group
"It depends on the party," Sebastian admitted. "I enjoy gatherings with close friends, just a few people having fun. It's the balls, the ones only for showing off one's wealth I don't like." Sebastian turned to look at Marrior.
"There are several parties every year that are just for those who love and work here." For the robots. Sebastian smiled softly.
"Fair enough," Marrior said with a small laugh. "Usually, most rich people are stuck up jerks. Call them a pig to their face, and you've started a fight, call them a pig in a pretty twist of words and they laugh for the cleverness of it." He shook his head. "I've never understood people like them."
group
"Neither do I." Sebastian chuckled a little. "I try to keep the socialization with them to the base minimum." He motioned for Marrior to follow him out of the ballroom, down a hall to the next room. A maid robot was coming down the hall, carrying a large box, and Sebastian stepped to the side to let her through.
"Need some help?" He asked the maid. She shook her head, smiling.
"No thanks, I've got it."
Even though Sebastian had treated him kindly, Marrior still felt like it was strange that other robots were treated the same way. It felt like a dream, and he never wanted to wake up.
"I can see why," he said, laughing slightly.
group
Sebastian watched the maid go, nodding to Marrior.
"They're too self centered for their own good," he said with a sigh. He led Marrior on through the hall, coming to the dining room. Once again, it was over the top, the table spanning most of the room and large enough to hold almost a hundred people.
"They are," Marrior agreed. "I don't think any of them actually have brains. Just overly large egos that shoved their brains out of the way." He laughed softly.
"Do you actually eat here during meal times?" He asked.
group
"Lord no," Sebastian said with a chuckle.
"Normally I just eat in the kitchens. The cook, Robert, he's good company. I think you'll like him."
"Okay." Marrior grinned slightly. "Well, I'm not sure if robots can actually eat anything, but I don't know. I've never actually tested that."
group
Sebastian nodded.
"You should be able to." He sighed a bit. "It's considered another sign of wealth of you can afford to let your robots eat." He shook his head a little.
"Still, I'm glad you'll be able to."
"I-okay, then." Marrior rubbed the back of his neck.
"Is there a table in the kitchen or something?" He asked, after an awkward moment.
group
Sebastian nodded.
"Here, you want to go there now?" He took a step towards another door leading out of the dining room.
"Uh… sure, I guess," Marrior said. He moved quickly behind his new mas- Sebastian, and kept up with his pace easily.
group
Sebastian looked back at Marrior, giving him a small smile. He led Marrior to the kitchen. There, there was a non humanoid robot busy cooking.
"Hey dude," Sebastian said, friendly. He stepped over to the robot, grinning.
"What brings you done here at this hour, Sebbie?"
Marrior stared for a moment, then bowed his head. If he still had skin, he'd be blushing.
group
"I'm showing a new man around the house, brought him here for something to eat. And you know I don't like being called Sebbie…" Sebastian laughed good naturely, though. He knew it wouldn't stop any time soon.
The robot turned to Marrior, revealing a screen that showed his face. He looked nice, a red head with green eyes and freckled covered pale skin.
"It's nice to meet you," he said, "My name's Robert. Here, take a seat, I'll have some food for you in a bit."
"O-oh," Marrior said, looking startled. "Thank you! You don't have to; I don't want to be a bother."
All the same, his mouth "watered" at the sight of the deliscious-looking food lying about the kitchen.
group
"It's not a bother at all." Robert motioned on screen for Marrior to take a seat at the table, turning to start cooking.
"Sebbie, could you start cutting these for me?" Sebastian nodded, stepping forward and taking a knife to help Robert cook for Marrior.
"Hey, no!" Marrior protested. "Let me do that!" He held out his hand for the knife.
His previous owners all had wanted him to do everything, so he had learned to look for things that needed to be done without asking.
group
"Marrior, we're the ones making this food for you. You can sit down, I've done this plenty of times before, don't worry!" Sebastian was careful not to give Marrior a direct order, simply giving him the option to sit down.
"He's got this. He's well past the stages of cutting himself while he tries to show off."
"Hey! It was one time, okay?!"
Marrior clenched his hands behind his hack so that he wouldn't try and grab the knife to do it himself. A little voice in the back of his mind egged at him, telling him to get to work so that his master would be happy. No, he told himself.
"Are you sure you only cut yourself once?" He asked, trying to distract himself.
group
"Only once," Sebastian admitted. He looked at Marrior a moment, pausing in his cutting. "I enjoy helping Robert," he explained. "I enjoy helping most everyone here." He gave Marrior a gentle smile.
Marrior returned his smile, although it was weak and half-hearted. This was all so strange and weird. The serving instincts that had kept him alive were screaming at him to help. He tried to hold them back. This was all so new…
"Are you sure it was just once? Not more times? Because with that posture, holding the knife… well, it's a miracle that you've only cut yourself once." He tried to joke.
group
Sebastian have a small chuckle. He could see how much Marrior was struggling with this. It hurt him to see someone in so much distress. Anyone else would have punished Marrior for what he had said, but not Sebastian.
"Mm, Robert makes sure I'm not cutting for too long." Sebastian finished what he had been given, Robert taking the knife away now. Sebastian stepped over to Marrior.
"Better?" He asked gently.
"I'm fine," Marrior said, although it was only half true. "I mean, I will be."
He offered a weak smile. "So… are you gonna eat anything?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
group
"I might," Sebastian admitted. He sat down at the table, leaving the other chair open for Marrior. An open invitation. Sebastian was so careful not to tell Marrior he had to do something.
"O-okay." Marrior stood in the corner awkwardly for a moment. What should he do? Should he sit? Should he try to help? This freedom to do what he wanted wasn't something he was used to, and he wasn't sure what to do… the last time he had been free to do whatever was before his sister had gotten sick.
Finally, he sat down, fidgeting with his hands.
group
Sebastian sat quietly in his seat, hands folded in his lap. Eventually, Robert finished cooking, carrying a plate over for Marrior. Lamb and plum compote.
"Enjoy!" Robert said with a grin.
"This is for me?" Marrior asked, looking surprised. A pleased warmth flashed through him, and he bowed his head to hide a small smile.
"Thank you," he said softly.
group
"You're welcome! Now eat up, it's easier to taste when it's warm." Sebastian smiled gently, leaning back in his chair.
"A-alright." Hesitantly, Marrior picked up a fork and cut a piece of meat. He brought it up to his mouth and ate it.
He was pleasantly surprised at the burst of flavor that filled his mouth when he did. He hadn't tasted food in so long, it felt wonderful.
