Nina and Will's: Drunken Master

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:09 am

"Yes...indeed..." Will said, going to read the note.

by **Emily Inque** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:19 am

Dear Mrs. Stanton:

I must attend to some emergency business. It would please me if you would be able to watch Emily while I am away. Please feel free to lodge her in student housing. She is under strict instructions to recognize your and Headmistress McManus' authority in all matters.

If she is any trouble, you can temporarily paralyze her with the phrase 'loganberry waffle scone'.

With love,

Onyx

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:39 am

"...she's not in trouble, is she?"

by **Emily Inque** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:46 am

"I am not privy to that information, sir," Emily says as she finishes drying the dishes. "I am only a lowly servant. I am not important enough to entrust with anything concerning the safety and health of my own mother."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 2:09 am

"...you're not a servant."

by **Emily Inque** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 2:16 am

"Of course not. Servants expect to be paid for their services," Emily says, "However, I have been informed that telling people about the whole 'inherited slave conditioning' situation might make people profoundly uncomfortable. And I am nothing if not eager to make others comfortable, sir."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 5:42 pm

Will groaned a bit. "Back to square one, are we?"

by **Emily Inque** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 6:15 pm

"I apologize. I realize that this must be very difficult for you, sir."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:23 pm

"More worried about you. How are you doing?"

by **Emily Inque** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:14 am

"It feels like I am high-fiveing a thousand angels, sir," Emily says.

"Would you care for some tea?"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:21 am

"...sure," he said, cautiously.

"Seriously, if you're unhappy, and there's something I can do to make you feel better..."

by **Emily Inque** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:40 am

Emily begins fixing a tray, "My unhappiness is my own business, sir. As my master, you can compel me to do a great many things. Being happy is thankfully not one of them."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:19 am

"See, I'm not your master.

Your mother has asked me to make sure you don't get in trouble, but you're not my slave."

by **Emily Inque** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:51 am

"Would you prefer I was someone else's?" Emily asks, "Your status as my master may only be a formality, but it is a sign my mother trusts you. She was very clear that she would not put me under the authority of anyone who would hurt or take advantage of me."

Emily works quickly and efficiently as she's speaking. She even makes tiny sandwiches with the crusts cut off to go with the tea.

"The last time we met my mind was disorganized. Erratic. The cause was an incomplete inheritance. I had part of the mental conditioning my mother had been given, but the lack of key elements caused confusion."

"Removing the conditioning was dangerous. Deadly, even," Emily continues. "And my mind was threatening to deteriorate quickly. I was a danger to myself and others. She was forced to copy the missing elements of the slave conditioning into my mind to prevent a certain unpleasantness. Now, I believe she is looking for a way to safely remove the conditioning."

Emily carries the tea tray to Will and sets it down in front of him. She expertly pours him a cup.

"As I imagine you are aware, sir, the programming makes certain structures necessary. I need a master or a mistress to avoid provoking certain anxiety responses. Whatever that means, I suppose, is up to you."

"Sugar?"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:02 pm

"Don't call me sugar," Will said, almost reflexively, as he considered what she had to say.

"Your mother is a wise woman...if she's looking for a way to help you, I'll put my trust in her as well, Emily."

by **Emily Inque** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:12 pm

"Your understanding is appreciated, sir," Emily says. She sets a cup of tea in front of Will, "I was expecting you to take actions that would cause me extreme mental distress. It is a pleasant surprise that you are not so bull-headed or ignorant as to stand by your principles no matter what the cost."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:36 pm

"I'm not abandoning my principles!" Will exclaimed.

by **Emily Inque** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:52 pm

"Of course not, sir," Emily says. Did she sound amused? It was probably Will's imagination.

"I am supposed to ask if you would like to add anything to the rules and directives I am following," Emily says. "Because the one-hundred and eighty-five my mother gave me may not be enough."

by **Will Stanton** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:57 pm

"...is this a printed-out list?"

by **Emily Inque** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 2:14 pm

"I could make you a copy, if you wish," Emily says. "After all, I can not think of any better use of my time than transcribing a series of rules that I already have memorized, sir."

by **Will Stanton** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:37 pm

"...ah, yes, sarcasm. You get that from your mother, do you?"

by **Emily Inque** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:32 pm

"I am her daughter, sir," Emily says. "Or rather, a culture of her cells extensively modified for unknown purposes."

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 12:30 am

"And what do you think those purposes are?"

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 2:59 am

"In my expert opinion, sir?" Emily asks.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 1:24 pm

"Yes," Will said, honestly.

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 1:37 pm

"There was no purpose," Emily says. "I think it is likely they simply did it because they could, sir."

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:10 pm

"Mmm," Will nodded. "I'm sorry about that."

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:18 pm

"If it had not happened, I would not exist, sir," Emily says. "Would you prefer that?"

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:23 pm

"No, but I'm not a fan of mad science without purpose.

Still. This gives you an opportunity to define, for yourself, what your purpose is."

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:26 pm

"What if my purpose is genocide? Or criminal enterprises?" Emily asks.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:27 pm

"Then it would be my purpose to stop you."

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:30 pm

"I will be very careful in defining my purposes then, sir," Emily says. "I would hate to face your considerably intimidating wrath."

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:42 pm

"And we're back to the sarcasm," he smiled. "Don't worry, Emily. I think you'll turn out alright"

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:47 pm

"Your assurances fill me with hope, sir," Emily says.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:44 pm

"Fair warning: I'm going to take that literally."

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:51 pm

"It is no business of mine where you prefer to take it, sir."

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:51 pm

"Sure it is. We're friends."

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:55 pm

"Not that close of friends, sir," Emily says.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:19 pm

"I'd like to be," Will said, missing the innuendo.

by **Emily Inque** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:21 pm

"That would be a violation of rule twelve, sir," Emily says. "'There is to be no sexual activity with or involving William Stanton'."

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