Backstory

Mala grew up on the streets in a shooter city, an abandoned child - she grew into a street smart adolescent with a fierce independent streak and a sassy smart mouth. It was when she began to blossom into womanhood that she was spotted and snatched up by a Madam who had noticed her unusual bright markings. She cleaned her up, taught her how to fake some manners - or at least how to turn her biting sarcasm into a lustful come hither - and turned the dirty street dasher into a polished brothel jewel. Mala became a client favorite, genuinely enjoying feeling desired by men and women alike, feeling pampered by clients who bought her food and drink and drugs, and even the ones who wanted her to talk and dance before they went upstairs to a private room - or sometimes, for a ridiculously higher price, enjoyed her services right in the main room in front of everyone. The Madam liked those nights, quite a few gems rolled in then - the other girls and boys made more money from their own clients as they watched Mala work.

But it all crashed around her - after what she thought was a routine night, with a normal but cold client, Mala woke to the Madam shaking her awake and telling her to pack a bag. She had been bought - by a minor lordling no less, some name of Aquilo - and she was to be ready to go in half an hour. Mala was moved to the Arctic where her new Master Aquilo - a shooter she had seen perhaps only twice before the previous night, and only been with the once - spent most of his time, serving at the shooter outpost. He was cruel, a sadist, and enjoyed teasing and hurting her. She escaped into drink and drugs - he clearly didn't want her for a servant, he had those. What he wanted was a pet to torture. But while in her new home, Mala became close friends with a Stareater named Brae.

The eater was a servant to Mala's master's father and oldest brother. Brae acted as a secretary as well as a household servant, and was docile - she had been raised by the shooter mother's family and had been a slave her entire life, never knowing anything different. Mala told her stories about the world outside of shooter control - about the freedom of growing up on the streets, the excitement of stealing food and clothes, the stories she'd heard of free Dashers in the forest tribes, the Eater kingdoms. Slowly, the two women bonded - and fell in love. Mala whispered about trying to leave, to make a life for themselves. There were people who could help them escape. She had money saved, hidden from her brothel days. Slowly, Brae started to come around. They agreed and finally made a plan.

It was this that finally was noticed by Mala's master. He could ignore a friendship with another slave - they were beneath his notice. But love? Escape? Mala was his pet. Her attention was for him, and him alone. Leaving was unacceptable. So on the morning of their planned escape, when Mala arrived at the door at the agreed on time... Brae never arrived. She was gone, and in her bedroom, there were only signs of a struggle and too much blood. When questioned by his father, Mala's master only shrugged and said that he dealt an appropriate punishment. He received a light punishment for killing the family servant and was sent to procure another, and that was all that was said of the matter.

Mala lost all hope the day Brae died. Now she simply tries to endure the torture her Master inflicts, and in the sleepless hours of the night prays to the gods for a way to see her beloved's face again. She drinks, and takes any substance she can to feel as numb as possible. She fakes happy for her Master - and all the men or women that her master has her serve for his own twisted purposes - so that he will beat her less. Because any more pain means that she has to buy more supplies to stay numb. And she will need to hide all the gems she can if she's going to try to escape.