𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

十七 | 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

adulation (n.)
adoration. worship.
admiration. devotion.
reverence. favor.

「 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑬𝑵 」
𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

꧁꧂

"Isn't this exciting?" Ferid crooned as he tugged (Y/N) by the collar down the street outside of Sanguinem, humming happily to himself as if he weren't dragging a human around and was merely on a jaunt around the neighborhood. "I didn't think the little Queen would approve of my outing at all, but look at us now! You're so lucky to have a benefactor such as I."

(Y/N)'s frown merely deepened.

    Though she was surprised Ferid kept true to his word for obtaining items she needed, she wasn't surprised by how he still acted as if she were his little pet going about it.

    It made her want to burn her collar.

    "So what do you humans need, anyway?" Ferid questioned, snapping her out of her thoughts.

    "Oh, uh... many things... master," she mumbled, practically spitting out that last word despite her abhorrence against it, knowing she would only be punished if she didn't say it. "Shampoo and condition for hair, soap for washing our bodies, razors and scissors to tame hair growth, nail clippers, towels, toilet paper, a toothbrush and toothpaste... many things. Oh, and, uh..." Her face grew hot in humiliation as she then continued out in a mere whisper, "And... womanly products..."

    "Hm?" Ferid tilted his head.

    (Y/N) didn't repeat herself.

    However, she didn't have to, for Ferid had already heard her, finding it amusing how easily she was embarrassed over such things.

    The two continued their journey into a mostly intact and abandoned shopping mall, (Y/N) grabbing a somewhat sturdy cart to carry the equipment she needed. Although she was a bit timid about exploring the space, paranoid that constant danger lurked, Ferid reassured her that since this particular mall was so close to the vampires' nest, nothing would dare invade. His words brought her little comfort, however she continued forward into the depths of the mall to retrieve what she needed. She obtained several items that were in great condition despite abandonment, even obtaining lesser-needed items such as more socks, hair ties, and lotion.

    Ferid followed her as she shopped, the scene almost idyllic if the actuality wasn't so morbid.

    He seemed almost curious about the human contraptions that he once paid no mind to as he had no real reason to, finding them to be quaint, if anything. He paid particular attention to whatever (Y/N) placed in her cart, his eyes curving in enjoyment at whatever she picked. In his mind, he was recreating the necessary scenario of how shopping for a pet might be, something that never failed to bring him a twisted type of satisfaction—in hindsight, it was the power he held over another that brought him the most satisfaction.

    It was what made him thrive.

    "You humans certainly are... needy," Ferid observed as he exited the mall with (Y/N), the sun already having crested the sky during their time within to steadily descend behind the earth. "So much for only one."

    "We... can't constantly be in a perfect state like vampires," (Y/N) gave him a weak, half-hearted smile that didn't reach her eyes.

    "A shame, isn't it?"

    "...yeah."

    Ferid flicked his gaze to the corner of his eye, his stare unwavering as he closely analyzed (Y/N)'s expression, announcing, "Are you merely saying that to appease me? While I do appreciate your attempts to land in my good graces, I suggest you not lie to me unless you wish to face less than ideal results." Insincerity dripped from his voice upon the first half of his sentence before his words became clipped and obstinate, suggesting not an ounce of falsification as he then continued, "So, tell me human... what are you really thinking?"

    (Y/N) tried to stop her body from trembling, but said task was difficult when facing a predator.

    Especially one ready to tear her apart.

    "I..." she tried to speak, but her throat felt as if it were squeezed of moisture while her tongue lay heavy in her mouth like lead—she had to continue, anyway. "I... like being human. It's not shameful to me... to be a human. That is all... master."

    Ferid tilted his head.

    (Y/N) squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for his punishment, but surprisingly, it never came. Slowly opening her eyes to peer at him, she startled when seeing that he was just staring at her with an almost puzzled expression, something so unlike his usually easygoing and smug persona. He didn't seem so much stunned by her words but by the mere fact that she had spoken them at all to him, a vampire noble, someone who could easily kill her just for irritating him. He had that right as her owner, so he was stupefied how she gambled her life in such a way.

    "You're funny," he then commented, amusement flickering through his eyes and across his expression. "You like being human? You like being weak? Well, you humans are a food source who squander and kill each other, so your stupidity isn't unnatural."

    "I just meant that... being human... is being imperfect, which is how it should be," (Y/N) continued softly, however her eyes holding a spark of fire that Ferid found entertaining—more so, he couldn't wait to extinguish such a flame. "Humanity can be vile... but that's only a small part. There's so much beauty... and beauty to the imperfection. At least that part... I don't think is bad. Not really."

    "How quaint your thinking is, human," Ferid chuckled as he pat her head.

    She bristled.

    "We should return, now," he then continued, yanking on her chain in a signal that he wanted the conversation dropped. "I don't think Krul would be appreciative of my long absence from my post. But then again, seeing her irritated is always such a joy for me. If I'm late, will she rip off my arm? My legs? My head? Ah, just the thought is exciting..."

    (Y/N) let out a long, silent sigh as she pushed her cart, trying to tune out Ferid's ramblings.

━━━━━━━━ ꧁ ♥ ꧂ ━━━━━━━━

「 𝑻𝑶 𝑩𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑼𝑬𝑫 」