Drabble - Cracks in the Mask
Tiran is in his office, secluded away in his little fight club and surrounded by what little tech there is. Mainly just a 'vault' of sorts for baubles and some money.
He's told everyone he needs a moment alone. And he's not lying. This time he needs it.
Tiran's on his hands and knees having just lost his dinner all over the nice carpeting, coughing and struggling to breathe. He can't recall the last time he'd felt this vulnerable. Separated from his technology like this. It made him uneasy, and that twisted his stomach where he could hardly keep anything down unless he ate and focused solely on keeping it down.
The collar weighed heavy along his neck, bringing his face downwards with the physical reminder of his mistakes and shame. The collar he playfully told anyone who asked, was just an accessory. The same that would pop his head like a tomato should he fall out of line. And that was only after watching everything he loved burn.
Again, Tiran vomits and falls aside, panting and laying on the carpet. He'd be hyperventilating again if he wasn't to exhausted. The lack of sleep was evident in his eyes or under them rather.
Then there was a knock at the door.
He froze, unable to move, unwilling to move, but he forced himself to get up, each limb feeling detached and heavy as lead as if he were a golem of so many spare parts. Once he was in the chair, he took a handkerchief from a drawer of them (he thinks they're classy) and wiped his mouth.
"What?" Tiran replied in a hoarse tone.
The door opened to one of the event-runners, Ben. He looked a little worried and scrunched his nose a little. "The uh..the last bout's about to start Boss."
"Fine. I'll be there. in the mean time get a janitor in here." he swallowed and cleared his throat, taking a deep breath before getting up and heading out.