#but also bc she knows corporate would have her head on a platter the moment she steps out anyway

[shslprince]

Perks of having a camera function

[thebestpersonherelovesbucky]

Can you please tell us more about Xander and Bastian (I know that's not how his name is spelled but I'm on mobile so it would be hard for me to find the post again) THEY SOUND SO INTERESTING, also what do they look like?

Oh, wow! I’d be happy to! ((and it’s just Bastien is an ‘e’ lol otherwise right on!))

So, Xander Thomas grew up in the outer rings, the son of a street sweeper ((father)) and a factory worker ((mother)) so he’s basically a street rat. During his youth, he joined kinda a gang and mastered the art of pickpocketing and thieving. His father died when he was 12 so it was just he and his mother and he did whatever he could to help her out, forgoing the bit of education he could’ve had and working odd jobs while continuing his criminal life. 

He can read and write a little, so he’s not completely uneducated, and he’s actually quite smart when he’s given the chance to learn. Xander lives by a very strict moral code though and while he’s quick to steal, he’s also something of an Aladdin or Robin Hood. If he has food for himself but sees someone who needs it more, he’ll gladly give it to them. Bc someone’s word is worth so much on the streets if he makes a promise he intends to keep it no matter what. 

So because Xander’s this petty thief, he has been caught by the law before and spent a few nights in jail, but always chooses corporal punishment in lieu of any extended time in prison so he has scars across his back from public lashings. He’s about 5′10 with a pretty muscular build considering he’s from the outer ring ((this is from working in factories and on farms)). He’s got pale enough skin that when he’s out in the sun he needs to keep covered cause he mostly just burns and rarely tans. His hair is very light brown and just long enough that he can tie it back ((think bucky in Civil War)) and his eyes are a chestnut brown. 

He’s 20 when his mother suddenly gets very ill. It’s not surprising since factories ((even in this future world)) have terrible conditions and lots of people get sick, but his mother is like his beacon, he’ll do anything for her, so Xander enlists in the army. He contracts himself for 4 years, after which he’ll receive compensation ((possibly enough to move into the middle ring)) and during his contracted time there his mother will be taken care of by the military doctors. But things go wrong and a year later he’s dishonorably discharged which is why, at 23, after two years of running out of options, Xander signs up to be a bondservant and meets Bastien. 

Then Bastien Edwards… who’s a little harder to get into describing since the story is in Xander’s pov, but I’ll give a little backstory without giving too much away and I hope you like!

The only child of Johnathan and Naomi Edwards, Bastien Edwards grew up in the Inner Ring where he had everything he could ever want. His father is a member of the Syndicate, the group that runs the country. Bastien had all the finest tutors, a well-rounded education and has traveled around the world. When he was younger he was always considered a rising star among his peers and within the Inner Ring, expected to do great things when he was older ((his parents were grooming him to follow in his father’s footsteps)).

Now, at 21, Bastien everything Xander despises. He’s a rich, stuck up, spoiled son of a politician. He’s a horror. He parties and drinks and sometimes does drugs, hopping in and out of bed with anyone who catches his interest. He treats people with very little regard and is always getting in trouble. He’s done nothing with his education, doesn’t have a job and barely upholds what little responsibilities he does have. Bastien contracts Xander just bc he wants to piss his parents off.

If he gets caught doing something illegal, it’s brushed under the rug and covered up to avoid the family any embarrassment. Most of the times, law enforcement simply lets him get away with it anyway since it’s actually more of a threat to their jobs ((this does not include things like non-con or murder, but things like drugs or fighting or disorderly conduct))

When Xander first sees Bastien, he describes him as:

He walks in with an upstart’s strut, his eyes already roaming over those displayed in the room for him. They’re bright, his eyes. Very bright. Offsetting his olive-toned skin and shaved, black hair like a pair of blue stars. The Handler is already fussing over him – asking if he’s had all his needs taken care of, asking if he needs anything else. Xander wonders just how important this man is. Young man, really. He can’t be any older than Xander himself if he’s even that old yet. 

He’s well fed, but that’s to be expected from someone in the Inner Ring. What’s a little less expected is the lean muscle upon him. As though maybe he puts his body to athletic use. Perhaps he engages in a sport of some kind and, given the way the Handler is falling all over himself to appease him, is allowed the courtesy of a win. 

Xander might even find this person attractive if not for the arrogant pose to his body. The lift to his chin as those stunning eyes fall upon Xander, linger for a second longer on him than any of the others, and then move back to find the Hanlder. 

But just so I don’t leave you wondering why the hell would anyone like this guy, I’ll give you this, too: 

The knock on the door doesn’t even have Bastien lifting his head out of the book he’s reading. He plucks another grape off the vine from the platter next to him and flicks his fingers – a sign Xander’s familiar with now. 

Xander holds back the sigh and desire to remind Bastien that whoever it is is there for him and that he could just as well get the door himself. But then, pointing such an obvious fact out will get him nothing but trouble, and Xander is Bastien’s bondservant. He stands and goes to open the door. 

He expects staff with a message or request, or maybe another one of Bastien’s many random friends there to knock back a bottle, as they so put it, and pull him away from the quiet of his suite and into the frenzied world of underground parties and sex and drugs. At least here, Xander can have a few moments of peace. 

Only the knock at the door hasn’t come from neither staff nor random friend. Instead, Xander finds a young woman there. Dark brown skin and chestnut eyes, she’s at least a head smaller than him but smiles up like it makes no difference.

“Um…” Xander shakes his head. Swallows down the urge to ask who the hell are you and says, “Hello.”

“Hi, there,” she greets. “You must be Xander. Is he in there?” 

Assuming that means Bastien, Xander steps to the side. Still grinning, the young woman steps into the suite and clears her throat as Xander closes the door again. The small sound she makes gets Bastien’s attention. He glances over his shoulder. A lazy, uninterested glimpse until his eyes fall upon his guest and then grow wide with surprise.

“Cas?” he murmurs. “Cassandra?”

“Hello, Bastien,” she says sweetly, raising her fingers in a little wave. 

Much to Xander’s surprise, Bastien is suddenly leaping off the settee and bounding over. 

“Cas!” he exclaims. Wraps her in such a tight, affectionate hug that Xander wonders if he might actually be dreaming. “I can’t believe you’re here! You are here, right?”

Cas chuckles and nods. “Yes, Bastien, I’m here.” 

A huge, delighted smile lights up Bastien’s face, and Xander realizes that in the weeks he’s been with him, he’s never actually seen Bastien smile. Smug curved up turns of his lips and arrogant pulls at the corners of his mouth, but never a smile. Never anything like this. 

“Oh, Cas! I’ve missed you!” Bastien goes on to say. “You have no idea how–”

As if suddenly remembering they’re not alone – and just who the company happens to be – Bastien’s eyes duck down before sliding over to Xander. He stumbles over a few words – another first, Xander’s sure, and something Bastien’s not very fond of – and then straightens with his normal, less friendly disposition upon his face. 

“Go away,” he grumbles to Xander.

Pleased with the momentary fluster in his master, Xander can’t help himself. A smirk appears. 

“Where would you like me to go?”

Bastien’s jaw tightens. “Fucked if I care. Go… roll around with a pig.” 

“I could try that,” Xander replies. “But perhaps it’d be more hygienic if just went for a swim instead. If you wouldn’t mind.” 

“Fine,” he agrees, clearly intent on getting him out of there so he can be alone with this Cas person. “Just… go. Please.”

And… that’s Xander and Bastien for now. I do hope you’re still interested :)

[theunderratedarteest789]

oh god the regret

Perks of having a camera function