ARCHIVE POST FOUR

Master Riki,

It’s almost past midnight but I must write to you now. As you probably know, Master Iason has gone to meet with Mister Am for their usual chess game. I assume you know what this means, don’t you? You can finally sigh in relief for the moment. Well, it’s too bad you aren’t awake like I am at this ungodly hour. You’ve had a long day filled with adventurous spirit. I wonder how you can make this life as a pet exciting without trying to kill something or someone.

But all this isn’t what I really want to discuss. I’m actually very interested in where you have come from. Yes, yes, you always answer the same thing: “just the slums, because it’s not like you know anything about it, Daryl”. Really, now, I was taken aback when you said this to me the first time. Sure, the slums aren’t anything like the riches and luxury here. Of course it seems that I have plenty of resources at your fingertips as furniture, but do you really think furniture are different than a normal being such as a man (no! Not even a man), a boy, living off of whatever new is thrown into the depths of the slums? Oh Jupiter, I hope you don’t.

My name is Daryl. Certainly, I am labeled as furniture. I’m not considered a male due to lack of genitals, correct. Even though this is true, I am still a living being; and a man on top of that! I too have a heart, mind, body, and soul. I, like you, have come from the slums.

Ha! So look now, there it is. I finally have said it. Mind blowing, isn’t it, Master Riki? Furniture come from the slums, too. We’re not biologically engineered to be sterile and submissive. We became this way because we didn’t have a choice. Once I was chosen, I could never go back. It’s a life or death situation, really. It was to become furniture and serve the lords or get thrown into the pit and die. When I mean pit, I don’t mean that we were going to be thrown back into the slums. What I am trying to say is if we refused, we were locked down and killed. Painlessly, as the adults at the facility told us; but in this world of greed and power, there is no such thing as a painless death.

I’m sure if you saw this post, your curiosity would get the better of you. There’s no need to be curious about me or the other furniture, though. I will be more than happy to tell you all about it here, in the Tanagura Archive. When you’ve found this archive, you may read all that you’d like.

Oh, the clock flickers its neon lights at me, telling the time. It is very early in the morning, but very past night. If Jupiter would grant me to sleep just a bit, I would be so grateful.

--Command: End Speech--

ARCHIVE POST THREE

Master Riki,

         I take that you are well rested after incident with the guards. You seem to be healthy and ready to fight again. Please, I beg of you, don’t injure yourself any further. Not that you should give up your rebellion, no. It’s not that, no, I just don’t want you to strangle yourself on the already short leash Master Iason is keeping you on.

         But what can I do? You are going to be in so much pain, mentally I mean, when all this is over; if this is over. I’m furniture for Jupiter’s sake, ha-ha-ha..! I’m sure you’ll be regretting everything that has ever happened. Master Riki, this is a thorny path you are taking. You do realize that you are supported by the invisible string of stubbornness and are so close to being broken, don’t you? I thought you would break in a matter’s time the first day I met you. Oh yes, I remember that day, you lashing out at me the few hours we were able to spend time together. The first year that we were put to use by Master Iason… The way you looked at me with those angry eyes as I obeyed our master’s every command. And yet, you haven’t broken. I won’t admit this out loud, but I admire that stubbornness because even though it is indeed holding you up from a certain so-called “death” (that really isn’t the case at all… You could be a docile little vegetable boy and still be alive), that string is made out of the strongest titanium. I hope it never snaps and sends you spiraling downward. I wish that I would be able to be of some use to you one day instead of being looked at as furniture.

         Forgive me, Master Riki, but do you know my life’s story? No, perhaps and probably not. I have never told you, I know. I will most likely never tell you in person, so therefore, let me tell you it here. It will be in chunks and may not be in correct order for my memories are only so accurate. Some things may cause me to be upset; yes, I do get upset at times. Although you will be reading only text, I still do hope that you will hear my voice through the writing…

         Oh, no. I cannot go on today, Master Riki. Suddenly, you are having fits. I must go and prevent you from breaking something. I sometimes question why you do this to yourself.

--Command: End Speech--

ARCHIVE POST TWO

Master Riki,

     It’s been a while. You’re still lively as ever. Every day, I care for you; check up on your stats and make sure you are well-fed and healthy. You really love your foods, don’t you? Or maybe not; you shovel meals down quicker than I can count with my fingers! Every day I say to myself, “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe he’s been starving all this time” or “For someone who’s been in training, he sure has a lot of vigor!” or something to that extent. Master Riki, I know you hate how I address you. But I can’t help it. I’m furniture, a piece of Master Iason’s property. You’re someone different. You’re actually a pet of his. A very special pet, that is. Don’t get me wrong here; Master Riki is unlike the others previously owned…

     Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Well then, never mind… Ah, Master Riki, you don’t know how lucky you are. Master Iason has never kept a pet so rebellious before. He usually sells them off or disposes of them after a couple of months. Somewhere, in my mind, I have a feeling he might do the same to you. Be careful, Master Riki. Don’t anger Master Iason.

     I don’t hate you, Master Riki. Please trust me on this; I don’t despise you. Master Iason is the head of this household, therefore I must obey him. Even if that means I must perform fellatio on you. You struggle and try to kick me away, but I can’t let you win… If Master Iason wishes it, then so be it. I don’t know how to explain my feelings about this act of mine. Maybe right now is not the right time, but you will understand this feeling one day, yes? Perhaps that day will be soon.

     Master Riki, I think..! No, now I must go. I hear footsteps coming closer. Please, just remember not to do anything foolish. We’ll both be punished if that is the case.

--Command: End Speech--

ARCHIVE POST ONE

Master Riki,

I suppose you will have gotten this graph quite a bit after I am gone from this world but, you know, I am afraid I will have revealed it too early. I’m filled with strange paranoia and constant worry. Most of which the worry is for you, Master Riki. I give myself a great deal of pain and suffering because of the fact that I am furniture, but it’s because I fear I care far too much.

Well then… Now you should know why you’re reading all of this with no reference to anything. So, very well, I shall tell you now.

Master Riki, you know who I am; who is writing, I mean. So I am publishing these letters to you in an archive some place where Master Iason will not find it until the day he decides to search through the set of walls I have created to block him from entering this archive. Perhaps, you will see this earlier than I think now, scrolling through this, hoping that this isn’t some type of morbid joke. No, Master Riki, please let me assure you. This isn’t a game I’m playing with you. These are my feelings put down in a database. The reason why I want you to know these things is because you might possibly learn something about the lies we live in.

But you may think, ‘how could furniture possibly be able to write without the assistance of someone more intelligible’. Don’t assume that I am not able to do the simplest of things, Master Riki. There is so much more that meets the eye. I’m not boasting that I am able to write or read here, though. True, it still seems impossible… here: I am using a voice-to-text speaker that will allow me to “write”. It’s dangerous, knowing that Master Iason might overhear me at any time, but this is far more important to share something with you than to not.

I… I do not have the words to explain more now. I feel quite overwhelmed at the moment. I may have said too much already in this first post. You have only just begun your life as Master Iason’s pet. You’re still snarling and gnashing your teeth at everyone you meet. I’m still very surprised you fight back with so much energy. You sure are someone different…

I’ll look further into these posts as I “write”, Master Riki. For now, I must publish this, secure the anti-hack walls, and attend to your daily health checkup. You should be warned, my procedure is meticulous; you might hate it, but I have nothing against you.

--Command: End Speech--