Noble Estates of Canistel

There was a stir of attention from the guests, one Keel was used to though mainly from the arena, and a good number of eyes turned toward the bound Saiyan as he entered. The edges of Keel's vision blurred, his movements felt delayed, but nonetheless he was walked into the center of the room by Rimoya and the guards and presented to the crowd. The reaction seemed mixed, but Keel wasn't in any mental state to register much of that, as he looked around slowly with a half-lidded stare. The smell of the food, however, immediately assaulted Keel's senses, and the Saiyan looked across to where it was placed and couldn't help but feel his mouth water. Compared to what the gladiator was used to, save the odd 'rewards' throughout his life, it was like stepping into another culinary world that could only be dreamed of... and all it did was make Keel's inner rage boil more.

"Don't move, monkey," Rimoya hissed, as he leaned close to Keel and spoke. "I know of the Saiyans' appetite. So, if for no other reason than to indulge in some of this food, behave."

Keel was seen as a pet, after all, and his masters saw momentary accolades with higher standards as enough to sate his life beneath them. Rimoya's offer of the lavish and expensive food across on the tables was just an extension of that, which was seen as enough placation to keep Keel playing nice and friendly, despite his owners knowing his true feelings. Or at least suspecting. For Keel, the platters were just another reminder of how low his station in life really was, and how opulent the nobility of Canisteleans really were, and it was enough to add more fuel to the fire inside. But, the sedation held sway, combined with the simplistic thought of getting more than Ludus nutrient slop to eat, so Keel didn't react.

"Now, here comes Lord Lúcuma," Rimoya continued, as he straightened and smiled. "How you act in his presence, determines how you eat. Force fed by myself, or with your own hands... make your choice."

And when the nobleman arrived from through the crowd, Rimoya bowed and continued to smile, before he stepped to one side and gave his master room to approach and interact as he would. Keel, for his part, brought his half-lidded gaze back to focus on Lúcuma, as the Saiyan slowly considered Rimoya's words - if the gladiator acted as expected, his hands might be freed from his chest restraint. That meant opportunity. Try as they might, what with Lúcuma's honeyed words and proclamations of subservience and reward, Keel was skeptical. Still, a solid intake of food for energy and recovery, combined with - mostly - unrestrained hands, meant there was a chance for... something.

"I understand, Lord Lúcuma," Keel heard himself say, as he blinked. The response was automatic, his delayed mind caught up though, but Keel was thankful it had been favorable. He continued to try and push through the sedative effects, but it was difficult. "The other... monkey had nothing to offer, except problems. Complications. I'm simple, I only need a simple life."

Keel looked down, his vision wobbled, and he remained silent. He didn't show outward expressions beyond stoic and solemn, nothing but a calm, controlled and subservient indentured Saiyan. Inwardly, however, Keel was in the process of smashing Lúcuma's head repeatedly against the expensive tiling of the eating hall, as the nobleman screamed for mercy. Thankfully the sedation kept that urge from being realized. It also occurred to Keel that time had passed, while he thought about enacting his own form of justice on Lúcuma, and the situation had changed before him, as another Canistelean approached and spoken with the same self-importance of most nobility.

The words shared were heard by Keel, about the want of a Saiyan servant and acquisition squads, as well as Lúcuma's snide - but polite - remarks. The exchange between the pair was obviously forced, even Keel's sedative addled brain could see that, but they danced the dance anyway. Then the other noble turned to speak with Keel directly, with words that were pointed and blatantly aimed at baiting the Saiyan; Keel blinked, probably stupidly to those observing, before he fixated on the new arrival to the conversation and spoke...

"I have been raised since birth under Lord Lúcuma's household, in his prized Ludus, so there has been no experience of Saiyans to be enraged about," Keel said in a low tone, his black gaze didn't falter, as he stared at the troublesome noble. There seemed to be a familiarity about the Canistelean's features, as though Keel had seen them recently, but clearly hadn't met the individual before him. "My knowledge is limited to what I need know, based on what Lord Lúcuma wishes me to know. I am a gladiator, nothing more."

All Keel could do was focused with every part of his muddled cognitive function to say what he had. It helped the Saiyan had rehearsed over the last several days in his cell, of course, but even then Keel felt he could have done better. Either way, once Keel had said his piece, he looked down and remained silent - no doubt Lúcuma would want to interject and offer more politely snide remarks, as the pair lost interest in the servant and made everything all about them, again.

Pathetic, entitled narcissists. All of them.

From nearby, Rimoya inched forward, and offered a bow of his head to both nobles, before he waited for permission to speak from Lúcuma. When it was given, the older Canistelean lowered his voice and looked toward the table where the main meal would take place, before glancing back to Keel. "When you are ready, Lord Lúcuma, perhaps we can finalize the table arrangements for the monkey? He has maintained his obedient and subservient behavior for several days, and seems to understand the importance of continued mannerisms..." Rimoya looked back to Lúcuma. "Perhaps allowing arm movement for the purposes of dinner, with the guests, is permissible? Guards will be close by with stun poles, of course."

Keel didn't react, he simply remained still and stared ahead, and waited to hear what Lúcuma thought of the proposition...

Keel stood idly by, as both Lúcuma and Rimoya spoke between one another, regarding the seating arrangements. It seemed the Saiyan's strategy to play the long game had worked, with permission given for both arms to be less restricted, which presented Keel with options. He still felt, though, that acting too early - like at the dinner itself - would be expected, and Keel would likely have numerous guards poised and ready with his state of comfortability. So, in order to avoid the obvious tactic, which would be to take advantage of the hand movement, Keel decided he would continue to placate Lúcuma and Rimoya so that they might lower their guard a little more in the days to come...

I'll act, later, Keel thought lazily, as his gaze drifted about the room slowly. When I'm not sedated.

The Saiyan paid little attention as Lúcuma and Rimoya stepped away, which left Keel in the middle of the hall with guards nearby, until a familiar face filled his sight line. Keel locked his dark-eyed stare onto the approaching individual, the shorter and leaner form, along with the narrow face, were indicators of the rodent noble. So it seemed the little lord was important enough to attend the gathering of nobility, which made Keel grunt to himself, as he watched the Canistelean step ever closer. There was also a vague recollection of the similarities between the little lordling and the other one who had spoken in Lúcuma's presence... they had similar features, similar walks.

Not important right now, Keel thought, as he fought to control his continued onset of rage inside. Focus... don't attack this fool...

When the rodent noble began to speak, Keel remained as passive and stoic as possible. He sneered in response, as the shorter Canistelean leaned in and began to prod with dainty fingers at the Saiyan's side, before he plucked at a stitch. Keel tensed, the chains jostled, as he bit his lip and accepted the small twinge of pain to his flank. He had bigger plans, ones that required no mistakes; and, even though the sedative did a lot of the work, Keel found it increasingly difficult not to headbutt the little lordling's nose, to smash it flat against his smug face, simply for the satisfaction.

"Night's still young," Keel muttered, teeth clenched, as he concentrated on every word through the medication. He stared, unblinking, at the other. "Enough time... for this pet to act up... if I cared enough. You can't goad me, little lord."

Keel felt he had achieved a small victory, as he relaxed and began to smile. However, that smile faltered when the rodent noble revealed that Lúcuma had other plans. Ones that - unfortunately - Keel believed, as the Saiyan had developed an accurate understanding of his owner. The nobleman was ruthless, had ordered the deaths of gladiators before, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Especially after the incident in the arena, both Keel's and the attack... and even more unfortunately, the words spoken by the lean Canistelean made sense, combined with the assurance he spoke with, and the utter enjoyment in his yellow eyes.

Things... are more complicated now...

"Doubt you know much," Keel continued, his words slurred every now and again. "But... looking forward to proving you wrong... don't die so easily."

Granted, the claim was made from Keel's perspective of fighting in arenas. Where it was all public. When it came to the Ludus, though, just about anything could happen, because of the enclosed and private nature of the compound. As it was, Keel would have to consider his actions tomorrow, whether he had enough time to escape during the guard change in the morning; perhaps there was a chance to speak with one of the guards under the rodent noble's pay, one of the bribed ones, to threaten to leak the knowledge if they didn't provide a key. But with the sedative still fresh in Keel's body, flowing through his veins, he found it difficult to precisely plan. And whether Keel liked it or not, he couldn't shake the feeling that, whoever the little lordling was, he told the truth... or at least enough for the Saiyan to see it as a real potential threat.

"I have... adoring fans, little lord," Keel said eventually, as he slurred again, but this time stood upright and somewhat jutted his chin out. It was a small display of defiance. "Why don't you... mingle and drink more wine, like... you're used to."

Keel's mind might have been foggy, but he knew that the nearby guards could hear everything. And the fact the rodent noble said such things, without worrying about those very guards, probably meant they were bribed as well. The Saiyan began to wonder if anyone in Lúcuma's employ had any loyalty, but also found the idea amusing, since the nobleman who owned Keel couldn't even keep his protection under check. That almost made the threat of death the next day worth the knowledge, because it seemed like everyone - from gladiators to servants to guards - were ready to deal behind the great Lord Lúcuma's back.

Hah!

Without meaning to, and likely looking like he had lost his senses for the moment, Keel began a low chuckle right there in front of the rodent noble and in the middle of the hall. Perhaps it was the sedative, which might have elevated the humorous side of it all while simultaneously suppressing his anger, but it all seemed to be the funniest thing Keel had ever thought or heard. Lúcuma was in trouble, even as he sat on his perch and played with others like little toys on a board, completely unaware of who had hooks in whom.

"Hah... haha..."

Then, with nothing else to say to the little lordling, Keel just kept chuckling at him under his breath... that was, until the Saiyan heard footsteps beside him, and a familiar voice that brought Keel up short, if only to continue the ruse.

"It must have been a very funny joke," Rimoya said with suspicion, as he stopped beside the pair, and looked from one to the other. "Do you mind if I hear it, Lord Litchi?"

Keel stopped the chuckling slowly, then looked down to the rodent noble, who's name Rimoya had just said - a name that had finally been revealed - to which the Saiyan felt a faint smirk on the edges of his lips. His dark-eyed stare bore into the shorter Canistelean, as the mysterious individual was now known to Keel, and that meant the separation and control of being strangers had just been lost.

Lord Litchi. I know who you are, now. Finally.

And that thought was expressed to the little lordling Litchi, as Keel's eyes held a dangerous glint in them, and the chains jostled again...

Between the swimming vision and fog that moved through Keel's mind, he found lordling Litchi's words difficult to follow. Some were clear, some became muffled, but the idea behind escaping outside of the Ludus made sense. And it was for that exact reason that Keel felt the advice was better ignored. If it was one thing the Saiyan had come to trust, it was his instincts, and there was no way he would take anything the rodent noble said without a pinch of pepper - or salt - or whatever it was meant to be. When scrawny Litchi mentioned that Lúcuma could kill the Saiyan at will, it brought a scoff from Keel's lips as he blinked slowly.

"Maybe, maybe not..." Keel mumbled, as he concentrated on keeping his footing, still chuckling. "We'll see, little lord."

It wasn't long after that Rimoya made his way back over, absent from Lúcuma, and inquired about the source of Keel's manner. The Saiyan made no move to offer an explanation, instead remaining silent, in order to see what Litchi said. The little rodent noble came up with some accusatory statement about Keel finding the apparent 'praise toward Lúcuma' amusing; in some ways, yes, had that discussion had of happened of course. Still, Rimoya narrowed his eyes and immediately took the noble's word for the situation, to which Keel sighed and stopped the reaction to little Litchi's threats and honeyed words... he really was a pathetic little rodent, all said and done, and wasn't deserving of any respect.

Not even from a indentured Saiyan.

"I will remind the monkey of Lord Lúcuma's kindness in short order, Lord Litchi," Rimoya offered a polite nod of the head, before his yellow eyes returned to Keel with a glare. "He hasn't quite been himself since the last arena... but we're close to righting that, aren't we monkey?"

Keel looked between the two with half-lidded eyes, before he nodded.

"Good little gladiator," Rimoya said with a smirk, as he looked back to Litchi. The latter excused himself. "Of course, Lord Litchi. Enjoy the evening, and my best to your father."

Yet, instead of a graceful exit, there was a small collision.

There was a bump followed by spilled wine, followed by Litchi being covered in a red stain. Clearly the incident had agitated the little lord, even as Keel's dark eyes shifted to the individual responsible, and saw Lady Tiyesa. If the Saiyan had been able to, he would have congratulated her for the mishap, but as it was Keel didn't want to attract Rimoya's ire more than he might have. The scene played out while Keel remained silent, though even in his sedated state he could tell Litchi was fuming, but did his best to hide the fact, before both nobles departed the immediate area and Keel was left standing beside Rimoya.

"Lord Lúcuma has deemed your behavior acceptable, so far, that you might use your hands for the meal," The training master said once the pair were - relatively - alone, his voice low as he watched Lady Tiyesa walk over toward a group of young noble ladies. "But be aware, you will be watched closely and guards will be ready to react immediately, if you do anything... ill-advised with your mobility. You shall be restrained to the chair, which has been prepared specially, of course."

"I understand," Keel said slowly, as he listened. "Am I expected... to act a certain way, with certain... table etiquette?"

"You are no guest, you are a spectacle," Rimoya said with a sneer. "Do not confuse your position here. Do what comes naturally to your gluttonous kind. Besides, given the platter for the meal, I doubt you could control yourself, anyway."

At least Rimoya was being honest more than in the past. Keel had always felt the old Canistelean had been duplicitous, being civil to the prized gladiator to keep things smooth, but now that the Saiyan had upset the dynamic it seemed Rimoya's real thoughts about him had started to emerge. Whether that indicated impending trouble - as the little lordling Litchi suggested - or not, remained to be seen. Keel might have thought on it more, were it not for the sedation and approach of Lady Tiyesa amid a group of other noblewomen.

Hm?

Keel blinked slowly, as one of the ladies asked about Saiyan heights. Courge had been shorter, anyway. But, then Lady Tiyesa stepped forward and began to speak about the gladiator with surprising - and somewhat praiseworthy - words. Keel slowly glanced between the noblewomen, as they listened, and then remained stock still as Lady Tiyesa's hand touched his chest. From Keel's peripheral, he saw Rimoya raise his chin at the words, as the older Canistelean looked at Lady Tiyesa with a seeming mixture of confusion and attempted composure. The master trainer was fighting reactions, as he tried to remain poised while also trying not to balk at the admiration displayed for the Saiyan.

Impossible, Rimoya thought, as he looked away and considered. Lady Tiyesa? The Saiyan, of all things? She is her father's daughter, this simply cannot be!

For his part, Keel remained unmoving, barely breathing, as the noblewoman traced her hands down his abdomen and commented on the scars. There was the mention of the healing methods of his captor species, as well as a young noblewoman who commented about his features and the scarring, in response to Lady Tiyesa. Still, the latter didn't seem perplexed, and tilted Keel's head with a finger, which caused his half-lidded eyes to return to hers. It seemed Lúcuma's daughter found the pet monkey attractive... and then Keel's head shifted as Lady Tiyesa grabbed a portion of his hair. It was true, about the lack of haircuts, Keel had never had one before. Yet, the revelation about the Saiyan's age, and remaining in his prime for an extended period, was something new, which caused Keel to turn his head and follow Lady Tiyesa's circle around him.

How much does... she know? Keel wondered, as he noted the guards had turned and found other focuses momentarily. Whether uncomfortable or disgusted or opted to give the ladies some privacy, one couldn't say, but they were apparently reluctant to stand or listen too closely. I never knew... she thought about me like this?

Keel mostly was shocked, as he watched Lady Tiyesa.

"Thank you, Lady Tiye--""

The Saiyan was cut off, however:

"O-oh? Yes, of course, Lady Tiyesa," Rimoya bowed his head as he turned back to face the group. His eyes lingered on her a little longer, before he spoke up. She had praised him, quite considerably. "The Saiyan has been trained since an early age, around three. His exercises and regiment involved a lot of resilience and strength training, along with a focus on hand-to-hand combat. Lord Lúcuma, an ever gracious master, wanted the Saiyan to utilize his best weapon... himself." Rimoya smirked at his own humor. "Since then, we have kept Keel-" There was a momentary sneer from Rimoya. "-on a strict training routine. Lots of fighting, very intensive, very dangerous, to simulate as real to arena combat as possible. There have been many injuries, even some training partner deaths, in the pursuit of arena championship perfection."

And now there are more witnesses, gossips, who know how dangerous the training can be, Rimoya thought. The sooner this Saiyan expires, the better, especially if his corruptible presence is snaring Lady Tiyesa. His death will not be a surprise.

Keel remained still, as he listened, dark eyes on Rimoya. So caught up with the conversation, like others around, the Saiyan didn't register the sting at the back of his arm from Lady Tiyesa. And once the master trainer had finished, and looked impressed with himself, Keel turned to regard one of the noblewomen who wanted to approach and touch him.


It was almost time to begin the meal, but before that required securing Keel. Rimoya stepped forward and bowed with a smile, before he motioned the guards closer and then looked between the faces of the young ladies. "If you would excuse me, m'ladies," The master trainer said as he motioned for the guards to grab the Saiyan. "Sadly the present time for... admiring has passed, and we must prepare the seating arrangement for the dinner to come. There might be additional opportunity after that, depending. Thank you."

Keel was walked from the space in the middle of the hall, as the guards grabbed either arm and half-dragged, half-lifted him along. Rimoya led the way, as he parted the nobles as needed with kind words and apologies. It was several minutes before they reached the table, specifically the seat at the 'bottom end', which was opposite the far head of the table - where Lúcuma would sit. The seat for Keel had been replaced with a metal one, which had been secured and had chains for him to wear while seated.

"Remember, we will be watching you closely," Rimoya said with disgust on his face. "And do not speak to Lady Tiyesa. She is beyond your existence, do you understand?"

The Saiyan was forced onto the seat, where the additional chains were wrapped around his lower body. He looked to Rimoya, nodded, then stared forward down the length of the obscenely long table. There were many chairs to fill, but too many guests at the event. Keel suspected some would leave, maybe those that weren't quite important enough to remain. Canistelean politics and social norms were lost on him, in some ways the Saiyan was glad his only job was to kill.

It made things a lot simpler.

"Will you be joining the dinner, Master Rimoya?" Keel asked, as he raised an eyebrow and glanced to the other. "Or are you watching me?"

"I will be standing nearby," Rimoya huffed, as he crossed his arms. "I do not have a place at the table. Yet."

Keel smirked, then looked back along the mostly empty table space. In that moment, he realized something:

...I'm not feeling sedated anymore. My head is clearing up, my vision isn't blurred, I can focus again. What?

And with confusion on his mind, Keel was finally fastened into position, and his chest restraint unclasped and his hands freed. Granted, some chains still attached his forearms to his chair, but for the moment, Keel was as free as he had been in a long few days...

Keel was aware of the eyes on him, mainly from the guards that stood a half a dozen yards from his end of the table against the walls, as he lifted his hands and placed them on the table. The chains clinked and clanked, but the Saiyan had decent movement at least, and the notion of using his less restricted state was a serious consideration. But, ultimately, Rimoya was no fool, and the master trainer had doubled the guard that proverbially hovered near the gladiator, likely waiting for just that eventuality. While Keel wasn't known for his social understanding or politicking, he was good at reading opponents - mainly in the arena, of course - but over the years he had come to recognize certain Canistelean expressions or ticks... and Keel wondered at Rimoya's thoughts about Lady Tiyesa, with the former displaying some interesting reactions from the conversation earlier.

Something to keep in mind, Keel thought to himself, as he stared down the length of table. I also need to keep my sedated ruse up.

For whatever reason, the Saiyan now felt fully like himself, and he didn't know why. Someone had done something, he suspected that much, since a sedative didn't simply 'go away' so suddenly after being administered. But who had done it? Keel had thought back to the interactions and couldn't pin down a single individual, so far, since many had touched him in some way. Keel had felt Rimoya shove him, the guards grabbed his arms, Lady Tiyesa poked around his chest and stomach, the noblewomen had poked and prodded basically everywhere else, and then the guards again; all in all, there a surprising amount of hands on Keel, but a singular individual couldn't be picked over who might have delivered some kind of antidote or why.

But whoever it was, there has to be a reason, Keel thought, as he watched some of the guests - which were to remain for the meal - begin to take seats down the length of the table. Several got within a few chairs of Keel, even, eagerly glancing at the bound Saiyan. Litchi? He poked at one of my stitches... did he do it, to try and make me attempt escape?

There was a lot to consider; and in the end, Keel decided his best option was to remain obedient, for now, and take in as much food as he could to fuel his energy for whatever was to come. If what the rodent noble Litchi said was true, tomorrow would be a disaster for himself and other gladiators, though in truth Keel didn't much care for them, as they were just opponents he hadn't killed yet. Still, with his new knowledge of Saiyans, and that ever-present want to learn more about himself now multiplied from recent events, Keel refused to die a slave under a tyrant's whims of paranoia.

"...wonder if it will even eat the food?"

"Will it like the taste? Maybe it will spit it everywhere, hah!"

Keel glanced to his left, as a whispering pair of nobles was overheard a few seats away. They blinked and gulped when the Saiyan's dark eyes turned their way, before chuckling to one another and whispering in lower voices. They did bring up an interesting question, though, since Keel had never eaten noble food and wasn't quite sure what to expect. And it seemed he didn't have to wait long, either, as Lúcuma and his family took their places at the head of the long table. Some words were spoken in thanks to the guests by the host, to which Keel stared and remained stoic in his chair and bindings, before soft music began to play in the background. Then Keel's attention was stolen, as the waft of food reached his nose, and he turned to look at the servers that walked in, who placed down large platters along the table...

Looks fancy, but smells... interesting?

Across the table, Lúcuma reached out and took some of the small nibbles for his plate. Keel did the same, as he leaned forward with the ever-present clank of chains, and scooped up a handful for himself, which he put on his own plate. It didn't occur to him that others hadn't moved, unlike the Saiyan, until the same couple to the left giggled and pointed. Whether intentional or not, Keel had broken some kind of etiquette, and glanced to Lúcuma... but, the Saiyan decided he didn't care, it was done now, and reached down to pick up one of the things between thumb and index finger.

Keel sniffed it.

Is this it? No wonder they're all so skinny, Keel made a face at the 'food', as he studied it. What is this?

Others had started to serve themselves, seemingly after Lúcuma had, which Keel supposed made sense. And as the nobles began to eat, the Saiyan decided the fancy food he held wouldn't look or smell better with time, so he unceremoniously shoved the entire thing into his mouth; the toasted thing crunched, as Keel munched, and while the taste wasn't to his liking - he kind of preferred the nutrient slop - it was kind of nice to have some different texture with the meal. Crunchy, salty, some meat and a bitter sauce. Not ideal, but not terrible, so Keel reached down and grabbed some more, though the one he held was different from the last as he took a bite--

"Bleh."

--and scrunched up his face, before he spat it out onto the plate. That particular type, with the weird vegetable on the top, was promptly separated from the other small bite-sized snacks and pushed to the far side of Keel's plate, to join the chewed one. He then started to probe the remaining types, as he licked them before eating them, and soon found four or five that he enjoyed enough to suffer through. They all had various types of meat on them. With little effort, Keel began to shove those preferred edibles into his mouth, one after the other, with loud crunching and finger licking; and when the plate was empty, save for the discarded ones, Keel reached over and collected more - multiple handfuls from the platter - and began to stack them in messy heaps, as his appetite began to grow and grow.

"Do you like them?" Asked one of the noblewomen, the one Lady Tiyesa had been with, who had touched Keel earlier. Excitement passed across faces nearby, as someone dared to speak to the brute. "The ones with meat, I mean."

"Yeah," Keel nodded, as he looked to those that dared sit closest, and stuffed in more as he talked with his mouth full. "Meat's good. They ruined it a bit with the other stuff on it."

Keel looked to the noblewoman, as he smirked, and put another into his mouth. He had almost single-handedly cleared the platter closest to him, at least where it came to the meat topped morsels. The Saiyan spotted some more, on a nearby plate, and pointed with a clank of chains--

"You eating those?"

--to which the noble shook his head, and slid the plate over with a barely contained smirk on his own. Seemed most were enjoying the spectacle, with hushed whispers and some giggles, and Keel saw no reason to adjust his own behavior to suit them from that point on. This was what they wanted, they wanted to see the barbaric Saiyan eating, right?

"Great, thanks."

Keel reached over and took the morsels from the plate, then began to shove them into his mouth. He wondered what all the other utensils were for, if this was the meal, but didn't have to wait long as the servers began to file back into the area with trays and began clearing the table. With a blink, Keel reached out for several more meat-topped crunchies, and frowned as the meal seemed to be over already...

"Is that it?" Keel asked, eyebrows furrowed in irritation. "That was nothing..."

But Keel was silenced, when a server removed his plate - last, after everyone else at the table - and then in unison, the servers placed trays topped with metal covers in front of everyone. Keel reached out and tried to lift the round lid, but the server who had been allocated to his place gave a hiss and put pressure to keep it from being raised. There was some announcement about the next course, and the lids were lifted, which revealed a number of bowls with some kind of slop inside of them...

Huh.

Rimoya was disgusted.

The older Canistelean, with pale yellow eyes and a sneer on his face, watched the monkey stuff food into the maw that was it's mouth. From early in Keel's life, there had been feeding issues, where Rimoya had known of the Saiyans' appetite and ability to intake vast quantities of food; and as a result, Rimoya had also slowly weened Keel off from that intake, it had taken a number of years, but ultimately had brought the monkey to within acceptable range of cost for his worth. After all, a gladiator that ate as much in price as his winnings for a master wasn't conducive to business.

Ugh. Disgusting creature.

So now, Rimoya watched in stunned silence, as all that effort was lost. The monkey gorged on the food of his betters, ate and ate without care or self-control, and it was essentially what Rimoya needed to see in order to understand that - yes - Keel had to be killed. The gladiator had become disloyal, uncontrollable and now discarded behaviors instilled in him for decades. But it wasn't until the next course that Rimoya knew true revulsion...

"What... is this?" Keel asked slowly, as he peered down into a bowl of creamy-looking soup with pieces. "Gladiator slop?"

"Oh my, absolutely hilarious," Laughed one of the nobles nearby, as more joined in. "That, my brutish friend, is a bisque. Very flavorsome, very gourmet, a very refined and elaborate presentation of balanced ingredients that presents a wonderfully rich course!"

Keel looked at the noble, dark eyes blinked slowly, as he heard the words but failed to see the complexity of the statement. The noble waggled fingers in the Saiyan's direction, motioning to the bowl. Those nearby - and others around - watched to varying degrees of interest.

"Try some... you'll adore it, I'm sure, haha!"

"Bisque," Keel glanced down and picked up a spoon, one of the few next to his elbow, before he dipped it and lifted a portion. The Saiyan took a mouthful, made a face, as the rich flavors passed over his unaccustomed tongue and then swallowed. Keel wasn't sure about it, the taste was odd, the color strange, yet the meaty portions were nice. "It's... strange slop."

The closest nobles laughed haughtily, as they began to eat their own meals.

Is this how they eat? Keel wondered to himself, as he watched them, his eyes moved across the table. So richly, all the time?

Keel paused on Lúcuma, as he watched the nobleman, and felt a renewed agitation toward him. All of them, really, but Lúcuma specifically. It also seemed the gladiator owner was in the middle of a discussion with his daughter, while his hand moved against one wrist subtly. Keel knew what was on that wrist - a personal device. With a clank of chains, Keel hunched forward and readjusted his seating, before he glanced back and saw Rimoya - off to one side, behind the Saiyan - also tapping away on his wrist device. There was a likelihood both were communicating, but Keel wasn't certain, at least until Rimoya looked back at him and their stares met.

He's up to something, Keel thought, as he looked back to the bowl and continued to do his bit. By now it was half-eating, half-play acting, but also a maintained sense of awareness. Lúcuma and him, for sure... not sure what yet.

Keel didn't think Lúcuma would risk disgrace by simply taking action against Keel so openly. Not without provocation, anyway. So far the Saiyan had been fairly controlled - save, perhaps - for the food eating, but otherwise he had done his bit perfectly. And not because of Lúcuma's words about going back to how things were, but mainly to prepare for any possible attempts at escape when opportunity presented itself. But with Rimoya and Lúcuma in discussion, it was possible something would happen, soon...

Meanwhile, Rimoya finished confirming the action from Lord Lúcuma. He typed a quick response, then looked to the monkey. The creature's time was up, very soon, and it made the old training master somewhat happy. He had more experience, he could make the next Saiyan brat even better. But, for now, Rimoya waited for an opportunity to deliver another sedative dose...

When the servers came back and began to take the bowls, Keel almost protested as his own plate was removed somewhat unceremoniously.

"Huh..."

Keel hadn't finished, there was still food in there, even if it wasn't that enjoyable. The spoon was taken from his hand, also. Rather than cause a stir, the Saiyan instead sat quietly and stared down at the table, as the nearby nobles smirked and amused themselves with remarks muttered in whispers. He didn't really care what they said about him, or his species, because within the next day or so it wouldn't matter - Keel would be free or dead. Either option was preferable to remaining in Lúcuma's service, especially if Keel was able to determine his fate, one way or the other.

I'll do what I need to in order to escape. There's few options now, if lordling Litchi is accurate.

Suddenly another metallic tray with lid was lumped down in front of Keel, as the server looked down his nose at the Saiyan, while nearer the top end of the table someone announced the next main course. That caused Keel's eyebrows to raise, as he looked down at the metal lid with curiosity, his mind now filled with possible meals. He didn't know what to expect, he didn't know what venison was, but it sounded fancy - like everything else, so far - and was hopefully delicious, unlike the finger snacks and bisque slop. It wasn't until the lids were lifted that Keel's focus was completely drawn to the sizzling, seared and neatly arranged cuts of meat on the plate before him.

Keel's mouth watered.

Actual meat? It smells good.

The aromas washed over the Saiyan, he couldn't care enough to wait, and he reached down and grabbed one of the medallions with a hand. The meat portion was immediately bitten, Keel's teeth gnawed through it easily, and then the taste and texture was in his mouth. Keel's tastebuds lit up like a sun, and he exhaled deeply with a low groan of enjoyment, as the nobles nearby watched with blithe glances. Some even waited longer, not eating as yet, to watch the spectacle of the monkey pawing at its food like a starved animal - which, ironically, wasn't too far from the truth for Keel. Not only had the gladiator's intake been specific and controlled, but the soup provided had possessed all the necessary proteins and nutrients to supply him with an acceptable amount of sustenance; as such, there had been little fanfare or refined food for him, for most of his life, and it now showed.

"So... good," Keel said between chews and bites, as he almost literally shoveled the meat into his mouth. It might have been comical, were the Saiyan not chained and captive for observational enjoyment by an overbearing social elite. "I like... venison."

A simple, newly discovered truth. And in that moment, Keel didn't care about the others. He didn't care about the chains, the guards, or the nobles that watched or pretended not to care about the scene. It was all about the meat, consumption by a ravenous Saiyan that had been deprived, and Keel's body responded almost immediately; it felt like someone who had been drowning, then managed to come up for air, and couldn't stop inhaling. It came as no surprise when Keel completely finished his plate within minutes, his face and hands covered in juices, as he eagerly looked for more--

"Here, monkey," Said one noble a few seats over, as she lifted some meat with a fork and tossed it toward Keel. "Eat like the glutton you are!"

Keel didn't care. He snatched the meat from the air, as his chains groaned in protest at the extension of his arms, but they remained fixed and secure. Rimoya narrowed his eyes, as he regarded the movement, a small concern in the back of his mind. He considered that - maybe, just maybe - the thick metal chains might not quite be enough to keep the Saiyan contained, if the strain from Keel's passive reach had been any indication. The sedative was needed sooner rather than later, the master trainer decided, as he glanced to Lúcuma and nodded.

"Now, now, Keel," Rimoya said with a smirk and narrowed eyes. He approached from behind the Saiyan, syringe held down out of sight behind his thigh in one hand. "Don't embarrass yourself, or Lord Lúcuma. You act as though you've not eaten before... how about we calm down, hm?"

During that time, other nobles had tossed meat toward Keel as well, which landed on or around his plate. Keel was midway through more venison, when Rimoya reached him, to which the Saiyan felt a firm hand on his shoulder. Keel glanced over that same shoulder, to see Rimoya offering a sneer, as he used his concealed hand to jab the chained gladiator in the flank - the pin prick was small, but Keel felt it, and knew what it meant...

More sedatives. Damn.

That meant he had been too cognitive, too present, and Lúcuma had probably panicked. Rimoya had delivered another dose, but for some reason it didn't have much of an effect. In fact, Keel might not have known it had been a sedative, except that the master trainer's words implied the syringe use as from earlier. So, with heavy reluctance, Keel began to act the part; he slumped a little, half-closed his eyes, and slowed his movements considerably.

"Calm..." Keel mumbled, as he slowly chewed the meat in his mouth. "Calm."

Lúcuma undoubtedly watched from the other end of the table, as Rimoya smiled and patted Keel's shoulder, to which the Saiyan just kept lazily looking downward at the food before him.

"Good monkey. Calm, yes."

Rimoya stepped back, content for the moment but still wary, as Keel became more docile. But for Keel himself, it was now one of the hardest things he had ever had to do; fighting, training, combat, all of that came easily... but pretending to be sedated, while surrounded by delicious portions of meat for him to devour, required almost every ounce of willpower he possessed!

This? This is torture...