<i>"No</i>."<br/><br/>The single syllable pierced Ezra and turned the tightness in his chest into a slow burn, sending discomfort down each limb and leaving him feeling uncomfortable and slightly numb. He looked down at the floor and lowered his airy shirt, unsure of what he was supposed to do next. This wasn't how Mother and the keepers said things were going to go. They said his new master would marvel at his beauty and want to touch his body, drag his fingers through Ezra's long, silky hair. But this man seemed to have no interest in doing anything of the sort. Ezra's slate colored eyes watched as Reis moved around him and fell onto the couch, a heavy cloud of frustration marring the man's otherwise handsome form. Ezra thought Master was incredibly handsome, with sharp, intelligent features and serious eyes that took everything in with an intense glare. It was intimidating in its way, but Ezra did not mind. Asha had no choice in who purchased them. They were commodities to humans, barely considered more than dogs. When his eyes had first soaked in Reis' face, Ezra had thought himself lucky. He could be proud to belong to such an attractive man. But perhaps things were not going to be as idyllic as he had been made to believe.<br/><br/>Ezra's ears perked up when Reis spoke to him, not minding that the man's question was blunt and concise. His lips curled into a jubilant smile as he thought about his home and how he was receiving the opportunity to share the wonders of his island with his master. "I come from a small island named Tuloa. It is far off in the ocean. Old Tuloans used to think the island was the center of the world, but we have been shown via maps and diagrams that this is false. However, we are still deep in the ocean, and not many humans find us there." Ezra continued to kneel but shifted his body so that he was sitting up straight, stretching out his long, strong spine. The Asha's posture was perfect, his shoulders broad and sitting at a natural, attractive angle. This was not something Ezra had needed to be taught. The Asha's movements were inherently powerful, graceful and aesthetically pleasing.<br/><br/>"Tuloa has many wonderful sights, Master. Trees taller than many of your buildings, with flowers of every color and fruit of all kinds. All of them juicy and delicious. The sands are white and feel soft against the bottom of your feet, and the dirt is rich and gives birth to many useful plants. I think, if you gave it a chance, you would very much like Tuloa. Many of the humans who come to visit us end up staying for a very long time. Even when they leave, it is never for long." Ezra sighed contentedly, remembering the way the sun kissed his face and the ocean breeze made his skin taste of salt. There was an ocean here, too, on the edges of his master's land, but it wasn't the same. Ezra had noticed the moment they had ushered him off of the ship. Even though it had been the middle of the night, Ezra had smelled the water in the air. It was tumultuous, mercurial, unsure of itself. He had felt sad for the ocean but hadn't the opportunity to linger on that feeling for long before he was pushed and pulled along the edges of the dock to some dark enclosure.<br/><br/>Master began to speak again and Ezra immediately directed his attention toward him, hanging off of every word that left Master's lips. But they were not good words, and Ezra's brow furrowed in displeasure as Reis huffed and tossed the contract to the floor. Mother had told him many times to not move unless he was told to move, to not speak unless spoken to, to never do anything against his Master's wishes, but seeing the paper discarded so carelessly left the Asha feeling impassioned. Without asking for permission, the Asha stood and took slow, deliberate steps to the contract, picking it up and folding it neatly along its designated lines. He set the paper delicately on the couch next to Reis and then backed up, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he looked upon the man who owned him and who, he was slowly realizing, did not actually want him.<br/><br/>"Master, I am a good pet. No, I am an excellent pet. That is all I have ever wanted to be was a pet who pleased his superior. If you have questions about my extensive training, all you have to do is ask. I am honest and loyal, and I will answer every question you have for me with the words I have learned from my keepers. Your language is ugly, but I will do my best."