Chapter 146

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Chapter 146: Viktor’s Song
In Which A Hostage Situation Arises

Viktor and Mackenzie discuss Steff's recent strange behavior and the conditions for Mack dating Steff.

1 Details

[edit] Details

[edit] Time Frame

This chapter covers a short span of the morning of Astera 27th, 222. It is the Sunday ending "Week 2" of the story.

It was published on January 30, 2008.

[edit] Plot Synopsis

While Mackenzie remains in an uncomfortable upside-down pile on the floor, Viktor plays a song that is angry and relentless in its ferocity, embodying the ogre lifestyle and ogre love-making. When he stops in frustration, he tells Mackenzie to stand and compliments her on how well she handles passivity. He then seats her at Steff's desk and sits back down at his harpsichord.

He asks Mack why she wants to date Steff. She answers that Steff seems sad on the inside. Viktor turns back to his harpsichord and resumes playing silently while he asks her whether she thinks Steff would choose to go on a date with her, or an hour to do anything she wishes to Mack's body. Neither of them seems to have an answer, though Viktor says it would be interesting to find out. He tells Mack that dating Steff is not a BDSM game and that she will not be safe if she hurts Steff in any way. He lays down his rules for dating Steff, should he decide to give Amaranth his permission for Mack to do so.

He gives Mackenzie permission to speak freely for a while and mentions that Steff has been upset lately. Mack asks if Viktor knows why. He tells her that he does not, but that he was ready to kill Mack when Steff came back so upset, thinking it must have been her doing. Fortunately Steff convinced him it wasn't Mack's fault, though she wouldn't say anything more. Viktor asks Mack to see if she can find out what happened.

Mack asks whether Steff can hear them talking, considering her enhanced half-elven hearing. Viktor tells her that no sound enters or leaves the room, leading Mack to surmise that the heavy drapes and carpets are enhanced to absorb sound better than normal. Mack then discusses her status with Viktor. He confirms that she is beneath him and that he does not see her as a real person. Mack doesn't find this assertion degrading the way she did Kyla's similar statement earlier.

When Viktor asks if Mack has anything else she needs to say she shakes her head and Viktor goes to retrieve Steff.

[edit] Notes

Mack thinks the piece Viktor plays with the sound turned off seems much lighter and more mellow judging from his hand movements, a sharp contrast to the piece he allowed her to actually hear.

The conditions and punishments Viktor outlines seem harsh but are clearly designed to incentivize Steff to modify her own behavior and to encourage Mack to help control Steff's behavior as well as taking care not to harm Steff in any way.

[edit] Quotes

“You are a dangerous creature… far more dangerous than my own kin, but not as dangerous as I will be to you if you fail to keep my Steff safe.”

“Yes, you submit willingly,” he said. “You are passive. You could be strong, but you are not… and that means your physical abilities only make you a more desirable and dangerous possession.”

“Most of the people here are neither above nor below me, but you have voluntarily placed yourself beneath another and named yourself as her possession. Why should I argue that this is not your true nature?”