Chapter Text
Inibri stood his back straight next to the others. Herviz was fuzzing around them, shouting orders with a deep growl. “Get in line and stand your back straight- Fucking hell, not like that! Look at Inibri and do what he does!”
Inibri froze but relaxed his muscles quickly. He gave a small, sweet smile to Herviz who grinned back and came to him. The man cupped his face, rubbing his cheeks with his thumbs. “Make me proud, my star. There’s a lot of important people in there so you need to make a good impression.”
“Don’t worry, master. I will,” Inibri said softly. Herviz smiled, moving his hands down to the Twi’lek’s outfit- if red underwear and golden, silky scarf could be called that. “I know that you will,” Herviz said proudly, adjusting the long scarf. It went from being even to being longer on the left side. Inibri barely hid his frown.
“You’ve been the best damn purchase I’ve ever done,” Herviz said. Inibri hummed, guiding the man’s hands firmly away from the scarf, before adjusting it back himself. “And, even if it pains to lose you, this is for the best, for both of us,” the man continued.
“Assuming that you keep your promise?” Inibri asked, adding as much lightness to his voice as he could. Herviz nodded enthusiastically, coming closer so no one in the busy backstage could hear him but the Twi’lek. “Naturally. I’m not going to just let anybody to bid on you,” he said. “You deserve the best.”
Inibri observed the man he had spent the past few months with for the last time. It had been almost laughably easy to twist Herviz around his little finger right from the get-go. A few kind words and obeying his basic wishes had been more than enough. The man had even agreed to organize this event, after Inibri had convinced him he wouldn’t have to work a day in his life anymore after this.
“Master Herviz, the guests are getting comfortable. Shall we begin?” said one of the man’s slaves who had come to them, wearing a headset and carrying a datapad. Herviz glanced at them and then turned his attention back to Inibri who nodded.
A few minutes later, the curtains pulled open, signaling the start of the show. Inibri watched with a fake smile how the slaves around him got sold to various bidders, whose drunken hollerings only increased after each new candidate showed themselves off.
When only Inibri was left, as per instructions, the lights dimmed and music came to an abrupt stop. The audience quieted down immediately, their eyes focusing on Inibri who was standing in the only bright spot in the room. He gazed at Herviz who looked at the stunned audience in awe.
“And now, my dear guests… the grand jewel of this Life Day special sale… Give a round of applause to… Inibri!”
It was hard to remain motionless when the crowd erupted into wild cheers. Inibri bit the inside of his cheek and began moving, slowly showing off his body while Herviz started the bidding. The offers of the drunken crowd were quick and high, and Inibri could see that Herviz was keeping his promise. Even though many hands rose, only a few of them were ever counted for real.
“There are no more bids? Come on! This is a once in a lifetime chance to get Inibri for yourself! No? Then congratulations to the gentleman in the back!” Herviz yelled over the microphone. Inibri stopped his dancing slowly and straightened his back again, while glancing at the crowd.
The man who had won him was a slaver too, Aril Kaedvan, but he worked in vastly different circles than Herviz. A clear improvement, considering that he was one of the only few in this room to actually have any influence in the real world.
While Herviz was closing down the auction, Inibri made his way towards Kaedvan, effortlessly avoiding all the groping hands of drunken patrons. He stopped right at the man’s table, eyeing him critically, figuring out the best approach.
“Don’t be shy, my little present. I’d never hurt anything so beautiful as you,” the man said, patting his empty lap. Inibri brought a smile to his lips, and did as he was told. “I have heard a lot about you, master. But, I have to say that you are even more impressive than I thought,” he near purred, watching how Kaedvan’ drunken smile grew even wider. Good. Faking admiration and praise was always easy.