Restrained

Building a cell for Arista was much easier than John had anticipated; it wasn't an overly complicated design, nor would it be a particularly secure one, but he didn't much like the idea of housing hostile people in his new world anyway. They had no place there, and the very moment that he finished his quest, he had full intentions of ridding himself of Arista's presence – ideally permanently.

It was a simple add-on to the main building at the center of the complex, with John's Crafting skill and its Enchanting and Build enhancements assisting in making the device as quickly as possible. John had actually modeled it partially after the Order's cells, although he'd not had long to study them. The room itself was wooden, but the boards were enchanted to detect any motion above them. Since John had yet to introduce any pests to his world, anything larger than a speck of dust would set them off unless a series of runes were activated in the proper order inside of a sealed box he had placed at the entrance to the room.

Inside the room was a large metallic set of restraints tethered to a massive metal weight. He didn't have a way to properly secure it; his facility wasn't as large as the Order's, where he could easily build the entire thing into several dozen tons of steel and reinforced concrete forming a massive prison. Instead his was something resembling a BDSM rack and medieval **** restraints, designed to leave someone with all of their limbs fully extended and incapable of further motion, heavy enough to not be easily moved even by Abyssal strength – and then enchanted to actively restrain and drain the strength of anyone controlled by its bindings.

He was quite sure it would be enough to hold Arista even if she somehow defied her collar, but the cost had not been insignificant. The construction of the room and the cell, and particularly the enchantments embedded within them, had consumed a quarter of John's accrued metal stashes and nearly two-thirds of his magical enchantment supplies. It was possible he could have saved on materials if he'd had a proper supply of raw materials, but John hadn't anticipated such a massive expenditure being required, and so he'd had to Salvage most of the raw materials from his junk chest, and Refine what he needed from those.

Salvage
Active Spell
Effect: This spell converts any Junk category items into raw, base crafting materials one tier lower than the original item. This spell cannot convert items of one category into another – metal junk will always become ore, magical junk will always become enchanting supplies, and so forth.
Mana Cost: Free

Refine
Active Spell
Effect: This spell converts any base material into a unique, specialized, or higher-tier material. Each stage of conversion will reduce the quantity of the produced items in such a way that their overall value is half of what it originally was. Converting 100 mana gems worth of Wood [Tier 1] units into Entwood [Tier 2] would create 50 mana gems worth of Entwood. Converting 100 mana gems of Iron Ore into Steel Ore [Tier 2] with the Arcane-Infused modifier would reduce it to 25 mana gems worth, and so forth. All prices are based on current exchange rates on the Abyssal Marketplace at time of use.
Mana Cost: Free
Health Cost: Free, or 100% of Maximum HP in unmitigated damage if you manipulate the Abyssal Market to get free shit, John Newman.

John hadn't actually had to train for those techniques; they had both come around as a result of an overhaul to his items system a few months back. After a few particularly long days of grinding enemies in different environments, John was surrounded by so many Harpy Feathers, Werewolf Pelts, Gorgon Scales, and Wirpthort Tentacles that he could barely fit them all into the chest he'd made so long ago. The recipes using them were so specific and so unpredictable that it became difficult to know what to farm. Apparently his frustration had been noticeable enough for someone to retune his abilities.

John still wasn't entirely sure who, though... his “benefactor”, Karma or Dike or whatever she preferred to go by, had not contacted him since their meeting a year ago. John wasn't sure if she was incapable or unwilling to do so, but it hadn't overly bothered him since he had his own issues to deal with, and his own grief to overcome. Still, it meant he wasn't sure of a few things – like who had revamped his abilities. Was it her... or was Gaia still actively watching over him on a regular basis?

John was too weary to wonder long on things he couldn't possibly know. Instead John gestured to Arista, who until now had been ordered to remain silent in the corner. The fire of hatred was still in her eyes – a look John suspected would take months or years to fade now, if it ever did.

“Get in,” John said simply. The collar interpreted his order well enough, forcing Arista to step into the cell as best as she could. The restraints still required some manual securing, but it was quick enough that John was finally rid of Arista, and as confident as he could be that she was secure. Even he didn't have the ability to get out of that cell without setting off at least one of the alarms on it...

John left Arista without another word spoken between them, happy to finally be able to focus on something other than the woman's presence within his realm. He couldn't rightfully call it an intrusion since he had brought her along himself, but it most assuredly felt like one. Having her restrained and properly contained took most of the weight off his mind, allowing him to focus on other things – like the curious Kitsune hovering outside of the cell, looking at John with a devious look that almost bordered on deviant pleasure.

“Is it all finished then, my Lord? I can watch over her, if you like.”

“Go right ahead, if that interests you so,” John said. “But don't you need rest?”

“A Star Guardian can run on mana for weeks... I don't mind losing a night's sleep to keep us safe,” Vallya said, grinning as she made a peace sign. “A Guardian's job is never finished!”

“Alright then... if you're sure,” John said, shrugging. He was still curious and concerned about Vallya and the fact she seemed so focused on **** and sadism... she'd been all too eager to seek out the Albidians during their purge – almost as eager as John himself. So far, though, her interest had never included inflicting those things on John or his lovers... which was the secondary reason he didn't immediately shoot down her offer.

“Absolutely positive,” Vallya said, throwing John a wink as she hovered toward the doorway. “Don't worry... I'll make sure not to set off any of your enchantments.”

With that, the Kitsune hovered concerningly close to the boundary John had set for motion. Far enough away that John's enchantments were not activated... and every bit as close as she could get without doing so. The way she toed the line of his physical enchantments told him every bit as much as her actions and personality had for the last year – Vallya understood his abilities and their limitations every bit as well as John himself did... and she toed the line out of taste, not out of any guidance or requirements.

John chose not to comment on her abilities, or the irreverence with which she treated everything. Vallya was by far the creation that John trusted the least. He still wasn't convinced she'd been properly Purified at all, given her origins. But so long as she didn't betray John or his family, he had no reason to confront her over her admittedly off-putting sadistic tendencies. Besides, having her around did have its benefits. Despite his misgivings on the Kitsune's intentions, he at least knew that with her around he'd never have to worry too deeply about Arista possibly finding a flaw and escaping from John's newly constructed bindings.

“Fine, then... call me if you need me, or if anything unexpected happens,” John said, shooting a wary glance to the Star Guardian. She merely grinned and winked at him as he walked out of the newly built room.

“Of course! Just let me know when we'll be heading out again,” Vallya said, offering him a quick two-fingered salute. John offered an affirmative nod before turning away, pondering over what Vallya intended. He had enchanted the room against any intrusion or escape, and he didn't believe that Vallya was going to disable his enchantments with the switch – even if she had seen him creating the enchantments on the alarm system and knew which order to press the runes to disable it. That meant either she was going to use her expertise at illusions and aura magic to bypass them... or she was satisfied merely watching a woman bound and imprisoned.

John wasn't sure which option was more disturbing, so he didn't allow his mind to continue debating them. Instead, he turned his thoughts toward a certain creation of his – a woman who both demanded and resented his attention. A certain bunny-girl, who John had been meaning to have a long-overdue talk with.

John left the main building and wandered through the lengthy hallways to the living quarters, past the metallic archways and heavily enchanted doors and into the large lounge area that made up the entry room of their dormitory-style building. The lounge he'd created was a large one, nearly the size of some small houses – there was a large main room, a secondary balcony elevated above the rest, and even a set of mostly isolated comfortable desks and chairs for any work that needed to be done in partially-separated side rooms. That all led into a lengthy hallway with two floors and enough doors for not only all of John's lovers, but around a dozen more for when he eventually expanded their numbers further.

His family had largely insisted on the oversized common area, though John couldn't say it was unwelcome – they'd done everything in their power over the last year to ensure he didn't waste away inside his bedroom alone. Any time he came back from training or a mission in the old world, John was often surrounded by anywhere from one to five of his lovers. He couldn't honestly remember the last time he'd been allowed a moment's isolation... apart from visiting Seras' grave. That was the one place they allowed him a somber solitude.

But it wasn't the common room that John was headed for this time. Instead he journeyed into the hallway of bedrooms, up the stairs and to the second floor past his own bedroom and off toward Lerianna's. The rabbit-girl had a strange sleeping schedule, often woke at the oddest hours, and John heard her moving around through the house more often than any of the others, particularly when he or his lovers were being intimate. He was confident that even if she wasn't completely awake, she'd not mind being woken up. She was oddly tolerant and friendly when someone accidentally slighted her in ways that involved intimacy...

Yet she was still so shy and **** to spend time around John – in particular, John couldn't remember the last time he was alone with Lerianna. She always ventured by when others were drawing his attention, growing just close enough to him to get his attention... and then immediately retreating the moment he gave her said attention.

John wouldn't allow her that reprieve this time – at least, not so long as she could bear it. He had no intentions of outright forcing her to be around him, but he at least wanted to make her ask him to leave, instead of always sneaking away or avoiding him. So it was that John found himself in front of Lerianna's doorway, hand already raised and knocking before he'd even stopped to think fully on what he was going to say to her.

There was a muffled sound, almost confused, that came from deeper within the room. Then after a quick shuffling of feet, John was greeted by Lerianna looking at him rather quizzically.

“Huh? We training tonight? Thought we were all getting our shut-eye. I've been napping all day though, I'm down for some quick spars,” Lerianna said. “What are we fighting this time? Do I need my gauntlets?”

“No, we're not sparring, we're talking.”

Lerianna's expression immediately changed from curious and confused to rather suspicious and apprehensive. She crossed her muscled arms and glared at John, both of her ears twitching with sudden anxious energy.

“About what?” Lerianna asked in a rather confrontational manner. “You gonna get mad at me for kicking you like that? If you are, just hit me back and let's get over it.”

“I'm not upset about the kick,” John said, sighing. “It's... everything, honestly. What's up with you, really? You've always been a little bit standoffish, but lately you've taken it to the next level.”

“Look, recent events have me a bit on edge, but no more than anyone else, yeah? Just a bit feisty, that's all,” Lerianna said. “It's not like you've been setting me off or anything!”

“Listen, nobody else has kicked me in the gut for being near them after I caught them masturbating outside of my bedroom,” John said, emphasizing his points. It had the desired effect – Lerianna's face bloomed in a glowing blush, and she immediately began to stammer out a hasty reply.

“D-don't say stuff like that, you dumbass!” Lerianna spouted, shaking her fist only inches away from John's face. “I passed out in front of your room because I've been training so hard to improve myself that I'm half-asleep every hour of the day! And the thanks I get is being accused of this kind of insane, lewd behavior?! I oughta give you another kick right in the mouth!”

John rolled his eyes slightly at the overly-aggressive rabbit-girl, grinning a bit in spite of her exaggerated frustration with him. “Look, Lerianna, I don't mind you being shy. I don't even care if you want nothing to do with me. Say the word and I'll just leave you in your room, and never stop by again, if that's what you want. You're free to live your own life-”

“You fuckin' idiot,” Lerianna retorted, interrupting John. “I don't wanna be left alone! How am I gonna improve if I don't get to bash around those Barrier creatures you conjure up?! I just wanna go unmolested, unlike all the other women around here, you big, dirty pervert!”

“I'm a pervert? Didn't you just fall asleep masturbating in front of my doorway?”

“I told you, that never happened! Like I'd ever get turned on by someone like-”

John did something that was probably a little brash, but something that had worked for him in the past. Despite Lerianna having her finger wagging directly in front of his nose, he didn't back off. Instead he stepped forward, reached up, and wrapped his fingers gently around one of Lerianna's long, furry ears. The effects were immediate and **** – Lerianna looked more like she'd just done a massive line of cocaine than she'd been struck by a simple touch. Her pupils dilated, her body shivered, and her mouth hung open as her tongue lolled out the side and she fought to speak the words that practically fell from her lips.

“W-whatcha doin'? S-stop that!” Lerianna managed to moan, half-slurring her words as John's hands ran along the silky fur of her ears. John only allowed himself the smallest of grins, before he slowly pulled his hands back.

“Seriously, Lerianna, I don't care if you're not actually interested in us, but at least don't get upset when I call you out on your-”

Lerianna must have decided to return John's boldness and surprise him in return, because just as his fingers left her lengthy ears, she threw himself into his arms. Before he could question whether he was being hugged or attacked, Lerianna's lips were pressed against his own with a strength that could have only come from the muscular leporine. John returned the kiss almost instinctively, certainly not opposed to the make-out session no matter how unexpected it was, but something felt off about Lerianna's movements. Her kisses felt almost desperately needy... but she was shivering at the same time, and John thought he felt her shaking her head.

John grabbed her by the arms and tried to push her back, but Lerianna **** herself forward further, locking their lips together until John grabbed her by the shoulders and **** her away. Lerianna's face was flushed and her lips were quivering, but she averted her eyes and spoke in the least confident, quietest voice John had ever heard out of the rowdy woman.

“I... I don't wanna do this,” Lerianna said. But despite her words, she was still pressing forward, still trying to push their faces together. Her pupils were dilated and one of her feet was tapping the floor at a rapid pace, so loudly that John was worried she might actually damage the flooring.

“Then... why don't you just stop?” John asked, not sure what else to say. Everything about Lerianna continued to confuse him.

“I... I need it... but I don't want to,” Lerianna whispered, her whole body beginning to quiver. Her face was still flush with arousal, so John did the only thing he could think of – he used Siphon to drain off as much of her Libido as he could, the only stat he'd never touched with the ability before. He actually moaned as he felt a wave of heat passing through his body. His cock immediately began to stiffen to its full length in his pants, and he felt his breath suddenly coming in gasps, but it looked like Lerianna's pupils were contracting again, and her face was slowly returning to its normal color.

“That... I... what did you do?” Lerianna asked, her voice sounding almost wondrous. “I feel so much better! What just happened?”

John quirked an eyebrow at Lerianna, trying to will his erection away without returning the lust to the rabbit-girl.