Not when he didn’t know what it was made of.
Living on Journey-5 had been hard and lonely, but out there, for the first time in his life, Asher hadn’t had to worry about what he was putting into his mouth. He knew exactly what he was eating, even if there often wasn’t much of it. And there had been no one to question why he wasn’t eating meat dishes.
There was none of that luxury here.
Vrayl reached out behind Asher’s head, and there was a beeping sound. Then Vrayl was pulling back, gently tugging on Asher’s gag. Asher realized he’d dug his teeth into the mouthpiece and quickly released it, face flushing.
“He already loves it,”Trenet said, looking… pleased? Proud? Asher had no way to tell for sure. At least he didn’t seem upset any longer.“What a perfect little yshain.”
Asher stared at the floor instead of at his two captors as he swallowed and moved his mouth. It was… strange to suddenly have this open space inside his mouth after wearing the gag for so long. He’d almost gotten used to it, for all that it felt invasive and demeaning.
The fact that they’d taken it out now probably meant… they were most likely intending to feed him.
He tried to use the opportunity to say something—anything!—but fear held his tongue. He couldn’t make himself make a sound. He could only smell the unfamiliar foods and feel the emptiness in his stomach and had to clench his teeth together now that he could, to try to stave off tears. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to be a prisoner, or a toy, or—or a meal. He didn’t want thesenchrthat they’d slid inside him, or the mitts on his hands, or the gag that had been in his mouth. He didn’t want to be held on Vrayl’s lap and expected to eat when he was so hungry, but he couldn’t trust the food.
Vrayl reached out again, but to the table this time. Asher shivered as he watched Vrayl press something on the table and jumped when three glasses filled with clear liquid rose out of it. A smallclinkfollowed, and what looked like a metal straw rolled into view.
Vrayl placed the straw in the cup and then held it out to Asher, bumping the straw against Asher’s lips.“Open up, dear heart. We know that Humans need adequate hydration.”
The liquid was clear, and itlookedlike water. Maybe… maybe Asher could chance it?
And if it didn’t taste like water, he could always spit it out, regardless of whether or not that made Trenet and Vrayl mad.
Asher tentatively opened his empty mouth and let the straw slide between his lips, trying not to pay attention to the way Trenet and Vrayl both watched him, expressions eager.
When he forced himself to sip, he was so incredibly relieved by the cool, blessedly neutral tasting water that filled his mouth. He swallowed, then swallowed again, and then before he knew it was drinking over half the glass. So he’d been thirsty as well as hungry. That was good to know, he supposed.
“That was so good, Asher,”Vrayl said, pulling the glass back when it was clear Asher was done with it.“And just let us know if you want more water during the meal. Tomorrow, when we have the whole day together, we’ve already set a schedule to make sure you’re drinking properly.”
“My friend Eral and his mate Ronet has a yshain too,”Trenet said with a smile.“A Human one, just like you. He’s told me a lot about what he’s learned to properly care for a Human yshain.”
“We’d love you to meet our friends and their yshain someday,”Vrayl said, plucking up a little round white ball.“Once you’re more settled. Now open up, sweetling. It’s past time we fed you.”
Asher watched in dismay as Vrayl held the white ball to his lips. It smelled more sweet than savory, but that didn’t mean anything. Asher didn’t know what the ball was made out of, or if it had a filling.
He could still remember being six and being served hot lunch at school. Meat pies. He’d been old enough and aware enough to want to know what the meatwas.No one would tell him, and he’d burst into tears in the middle of his classroom and had been inconsolable until one of his big sisters had been called to calm him down. That was when his moms had instructed him to start telling everyone that he was a vegetarian because “eating animals made him sad.”
Asher pressed his lips together and shook his head. He wasn’t going to eat something when he didn’t know what it was made from, and he had no way to understand their answers even if hecouldask and be understood, so…
So he wouldn’t eat.
Trenet and Vrayl exchanged an obviously confused glance.
“Would you like to know what it is?”Vrayl said next, still holding the white ball right in front of Asher’s mouth.“This is enga. It’s a sweet roll made of a glutinous paste harvested from tardak plants. I’m sure you’ll love it. We know Humans like their sweets. It also has a lot of protein, which will be good for you.”
Vrayl’s growls didn’t sound upset or angry, but Asher had no idea how long that would last if he continued to refuse their food.
“Maybe try the alev,”Trenet said.“Maybe he’d prefer something savory.”
Vrayl popped the white ball into his own mouth, then picked up something that looked breaded, about the size and shape of a finger. Asher eyed it with trepidation.
“This is alev,”Vrayl said, holding the breaded thing up to Asher’s mouth.“It’s made of a synth meat that’s light and flaky, and then it’s battered and breaded before frying. Alev is very tasty! Won’t you try some for us?”
Asher bit at the inside of his cheek so he wouldn’t open his mouth. He hated that it smelled good. Hated that he wanted to just allow Vrayl to feed him.
He closed his eyes and shook his head.
There was a flurry of growls and hisses over his head that denoted a conversation between Vrayl and Trenet.
