Post by ⇌ ɑ k i on Feb 16, 2011 16:43:07 GMT -8
As Masaki had turned to head inside, his sandal caught on a piece of root sticking up from the ground and he looked down at it with a scowl. Ack! That Tetsuya was rich enough to get a gardener, but nooo...! Even the garden out here was Masaki's to do. And, he had to admit, it had been a little...neglected...lately...
He leaned down to unsnarl the little strap from its trap as he heard light footsteps and his eyes widened. And right then, in that position, too! He hurried to get free so he could straighten up again, embarrassed at being caught bent over like that, but only managed in making it tighter. How the heck had a root managed to do that?! Biting his lower lip in frustration, he tried to hide the fact that he'd noticed his owner's presence as he put his free knee on the ground to be better able to try and get the shoe unstuck. Apparently this plant had it out for him, though, because it was determined not to let his shoe go. He grimaced at the idea of taking it off of his foot and getting his sock dirty to untie the shoe that way, but maybe he'd have to do it anyway. How utterly humiliating; and just when he'd actually been trying to make somewhat of a good impression.
When his fingers finally managed to ungracefully free his shoe, he made a sound of smug victory and stood up. He wasn't much of an actor, so he knew he couldn't turn around and pretend he hadn't known of the man's presence. He'd be seen through immediately, he knew, so he gritted his teeth, ducked his head a little as he tried to fight back a harassed blush, and turned towards the blonde.
He wanted to say something, be it cutting, rebellious, or defiant, but he held his tongue, still biting his lip hard enough that it hurt. It would probably be a little swollen later, but he didn't care now. He'd been found in a compromising position (really? he couldn't even get rid of a root?!) and right when he wanted to be impressive. But the thought of being subservient still rankled him to no end so he finally made himself raise his head to see what Tetsuya was doing, hoping it wasn't a smug smirk he saw on the man's face. That would beat it. The worst thing wasn't his being respectful--it was being looked down on so obviously by others. He'd never quite understood why this whole slavery thing even worked other than greed, so it was a matter of thinking too highly of himself, he supposed. However, what would life be like to acknowledge that you had the same value as a pack mule or, possibly, a guard dog? At the very thought he squared his shoulders, though a vaguely uneasy look passed over his face as he waited to see what Matsuri was going to do.
Maybe the blonde was going to think that his hard work lately meant he could now do anything he wanted without any defiance. The very thought made him a little sick but he fought to hide it. Better than going to the mines; better than going off in a war, bought by some military for a footman or front linesman--or entertainment for the soldiers; better than being plucked up by some old woman with lecherous eyes and varicose veins. He swallowed hard and stood his ground, tense but saying nothing as he waited for his master to make the first move--whatever that would be.