Lake

@Master Huang Zitao Hongbin tripped back a few paces and held his jaw, eyes wide in shock. He could see that Zitao was angry but he didn't expect the guy to throw the first punch. He wanting to be the bigger man in this situation but he began to get very angry as well, thinking that Zitao was far too possessive to be a normal human being, and that Kai was probably better off without him at the end of the day. So Hongbin punched him back, as hard as he could, in the face. "I love it when cliches fit." He panted. "That's why I am going to tell you to get out. He is no longer yours. He. Doesn't. Want. You." Hongbin began to chuckle.

@Master Hongbin If there was one thing Zitao hated it was condescension, and when it was coming from Hongbin it was so much worse. Zitao /had/ been there for Jongin. The first night they met, he'd chased away a Master that had terrified the boy. Every time he was scared he chased away the boy's demons. Every night he woke up screaming he had chased away the nightmares. Whenever Jongin needed anything Zitao didn't hesitate. He did his best for him through everything, stayed strong for him despite the fact that it broke his heart to watch the boy suffer, trapped in his past. That was all Zitao. Hongbin had been nowhere in ing sight. It made him wonder if Hongbin had seen anything like it before, ever suffered himself, or lost anything; couldn't he see it hurt? Because after everything he had done for Jongin the boy still felt he couldn't come to Zitao with his problems and he didn't know why and he had no idea what to do and it /hurt/. He finally had somebody who would love him and he ed it up and he had no idea how and there was Hongbin waving himself about in front of him like he was so much better for Jongin when he'd done /nothing/. That was when he snapped and he hit the guy, hard, right in the side of his stupid mouth.

@Master Huang Zitao [H] // gorilla!hongbin

"That's what really gets you isn't it, Zitao?" Hongbin asked. "The fact that I didn't wedge myself between the two of you. I kissed him, once, on the first day I met him. But I haven't touched him since then. I've given him all the space he wants and I've never forced him to choose between us. I've been there for him. You should try it sometime." Hongbin stepped ever closer to the other man, so that there was barely an arm's length between them, and stared him dead in the eye. "But I think you and I both know it's too late for that, now." He reached up casually and scratched a non-existent itch on his shoulder, knowing that it would cause the musculature in his shoulders and chest to shift in an impressive display. He even threw a condescending head shake in for good measure.

@Master Hongbin ( Aw, nah I'm good aye)

"And you think you're a real man? Wedging yourself between two people? Please." Zitao rolled his eyes. He didn't much care for the stupid look on Hongbin's face because he was losing the ability to care at all. Jongin was slipping away from him, he could feel it. He was helpless and he was angry that Hongbin decided he might have what he wanted regardless of who he hurt in the process but he couldn't bring himself to be jealous. If Jongin was happier somewhere else he wouldn't stop him; he had always told the boy that he was free to come and go as he pleased and he would honour that, even if it meant Jongin never walked through the door to his suite again, because really it didn't matter how much he kicked or screamed, or even if he cried. Once Jongin made up his mind to walk away there would be nothing he could do to stop him, just like he couldn't stop the monks from walking away when he cried as a boy, when he didn't want to get up and train in the morning or eat the food they had given him. He just needed someone to blame so he could forget the fact that it was his fault; he couldn't bury himself in books this time. "If you were a real man you would have moved on the second Jongin told you he was with somebody."

@Master Huang Zitao [H] // shut ur gabber mot

If Hongbin had been able to ignore the majority of Zitao's sentence, he would have felt all warm and fuzzy inside that Jongin had gone and compared him to his own master, but at that moment, all he felt was indignant rage. Half of him wanted to reason with the obviously steaming other man, but most of him was just eager to stir the pot. "He finally realised that he needs a real man who can give him the attention he deserves," Hongbin spat out with a self-satisfied grin. "I can be that for him- you can't."

@Master Hongbin ( Um, you're illiterate by the looks of that sentence)

"You see, some of the things you said about that slave you were chasing reminded me of Jongin. I didn't think anything of it because I didn't think he would fall for your ." Zitao began to pace as he spoke, arms folded across his chest, words warped by a condescending tone. "So you could imagine my reaction," He said, eyebrows raised, "When he comes home with a bunch of flowers, comparing me to you." He stopped, having paced a full circle around the other male. He had warned Hongbin about touching what wasn't his but he scoffed to himself, knowing that he shouldn't hace expected Hongbin to listen to anything that hadn't come out of his own mouth.

@Master Huang Zitao [H] // i no u r but wot m eye

Hongbin gasped as his face hit the ground and a deep-set pain emanated from his nose. He sat up in confusion, rubbing his now sore face and looking for the cause of his pain. He saw Zitao and his expression hardened. "What the hell was that for?" He grunted, getting to his feet and stepping up close to the Chinese man fuming with closed fists. Jongin had told Hongbin all there was to know about the situation between him and Zitao and Hongbin couldn't help but feel pity toward the youngest male. He was annoyed that Zitao even felt that he was allowed to be jealous. Hongbin hadn't done anything with Jongin other than give him the attention he deserved.

@Master Hongbin (Lol yoga what a fggt)

Zitao was fuming, stomping around the mansion grounds with a scowl on his face, looking for one particular person. He had no idea where the guy's Master's suite was, though he probably could have asked Jongin, so he found himself heading towards the lake after having made a spectacular and dramatic exit from his own suite, effectively ending the argument he had been having with Jongin. The lake was his best bet anyway since he first ran into Hongbin at the lake he assumed that it was a place Hongbin frequented. He was right but the sight of the other Master only fueled his rage. His footsteps were quiet on the sand despite his quick pace so Hongbin didn't have time to react until Zitao had kicked one of his legs out from under him landing him on his face, likely with sore wrists and shoulders thanks to the way he fell out of the charming pose he had contorted himself into.

@Master Huang Zitao [H] What a wonderful afternoon it was. There was a light breeze stirring the air and the waters of the lake had been cool and crystal clear. Hongbin was sitting on the bank of the lake trying to dry himself in the fading rays of the sun as he performed a few complex yoga sequences. He wore only his swimming trunks and his extremely ripped and buff chest was glistening with water. Eyes closed, Hongbin shifted into another pose, feeling as though everything was right in the world, and that he was at peace with himself and all around him.

@Master Hongbin [ *snuggles* thanks bae exohexoh ]

@Master Hongbin Hongbin had a point. Zitao had only come across one person in the entire house, apart from himself, who behaved in a manner reasonable enough to maintain a slave's voluntary company. And maybe, despite the fact that he could have been far more helpful to all who were trapped in the estate if he had have just told the police what he knew instead of involving himself, maybe he really could save the poor soul that was bound to someone out of fear. If he didn't already consider Hongbin to be someone who waltzed on the dangerous side of egotistical, he might have even applauded the idea. That was completely beside the point, however, "Whether his Master compliments him or not, I'd tread carefully. If he fears the man he is probably right to. A behaviourist would have a field day in a loony bin like this."

@Pet Kim Jongin [H] (Ew)

@Pet Kim Jongin [H] // stay here baby...

@Master Huang Zitao [H] "You don't find a lot of people in this place that genuinely want to stay faithful to their masters." Hongbin pointed out. "Most of them just say that they do because they are afraid of punishments or being demoted." He shrugged. Even if Jongin was attached to his master, Hongbin was confident he could plant the seed of doubt in the boy's mind with another overt flattery. "See, whenever I compliment him, he gets this surprised, confused look on his face.. I don't think his master compliments him much. He gets so shy and blushes and it's just adorable."

@Master Huang Zitao [H] [ honestly want to both of you ]

@Pet Kim Jongin [H] (WELL YOU CAN'T SO BUZZ OFF)

[ WISH I COULD BE~
PART OF DIS WORLDDDDDD~ ]

@Master Hongbin So he had been right about the self-important, willimg-to-wedge-himself-between-two-people part of Hongbin's personality, which was almost disappointing. "You know there is every chance that whoever this guy is actually wants to be faithful to his Master?" Zitao gave the other a questioning look and wiggled his toes in the sand, realising that he was still mid-calf deep in water. He didn't want to be there anymore so he walked to the shore and around to where Hongbin sat to sit nearby.

@Master Huang Zitao [H] Hongbin sighed, feeling disappointed for some reason. "He won't come looking for me. Thing is he... he kinda has a master." The man chuckled, drawing his feet out of the water and back onto the deck to cross them. "I keep trying to get close but he's all hesitant. I think he's been deeply hurt in the past. Poor, sweet thing." Hongbin shook his head sadly, then smiled wryly. "I still plan on trying though! He's one of those you just can't give up on."

@Master Hongbin Literally the only part of the entire description that stuck in Zitao's brain was the word ''. One word, that was it. He'd heard enough that he'd be able to respond if he had any idea who it was that Hongbin was talking about. Some parts of it reminded him of Jongin, but that was absurd because it wasn't Jongin. What the hell was a '' though? Never in his life had he heard such a word. The context didn't help either. "I can't help you because I have about as much idea who this guy is or where to find him as you do. Maybe he will come looking for you?" Zitao offered as compensation being unable to help. Hongbin had probably chosen the worst person for any sort of advice or networking help; Zitao barely knew anyone in the house.

@Master Huang Zitao [H] // one whole month
lolo watch hongbin be a er

"Oh so you like the cute types?" Hongbin replied with a chuckle, picturing a short boy with a pouty mouth, snow white skin and big eyes. Someone adorable and bratty was what he pictured from Zitao's description. "Suits you." Hongbin nodded at the next thing the Chinese said. "I agree. Say... you might know the person I met the other day? I mean, if you've been here a while." He dipped his hands in the water and splashed some on his face to ward off the heat. "I'll describe him. Okay so he was tall for a with dyed brown hair and just the cutest little nose." Hongbin grinned lopsided. "And he had a round little with the best thighs and sort of chocolate-y skin? Really y. And unusual. If you know where he lives in this place, I'd be much obliged."

@Master Hongbin "Male," He said, "Jongin is his name. He is a bit of a handful sometimes but he gets away with it because he is adorable." He'd never tried explain his pet in so few words to a complete stranger before, or to anyone, and he discovered a small thrill in declaring even a small part of his affection to Hongbin.
"Or stuck," Zitao countered the other's idea that one could get lost in this place after a moment's quiet. It was a maze of halls, sure but nobody got lost: masters lost themselves in the debaucheries and never bothered to escape, the rest of them were stuck.

@Master Huang Zitao Hongbin raised an eyebrow. "Girl or boy, your pet? What are they like?" He asked, still undeniably curious about what kind of person someone like Zitao would be attracted to. "I've been here for three weeks now. I'm still seeing new faces every day. It's curious. I mean, this place doesn't seem so big from the outside, but on the inside, I mean... you could get lost in a place like this." Hongbin's mind wandered back to the boy he had given the flowers to.

@Master Hongbin Once he was over the initial shock of Hongbin not forcing himself on whichever slave he'd taken fancy to, as seemed to be the fashion at this place, Zitao answered, "I have one pet," in a matter-of-fact tone. The description of the unnamed boy as 'exotic' briefly appealed to Zitao because it brought to mind the caramel complexion of his lover, but Jongin was very noticeably Korean in ethnicity. "'Early days', huh? How long have you been here?"

@Master Huang Zitao [lol I'll get there *hugs your arm*]

@Master Huang Zitao "Well it's early days but I do have someone in mind." Hongbin flashed a grin. He recalled his walk in the gardens three days ago with the young boy he had decided to make his first target. "A boy. Absolutely gorgeous. You should have seen him." He stared down at his lap, picking at his pants and chuckling to himself. "Very exotic looking. In fact, I wouldn't have picked him as a native Korean. Maybe Chinese or Thai? Not sure. And yourself?"

@Master Hongbin (ingenious)

@Master Hongbin Zitao tried to understand where the other was coming from but couldn't because he had only ever been there for one person, so the 'allure' was lost on him. "Picked a favourite already, have we?" One thing Zitao did recognise was the look in Hongbin's eyes. It was not an outright shine, but he had seen it before in a particular pair of brown eyes. He figured that he might as well take the conversation in that direction, the other was taking it there anyway, and he had nothing better to discuss.

@Master Huang Zitao // ha
just taking advantage of the situation!

@Kim Jongin (*stares at you accusingly*
Why don't you invite yourself elsewhere and reply me please and thank you)