Rejuve Universe: It’s a Woman’s World Now!

[badatnames]

Isabella was certainly affectionate. So far in living with her, Nathan had been spanked once (and at that reminder he gave his still red bottom another rub) and hugged and kissed more times than he could count. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not. Would it be easier to live with a woman who just spanked him daily and sent him to his room without a word? At least in that case he could understand her motivations better. But no, Isabella was insistent on acting like a sweet woman. Not the sort who volunteers to beat children on a regular basis.

He hummed to himself, as he sat down on the bed and opened the tablet she'd given him. All the things she'd promised were there, games and shows and movies. He skipped over all of them, taking a minute to finally find the internet browser in the middle of it all, and began searching.

The results for "Nathan Blackwall" brought up some news stories on his arrest, with most of the focus on his extensive time in hiding from the Empire. They all ended with a congratulatory tone that he'd been caught and was now facing the proper punitive measures. He clicked out of those, and tried to look up literally anything else.

The Empire's information on the Runaways revealed nothing, save an incredibly condescending tone Nathan couldn't stomach for long. Looking up the Empire's history while he'd been gone didn't give him anything he hadn't already learned. By the time he was finished searching for 'boyshirts in winter?', he was only ten minutes further than before and with no other reason to keep playing... er, using this new tablet.

He got up, and began to pace his room. And when that didn't satisfy him, he began to pace the rest of the house, taking careful notice of the locations of every door and window available. Always be sure to know your exits.

[17JosephLC]

Isabella noticed him and how he had been seeming to aimlessly wander the house. Or so he wanted her to think. The naughty, silly boy was doubtlessly trying to think of a way to escape. She decided to be upfront and honest with all her children, and Nathan would be no different.

“Nathan, come here a minute, please,” she called. Once be was before her, she gestured to the couch. He probably sat on his knees on the soft cushions and faced her. “Nathan, you’re trying to memorize where all the exits to the house are, aren’t you? I know you are. The collar on your neck monitors your immediate health, and also, is a tracking device. If you go too far out of a certain range without me giving an okay, it directly alerts me. Escaping would be very difficult.

So please refrain from trying to run away. I don’t want to have to punish you any more than I already do,” Isabella told him, in a serious, but not unkindly tone. She wanted to nip this potential mischief in the bud, before she had to request a few carved willow switches from the Renuve Center.

[badatnames]

Nathan had gone through every possible reason for punishment as he approached the couch and knelt down on the couch cushion. Sitting down didn't seem like a particularly great idea at the moment, especially if he was about to take another trip over her knee.

But, no. She just wanted to inform him that his attempts to be subtle weren't subtle at all. He tried to act innocent, but the way his eyes immediately darted, and the way he began to pick at his collar made it very obvious that she was on the mark. Even still, Nathan tried to stammer out a rebuttal.

"I, uh... I was..."

He didn't get very far. His voice sputtered and finally stopped, an uncomfortable silence now brewing. Stupid, stupid Nathan. First he failed to save his friend, and now he couldn't even save himself. Years of surviving and hiding on his own, and what did they all amount to? He got caught. And now he was gonna be here forever.

Jacob would've told him not to give up. He was good at keeping his head up, no matter what. Hell, Jacob was probably already forming his own escape plan right now. For as much as Nathan had his stubbornness, he'd never had much in the way of hope. That was Jacob's job. Nathan was the careful one, and Jacob was the one who kept going even when everything sucked.

Nathan hadn't even noticed that his eyes were starting to burn again, tears threatening to spill over. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force them back, and stood up with a start.

"I'm going to be in my room."

[17JosephLC]

“No, you’re coming here,” Isabella said, scooping her child up and gingerly having him sit down on her lap. She then held the boy close to her, rubbing his back in soothing circles. “I know your new life is going to take some getting used to, Nathan. But this life isn’t all bad. You’ll have good food, a loving family, friends aplenty, and lots of free time. What are the cons? A bare bottom, and some soreness doen there. Is that really such a huge price to pay? I don’t get enjoyment about of spanking you, Nathan. That’s not why I became a professional mother. It’s because I love all the children that are put in my care, with all my heart. That inclides you now.

I love you, Nathan, and I want you to be a good boy. If you tried to run away… I would have to give you so many extra spankings and disciplines. Please don’t make me punish you, my darling child,” she empathetically begged him.

(Goodnight)

[badatnames]

Again, he found himself placed in Isabella's lap, the woman rubbing his back in gentle, circular motions. Pressed up against her chest, Nathan could hear her heart beating. Every argument that he could think of drowned out in the sound. His thoughts felt like sand, slipping away as he tried to grab a hold of them. The words just wouldn't form together. That he was a grown man, that he preferred living in the wilderness compared to being treated like this, that he'd rather starve to death than be here any longer.

Had he been hyperventilating this whole time? Nathan began to breathe in time with Isabella's heart, trying to slow his rushing mind.

"...I have to be a man," he finally explained, back to mumbling his words. "An adult man. Father said so. He said you can't be a baby. And you can't let people help you. And... and that you got to be alone, and take care of yourself. Because being alone is better than having to be de -- than having someone take care of you."


(Have a good night!)

[17JosephLC]

Isabella soothed him, rubbing his back, even gently rocking him side-to-side. She listened calmly as he explained, and frowned deeply. She gently rose a hand and tilted his chin up, so he could look into her concerned gaze.

“No, Nathan, that’s not right at all,” she said with firm, maternal wisdom. “Men are reckless, foolish, cruel, and selfish. You should never-ever want to be a man. Ever. And you’re only a sweet eight year-old now, not an adult man, so why act like something you’re not? Your Father was wrong.

“As for people helping you… why not? No person is an island, and no one can do everything by themselves. There is no shame in asking for a helping hand.

“As for being alone; what a bunch of nonsense! Being lonely isn’t any fun at all! You never told me why you came into the city, but since you told me you were looking for someone, and were found in the residential areas, you must have been looking for Jacob. If men are meant to be alone, why would you look for him? Should you not have been happy he was gone, even if you preferred he left you in a different way?

“The reason you came after him, my child, is because you were lonely, and wanted his company again. Humans are social beings, not loners. We aren’t meant to be alone.”

She then grew quiet, rubbing his back and letting him think on her words.