Page 10 of The Toymaker

On the night Kit was to get pierced, Riju had to charge lightning channelers since they had sold the last one earlier. Trig didn’t have lightning magic, so he couldn’t do the spell.

In a cleared space in the basement. Riju used chalk and a wooden hoop as a guide to draw a large circle that was about seven feet across. After he finished, Trig took the hoop to lean against the wall behind a shelf so it would stay out of the way. Riju made another circle in the center and drew arrows pointing inward at the north, south, east, and west points of the outer circle. From those, he made a trail of smaller arrows that curved into the smaller one and met in the center. He set the lightning channelers in the inner so the tips all pointed to the center.

They were basic wooden shells with a smooth metal rod that barely poked out of one end. The inside of the shells were filled with moon crystal shards, and the base could be twisted to make the rod come out a little more. It also made the lighting more powerful since the crystal fragments would hold the energy. It could be a tickle or intense enough to make a person squeal.

Kit had experienced it earlier when the customer tested the last one on him. Trig had also taught him that while lightning channelers were pretty safe and wouldn’t be as strong as a fairy’s magic, they shouldn’t be used on anyone who had issues with their circulation or heart.

One of the hooks in the ceiling had a string hanging from it. Kit figured Trig had put it there earlier. Riju took a moon crystal from his pocket and carefully tied the end of the string around it so it dangled a good three feet above the points of the channelers.

Kit was riveted by the sight of the fist-sized item as it sparkled. Moon crystals grew in the ground in certain areas. They had to be soaked in moonlight as much as possible for a few months and protected from sunlight at all times. If not, they were sparkly and pretty but mostly useless.

Riju stood on the north side and touched both of his pointer fingers to the crystal. A few tendrils of yellow lightning formed. Since he needed a weapon of some sort to channel his magic, he couldn’t attack anyone on his own with his lightning, and whatever he used for channeling had to be strong enough. The crystal could handle it, and a few stray sparks shot out.

Riju added a little more, and a pale bolt shot from the bottom and into the ends of the channelers as if seeking the metal and the crystal shards inside. Kit couldn’t do such a spell since he had fire, and he knew Riju had to be careful to not add too much because if the channelers became overloaded, they’d explode. If he didn’t add enough, the toys wouldn’t last long.

A stray spark tried to fly out and appeared to hit an invisible barrier. It flew into one of the toys. Strands of Riju’s hair lifted, and when he pulled his hands away from the moon crystal, half of it fluffed up in the air as Kit heard a faint crackling sound.

The flowing bolt coming from the bottom of the crystal vanished, and Riju’s hair finally settled down. Well, most of it did. A few strands were still sticking up.

“Let’s test them out,” said Trig.

Riju gathered up the channelers and brought them over. If one setting worked, they all worked, so after putting it on the lowest, Trig touched each one to his finger.

“Good job,” he said when he finished. “Kit, get a bucket of water and a few rags so you can help clean up the chalk marks. I’ll put these up in the shop for tomorrow.”

Riju gave Kit a poke in the buttcheek with one when he stood.

“Ow!” Kit jerked away and rubbed at the spot.

Riju giggled and turned the bottom. “Do you want to try it on your balls?”

“Ehh, Master…” Not really.

Trig smirked. “We don’t need him howling and rolling around on the floor.”

Riju handed it to him. “I wasn’t really going to do it.”

While Kit and Riju cleaned up the chalk marks, Trig prepped the work table where Riju usually made the paddles. Once everything was ready, Kit had to sit in the chair by it.

“I think you can keep still while I do this,” said Trig. “You can have a few minutes between each one or I can get it done faster. Piercing isn’t usually a pain that people get off on, or at least I don’t think so, and since you don’t have any experience, you’re not familiar with it. You might hate it.”

“Okay, Master.”

“It’s quick, and the soreness is the main factor. You have to try to stay still, okay?”

Riju sat on the edge of the table, pushed up his glasses, and settled his glare on Trig.

“After this is done, you have to keep it clean, and I have balm that will help it heal much faster. Don’t fiddle with them while they’re healing because we don’t want them to get infected.” Trig noticed Riju staring at him. “What?”

“I still don’t like this. It’s not too late to change your mind.”

“It’s fine. I’m not changing my mind.”

“I don’t think it’s fine to alter any part of his body. I tried to tell myself it’s fine because it’s supposed to be you who makes the main decisions for our slave, but I do not like this part. Now that it's about to happen, I especially don't like it.”

Trig sighed. “He can take them out later if he wants, and it’s on his nipples. It’s not like we’re putting a giant hole in his face. He can hide the marks with a shirt, and after a time, they can even seal up if he gives it long enough. We’re not putting in heavy, thick jewelry.”

“It’s still altering his body. If we cane him, that heals in a while, and it’ll be like it never happened.” Riju folded his arms. “After this heals, he’ll have a hole in each nipple. By the time he leaves, the holes could take months if he removes the jewelry.”

“We already talked about this last night. Why are you bringing it up again?”

“Just because you rolled over, went to sleep, and seemed to think it was a done deal doesn’t mean I did too.”

“For Elira’s sake. He signed the contract and agreed we could do whatever to him.”

“He probably thought it meant the general things a Master or dominant would do to a slave. Modifying someone’s body is not typical, and I don’t think it’s right to do it without permission even if it’s a small thing. I’m pretty sure it’s a general rule here not to do anything that alt-”

“Riju…can we not?”

“Would you punish him if he said no right now and tried to refuse?” demanded Riju.

“Yes, I’d punish him.”

Riju threw up his hands. “I don’t like that.”

“It wouldn’t be so much because of him refusing the piercing specifically,” said Trig. “I’d punish him on the principle of not obeying and being defiant. That should be obvious.”

Riju squinted. “I feel like you’re trying to trick me.”

“I’m not tricking you. He agreed to be our slave to make sure he obeys in future relationships. If he disobeys, he’ll be punished. I think it’s pretty clear, and it’s not like I’m cutting off a finger. I’m also not putting it on his face or doing anything that’ll cause a lot of problems later.”

“Isn’t it a rule here? To not modify a slave’s body without strict consent?”

“That’s with bigger stuff because you can’t change it. Like a tattoo for instance. You can’t get rid of a tattoo too easily.”

“I tried to be okay with it. I still don’t think it’s right to modify a person's body without permission.”

“Kit, do you have a problem with this?” asked Trig.

Kit shrugged. Trig was actually asking him? “Not really, Master. Maybe I’ll keep them in later if I like them. If not, you said the piercings can be taken out, Master.”

“He’s saying that because he’s our slave,” said Riju. “I think if a person is okay with getting pierced, their answer wouldn’t be ‘not really’ if they were asked if they have a problem with it. He’s clearly a pleaser, and it’s like taking advantage of him. You sprung this on him after he signed because you had a whim and decided it for him. I like pleasing you too, Trig, but if you tried to do this to me, I’d say fuck no.”

“Our relationship is also different.”

“It’s fine, Master,” Kit said as he looked at Riju. “You don’t have to worry.”

He wasn’t thrilled about it, but if Trig said so, he figured it was okay. He was supposed to obey his Masters, and it wasn’t like he was having an arm removed. He also didn’t like to hear them arguing.

Trig pointed at the stairs. “Riju, go wash your hands. We’re not discussing it further.”

“It was hardly a discussion when you just toss all of my objections into a midden and go right on ahead with it. You won’t even give him a choice in this.”

“Cut the attitude.”

Riju scowled and headed for the stairs.

“Fuck’s sake,” Trig mumbled before he dumped a couple of pins into a shallow tray and added vodka. Heat, vodka, and general cleanliness could prevent infection, although nobody fully understood why or how.

He also added two silver bars and the little magnetic balls that would be set on the ends. Kit wanted to play with the magnets since he’d never gotten to see any in real life before, but he remained still.

Trig also lit a fat candle with fire from his finger. Once Riju came back down, Trig went upstairs to wash his hands.

“I still don’t like this,” Riju muttered as he pulled on thin leather gloves. “He’s not budging.”

Kit smiled at him. “What if I really like them, Master? Maybe I’ll also decide to get a ladder of piercings on my cock someday.”

Riju raised an eyebrow. “I can’t see you with that.”

Kit couldn’t either because needles near his dick was a far more frightening prospect even with a healer doing it.

“I guess we’ll start with your right nipple. I have to get it hard.”

He used a rag to dab vodka on Kit’s right nipple. It was cold, and he started pinching and rolling the nub to stimulate it. Trig returned and pulled on leather gloves like Riju’s. He used tweezers to pull out one of the pins so he could dump it on a clean cloth and dry it.

“Riju, hold the pin by the end here. Use the tweezers and hold it in the fire. Turn it a bit to make sure it’s hot all over.”

“Why the fire, Master?” asked Kit. “Isn't the vodka enough?”

“It helps a little with possible infection,” said Trig. “Neither of us are healers, and the balm I got is the good stuff, but I think you should always be especially careful if you’re doing something that creates a wound like this. Most professional piercers are healers too, and it’s not an issue then. We’re not, so I’m taking extra precautions. Of course, if it does get infected, I’d take you to a healer right away. Let’s prevent it to start with, okay?”

Trig kept Kit’s nipple hard and pulled it out. Kit wasn’t sure if the clamps had upped his pain tolerance when it came to needles because they weren't the same. Riju brought the needle over, and Trig carefully pinched the end with his gloved fingers.

“Hold still and keep calm. You can relax with the title too.”

He lined it up with the point not quite touching. Kit looked away as Riju clasped his shoulder, and he was able to relax.

Trig was quick with pushing it through, and Kit almost jerked at the unfamiliar pain in such a sensitive spot.

“Ow!”

The sharp burning pain dulled after a few seconds, and it still hurt once the needle was through. Trig released his nipple and turned the needle.

“Not your thing?”

“No,” Kit said as Riju gripped his shoulder a little harder.

“I figured.” Trig kept turning the needle, and he pushed it in a little more. “Riju, get one of the bars. Dry it off. We have to be quick with this part.”

When he started pulling on the sharp end of the pin, Kit’s eyes watered a little bit at the sting. As soon as the dull end of the pin disappeared, Riju inserted the end of the silver bar, and he gently pushed it in to replace the pin once it was completely out.

“That one’s done,” said Trig. “See? It’s not the worst.”

Kit was tempted to rub his pained nipple and barely stopped himself. It wouldn't help. “I don’t think I want to get myself pierced later on.”

“If you can find a piercer with the ability to make parts numb too, it’d be a lot easier,” said Trig. “I don’t know of anyone around here who can do that.”

Once the process was repeated on Kit’s other nipple, Trig put the little magnetic balls on the end of the bar and cleaned each side with a rag dipped in vodka. The ends of the piercing were quite small and wouldn’t snag if Kit rolled around in his sleep. He thought they appeared okay, except his nipples were red and irritated which wasn’t a good look. The balm rubbed on them helped.

Trig pointed at the bottle of vodka. “I’ll put that in the hall privy, and you have to clean them every morning and night. Afterward, put on the balm. If you need more during the day, use it. When you clean them, turn the bars, okay? That’s your responsibility.”

“I will.”

“Obviously, we’ll keep an eye on you, but if they start hurting worse, or you notice any pus when you’re cleaning them, tell me right away,” said Trig. “The balm should help them heal in about a week since it's technically a very small wound.”

“Why can’t we just take him to a healer tomorrow and get it over with?” asked Riju.

Why hadn’t Kit thought of that either? It was the simplest and most logical course of action.

“Because this also teaches him responsibility and to take care of himself. It's a small task he can do on his own, and sometimes, responsibility also pleases a Master.”

Riju stared at him.

“I gave you small tasks to help you learn to care for yourself,” said Trig. “Like brushing your hair every day. Now you do it without being reminded.”

“Those were different, and those tasks also didn’t involve holes in my body.”

“Riju, just stop. He’s fine.”

Kit figured he’d go to his room once everything was cleaned up and put away since Trig said he was ready to turn in. Riju said he didn’t feel like going to bed yet, and he’d cut out cloth to make a dress if Kit wanted to sew it for his doll.

Kit agreed. After Trig went to his room, they settled on the floor in the sitting room. Riju told him he could relax.

He had cut out pink and lavender cloth in the proper shapes, and he threaded a needle. “You did the blanket, so this shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Your stitches are better, and I'm not sure how I'll do on small clothes. They need to be more precise. It’s not like a blanket where you simply lay it on top of you. Clothes have to fit.”

“I’ll help you.” Riju showed him how to line up the cloth and said to make the dress inside out. “You sew it like this so when you turn it right side out, the stitches will be invisible.”

He did the arms and torso area before he handed it to Kit to do one side of the skirt. He couldn’t go as fast as Riju while keeping them tiny and straight.

“It’s okay if you go slow,” said Riju. “I did too because it’s not easy at first. Now, I’m faster and still neat enough. I wouldn’t want to be a tailor for a living, but sewing is kind of relaxing. It’s the same action over and over again, and you get to see what you’re doing growing more and more completed. It’s satisfying.”

Kit wouldn’t say it was relaxing as he struggled to make each stitch as even as Riju’s, but he could see how it was satisfying. Even though he was no expert, progress was still made, and even though it was different from the blanket or a dropped hem, it wasn't as hard as he thought.

“Is the balm working?” asked Riju.

“Yeah.” Kit pulled the needle through. “It’s not bad now at all.”

“I still don’t like it. I’m tempted to tell you to take those out.”

“I can’t. Trig wouldn’t be happy with either of us.” Kit lowered his sewing. “Are you still worried about it?”

“It’s not right!”

“I’m not bothered by it,” said Kit. “Really. If I decide to take them out later, I will. I kind of like the way they look.”

Riju was quiet for a few moments as Kit made more stitches. “What about when you get a new Master later? Or if you go back to Perry? Are you going to be his slave again?”

Kit paused with the needle. “No. I missed him a lot at first when he kicked me out, and I felt like a bad person. I don’t anymore, and I think Trig was right about me being unhappy with him. I’ve also had you guys to focus on like I’m supposed to, and I’m a lot happier now. Trig thinks I acted up because he wasn’t taking good care of me, and I guess since I’m away, I can see we weren’t a good fit. I think if I went back, we’d have the same problems.”

“Why do you like a slave relationship? I like to submit, but I don’t think I could stand having so little choice in things for an extended period. I prefer dominating more. Trig’s not the type to switch, which is fine with me.”

Kit couldn’t imagine Trig allowing someone to tie him up and beat his ass. The image that came to his mind was kind of funny. “Besides the kink, I think it’s the structure. I enjoy having another to make the rules and decide things for me. I know what to expect, and I get more pleasure out of making them happy. I like obeying. I also enjoy it sexually too.”

“You’ve proved it with us.”

“When I’m by myself, I tend to fall into a schedule. Not a rigid one, but it makes me feel better, so I think it’s the structure overall too.”

“I get it.” Riju held up the shears since Kit had gotten to the end of the cloth. “Tie it off and snip it. Do you want me to thread the needle again?”

“I can do it.”

Once Kit was sewing on the other side, Riju drew up his knees to hug. “I thought Trig was a good dominant. Now I’m questioning...”

Kit paused with the needle. “Because of the piercing?”

“It’s not just that now,” said Riju. “I still don’t like you not having a safety word.”

“If something was wrong, and I said so, I’m sure he’d listen,” said Kit.

“It’s not safe, and you can’t leave,” said Riju. “I haven’t bothered him about it lately because I can see keeping the cage on for a full year would be needed, and he was pretty concerned at first about months of work being ruined.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s against the rules for a reason, and if the college found out, he’d be in huge trouble.”

“He said he thinks he can take care of a slave and do without the safety word or signal. He said he’s confident in his ability to care for a slave, and some Masters are because they have experience.”

Riju paused. “I don’t think it’s a good idea if he decides to do this again in the future.”

“I can see why you’re worried about it,” said Kit. “Maybe you should sit and talk to him when I leave so he doesn’t.”

“He wouldn’t listen now. What if he doesn’t listen then? I don’t think he will, and I’m also worried about you later.”

Kit tied off the thread. “Why?”

“You took Perry’s treatment and immediately went to another Master who doesn’t give you a word or signal so you could get back to the first guy who doesn’t even do aftercare. I don’t think you’re stupid at all, Kit, but I’m afraid that you’re more worried about pleasing than your safety because you've been safe so far. Trig’s not a bad man, but there are bad people out there who take advantage of others and like hurting them. I don’t want you to end up with someone who seems all right for a while and…” He cut off.

Kit picked up the shears as he thought about those words. Pleasing usually was his first instinct, and he hadn’t even complained when Perry said there were no safe words. “I guess you’re right. I’m usually more worried about the other person because I focus more on trying to be a good slave. The problem is, even if someone gave me a safety word, they could play nice for a while until my guard’s fully down. They could turn like-” He snapped his fingers.

Riju squinted at him.

“I mean fast with no warning.”

“Oh. If you’re ever with anyone around Raven's Landing, and you feel unsafe and can get away, come here. We’d take you in.”

“I will. I could go to the guardhouse too.”

“In the meantime, you’d need a safe spot to stay. To be honest, I’d like it if you stayed after this and didn’t go away right after because I think we get along well in general, and I really like you.”

Kit finally trimmed the loose thread as warmth blossomed in his chest. “I like you a lot too, but I don’t know about making these cock cages for my whole life. It has to stay on for a year, so I think Trig would only give me short breaks in between. Lifetime chastity isn’t something I’m into, and I don’t think I could get over that no matter how much I like being a good slave. I wouldn’t be into it even for another year.”

“He could find other people willing to help make them since the lord will give us funding once he sees this one works,” said Riju. “There are men into extended or permanent chastity, and I’m sure if they were paid, plenty might be willing to do it for a year or even two, and that’s two cock cages right there. They won’t be cheap because they take so long to make, but we’ll have a few to sell now and then.”

“Maybe I could stay under a different contract,” said Kit. “I really do like being here with you both.”

He liked Riju more than Trig, although he wouldn’t say it out loud. It seemed kind of unfair to Trig to say so.

“Maybe you should take time by yourself and figure out what you truly want from a Master. I know it’s more about serving in that kind of relationship, but the slave has wants and needs too.”

“Maybe I should.”

Riju leaned over to kiss his cheek. “If you stay here, we could make more dolls too.”

“I’d like that. I need to sew better.”

It still wouldn’t be forever since Riju and Trig’s relationship seemed pretty solid, and they might not want a third for a permanent poly relationship. They seemed to prefer temporary lovers for periods of time. “I guess you two will get married someday, huh?”

Riju’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked away as he adjusted his spectacles. “Uh, that’s…I don’t want to talk about it.”

Kit fidgeted with the dress. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry into your business if it’s a private thing...”

“It’s not you. It’s just…marriage is a bit complicated for different reasons. Things can change.”

Kit didn’t see why. They were practically as good as married already since they’d been together for years and aligned their desires. Then again, Kit wasn’t about to get married, so he was likely missing something important about the dynamic. It also wasn’t his business if two people got married or not, so he wouldn’t poke Riju for more answers.

The dress was passable once Riju turned it right side out. Kit put it on his doll and held her up by the arms so he could try to make her dip a curtsy.

“She’s so cute.”

“If you want to sew better and learn different stitches, you could start with samplers,” said Riju. “I did a couple of those.”

“Like with the alphabet?”

“Yeah, and you can do whole letters in different types of stitches. If you do a couple of those, your skills will improve. You should ask Trig if you can have that stuff. I've got a little book on stitches you could use, and I'll help you.”

“Thanks, Riju!”

***

“You want to make doll clothes?”

“Yeah, I like it, Master. I need to improve my sewing first.”

Trig raised an eyebrow as he sat behind the counter. “I don’t want you starting a huge collection of dolls too. Riju’s already got so many, and what are you going to do with a bunch?”

“It’ll take me a bit to get better at stitches, and I wouldn’t finish a sampler very fast, Master. I promise I won’t make a bunch of dolls.”

“Fine. You can go into Raven’s Landing with Riju if you want to buy sewing supplies or whatever. Wait until your nipples feel better. I don’t think you should wear a shirt until they're healed, especially if you sweat. Riju buys cloth and thread from a shop nearby, and he can show you where it is. They have better deals than most of the places around here.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Why do you even like sewing doll clothes?” asked Trig. “Dolls are for kids, and I know he likes them…he’s different in his head.”

Kit shrugged. Something about the way Trig said the last part rather irritated him, not that he’d dare speak his mind. “It’s fun, Master, and it interests him. I like sharing it with him.”

Trig sighed. “All right, Kit. You could share other things.”

Or they could share what Riju liked since he’d been excited to do it with Kit, and it had turned out to be so much fun.