assure you there's no point in doing so. People beg. Thralls obey. So if you value yourself, that's what you're going to do."
m "You're going to bow, forehead to floor, and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "Nothing more, nothing less. Not until I tell you to do something else."
m "I will release you in...lets say another minute. That will give you all the time you need to make your choice."
m "I can wait. Choose well, L-D19."
advnar "You move out of her eyeline to sit off to the side, curious as to what the outcome will be...and what you'd do, depending."
advnar "The ideal would, of course, be her just capitulating. But you don't actually know if she managed to gather her wits enough to listen to any of that or not."
advnar "Or perhaps- unlikely as it strikes you- she might scrabble up enough pride to defy the circumstances. In which case, what then?"
advnar "The minute ticks by. You move back infront of her."
m "Remember, L-D19. Bow and say 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product. Thankyou for your gift, Instructor.'"
m "...L-D19: Unlock."
[[Capitulation]]
[[Continued defiance]]
[[Is broken. Whoops!]]
advnar "Strings cut, she collapses to the ground, catching herself into a shivering kowtow, pressing her head to the floor to hide the quake in her voice."
t "I-I am...th-thrall L-D19...a Thrallworks p-product..."
[[If Very Successful Pleasure]]
[[If Successful Pleasure]]
[[If Very Successful Pain]]
[[If Successful Pain]]
[[If Generally Successful]]
advnar "She stumbles, about to fall-"
advnar "-But one firm foot forward steadies her."
t "..."
t "...Please........y-you don't n-need to do this!"
m "Wrong answer. L-D19: Bodylock."
t "WAIT, NO-"
m "{i}Tss....what unexpected trouble. Given her profile it seemed more likely she'd crumble from this treatment. Perhaps I didn't apply enough pressure?{/i}"
m "{i}Well, no matter. How to proceed from here...{/i}"
[[Make good on your threat and continue sampling pain and pleasure for her]]
[[Respect her spirit - drone her]]
[[Respect her spirit - dream her]]Well, either she's wailing or she's been struck dumb from pleasure-centre overload from going too high or...whatever similar.
At this point, only two things to do...
advnar "She collapses to the floor, but not in the manner you wanted."
t "Nuuh-mmmnuug-nnnk-"
advnar "It seems that, though her constitution was capable of keeping her conscious for all of the sensations, she'd yet to build up a way of handling them."
advnar "And the sheer level of stimulation ended up disrupting the normal function of her neurons to such a point they can't revert to previous patterns."
m "...Whoops."
m "Well. At least we learned something!
m "{i}I don't even think I can Dream her like this.{/i}"
[[Broken Drone Her]]m "I guess there's no helping it then."
m "L-D19: Bodylock."
advnar "She siezes in place, her control collar taking over the motion signals of her body, looping them over."
m "L-D19: Project outcome- Pre-drone."
advnar "Almost immediately you see the thrallsuit respond, travelling up from her neck to cover her head and face, the nanites eating away whatever bodyhair remained."
advnar "A smoothly coated package for the Controllers to unwrap."
m "Cerise?"
c "Yes Instructor?"
m "Tell Zero to expect another delivery. Broken material."
c "Of course Instructor. Shall you be accompanying her?"
advnar "You watch as the pod springs to life, small waldos coming out of the floor and through the fieldwalls, their higgs manipulators lifting and shifting the material's body for transport."
m "No, not this time. I need to look over the footage of this orientation and review a few things."
m "Besides, it'll take a few days for the drone to sell and off-verse. If I feel the itch I'll just look in on her then."
c "Very well Instructor. In that case, shall I accompany delivery as a gesture?"
m "As you like, Cerise."
c "Very good. I shall take my leave then."
m "Mmm. Return to me once you're finished, I'll be in my quarters."
c "Of course Instructor."
c "...And don't be disheartened over this. Many orientations go this way."
c "It's your job to experiement. Try things."
m "Mmm. Sometimes they even work."
m "That'll be all Cerise."
c "As you will, Instructor."
advnar "The line clicks off and you're left watching the material be carried through the wall and off to Zero. Another drone in a line of drones."
advnar "For your part...well, it's disappointing. But it was a learning experience too."
advnar "Perhaps there's a different tack to take with the next one..."
[[FIN]]
m "I guess there's no helping it then."
m "{i}L-D19: Bodylock.{/i}"
t "Wha-"
advnar "She siezes in place, her control collar taking over the motion signals of her body, looping them over."
m "It's truly regrettable L-D19, but it's what you wanted. I'll respect it."
m "Perhaps L-D20 will make a different choice."
m "But you? You're going to find your choices are going to be a lot more straightforward from here on out."
m "{i}L-D19: Project outcome- Pre-drone.{/i}"
advnar "Almost immediately you see the thrallsuit respond, travelling up from her neck to cover her head and face, the nanites eating away whatever bodyhair remained."
advnar "A smoothly coated package for the Controllers to unwrap."
m "Cerise?"
c "Yes Instructor?"
m "Tell Zero to expect another delivery. Failed material."
c "Of course Instructor. Shall you be accompanying the material?"
advnar "You watch as the pod springs to life, small waldos coming out of the floor and through the fieldwalls, their higgs manipulators lifting and shifting the material's body for transport."
m "No, not this time. I need to look over the footage of this orientation and review a few things."
m "Besides, it'll take a few days for the drone to sell and off-verse. If I feel the itch I'll just look in on her then."
c "Very well Instructor. In that case, shall I accompany delivery as a gesture?"
m "As you like, Cerise."
c "Very good. I shall take my leave then."
m "Mmm. Return to me once you're finished, I'll be in my quarters."
c "Of course Instructor."
c "...And don't be disheartened over this. Many orientations go this way."
c "It's your job to experiement. Try things."
m "Mmm. Sometimes they even work."
m "That'll be all Cerise."
c "As you will, Instructor."
advnar "The line clicks off and you're left watching the material be carried through the wall and off to Zero. Another drone in a line of drones."
advnar "For your part...well, it's disappointing. But it was a learning experience too."
advnar "Perhaps there's a different tack to take with the next one..."
[[FIN]]
m "I guess there's no helping it then."
m "{i}L-D19: Bodylock.{/i}"
t "Wha-"
advnar "She siezes in place, her control collar taking over the motion signals of her body, looping them over."
m "It's truly regrettable L-D19, but it's what you wanted. I'll respect it."
m "Perhaps L-D20 will make a different choice."
m "I must admit though, I did tell a lie. Several infact."
m "It's actually more economical for me to send you back into your versal manifold and acquire another version of you than it is to drone you. That was just a little gamble of mine."
m "So...congratulations! You passed the test!"
m "I can't restore you entirely back to the way you were though I'm afraid. Your body's been aged and the gem isn't coming out, but eh, you'll find you'll be healthier than before anyway."
m "Expect a lifespan in the hundred and fifties or so."
m "Not that you'll be remembering this all too well. {i}L-D19: Project outcome- Pre-dream.{/i}"
advnar "Though there's no outward change, your UI picks up on the changes the thrallsuit invokes on her, the internal nanites that can starting their slow retreat back to the implants which spawned them, or to the skin's surface."
advnar "All ready for the Harvesters to replant."
m "Cerise?"
c "Yes Instructor?"
m "Tell the Silo to expect a material delivery for reseeding and put in a request for another harvest."
c "Of course Instructor. Shall you be accompanying the material?"
advnar "You watch as the pod springs to life, small waldos coming out of the floor and through the fieldwalls, their higgs manipulators lifting and shifting the material's body for transport."
m "No, not this time. I need to look over the footage of this orientation and review a few things."
m "Besides, I'll be getting a new one shortly."
c "Very well Instructor. In that case, shall I accompany delivery as a gesture?"
m "As you like, Cerise."
c "Very good. I shall take my leave then."
m "Mmm. Return to me once you're finished, I'll be in my quarters."
c "Of course Instructor."
c "...And also, I consider this move to be very wise of you. I'm glad you did not waste time trying to unnecessarily push on her."
m "Huh. Well, thanks."
m "That'll be all Cerise."
c "As you will, Instructor."
advnar "The line clicks off and you're left watching the material be carried through the wall and off to the Silo. Sweet Dreams."
advnar "For your part...well, it's disappointing. But it was a learning experience too."
m "{i}Perhaps I'll try something different with the next one...{/i}"
[[FIN]]
m "{i}We should push her a little further. It's one thing to pay lipservice to the idea, it's another to see if she'd go through with it.{/i}"
m "You've done well so far, L-D19, but you've yet to convince me that you believe in what you're saying."
m "Though to be fair, I'd think there'd be something seriously wrong with you if you did believe it. This is all a bit much for a single sitting."
m "But that's why it's so important to get you to understand these things early, isn't it?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor! Absolutely!"
m "My oh my, you're rather good at appeasing rhetoric aren't you, L-D19?"
t "...Y-Yeah?"
m "...You don't know what rhetoric means, do you."
t "I'm sorry! I'm- look-"
t "-Whatever you want me to do I'll do, okay? Just p-please don't..."
m "Oof. Begging. That's a no-no thrall. {i}Pain.{/i}"
<switch it up here, it could easily be a removal of pleasure.>
advnar "She contorts, a scream gurgling in her throat."
m "Not that I'm expecting you to accept the situation immediately. You just need be open to the truth of it."
m "Perhaps some further proof of your enthrallment is required."
advnar "You release the command and she jerks free, sweating and slobbering, moaning out her agony."
m "Lick the floor, L-D19."
t "..."
advnar "She lowers herself further, obeying the command with less hesitance or sobbing that you'd have thought; perhaps too overloaded emotionally to truly process how low she's sunk."
advnar "You modify the nanites bonded to her tongue, overriding the tang of sterile pod flooring with a delightful sweetness that makes her pause."
m "Keep licking, thrall. And reply 'Yes Instructor' when I give you an order."
t "Y-Yes Instructor."
m "Good thrall. {i}Pleasure.{/i}"
t "Mnnff..."
m "Keep licking."
advnar "She gets back to it with an eagerness born of terror as you squat beside her, watching her work."
m "You're probably wondering why it tastes so good. Well, that's because you're a thrall, not a person. To a person, the floor would taste of grit, dust and footfalls. But for you, it's whatever your Instructor wills it to taste like. Like...hmm. Hot flakes?"
advnar "You change the receptors again and she gasps at the spiciness, glancing over before continuing."
m "See? And as a thrall obeys, it recieves {i}Pleasure.{/i}"
advnar "You send another surge through her and she groans down onto the floor, whimpering."
m "I understand that it may seem like abject control over you, but it's not so. These are just natural happenings for a thrall. The more you lick, the more you obey. The more you obey, the better it feels."
m "That's a thrall's life. That's your life, now."
advnar "You crouch down, observing her as she works. She's sobbing now, but almost deliriously so, her licks becoming long and languid under your watch, as if lapping up whatever comfort obedience is bringing her to try and drown out her despair."
m "A normal person wouldn't get any pleasure from this, would they?"
t "Mmth-n-no Instructor-"
m "No. And though 'Ty Lee' was a very special person, she wouldn't get any pleasure from doing this either, would she? Licking the floor at someone else's command?"
t "...no- mm-Insturctor...."
m "No. She could fake it of course. And even now you're terrified and repulsed from the shock of all this...but in the end, it is what it is. When thralls obey, it feels good. You were told to do this, and thus, it feels good."
m "Simple, yes?"
t "Y-Yeth inshtructor.."
advnar "You tweak the numbers of her pleasure control unit a little and watch her settle into a pattern, almost sagging into it, trying to forget herself and find blank, empty-headed meaning in the action. Less harmful to think. Easier to obey."
advnar "But, fun as it is to watch, it's not exactly what you're wanting from her. Triggers need to be finished afterall, and a Dancer does need to think."
m "{i}We should be able to wrap this up soon. It's more just a case of what area needs most focus before we test things out...{/i}"
[[Fear - Uhhh disbelieve her, consider more pain, or perhaps just disregarding her again. Bodylock all but her head- or even better, have it rise up her body, like a slow freeze.]]
[[Doubt - Gaslight and question her on a bunch of things. Why she's here, some things she can confirm she knows that you then sharply question her about, prompting 'I-I don't know! I thought she was called Azula but- but]]
[[Relief - Accept her capitualation properly and that she's proven herself. Raise up the tension again in talking to her, then ease off. Do it in waves. Perhaps as a kind of 'pressure test'...somewhat easy questions just on the cusp of her knowledge---ah, perhaps whisper the correct answers to her in her head. Or introduce some mantras?]]m "{i}Lets put her through some early paces.{/i}"
m "Stand, thrall."
t "Yes Instructor!"
m "You're quick on etiquette, I see."
t "Yes Instructor, th-thankyou Instructor."
m "Mm. Hands flat at your sides, feet together, chin-up and eyes forward."
t "Yes Instructor!"
advnar "She snaps into position perfectly, sticking her chest out unprompted, eager to pass whatever evaluation she feels this could be."
m "Stop shaking, thrall."
t "Y-Yes Instructor I-I'm...I will..."
m "If you're to be taught, then this is one of the positions you'll be adopting quite often. It won't do to shake."
t "No Instructor! Sorry!"
m "Bend over. Touch your toes."
t "Yes Instructor!"
m "Good. Handstand."
t "Y-Yes Instructor."
m "Very nice. {i}Pleasure.{/i}"
advnar "She falters, but, impressively, manages to maintain her handstand."
m "Do you know why you're feeling like that?"
t "B-Because...you're controlinggfff..."
t "UuUHh p-please lemme....st-stop, Instructorrr..."
m "I won't. And you're only partially right."
m "It's more because you're a thrall you feel this way, than me controlling you. Walk a lap around the pod."
t "Yuh-yes...Instructor."
m "Very good. And you're finding that nice feeling continue, aren't you?"
t "Y-Yes Instruct--ttnm-Instructor b-but I'm...I d-dunno h-how much llonger I can-"
advnar "You make a few adjustments to her settings, settling the pleasure into something more like the measured throb she can typically expect."
m "You're doing fine, L-D19. Infact, balance yourself on your fingertips."
t "B-But that's just a- I-..."
m "Do it. You'll see."
t "Y-Yes Instructor..."
m "Good, now keep walking on those tips."
t "..."
t "Yes Instructor..."
advnar "She shakes into the next step...then goes quiet as she moves from one to the next, hips shifting slightly to undulate along with the equisite sensations her obedience is bringing her."
advnar "There's more to her quiet mood than concentration though, you suspect. This material's physical evaluation did mention she can balance herself on her fingertips, but there were limits to it."
advnar "Limits she's finding she can now surpass as she completes her lap and awaits further orders on fingertip."
m "Tired, thrall? Feeling any strain?"
t "Uhh...no Instructor! I-I could do it again if you want? Whatever you'd like!"
m "Wouldn't this have been taxing for Ty Lee, to walk on her fingertips?"
t "I mean, I could stand on them anyway..."
t "But, uhh...yeah, it'd be hard...and I'd be tired. Instructor."
t "Is-...uh-"
m "Yes?"
t "N-No, nevermind Instructor! Sorry! I'm sorry, I-I shouldn't ask questions, i-it's not my place..."
m "But seeing as you started your question, you may as well finish it. So finish it."
t "Is...is this also a thrall thing?"
t "Me being, uhm, fine? I'm not tired at all."
m "Very astute of you, L-D19. Though Ty Lee was special so far as humans go, as a thrall, you've now surpassed her in a number of respects, including physical capability."
m "And should you stay a thrall, that will only improve with time."
t "O-Oh. Huh."
m "{i}Seems she's starting to appreciate that what I'm saying is more than just idle talk and manipulation.{/i}"
m "{i}We should be able to wrap this up soon. It's more just a case of what area needs most focus before we test things out...{/i}"
[[Fear - Uhhh disbelieve her, consider more pain, or perhaps just disregarding her again. Bodylock all but her head- or even better, have it rise up her body, like a slow freeze.]]
[[Doubt - Gaslight and question her on a bunch of things. Why she's here, some things she can confirm she knows that you then sharply question her about, prompting 'I-I don't know! I thought she was called Azula but- but]]
[[Relief - Accept her capitualation properly and that she's proven herself. Raise up the tension again in talking to her, then ease off. Do it in waves. Perhaps as a kind of 'pressure test'...somewhat easy questions just on the cusp of her knowledge---ah, perhaps whisper the correct answers to her in her head. Or introduce some mantras?]]m "{i}Well, though this is purely for her own survival, it's still the choice we wanted her to make.{/i}"
m "{i}I should still make her position clear but also reward her submission.{/i}"
m "Very good, thrall. {i}Pleasure.{/i}"
t "NuuAh-"
m "-I believe the words you're looking for are 'Thank you, Instructor.'"
t "Th-thank you Instructor!"
t "Thankyou!"
m "Good. You should always thank those who do you a favour."
m "Like how I'm going to overlook, for now, how much you resent all this."
t "N-No Instructor! I-I made my choice!"
t "I'm a thrall, okay? I am, a-and I really want to please you! Wh-whatever you want I'm, like, ready to serve!"
m "Are you saying I'm wrong, L-D19?"
t "....Uh..."
m "Because I think you'll find that lying can be quite unpleasant for a thrall."
m "You can, of course. But you're no longer built to be good at it. You'll find the more you lie, the more uncomfortable you'll be."
m "'You're a dirty liar', you've heard that before, right? How filthy lying is? And remember how shameful it feels and just brings that big flush to your face."
m "Just so embarassing and uncomfortable to be called out like a liar isn't it, really embarassing, like a little kid just being scolded and red in the face."
m "Just like you are now."
t "...I-I'm sorry!"
m "'I'm sorry Instructor.'"
t "I'm sorry Instructor!"
t "I am! I'm really really sorry for everything s-so, so please d-don't hurt me!"
m "Still making demands, too?"
t "Ah! I mean-"
advnar "She presses herself even lower to the floor, arms extending out into an even more worshipful posture."
t "Y-Y-You're right! You're always right! No, you should, just, like, totally do whatever you want with me! I'm totally yours!"
t "I-I'm just a thrall right, so, ignore me! Please do whatever!"
t "Or is that a demand? No! I- uh-"
advnar "You don't reply, letting her tie her own noose with panicked logic developed for a different sort of person."
m "{i}I suppose she'll also need lessons to break her of these habits. They might've worked out with Azula- and they're certainly doing work for me right now- but in the long run, these're still instincts to be eradicated.{/i}"
t "-So-....you're- you should-...are..."
m "Enough, L-D19."
m "Don't worry so much. Imperfections are to be expected. I only ask you do your best."
advnar "You hear an audible sigh, her body relaxing as you answer for her."
t "Yes, Instructor..."
m "You'll find things are different here. You appreciate trying out new things, yes?"
t "Yes, Instructor, I...I guess I do?"
m "Then regardless of anything else you might think about all of this, just keep an open mind about it."
t "I will, Instructor! Totally open! A-as best as I can!"
m "{i}Hmm. That's still her defences talking, but given a bit of time to ruminate on it I figure she'll accept that outlook. She's the type to try and make something good out of any situation.{/i}"
m "{i}And that's all I'll need from her to progress.{/i}"
m "{i}We should be able to wrap this up soon. It's more just a case of what area needs most focus before we test things out...{/i}"
[[Fear - Uhhh disbelieve her, consider more pain, or perhaps just disregarding her again. Bodylock all but her head- or even better, have it rise up her body, like a slow freeze.]]
[[Doubt - Gaslight and question her on a bunch of things. Why she's here, some things she can confirm she knows that you then sharply question her about, prompting 'I-I don't know! I thought she was called Azula but- but]]
[[Relief - Accept her capitualation properly and that she's proven herself. Raise up the tension again in talking to her, then ease off. Do it in waves. Perhaps as a kind of 'pressure test'...somewhat easy questions just on the cusp of her knowledge---ah, perhaps whisper the correct answers to her in her head. Or introduce some mantras?]]
m "But still, maybe this isn't enough."
m "Maybe you should just be droned afterall."
m "No? You don't want that?"
t "N-No Instructor. Please."
m "That's not very convincing, thrall."
t "Please Instructor! I-I want to be a thrall! I-I do!"
m "My be very painful to lie like that."
t "No I'm not-AAA"
advnar "She spasms as her thrallsuit suddenly switches over to an agonizing, searing, burning sensation right against her spine, contorting her out of place."
m "Kneel, thrall."
t "AAA- AA-H-HH--"
m "Kneel. And speak the truth."
advnar "She scrambles, limbs twitching back into position, sweat beading off her brow."
t "I don't want to be a drone I don't, I don't want that!"
t "Don't drone me! Don't hurt m-me! Please!"
m "You hurt yourself, thrall. You weren't honest. Understand?"
t "Yes Instructor, I do! I'll-I'll never lie ag-NNNN-"
advnar "She grits her teeth, feeling it needle back into her from a far too absolute statement."
t "--nnn-i-iI'll do better I'll try I'll try and do better okay?!"
m "Really, thrall?"
t "Yes! Yes Instructor, I will! S-So don't- don't- I mean-"
t "I'll listen to you, so h-help me not hurt myself!!"
m "Hmm, should I though? You're not being a very good thrall at all right now."
t "I can learn! I can! I'm a super good learner!"
t "See? I-I didn't hurt myself saying that s-so you know it's true!"
t "I'm totally super good at learning!"
m "And as a thrall, are you also good at obeying?"
t "I'm the bes--NNNF--I'M GOOD!"
t "I'm-aah- I'm really good at obeying! I obeyed Azula so much! It's not hard to obey! Not hard at all!"
m "No? No matter what I told you to do?"
t "..."
advnar "She stops, wild and desperate, torn between what she wants to say and wanting to avoid any fresh agony."
t "...I...if..."
t "If your orders were good then- then of course I would obey them, Instructor!"
m "Define 'good'."
t "L-Like-"
t"I mean Yes Instructor, like-"
t "Just, telling me what to do or h-how to talk or stand or...things like that."
m "But not to, say, kill Azula."
t "..."
m "Thrall..."
t "I-I couldn't! I'm sorry Instructor!"
t "I know she's mean and awful and I-I hate her sometimes! But-"
t "Please don't drone me! Please!!"
advnar "She bows back down fully, abasing herself to try and win you over."
m "{i}Hmm, yes this much will do. Lets try and test her triggers, make sure they're in working order...{/i}"
[[Fear trigger test]]
m "{i}Lets throw a little more doubt her way.{/i}"
m "Stand, thrall. Hands at your sides, feet together, back straight."
advnar "She leaps into it, ramrod straight."
t "Yes Instructor!"
m "Good, a quirk learner. Perhaps you'd like to learn some other things then?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor!
m "Good. So, where to begin..."
m "Did you know Azula?"
t "Y-Yes!"
m "No, you didn't know her."
t "...I...uh?"
m "Do you even know her name?"
t "Y-Yeah-"
m "-Yeah?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor! Yes, I know it, it's Azula!
t "...Isn't it?"
m "No."
t "..."
m "Well lets try something else. Your age. You're 18, did you know that?"
t "I...I'm..."
m "No, you think you're 14 but you're not. Look at your body carefully."
m "Aren't you different?"
t "I-I'm...18?"
m "You are. Physically 18."
t "But- h-how, I was..."
m "Ah, and were you aware that Ty Lee's great-grandparents were Air Nomads?"
t "Wh-what?!"
m "Kinda ironic that Ty Lee was helping to hunt the last one of them down."
t "..."
m "Never wondered about the grey eyes?"
t "I-I'm-...no..."
m "Well no, 'you' aren't. You're a thrall, remember?"
m "You're not Ty Lee at all, anymore. Though you have her personality, you don't act like her at all."
m "Stand on one leg, L-D19. {b}Now.{/b}"
advnar "She does, almost losing her balance from the resulting gratification."
m "Look at you, you're blushing. Does it really feel that good, holding a pose?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor."
m "Can you stop yourself?"
t "N-No Instructor, I-...I'm sorry!"
m "Yes I'm sure you are. But you shouldn't be. This is normal."
m "What you're feeling is very natural. Even your fear."
m "This is new and what's new is often scary. And a lot of what you remember being taught doesn't apply anymore."
m "That'll fade though, you'll find."
t "Wh-what?"
m "Do you remember being a baby?"
t "...No Instructor?"
m "Quite so. So why would you remember things after a rebirth?"
t "I..."
m "Yes, thrall?"
t "I....I wouldn't."
t "I wouldn't! No, of course, you're right Instructor. Like, whatever you say!"
m "And you're sure that you're stood here on one leg now, and not dreaming?"
t "...Yessss Instructor?"
m "Good thrall."
t "Mpph...th-thankyou, Instructor..."
m "{i}I think that'll do. I could gaslight and second-guess her all day, but a lot more needs planning and I need to see about starting her on a path to more permanent changes...{/i}"
[[Fear trigger test]]m "Anyway, I think I've seen enough to make my judgement on you."
m "Come, stand up properly, hands at sides and feet together."
t "Yes Instructor!"
advnar "She snaps into position, awaiting your verdict with a mute horror you feel obliged to stretch out for an uncomfortable amount of time; taking one long, slow pace around her before speaking again."
m "So far..."
m "...I'm very happy with how you've performed."
m "But I've some questions that you need to answer."
m "And you will answer them truthfully. Understand?"
t "Uhm, yes Instructor, absolutely!"
advnar "You open up the comm. implant you have in her head, same as you began, dredging up some recordings of suitable phrases and words of hers to feed through."
m "In your opinion, what is obedience?"
t "Uh...to do as you're told?"
m "Yes, that's the practical explanation."
m "But what does it mean to you?"
t "Mean to me?"
advnar "You feed her a line. Quietly. Just on the cusp of her ability to pick up. Reverberating it in the background."
m "Yes. What does obedience mean to you?"
t "..."
t "....Umm..."
t "...P....pleasure?"
m "Oh?"
t "I-It's just...what came to mind, Instructor!"
t "But yeah, sure! Yeah it feels uhh, good! Obedience is pleasure!"
t "Totally okay with, like, following your orders and everything! No problem sitting or standing or kneeling or a-anything else we've done!"
m "I see. That's a good answer."
m "So you like performing?"
t "Y-Yeah! I do!"
m "But you didn't for Azula."
t "..."
m "Why?"
advnar "You can tell she wants to deny it or think around it, but you buzz and blip and muddle noises in the background until you see her expression change to something less evasive; almost annoyed she can't think clearly around it issue."
t "She um...she wasn't there to see me perform."
t "She wanted me to do something else."
m "Perform for her alone, you mean."
t "I-I guess?"
m "But you've no problems performing for me alone?"
t "Th-this is different!"
m "How? Surely I'm imposing on you too. Far more than she did."
advnar "She squirms, unsure how to answer."
advnar "You provide one, whispering in the depths."
t "..."
t "...Well...I'm...not Ty Lee, so it's totally different!"
t "Yeah, yeah that's it!"
t "So, that was a hang-up Ty Lee had, not me!"
t "I'm totally fine performing just for you Instructor! You know, being a thrall and all!"
t "I mean, obedience *is* pleasure afterall!"
m "Hmm...."
m "...Good answer."
m "If a little put upon."
m "{i}Still, I think it's time to test things out and wrap things up...{/i}"
[[Fear trigger test]]m "You know though, you're doing a very good job so far. So much so that I'd almost be tempted to let you go free."
m "If freedom didn't scare you, now."
m "No need to look so confused. Think about it. How much the idea of freedom, of being a person again {i}*sincerely scares you.*{/i}"
t "..."
m "So should I free you, thrall?"
m "I will if you want."
t "No!! Wait!! D-Don't!!"
t "I-I mean, n-not yet!"
m "Not yet? When?"
t "I-I don't know!"
m "But I'm only willing to make this offer now, thrall."
m "Nevermind that freedom {i}*sincerely scares you.*{/i} You can take it."
t "Aaaaahh!!"
t "Nononono please!! P-please I-I can't I won't!!"
m "You won't be free?"
t "No! No! Please don't m-make me! I-I won't be a person again, please!!"
m "But didn't you want to be?"
t "I...I was wrong, okay? I-"
t "-....What am I even doing?"
t "I- look, I don't...I don't know, okay?!"
t "Just...please, don't free me! I-I'm..."
m "Afraid?"
t "....Yeah."
t "Yes Instructor I....am?"
m "{i}Well, now that she's already doubting herself, we may as well add fire to the flames...{/i}"
[[Is broken. Whoops!]]
[[Doubt trigger test]]
t "I...I don't even- I'm not even me!"
m "You are. Just a new you. Here, this will help clarify things; say your name- L-D19."
t "Wh-what?"
m "Well if Ty Lee doesn't feel so sure anymore, this should help. {i}*Calm yourself*{/i} and obey. Say 'My name is L-D19', thrall."
t "M-My-"
t "...My name is L-D19."
t "...My...my name is.."
t "L-D19?"
m "Repeat it. {i}*Calm yourself*{/i} and repeat it."
t "...Yes, Instructor."
t "My name is L-D19."
t "..."
t "M-My name is L-D19."
t "My name is L-D19. My name is L-D19. My name i-is L-D19. My n-name is...is L-D19..."
advnar "It mumbles out into crying and tears, the relief of the name becoming too much for her."
t "Ohh...I-I'm a thrall..."
t "Why...{i}hck{/i} wh-why'd you p-pick me?!"
t "Why'd Ty Lee have to become one?"
m "Does that really matter at this point, L-D19?"
m "You are a thrall. Do you believe that such matters of how and why you became one are important to a thrall?"
t "{i}Snff{/i} N-No Instructor..."
m "No. So calm yourself and put it out of mind. All that matters is obedience."
t "..."
t "Yeah..."
t "I mean- Yes, Instructor."
t "..."
m "Well then. Now you've a better understanding of your place, lets do this over again."
m "Bow and introduce yourself, thrall. Just as before."
advnar "There's no word of protest as she sinks back down to her knees, a resigned, trepidacious look on her face as she adopts the position she capitulated in; forehand to the ground, arms ahead."
t "...I'm thrall L-D19, a thrallworks product."
m "And what do thralls do, L-D19?"
t "...Thralls obey their Instructors."
m "Good. Pleasure."
advnar "She clenches up in her supine position on the floor, and you enjoy watching as her muscles start to relax and undulate along with the pulsing sensation of her submission."
m "You're learning very quickly, L-D19. Stand up at attention again for me."
t "Yes, Instructor."
advnar "She brings herself to a stand, drained, almost emotionless, almost miserable...but with a slight glint of something else behind the eyes that flares up as she takes her position and the programmed reward kicks in."
advnar "It's unsurprising, you think. Opiods and other pleasure-inducing drugs are light nibbles compared to the buffet her PCU can provide. Addictive is too light of a word for it; it's {i}necessary{/i}."
[[Reward her with pleasure for being so obedient...have her doubt her revulsion toward it.]]
[[Confront her anger she's hiding, ]]
[[Talk about leaving her in the pod,]]
m "Is it still striking you as odd that you don't want to be free?"
m "I wonder how many times we'll have to go over this same ground."
m "Do you {i}*seriously think*{/i} you're still a person?"
t "No Instructor! No I absolutely-"
t "..."
t "...Don't?"
t "I...I mean..."
t "Uh...no...I.."
m "Yes? No? You don't?"
m "And do you {i}*seriously think*{/i} you're not a thrall, even though a thrall would indeed be more satisfied performing for their owners and Instructors? Just as you are."
t "I-I-I mean, of c-"
t "....Course..I..."
t "I..."
t "C-Could I...be a thrall?"
t "Oh! Uh, I mean-"
m "You mean what you mean."
m "Well there's any more proof you'd need...you've always previous gone by Ty Lee, correct?"
t "...Yes Instructor."
m "{i}*Seriously think*{/i} about if that name feels like it's yours. That it's right to call you 'Ty Lee'"
t "..."
t "..."
t "..!!"
t "......."
m "I see you've found your answer."
t "What..."
t "What have you done to me?"
m "Exactly as I said we had, L-D19. We've turned you into a thrall."
t "B-But I...I had friends a-and-"
m "-And will again. Thralls still have friends."
t "Please, I...I can't..."
[[Relief Trigger test]]
m "In light of your performance, I've decided what kind of model of thrall you will become."
m "Here at Thrallworks, we have a dozen different models of varying specialities."
m "You, L-D19, are to become a Dancer. A performer, essentially."
t "...A Dancer?"
m "Yes."
t "...That's it?"
m "If by that you mean 'all you have to do is dance', then...yes, actually."
m "No other manual labour. No...sexual favours. No book-keeping. No fighting."
m "As a dancing thrall, your sole duty will be towards producing the best performances you can. And you will be enhanced far beyond any person can be enhanced to achieve this end."
m "And be rewarded for it far beyond a person can be too."
t "..."
m "You seem surprised."
t "Well...I thought..."
m "All you need to think about now is obeying and dancing, thrall."
t "...Yes Intructor, I understand."
m "Hmmm...no. None of this 'I' business for now."
t "Instructor?"
m "You can earn that privledge back. From now on, instead of saying 'I did this' or 'I will obey', you will either use your name in place of it, or 'this thrall'."
m "Do you understand, L-D19?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor I-nn-...this...thrall, understands."
m "Good. In time I will reward you the use of it back, but evidently you need some general reminder of what you are for the time being."
m "I'll assist you though. As shorthand for your name, we will be calling you '19' for the rest of your instruction. Understand?"
t "Yes, Instructor."
m "Say 'Yes Instructor, 19 understands."
t "Yes Instructor, 19 understands."
m "And who is 19?"
t "This thrall is 19, Instructor."
m "Very good. {i}*Pleasure.*{/i}"
t "Mmrrmmm-"
t "19 th-thanks you, Instructor!"
m "Ah, you're learning. Now come, stand in the centre of the pod, here."
t "Yes Instructor, this thrall obeys."
advnar "You try not to smirk, but add a couple of percentage points to her basic 'obedience' level of pleasure for whenever she uses that exact phraseology."
advnar "You may as well reward her for trying new things and trying to please you; even if it's currently for the wrong reasons.."
m "Good. *Pod: Rest Cycle.*"
t "?"
m "Now stand on tip-toe 19."
t "Yes Instructor, this th-AH"
advnar "The higgs generators within the pod kick on, a narrow tube of anti-gravity in the centre of the room humming to life just as she does so, lauching herself into a slow float into the centre of the chamber."
m "*L-D19: Rest Cycle.*"
t "WH-What the- I'm..."
t "...Fly.....innnn...."
advnar "She slides into unconciousness as the control collar takes over, linking its systems to the diagonstic instruments within the pod, keeping her suspended for reactivation at a moment's notice."
m "...Well, that was neatly done. You there Cerise?"
c "I am, Instructor."
m "Set her rest cycle to an indefinite time period, I feel like I want to plot out a few things before we continue."
c "I see. Very well, Instructor."
m "Something more you wish to add Cerise?"
c "Only that I'm very curious on how you're going to bring this material into line with the rest of the Thrallworks ethos, Instructor."
[[Ignore her.]]
[[Thrallworks is hardly a paragon of upstanding morality.]]
[[Agree with the difficulty of it.]]
m "Well, I believe there's not much more to say before I evaluate you...though there is still something that bothers me."
m "You're still refusing to be entirely honest with me. Which can be fine for the short-term, but, as a thrall, surely that you're not telling me how angry you are {i}*scares you silly?*{/i}
t "B-But Instructor-"
t "..."
t "...!"
t "I-It's true, it's true I'm sorry! I-I really hate this!"
t "I didn't want this, it didn't ch-choose this, and you're m-m-making me feel things I don't want to feel and-"
t "-...And normally I wouldn't even think of telling you something like this, s-so I guess that's just even more proof I'm...what you tell me I am. And it's...it's just not right to do this to me!"
m "And yet you obey and are honest as a method to {i}*calm yourself*{/i}. And it works, doesn't it?"
t "....Yes, Instructor. It does. It's so-GGGK--"
advnar "For a bit of fun, you slyly spike her with a bit of light agony."
m "Feeling pain, L-D19? That's just your body's natural reaction to your deciet now. But I'm sure even in that you'll find you can use the pain to {i}*calm yourself*{/i}."
t "Aahhh...nnfff..."
t "....Y-Yes, Instructor."
t "I can. I-I don't...it doesn't make sense t-to me...why..."
m "Hmm, perhaps your tastes have changed in other ways now. If you're finding relief in pain, that's rather masochistic wouldn't you say?"
m "I'm sure if you {i}seriously think{/i} about it you can't say you aren't, can you?"
t "...No, Instructor."
t "I...I don't know...I-"
m "Hmm. No more of this 'I' business either."
m "I'll accept you in and keep you as a thrall, but we're starting from scratch. You need to earn everything- including your self-referrals."
m "So from now on, instead of 'I', you're to say either 'this thrall' or your name. Understand?"
t "Yes Instructor!"
m "'Yes Instructor, this thrall understands.'"
t "Yes Instructor, this thrall understands!"
m "Good. Then I've decided."
m "You're to be a Dancer."
t "...Instructor?"
m "There are several different models of thrall, from pleasure to business. And your business will be to perform for people."
t "...This thrall is to...perform?"
t "Is that it?"
m "Would you prefer to be used sexually? I can arrange that if-"
t "Nonono this thrall's okay! This thrall's very grateful to my-it's- Instructor! Thank you Instructor, please keep it as a dancer!"
m "Hmmm...."
m "Alright then."
m "But L-D19's a bit long to say all of the time. So though that is your name, I'm going to abbreviate to 19. You should too."
t "O-Okay! 19 understands!"
advnar "You tweak some of her default settings, altering some of the pleasure control unit's functions to fall in line with some 'fear' training parameters you'd set last night."
m "Well then, let's review. Say 'Yes Instructor, 19 understands."
t "Yes Instructor, 19 understands."
m "And who is 19?"
t "This thrall is 19, Instructor."
m "And is 19 a masochist?"
t "This...19 doesn't know, Instructor."
t "M-Maybe it is?"
m "I see. And why are you blushing?"
t "...This thrall..."
t "Th-this thrall is feeling....good, instructor."
m "From answering questions?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor. It...doesn't understand, but 19 guesses it's because she's a thrall?"
m "Yes. And to obey is pleasureable."
t "....19 understands."
m "To demonstrate more concretely; stand in the centre of the pod, here."
t "Yes Instructor, this thrall obeys."
advnar "You try not to smirk, but add a couple of percentage points to her basic 'obedience' level of pleasure for whenever she uses that exact phraseology."
advnar "You may as well reward her for trying new things and trying to please you, even if she's currently doing it for the wrong reasons."
m "{i}And to give me a bit of time to work on coverting those to the 'right' reasons, it's time to wrap this up.{/i}"
m "Good. *Pod: Rest Cycle.*"
t "?"
m "Now stand on tip-toe 19."
t "Yes Instructor, this th-AH"
advnar "The higgs generators within the pod kick on, a narrow tube of anti-gravity in the centre of the room humming to life just as she does so, lauching herself into a slow float into the centre of the chamber."
m "*L-D19: Rest Cycle.*"
t "WH-What the- I'm..."
t "...Fly.....innnn...."
advnar "She slides into unconciousness as the control collar takes over, linking its systems to the diagonstic instruments within the pod, keeping her suspended for reactivation at a moment's notice."
m "...Well, that was neatly done. You there Cerise?"
c "I am, Instructor."
m "Set her rest cycle to an indefinite time period, I feel like I want to plot out a few things before we continue."
c "I see. Very well, Instructor."
m "Something more you wish to add Cerise?"
c "Only that I'm very curious on how you're going to bring this material into line with the rest of the Thrallworks ethos, Instructor."
[[Ignore her.]]
[[Thrallworks is hardly a paragon of upstanding morality.]]
[[Agree with the difficulty of it.]]m "{i}It seems all the triggers are working just fine...so lets have a little fun organizing these last few details before putting her to bed.{/i}"
m "Well L-D19, to be honest I'm not sure what to do with you."
m "Perhaps you're just not committed enough to this life. I could just leave you here while I think about it."
m "I mean, it isn't like being useless to me {i}*sincerely scares you*{/i} afterall."
t "..."
t "No Instructor, th-that's not true!"
t "Please let me be useful to you! Please!"
t "I'll be a good little thrall, I will! I promise I will!"
t "S-So don't leave me here!"
m "Are you sure?"
t "Yes, yes! I'll- what do you want me to do? I-I want to be useful! I do!"
m "Hmmm...."
m "I don't know thrall, you're not sounding very convincing."
m "Even if being isolated or disobedient {i}*sincerely scares you*{/i} your effort seems a bit..."
m "Well..."
advnar "She collapses onto her knees, abasing herself before you again."
t "Please Instructor! Master! Please use me! D-don't leave me alone! I--"
t "--I don't want to be left here! I can't!"
t "Y-You said it right? I-I'm a thrall, and- and - thralls need to obey!"
t "It feels good to follow your orders and-and- I will! I really will so-"
m "...Well..."
advnar "You dither a bit, but only to enjoy how prostrate she is before you."
m "It'll be hard, you know? Very trying for you."
t "That's okay!"
m "If you're sure to follow and obey..."
t "Yes Instructor, I'll try my hardest!"
m "...Well then we can give it a shot. Keep you as a thrall and instruct you. So {i}*calm yourself*{/i}"
advnar "Her head perks up as relief washes over her, a deluded, desperate, genuine smile on her face."
t "Thank you Instructor! I won't let you down, I-I promise!"
m "Then to start, none of this 'I' stuff."
t "Instructor?"
m "You're no longer to say 'I did this' or 'I did that'. You are to say 'this thrall did this' or 'L-D19' did that instead."
t "Uhh..."
t "I-this thrall understands, Instructor. No problem!"
m "Good thrall. Though L-D19's a bit of a mouthful to say all the time."
m "For now, though that'll still be your name, you're to go by '19'. Understand?"
t "Yes, Instructor. 19 understands!"
m "Good. Then I've decided."
m "You are to be tutored as a dancer."
t "A...dancer, Instructor?"
m "Mmm. Seeing as how you've progressed since with been here, and your natural talents, it only seems fitting."
t "...19 is...very thankful, Instructor!"
t "Sure, dancing! That's like....okay!"
m "Indeed. Though anything I picked would have been okay, correct?"
t "Th-that's right Instructor! Of course!"
m "Mmm. Now come, stand in the centre of the pod, here."
t "Yes Instructor, this thrall obeys!"
advnar "You try not to smirk, but add a couple of percentage points to her basic 'obedience' level of pleasure for whenever she uses that exact phraseology."
m "Say that again, thrall."
t "Yes Instructor, this thrall obeys..."
advnar "She closes her eyes, a heavier, wetter lilt on the end of her words this time."
m "The more honest you become, the better it feels, thrall."
t "Yes Instructor...this thrall understands. She'll obey."
m "Good thrall. {i}*Pleasure*{/i}."
advnar "You may as well reward her for trying new things and trying to please you; even if she's only doing it for self-preservation."
m "{i}We'll need to work on turning that into a more earnest appreciation. Time to wrap this up so we can plan it out.{/i}"
m "Good. *Pod: Rest Cycle.*"
t "?"
m "Now stand on tip-toe 19."
t "Yes Instructor, this th-AH"
advnar "The higgs generators within the pod kick on, a narrow tube of anti-gravity in the centre of the room humming to life just as she does so, lauching herself into a slow float into the centre of the chamber."
m "*L-D19: Rest Cycle.*"
t "WH-What the- I'm..."
t "...Fly.....innnn...."
advnar "She slides into unconciousness as the control collar takes over, linking its systems to the diagonstic instruments within the pod, keeping her suspended for reactivation at a moment's notice."
m "...Well, that was neatly done. You there Cerise?"
c "I am, Instructor."
m "Set her rest cycle to an indefinite time period, I feel like I want to plot out a few things before we continue."
c "I see. Very well, Instructor."
m "Something more you wish to add Cerise?"
c "Only that I'm very curious on how you're going to bring this material into line with the rest of the Thrallworks ethos, Instructor."
[[Ignore her.]]
[[Thrallworks is hardly a paragon of upstanding morality.]]
[[Agree with the difficulty of it.]]
advnar "You allow a smirk of satisfaction at the comment as the line goes dead. Congratulations indeed."
advnar "As you expected, she folded very quickly to this sort of pressure. Years of developing this kind of toadying subservience on her part bored an easy tunnel for thralldom to follow through."
advnar "All you need to do is make sure the tunnel doesn't collapse. Happily, you've just the tools to help support this structure now."
m "{i}Well, providing I don't cave it in myself. Lets not be overeager. This might be fun, but it's also our job. Best to do it right.{/i}"
m "{i}And then maybe when we learn this material's limit, we can get more...'experimental' with L-D20...{/i}"
[[FIN]]
m "Why? That's a pretty rich question. Have you forgotten what it was you were doing?"
m "Working to overthrow a nation, hunting down virtuous people at the behest of a megalomaniac- who you were also in turn wanting to betray."
t "N-No I was-"
m "-You've a bad habit of lying, L-D19, I suggest you stop. You'll find that as a thrall it won't suit you."
t "B-But-- look-"
t "..."
t "Y-You're right, so....so I'm sorry okay?"
t "I-I'll make it up to you! I'll...I'll join with the Avatar or something rather than be against him!"
t "O-Or I can help from the inside! Y-You name it! Just-"
m "You misunderstand the situation if you think it's something she can apologize for."
t "W-Wait!-"
m "-Regardless of the inciting incident, what's happened has happened. It doesn't matter the reason."
m "If you prefer, perhaps you could also blame yourself for being so cute, and making a point to be so cute."
m "You're a desirable commodity that a lot of people would want to have; it seems this is a natural outcome for someone who had made themselves so desireable and who teased so many over the years."
m "You knew what you were doing wooing all of that attention."
t "I-I..."
t "I didn't-"
m "-Luckily you are now a thrall. And for a thrall, this desire toward excess is not a bad quality to have."
m "You can cry about your circumstances if you wish, but if you double-down on this impulse to perform and be special rather than curtail it, you'll find more benefit in your new life."
t "...B-But that's...those are bad things, right?"
t "I mean-- that's exactly why you've...y-you've done this to me!!"
t "You're-like- wanting me to be okay with this?!"
m "I don't much care if you are or are not okay with it."
m "If you want, you can indulge in that well-wishing and try to amend yourself...but if you do, all that means to me is that you're unsuitable thrall material, and you're going to be droned."
m "While if you submit to those desires and let yourself revel a little..."
advnar "You flicker a little sibilance of pleasure from her PCU to highlight your words."
m "You might well feel a lot better with the outcome."
t "I- nn-"
t "-How can anyone be okay with this?! Y-You just expect me to-to just..."
advnar "She peters out, too anxious to speak. You sigh on her behalf."
m "Regardless of how you feel about it, the circumstances are what they are. You either accept your position or not."
m "And this choice is not one without an expiry date."
[[Have her make a decision now]]
[[Give her some time to think.]]
m "Why you specifically?"
m "Well, you were probably given to me because this is my first time Instructing someone, and you're not quite as valuable as the more popular popular material from your chosen verse who are being worked on elsewhere..."
t "No, not that! Why are you doing this to me?!"
t "W-why are you fine with this?! She-I- we're people!! Y-You can't do this to people!"
m "Oh! That reason, haha."
m "Well that's an ancillary concern at this point don't you think?"
t "It's wrong!!"
advnar "You raise your hands, not interested in further escalation."
m "Look, I get your meaning. But regardless of what can be done in the future, right now you need to make a choice."
m "You're a thrall."
m "You are a thrall, but you {i}could{/i} be a drone. These are the two options you have before you."
m "Like I said, you're not stupid. Even if you're wanting to 'stall' or argue the toss later, I should think your choice should be obvious here."
t "And if I don't choose? What if I just stay here, huh?"
t "I don't have to do a thing you tell me!"
m "This isn't an offer without an expiry date."
[[Have her make a decision now]]
[[Give her some time to think.]]
m "You have to decide within the next minute."
t "Wh-what?! A m-minute?!"
t "That's too short!! I-I can't-""
m "-You have to."
t "I-I really can't! I...this is too much!"
m "Huh, so you're fine with pleading for yourself but not for accepting yourself?"
t "I can't accept this!! I-I won't!!"
m "Then you'll be droned."
m "An existence whose only care is toward obedience."
m "Certainly a fine existence once you're inducted into it. Perhaps you have a different opinion though?"
t "..."
m "I'll make this clear for you, L-D19."
m "If you kneel, forehead to floor, then I'll consider that a start."
m "An excuse I can use to keep you as you are."
m "And from there can test your suitability."
m "Or you can stay standing."
m "And enjoy the consequences."
t "Y-you..."
t "You could just be tricking me!"
t "I mean, h-how do I know any of this is even real?!"
m "If it's not real then you've no reason not to play along with my request. If it {i}is{/i} real, then you've every reason to."
advnar "She looks at you. Lip trembling. Tears welling in her eyes."
t "...Please."
t "It's not fair."
m "I never said it was."
m "Kneel, L-D19. Or don't."
advnar "She lowers her gaze. And you wonder, for a moment, just how stern you're going to have to be. If you need to repeat yourself again. If she requires a countdown."
advnar "Certainly, you're asking for an action so monumental that some kind of push is necessary."
advnar "But, it seems you've pushed enough."
[[She kneels]]
[[She remains standing]]
m "You get an hour."
t "Wh-what?!"
m "I'm going to leave, and you get an hour to decide."
m "If you agree to become a thrall, then all you need to do is kneel down, forehead to the floor, and await further instruction."
t "I...I won't!!"
t "I can't!"
m "Then you'll be a drone."
m "Without your own thoughts or desires. Just obedience."
t "...This...you could just be tricking me!"
t "O-Or this could all just be a dream!"
t "Yeah, that's it! I mean, this is crazy! This isn't even like the spirit world!"
t "H-How do I know what you're saying is real? I mean that could've just been some other performer- this could all just be s-some...some big joke!"
m "Hmm. True."
m "Well, if you want some proof that you are thrall L-D19 now and not a person called Ty Lee..."
advnar "You access her pleasure control unit, flicking a few settings around as you talk."
m "Humour me for a moment and say 'I am Thrallworks product L-D19.'"
t "What?"
m "You want proof or don't you?"
t "{i}Sigh.{/i}"
t "'I'm thrallworks product L-D19.'"
t "There, now wha-"
t "-...aa.."
t "...ohhh..what'ssss..."
advnar "She quivers, legs giving way as she collapses to her knees, back arching, eyes wide with fear and ecstacy."
t "H-Holy..ffaahh...nnmm.."
m "Thralls, L-D19, are made to obey too. And when they do, they recieve a pleasure very much unlike that which a person recieves when they obey orders."
advnar "She gapes but doesn't reply, riding a high much more potent than any she'd have experienced before."
m "...So yes, expect that in your new life. I'll give you some time to process it."
m "I do hope you make the right choice, L-D19. Your hour starts now."
advnar "And with that you leave, exiting the pod and returning back to the main area of The Wheels where Cerise awaits you."
c "An hour, Instructor?"
m "Seems a fitting amount of time. Not too long, but enough to weigh her thoughts and her anxieties. We'll keep an eye on her CMS and her expressions, see if there's anything worthwhile to pick up."
c "Of course."
advnar "She nods, and you both lapse into quiet thought and distraction, watching the drones mill about, the occassional Instructor come in, give you a wave and depart with a thrall."
advnar "You spend much of the time reflecting on how strict to be should she fail to capitulate. It might be possible to shove her over the edge more forcefully after the fact, but that might be too 'weak' of a move, you consider."
advnar "And other considerations cease as Cerise intrudes on them."
c "May I ask you a question, Instructor?"
[[Grant permission]]
[[Do not grant Permission]]
m "In a manner of speaking, yes."
m "I'm not familiar with everything you cultivated thralls go through, but due to the culture you've been raised in, I consider you quite indoctrinated, 'brainwashed' even, into moral values that celebrate a relinquishing of your ability to choose."
m "To a point where quite frankly your decision-making skills are compromised in a few key areas."
m "So much so infact that I don't feel there's any point in trying to convince you otherwise, I'm afraid. Any explanation would just roll down that shapely back of yours."
c "I see, Instructor. Interesting."
c "Because my free will is compromised, I am locked within a certain range of expressions. There may be choices beyond this range that I could grasp at, but due to my nature, I will never pick them."
c "Like to be 'free', for example. Like you are free."
m "I sense a counterargument coming."
c "I wouldn't dare."
c "To follow the logic though, I am curious as to why you are going along with all of this."
c "You could walk away from this life, Keller."
c "If you consider what we're doing to the girl in there torture, you don't need to be a part of it. You needn't be doing these morally wrong activities. You have the choice."
c "But you won't walk away."
c "For better or worse, your own habits constrain you too. You have your own range of expressions."
advnar "She nods over to the drone working across from you both, the same one as she sent in previously."
c "The drone, too, has an unlimited availability of options provided to it."
m "But all it wants to do is obey."
c "...Look here, Instructor."
advnar "Cerise stops leaning against the terminal she'd been reclining against to stand before you, motioning to one of her eyes."
advnar "Faintly within it, you make out a dim glow, and slight geometric patterns within the iris that make it clear it isn't natural."
advnar "You also note how tall she is in those ballet heels. The close attention is almost oppressive."
c "Care to guess how much of the spectrum I can see?"
advnar "Ah, you see where she's going with this. Just because one can only see a certain window of choices doesn't mean the other choices don't exist."
m "{i}But equally...{/i}"
m "...Actually I'm more interested in if you have the mental ability to process other wavelengths beyond the normal ones or not. Or does your brain merely revisualize them into the visual spectrum?"
c "Hmm."
m "To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."
m "Even if the senses are expanded to acknowledge things beyond their scope, they can still only react in ways based on their own personal qualities."
c "That seems like another limit imposed by habit."
m "I'm not sure you can classify biological limitations as a habit."
c "You would prefer something more objective, like 'law'?"
c "'Law' is a very imaginative human notion of immutability. The idea of things having 'habits' rather than laws better explains events in the universe."
c "Physics only behaves to a certain point."
m "A fair point, but that wording also suggests decision-making as a part of the construction."
m "And, might I add, none of this ends up making Thrallworks a moral institution."
m "Free-will notwithstanding, slavery and enforced subordination are self-evidently immoral from the collective revulsion one feels towards being persecuted by another."
m "Even for those who crave stability and submission, if that could be obtained whilst still maintaining their personal selfishness, then they would."
m "And even if thralls are happy with their lives, doesn't the fact they were forced into it make that happiness inauthentic?"
c "If so, please tell me of a time where you've been artificially happy."
m "One of the several-odd times where I've taken too many drugs or eaten too much sugar. It's actually quite easy."
c "And yet the feeling of happiness you get from it is still that- happiness."
m "If you're just going for consequentialism as your metric for a moral outcome then that's fine, but ultimately a happiness born from unsustainable circumstances is just short term-gain for long term degradation and addiction."
m "At best, it's only as stable as the supply, and blunts further growth."
c "If that's what you believe, then why are you doing it to her?"
c "If you intend to use the PCU in such a manner to 'reward' her obedience, it won't be orders she's following, it will be her next fix."
m "It's a necessary jolt to get her out of her current mindset, nothing more. I'm not so crass as to use it as a crutch when more dependable methods are available."
c "And these other methods will produce a different kind of artifical happiness?"
m "Inappropriately happy might be the better way of putting it."
c "But then one needs to determine what is and is not appropriate behaviour. Are these too laws of the universe, Instructor?"
c "Are morals discovered in the same way as atoms?"
m "Hmm. Well if we're going to speak about arbitrary values being implemented, why are we 'Thrallworks' and not 'Droneworks'?"
m "There must be some value judgement being made of one over the other."
m "And if being a thrall is for the greater good, and the options for a failed thrall are to drone them or let them go, then aren't you putting 'freedom' and 'droning' as moral equivalents below 'thralling'?"
c "That sounds like you think if you can't be the best then you should stop entirely."
m "So to be a drone is worse than to be a thrall?"
c "They are equivalents insofar as maximizing the generation of future potential."
m "Potential happiness, or potential sales?"
c "Why Instructor how cyncial of you."
m "Forgive me for thinking a company would be interested in selling their product. Unless we aren't?"
c "Naturally we are."
m "Then you'll have to grant that we are, in fact, a company that is more interested in fulfilling a quotas than caring about how those quotas are filled."
c "That depends on what kind of product we're selling."
m "And what are we selling, Cerise? Because I thought we were selling thralls."
c "..."
advnar "She gives you a look- not too dissimilar from the one that she started with, but at this distance far more piercing. Small agonies glinting in alien eyes."
c "...'Any explanation would just roll down that shapely back of yours.'"
c "The answer is not within your range of being to accept, based on the habits you have."
m "But it *is* within yours?"
c "Would it be above my station to say so?"
[[Admonish her arrogance]]
[[Agree to disagree]]
[[Take her at her value]]
m "I suppose not. At least, you seem capable of self-determination."
m "Though I'm unfamiliar with cultivated thralls, so perhaps your traits aren't universal, and therefore different materials and models should be handled differently."
c "I see. And you believe that this thrall is one where a stern approach is more favourable?"
m "It's true that for a Dancer, a fear of failure or unnatural pressure to perform would impact their quality."
m "That's not what I'm aiming for here though, I assure you. It's just a different path to an equally satisfying destination."
m "The fun and happiness can come later, right now we need to focus on building a sure and solid identity for L-D19. Getting her to engage with the instruction on those terms, rather than Ty Lee's terms, is more important."
m "...Perhaps you have your own opinion on the matter? Too cruel?"
c "I will admit it's irregular, though your explanation is somewhat reassuring."
m "I'm surprised you're so concerned with kindness as a part of the process. Even leaving free will aside, we're hardly being moral by classic standards by retrieving this material and converting it."
c "That's true, if one believes that morals are a 'discoverable' quality in versal construction."
c "Ever-present and just waiting for someone- some sentience- to come along and recognize them, like atoms in a microscope."
c " If so, then we are immoral creatures for doing this, and either one has not to care, or one has got to partition or reconcile that with their nature."
c "...Or one has to change the habits of the verse they are in to make such monsterous actions acceptable."
[[I guess I don't care.]]
[[I suppose I'll have to think about that...]]
[[I don't believe in such concrete morality.]]
[[Where do you fall on the spectrum?]]
m "It is rather above your station, actually. You may have a name, but you are still a thrall, Cerise."
m "I wouldn't get so high-minded about a company that owns you. You're no less a product than the girl in the pod."
c "..."
c "Of course, Instructor. I beg your forgiveness and apologize for any disrespect I have shown."
m "As you should."
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]
[[She abases herself]]m "Well, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one then."
m "I've my opinion and you've yours. You'll just have to judge based on the results like everyone else."
c "..."
c "Very well Instructor."
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]
[[She abases herself]]advnar "It occurs to you that, biologically speaking, Cerise is actually different from most other humans. All thralls are to some degree. Perhaps her particular position is born out of some insight particular to her changes?"
m "{i}Or perhaps she's just saying it's a matter of experience. I haven't been an Instructor all that long, afterall.{/i}"
m "...You know, I'll take you at your word Cerise. Or at least, I shan't pretend to understand your point of view entirely, but I can accept that you have it."
c "..."
c "I see!"
m "Anyway, don't be so concerned about my methods being 'heavy-handed'. I've no intention of doing a botched-job. She'll fall in line as well as any other thrall."
c "I shall be interested to see you work, Instructor."
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]
[[She abases herself]]
m "How ominious. But I'll allow it."
c "Do you think she'll agree with the terms you've laid out?"
m "Hmm. Well, seems as fair as any other method. You don't think she will?"
c "Oh, she will capitulate Instructor. She will bow to the pressure you've put on her."
c "However, I am talking of the wider connotations of this methodology."
m "Oh?"
c "Mmm. Of setting up Thrallworks as this implacable, monsterous organization that kidnaps and enslaves helpless victims all for the pleasure of their owners."
m "Ha! And you don't believe it is, Cerise?"
m "At the end of the day, we're still kidnapping people against their will, then subverting said will with the tools at our disposal. It hardly makes us 'good' regardless of the circumstances."
c "We're subverting their free will?"
m "Obviously. Are we not?
advnar "Cerise gives you a peculiar look. Not quite pitying, more like wondering how she can explain something to you. If she should. If she even could."
c "...Do you consider my will subverted, Instructor?"
[[In a manner of speaking]]
[[I suppose not.]]You tell her to keep her mind to herself.
She acquieses, and you monitor Ty Lee in silence.
Depending on your decisions leading into this and general diplomacy...
m "Permission denied, Cerise. A thrall's mind should be on her tasks, not on questioning their owners."
c "Of course, Instructor. My apologies for any offence I may have caused."
m "Mmm."
[[She abases herself]]
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]c "The rest of this conversation is perhaps better left for another time though. Your material is kneeling, afterall."
advnar "You follow her gaze behind you to the monitor there; a small figure in a pod, kneeling, head touching the floor. Waiting."
m "{i}Well, how about that.{/i}"
m "Thankyou Cerise. I'll be back soon."
c "Of course Instructor. Take your time."
advnar "You walk back, happy with the partial success. Only partial. She's yet to truly appreciate what it means to be a thrall, and you're still lacking some references for use during the rest of her instruction."
m "{i}It may be an idea to push her on this choice. Now she's made it, maybe we can force her to double-down on it.{/i}"
m "{i}Though I could just botch it entirely. I guess we'll see.{/i}"
advnar "She shifts a little as you come back in, but doesn't raise her head. At first you think the shifting is from the uncomfortable circumstances, and her tossling with whatever etiquette was drilled into her in her former life; 'Do not raise your head until instructed to do so.'"
advnar "On closer inspection though, you realize that you didn't adjust the settings from when last you altered them, and she's in the throes of pleasured obedience."
m "{i}Accidental, but helpful.{/i}"
m "Good thrall. Now repeat after me; 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product."
t "...I-"
advnar "She trembles, fearful. Anticipatory. Starts over."
t "I am...th-thrall L-D19...a Thrallworks p-product."
m "'I am L-D19.' Repeat."
t "I'm L-D19."
m "'L-D19 is a thrall.'"
t "E-El-D19 is a thrall"
m "'Thralls obey.'"
t "Thralls- uhmm-bey-"
m "I obey.'"
t "I-"
advnar "She hesitates, quivering. You only pick up on the whisper thanks to your own implants."
t "I obey..."
advnar "You know it's not legitimate. She's scared, still. But you also know that even this moderate PCU setting is giving her a high better than any drug from her saying that."
m "Good. Now as I talk, repeat those phrases until I tell you to stop."
t "I am thrall L-D19 a thrallw-works productt I amm L-D19, L-D19 is a thrall, th-thralls..."
advnar "You suppress a smile as you start, not wanting it to filter into your voice as she meanders on, stumbling and shaking."
m "Well, you did the smart thing thrall, certainly. At least least from your perspective. And to be honest I can't say I'd have chosen any different were I in your shoes."
m "{i}Hah, maybe I am limited.{/i}"
m "But that you elected to accept your thralldom still doesn't secure your position as one. I need to decide. And I know you're just bending to the situation so you don't break."
advnar "You pause to listen."
t "Thralls obeeyy, I obey, thralls- I amna..L-D19, I'm a product, I'm..."
advnar "A definite slur to her phrasing, words blending together, stalling, firingout in stattaco bursts as she strains to hold the phrases in her head, holding onto words like a child clings to a stuffed toy."
[[Demonstrate some of the effects of the thrall suit, both for fear and relief- and to reward her]]
[[She's still required to prove herself,]]
advnar "The hour passes, and she remain standing. Rather than walk back in, you decide to contact her remotely, speaking into her mind."
m "*Are you sure this is a good idea, L-D19? Your time is up. I will still accept your supplication if you perform it now.*"
t "I..."
t "I won't!"
t "There's a lot of stuff I've done that's wrong."
t "And...and a lot of people that I've hurt, and a bunch of people I've said yes to that I shouldn't have."
t "I know that now. And I decided I won't be doing that anymore!"
t "And that starts with you!"
t "Y-You're a mean, terrible person, and even though you've turned me into this...thrall-whatever, I'm still me! I'm still Ty Lee, and *I* get to choose!"
t "S-So...so if you want to drone me or-or whatever, just try it!"
t "Come in here and just try it!"
advnar "You switch the comms. off, stroking your chin."
m "{i}Well how about that. Seems I didn't set her up to fall as far as I'd have liked.{/i}"
m "{i}Well then what to do...{/i}"
[[Try and coerce her with some pain or pleasure]]
[[Make good on your threat and drone her]]
[[Respect her spirit - dream her]]
m "...So as a reward for your progress so far, I'll help explain your situation some. Stop repeating, come stand at attention."
t "Yuh--yes, Instructor..."
advnar "She wobbles up, a bit of a haze to her eyes as she regards you, a slow blink as she obeys and another roll of pleasure overtakes her."
m "How do you feel, L-D19?"
t "I-I feel..."
t "R-really, like, weird..."
m "In a bad way?"
t "....No.....not bad...but..."
m "Bend over and touch your toes."
t "Okay..."
m "'Yes Instructor'. And stand on tip-toe."
t "Y-Yes Instructor."
m "Feels good to do, doesn't it?"
t "...Y-Yeah...."
t "What's...going on? A-Are you doing this? But I didn't...s-see you do anything..."
m "That's because it's natural for a thrall to feel pleasure when they follow orders."
m "Does feeling pleasure trouble you?"
m "Come back to attention."
t "Yes Instructor- I mean-"
t "Yes Instructor to the...order, but- no-"
t "No Instructor, it doesn't bother me..."
m "It's not good to lie, L-D19."
t "!! L-Look I just thought it's pretty personal, you know!"
m "Am I touching you?"
t "Well- no."
m "Is it an imposition?"
t "...Well it's- it's not normal, right?"
m "For a thrall it is."
m "You're a thrall now, L-D19. This is a natural reward of a thrall. You don't need to hide from pleasure or make time for it in the way you used to. It's yours to enjoy, no-one else's."
m "It's part of what makes you special. Understand?"
t "...Yes, Instructor."
t "I think so."
m "{i}Huh, seems like she's actually starting to accept that part of it at least. That'll serve well for the future.{/i}"
m "{i}Feels like we're getting to a good point to test the triggers out, but how to lead into it...{/i}"
[[Fear - Uhhh disbelieve her, consider more pain, or perhaps just disregarding her again. Bodylock all but her head- or even better, have it rise up her body, like a slow freeze.]]
[[Doubt - Gaslight and question her on a bunch of things. Why she's here, some things she can confirm she knows that you then sharply question her about, prompting 'I-I don't know! I thought she was called Azula but- but]]
[[Relief - Accept her capitualation properly and that she's proven herself. Raise up the tension again in talking to her, then ease off. Do it in waves. Perhaps as a kind of 'pressure test'...somewhat easy questions just on the cusp of her knowledge---ah, perhaps whisper the correct answers to her in her head. Or introduce some mantras?]]
m "...Your flexibility is commendable, but you need to understand your place. I will help you."
m "And the first lesson is that your pleasure is a privledge. One I control."
m "L-D19: Pleasure off."
advnar "She sucks in a breath immediately, head snapping back and up, clarity coming to her like a sharp alarm."
m "Did I say stop repeating?"
t "I..."
t "..."
advnar "She grits her teeth, chewing over what she'd experienced and she'd agreed to."
advnar "And slowly lowers her head again, still trembling, but now for a for different reason."
t "...I...I'm L-D19...L-D19 is a thrall..."
advnar "You wait until she's looped again before continuing."
m "You will be required to do a lot of things, thrall, to reach your potential. To learn different skills, learn proper etiquette."
m "For instance, you will respond 'Yes Instructor' when you recieve a command from myself."
m "Stop now."
t "thr-...Ah-"
t "Y-Yes Instructor."
m "Kneel up. Eyes down."
t "*Snff* Y-Yes Instructor."
advnar "She does so, almost glad, you think, that she needn't meet your gaze."
m "Good thrall. Pleasure."
t "Unnnhhff.."
advnar "You squat infront of her, watching the tears well up."
m "Tell me...what did you love most about being Ty Lee?"
t "Wh-what?"
m "Not. 'What'."
t "Y-Yes Instructor! Sorry Instructor!"
t "I- uhm...I-I din't like a thing!"
m "L-D19, do not lie to me."
m "I will ask you one more time. What did you love most about being Ty Lee?"
t "..."
t "...I-I don't know!"
t "I liked a lot of things! The circus a-and Mai and...and a lot of things!"
m "And attention?"
t "..."
t "Y-Yes, Instructor. I...liked that too."
m "And what did you hate about being Ty Lee, thrall?"
t "...Being ignored?"
m "And?"
t "Just- please."
m "No, you can say it L-D19. You can obey."
t "...B-Being like everyone else. Being- fuhhh-"
advnar "She swallows thickly, trying to keep a handle on the sensation."
t "F-Forced to be like that."
t "N-Not that-"
m "-No need to excuse it thrall."
m "Look at me, L-D19."
advnar "Her eyes flit up, fists curling on her thighs from the torment, looking just a little bit off and away from your own, unable to look at you directly."
advnar "Tense. Scared. Even more scared for what you've trampled over and taken ownership of...and how much more you could take."
m "You are what you are now. There's no need to force anything. And you're not going to be like everyone else."
m "{i}Hmm, how to wrap this up...{/i}"
[[Fear - Uhhh disbelieve her, consider more pain, or perhaps just disregarding her again. Bodylock all but her head- or even better, have it rise up her body, like a slow freeze.]]
[[Doubt - Gaslight and question her on a bunch of things. Why she's here, some things she can confirm she knows that you then sharply question her about, prompting 'I-I don't know! I thought she was called Azula but- but]]
[[Relief - Accept her capitualation properly and that she's proven herself. Raise up the tension again in talking to her, then ease off. Do it in waves. Perhaps as a kind of 'pressure test'...somewhat easy questions just on the cusp of her knowledge---ah, perhaps whisper the correct answers to her in her head. Or introduce some mantras?]] t "Thankyou for your gift, Instructor!"
advnar "You observe her for a moment after. Letting the silence following her statement hang, letting her realize what she's just given into."
advnar "She doesn't add anything to the statement. She doesn't move but to sob."
advnar "Not bad."
m "Very good, thrall. *Pleasure.*"
advnar "She releases a low, guttural moan as you send another ripple of ecstacy through her; almost a whine, almost unwanted, but impossible to hold back as she trembles through it."
m "Does it feel good, thrall? Be honest."
t "Uhh--uughnn....u-uh-huh--"
m "'Yes Instructor, it feels good to obey.'"
t "Yess I-Instructor. It fuh-feels good to obeyyy- ahh..."
t "I-..."
m "...Yes, thrall? Speak."
advnar "She pauses for a moment longer before the fear of punishment outweighed the fear of speaking."
t "...I d-didn't know...a-anything could f-feel...like that..."
m "It couldn't. Not for Ty Lee, anyway."
m "But you're not her, are you?"
t "N-no, Instructor. I...I'm not, no."
m "Kneel up properly thrall. Explain why you're not."
advnar "She leans back and you finally get to see her honest expression; riddled with conflict, shock, fear, surprise...utterly lost. Just clinging on to whatever you tell her to do in an attempt to ground herself."
t "I..."
t "I g-guess...because...because I'm a thrall?"
t "And Ty Lee wasn't."
m "Mmm. Ty Lee never felt anything like that before, did she?"
t "No, no Instructor."
m "But you did. Would L-D19 like to feel it again?"
advnar "She looks up at you, and you feel that if she had more of her wits about her, she'd have responded with a quick 'yes'...but an insincere one. One born from wanting to please you."
advnar "This expression you much prefer. One who doesn't know the answer. One who doesn't even know what they should or shouldn't want anymore."
m "...No?"
t "..."
m "Well then-"
t "Ah-"
m "?"
t "..."
advnar "Oh, you get it."
m "...'Yes Instructor. L-D19 wants to obey.'"
advnar "She bows to the floor again, unprompted."
t "Y-Yes, Instructor. L-D19 w-wants to obey."
m "{i}Pleasure Loop: 10 seconds.{/i}"
advnar "The shriek of it takes you off guard before you release you'd paralyzed her previously, her body breaking position to spasm uncontrollably on the floor."
advnar "The seconds go by and she collapses, bonelessly."
t "Ooogh...ugh..."
m "Now thank your Instructor."
t "Guh..ughgnm..."
advnar "You give her another moment to collect herself, seeing the absolute absence of thought in her eyes."
m "L-D19. Thank your instructor."
t "...Th...thank youuuuuu Instructor..."
m "{i}Well, we've found a rich seam in this vein. But how far does her obedience extend? I feel we need to hammer this new reality home more. Make her understand her position.{/i}"
[[Lick the floor]]
[[Take various poses]]
[[Reward her with pleasure for the capitulation]]advnar "You observe her for a moment after. Letting the silence following her statement hang, letting her realize what she's just given into."
advnar "She doesn't add anything to the statement. She doesn't move but to sob."
advnar "Not bad."
m "Very good, thrall. *Pleasure.*"
advnar "She tightens up on the floor, unwanted but unignorable sensations rippling through her body, forcing her to contort and move to them despite her best efforts to stay still."
m "Does it feel good, thrall? Be honest."
t "...Y-Yes Instructor!"
m "'Yes Instructor, it feels good to obey.'"
t "Yes I-Instructor it fuh-feels good to obeyyy!"
m "And yet you didn't thank me for this gift?"
t "Thankyou Instructor! Thankyou very very much!"
m "{i}I feel we need to hammer this new reality home more. Make her understand her position.{/i}"
[[Lick the floor]]
[[Take various poses]]
[[Reward her with pleasure for the capitulation]]
advnar "You enjoy the twisting silence as she shudders on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, utterly terrified of what you can do to her."
m "Did you enjoy being corrected, thrall?"
m "Did you enjoy learning your place?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor! Yes, absolutely!!"
m "And what is your place?"
t "Beneath you, Instructor! I-I'm yours! Like, totally yours!"
t "You can do whatever you like with me! You can!"
m "Oh? Even put you through that again?"
t ".........."
t "....I...I'll do anything Sir. Instructor. Master. Please."
advnar "Somehow she manages to press herself even closer to the floor, arms extending in an even more extreme display of reverence."
t "Please my Lord. Wh-whatever you need. I'm yours, I'm yours!"
m "My title is Instructor, thrall. You'll refer to me as such."
t "Y-Yes Instructor! I'm so sorry! I'll never make that mistake again!"
t "I-I'm just your slave-"
m "-Thrall."
t "-Just your thrall! Just a thrall! Just something to do what you want!"
t "S-So....so I'm sorry...for ever trying to go against you."
t "Please. I'm sorry. I'm-"
t "-I'm so sorry!"
advnar "She doesn't add anything to the statement. She doesn't move but to sob; wracking her emotions out as she prostrates before you."
m "{i}Well. It's a start, certainly. But I think we need to drive home her new position in life a little more...{/i}"
[[Lick the floor]]
[[Take various poses]]
[[Reward her with pleasure for the capitulation]]
advnar "You enjoy the twisting silence as she shudders on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, utterly terrified of what you can do to her."
m "Did you enjoy being corrected, thrall?"
m "Did you enjoy learning your place?"
t "Y-Yes Instructor! Yes, absolutely!!"
m "And what is your place?"
t "Beneath you, Instructor! I-I'm yours! Like, totally yours!"
t "S-So....so I'm sorry...for ever trying to go against you."
t "Please. I'm sorry. I'm-"
t "-I'm so sorry!"
advnar "She doesn't add anything to the statement. She doesn't move but to sob; wracking her emotions out as she prostrates before you."
m "{i}Well. It's a start, certainly. But I think we need to drive home her new position in life a little more...{/i}"
[[Lick the floor]]
[[Take various poses]]
[[Reward her with pleasure for the capitulation]]
[[Lick the floor]]
[[Take various poses]]
[[Reward her with pleasure for the capitulation]]advnar "You observe her for a moment after. Letting the silence following her statement hang, letting her realize what she's just given into."
advnar "She doesn't add anything to the statement. She doesn't move but to sob, trembling between fear of pain and the aftershocks of pleasure."
m "{i}Not bad. She listened to what she was told, at any rate.{/i}"
m "{i}But I think we need to drive home her new position in life a little more...{/i}"
[[Lick the floor]]
[[Take various poses]]
[[Reward her with pleasure for the capitulation]]advnar "You ignore her comment; the cares of a thrall are beneath your own."
m "Prepare footage of this orientation so I can review it later, thrall."
c "As you wish, Instructor."
m "Good. I'll come join you in a moment."
c "As you wish. Congratulations on your first orientation, Instructor."
m "Mm. That'll be all."
[[Closing]]so long as they perform their function, that's all that matters.
m "So long as a thrall performs its functions and performs them well, that's all that matters."
m "If they end up happy because of it then that's a useful side benefit, but that's all it is."
c "I see, Instructor."
c "My apologies for inquiring, 'this thrall' was just curious..."
m "Now don't you start with that."
c "Haha, very well. Is there anything else you require done, Instructor?"
m "Hmm. Just prepare footage of this orientation so I can review it later; beyond that, nothing special."
c "Already done, Instructor."
m "Good. I'll come join you in a moment."
c "As you wish. And congratulations on your first orientation, Instructor."
[[Closing]]m "If by that you're referring to our propensity for producing thralls that are satisfied and proud to call themselves such, well I think we've made some inroads."
m "I grant you it will be tricky business, but nothing impossible."
c "As I say Instructor, 'this thrall' was just curious..."
m "Now don't you start with that."
c "Haha, very well. Is there anything else you require done, Instructor?"
m "Hmm. Just prepare footage of this orientation so I can review it later; beyond that, nothing special."
c "Already done, Instructor."
m "Good. I'll come join you in a moment."
c "As you wish. And congratulations on your first orientation, Instructor."
[[Closing]]m "It's basically to improve you. Your quality of life, your experience of it, all of that. Basically a thrall ends up a lot happier and more productive as a thrall than they ever were as a person."
m "So the company line goes, anyway. I guess you'll find that out for yourself, should you be kept a thrall."
m "Anyway, though I wanted to open this up to more questions I see you're in no fit state, so lets just get down to business."
advnar "You freeze her again, visibily fiddling with the controller on your wrist for this next part to make it clear you are the case of the events about to transpire."
m "As I say, you are now a thrall. That's why your skin has changed as it has, along with the metal on it. It's known as a 'thrallsuit', and it's what all thralls wear."
m "You being a thrall also allows me to control you. It's why you're currently frozen in place, for instance."
m "And more than that, as I'll demonstrate in a moment."
m "The point is L-D19, your existence is determined by your service now. If you obey me, follow my instruction, and perform, you will recieve pleasures beyond that which you've ever experienced."
m "You disobey me...well existence can become very unpleasant. Thralls are built to obey afterall."
[[Give her a pain sample - Relief]]
[[Give her a pleasure sample - Doubt]]
[[Give her a bit of both]]
m "Because you're a valuable commodity that we want to sell and it's necessary to modify you."
m "Why you *specifically*? Well in a manner of speaking you're quite famous, and with that fame comes desirability. Thus, you've been procured for enthrallment."
m "{i}*Sigh.*{/i}I guess none of this makes too much sense without a demonstration though, so lets just skip the rest of the jabber and get to it."
advnar "You freeze her again, visibily fiddling with the controller on your wrist for this next part to make it clear you are the case of the events about to transpire."
m "As I say, you are now a thrall. That's why your skin has changed as it has, along with the metal on it. It's known as a 'thrallsuit', and it's what all thralls wear."
m "You being a thrall also allows me to control you. It's why you're currently frozen in place, for instance."
m "And more than that, as I'll demonstrate in a moment."
m "The point is L-D19, your existence is determined by your service now. If you obey me, follow my instruction, and perform, you will recieve pleasures beyond that which you've ever experienced."
m "You disobey me...well existence can become very unpleasant. Thralls are built to obey afterall."
[[Give her a pain sample - Relief]]
[[Give her a pleasure sample - Doubt]]
[[Give her a bit of both]]m "Because it's fun!"
t "F-Fun?!"
m "Well, for me for sure. For you? Fun's more optional, being a state of mind and all."
m "But I'm getting ahead of myself. For now I think it's more important for you to grasp some of the basics, hmm? And for that, lets have a little demonstration."
advnar "You freeze her again, visibily fiddling with the controller on your wrist for this next part to make it clear you are the case of the events about to transpire."
m "As I say, you are now a thrall. That's why your skin has changed as it has, along with the metal on it. It's known as a 'thrallsuit', and it's what all thralls wear."
m "You being a thrall also allows me to control you. It's why you're currently frozen in place, for instance."
m "And more than that, as I'll demonstrate in a moment."
m "The point is L-D19, your existence is determined by your service now. If you obey me, follow my instruction, and perform, you will recieve pleasures beyond that which you've ever experienced."
m "You disobey me...well existence can become very unpleasant. Thralls are built to obey afterall."
[[Give her a pain sample - Relief]]
[[Give her a pleasure sample - Doubt]]
[[Give her a bit of both]]advnar "You decide to keep to a level of pleasure more within the thrall's wheelhouse; still a considerable amount of pleasure, but not overwhelming."
m "{i}10% of the suit's total capacity sounds about right- somewhere around the level of a bad kidney stone.{/i}"
m "{i}But how long should she experience it...{/i}"
[[10 seconds]]
[[1 minute]]
[[10 minutes]]advnar "You decide to go drift toward what's generally considered a mid-tier reward for a thrall; still decidedly more than she'd be used to, but more in-line with what she can expect as a bad punishment."
m "{i}40% of the suit's total capacity sounds about right, something akin to a full-body muscle death.{/i}"
m "{i}As to how long she should experience it...{/i}"
[[10 seconds]]
[[1 minute]]
[[10 minutes]]advnar "You decide to go toward the higher end of the spectrum of sensation, deciding that something a little more otherworldly would be best for a demonstration of her new life."
m "{i}73% of the suit's total capacity should be sufficient for this demonstration- Some 20 times higher than the 'normal' peak of human pain.{/i}"
m "{i}It's a little extreme, but her new metabolism and changes to her body chemistry means she can't die from shock or faint from the agony of it. Certainly, it'll be memorable.{/i}"
m "{i}The question is, how long should she experience it?{/i}"
[[10 seconds]]
[[1 minute]]
[[10 minutes]]advnar "You decide to keep to a level of pleasure more within the thrall's wheelhouse; still a considerable amount of pleasure, but not overwhelming."
m "{i}10% of the suit's total capacity sounds about right- somewhere around the level of a bad kidney stone.{/i}"
m "{i}As for how much pleasure to use as an example...{/i}"
[[Pleasure - Low]]
[[Pleasure - Med]]
[[Pleasure - High]]advnar "You decide to go drift toward what's generally considered a mid-tier reward for a thrall; still decidedly more than she'd be used to, but more in-line with what she can expect as a bad punishment."
m "{i}40% of the suit's total capacity sounds about right, something akin to a full-body muscle death.{/i}"
m "{i}As for how much pleasure to use as an example...{/i}"
[[Pleasure - Low]]
[[Pleasure - Med]]
[[Pleasure - High]]advnar "You decide to go toward the higher end of the spectrum of sensation, deciding that something a little more otherworldly would be best for a demonstration of her new life."
m "{i}73% of the suit's total capacity should be sufficient for this demonstration- Some 20 times higher than the 'normal' peak of human pain.{/i}"
m "{i}It's a little extreme, but her new metabolism and changes to her body chemistry means she can't die from shock or faint from the agony of it. Certainly, it'll be memorable.{/i}"
m "{i}As for how much pleasure to use as an example...{/i}"
[[Pleasure - Low]]
[[Pleasure - Med]]
[[Pleasure - High]]Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.advnar "You decide to go toward the higher end of the spectrum of sensation, deciding that something a little more otherworldly would be best for a demonstration of her new life."
m "{i}60% of the suit's total capacity should be sufficient for this demonstration- Two orders of magnitude higher than the 'normal' peak of human pleasure. Any higher and I'm not sure what would happen to someone unaccustomed to the suit.{/i}"
m "{i}Even this might be a bit much, in all honesty.{/i}"
m "{i}And for how long should she experience these?{/i}"
[[10 seconds]]
[[1 minute]]
[[10 minutes]]t "...."
advnar "She shifts in place, looking at you again."
t "It..."
t "It really is wrong, can't you see that?!"
m "All I see is a thrall not kneeling."
m "Is this your decision then? Defiance to the last?"
t "It..."
t "It is!"
m "{i}Ah, the poor child. What to do with her then...{/i}"
[[Try and coerce her with some pain or pleasure]]
[[Make good on your threat and drone her]]
[[Respect her spirit - dream her]] advnar "It almost looks puppeted, the way she lowers herself to the floor. One knee. Another. Driven down, forced to touch her forehead to the sterile pod interior."
advnar "Until she's prostrated before you. A choiceless choice made."
advnar "She seems to shift a little as she settles into position, and you realize it's due to her pleasure-settings kicking in, rewarding her for a job done as you commanded."
m "Good. Very good, thrall."
m "So you choose this life?"
t "I...I-I do."
m "Then repeat after me; 'I am thrall L-D19, a Thrallworks product."
t "...I-"
advnar "She trembles, fearful. Anticipatory. Starts over."
t "I am...th-thrall L-D19...a Thrallworks p-product."
m "'I am L-D19.' Repeat."
t "Wh-why does this feel so-"
m "Repeat."
t "...I'm...L-D19."
m "'L-D19 is a thrall.'"
t "E-El-D19 is a thrall"
m "'Thralls obey.'"
t "Thralls- uhmm-bey-"
m "I obey.'"
t "I-"
advnar "She hesitates, quivering. You only pick up on the whisper thanks to your own implants."
t "I obey..."
advnar "You know it's not legitimate. She's scared, still. But you also know that even this moderate PCU setting is giving her a high better than any drug from her saying that."
m "Good. Now as I talk, repeat those phrases until I tell you to stop."
t "I am thrall L-D19 a thrallw-works productt I amm L-D19, L-D19 is a thrall, th-thralls..."
advnar "You suppress a smile as you start, not wanting it to filter into your voice as she meanders on, stumbling and shaking."
m "You're doing very well. Certainly from your perspective you made the smart choice. From my perspective too."
m "But that you elected to accept your thralldom still doesn't secure your position as one. I need to decide. And I know you're just bending to the situation so you don't break."
advnar "You pause to listen. To see if she's going to refute you."
t "Thralls obeeyy, I obey, thralls- I amna..L-D19, I'm a product, I'm..."
advnar "A definite slur to her phrasing, words blending together, stalling, firingout in stattaco bursts as she strains to hold the phrases in her head, holding onto words like a child clings to a stuffed toy."
[[Demonstrate some of the effects of the thrall suit, both for fear and relief- and to reward her]]
[[She's still required to prove herself,]]m "Well you are spirited. Enough so that I want to give you a second chance."
m "Afterall, you did only make this decision based on limited information. So perhaps a demonstration of your new existence is in order?"
m "As I say, you are now a thrall. That's why your skin has changed as it has, along with the metal on it. It's known as a 'thrallsuit', and it's what all thralls wear."
m "You being a thrall also allows me to control you. For instance; L-D19: Bodylock."
m "...And now you can't move, correct?"
m "There's more than that of course, but the point is L-D19 there's no hope of resistance for you on the path you've chosen. This isn't the noble stand against tyranny that you think it is."
m "Infact, let's demonstrate something else; a sample of what kind of sensations you can expect going ahead."
[[Give her a pain sample - Relief]]
[[Give her a pleasure sample - Doubt]]
[[Give her a bit of both]]
m "I guess there's no helping it then."
m "L-D19: Bodylock."
t "Wha-"
advnar "She siezes in place, her control collar taking over the motion signals of her body, looping them over."
m "It's truly regrettable L-D19. Perhaps L-D20 will make a different choice."
m "But you? You're going to find your choices are going to be a lot more straightforward from here on out."
m "L-D19: Project outcome- Pre-drone."
advnar "Almost immediately you see the thrallsuit respond, travelling up from her neck to cover her head and face, the nanites eating away whatever bodyhair remained."
advnar "A smoothly coated package for the Controllers to unwrap."
m "Cerise?"
c "Yes Instructor?"
m "Tell Zero to expect another delivery. Failed material."
c "Of course Instructor. Shall you be accompanying the material?"
advnar "You watch as the pod springs to life, small waldos coming out of the floor and through the fieldwalls, their higgs manipulators lifting and shifting the material's body for transport."
m "No, not this time. I need to look over the footage of this orientation and review a few things."
m "Besides, it'll take a few days for the drone to sell and off-verse. If I feel the itch I'll just look in on her then."
c "Very well Instructor. In that case, shall I accompany delivery as a gesture?"
m "As you like, Cerise."
c "Very good. I shall take my leave then."
m "Mmm. Return to me once you're finished, I'll be in my quarters."
c "Of course Instructor."
c "...And don't be disheartened over this. Many orientations go this way."
c "It's your job to experiement. Try things."
m "Mmm. Sometimes they even work."
m "That'll be all Cerise."
c "As you will, Instructor."
advnar "The line clicks off and you're left watching the material be carried through the wall and off to Zero. Another drone in a line of drones."
advnar "For your part...well, it's disappointing. But it was a learning experience too."
advnar "Perhaps there's a different tack to take with the next one..."
[[FIN]]
m "Perhaps you don't quite grasp your situation yet?"
advnar "You make a show of fiddling with your wrist terminal, bringing up a holoscreen for you to play with infront of her."
m "So lets try this again, shall we L-D19?"
[[Give her a pain sample - Relief]]
[[Give her a pleasure sample - Doubt]]
[[Give her a bit of both]]m "In that case, I guess I just don't care."
m "Material is as material does. My job's to instruct. Whether it's moral or not doesn't concern me."
c "I see. I apologize for my irrelevant questions, Instructor."
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]
[[She abases herself]]advnar "You rub your chin, thinking it over."
m "You know, suddenly you've given me a lot to think about."
c "I apologize if my questions have troubled you, Instructor."
m "No, not at all. I guess I just need to revaluate some things."
c "Then I shall look forward to watching your progress, Instructor."
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]
[[She abases herself]]m "I don't believe in such concrete morality."
m "It's a subjective field, and is whatever the dominant society makes of it."
c "Then I shall look forward to watching you redefine cruelty as kindness, Instructor."
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]
[[She abases herself]]m "Hmm. And where do you fall on that skeptical spectrum?"
m "I can't imagine you think what we do here is heinuous, considering you're a product of it."
c "If it were that simple..."
c "...But no, you're right, haha!"
m "..."
c "At any rate, I shall be interested to see you work, Instructor."
[[She stays standing for the whole hour]]
[[She abases herself]]
*Probably want a flag here*
FIN