I'm hoping that the red collar is wide enough (like...maybe 70cm around-ish?) that it *really* can't chafe, BUT I'm also thinking that when Matt needs to get a visible collar to be worn for an extended period of time (i.e., during their internship at L&Z) Foggy would go all out for the softest, most comfortable he can find. Matt still looks just so...defeated when Foggy puts it on him, though, that he knows it's probably just a small comfort.
Also, yes. The 'But not Foggy' is gonna be strong in these fills. XD
As for how others act around Matt - yeah, I'm thinking that most of them probably wouldn't even be deliberately *cruel*, they're just...not quite thinking of slaves as people, is what makes their treatment so horrible. Only after becoming actually friends with one do both Foggy and Karen get a crash course in a slave's perspective on the whole thing. (and it's doubly jarring because Matt is so strong-willed that he still internally reacts like a free person to this treatment, even if his pride has been trampled into the dirt for *years* now. But there would be slaves who've been born to this and actually act affectionate when there's belly rubs, which now makes both Foggy and Karen as uncomfortable as it does Matt.)
And yeah, Matt *would* likely return in a very bad mood to the office, even if he'd try to hide it from Karen. But Foggy knows him better than anyone and he'd find out. And then be relentlessly nice and caring until he's wheedled out of Matt what happened and can re-assure him again. I'm a huge sucker for hair-petting, so I'd like to imagine they have a few routines that fall juuuust in between the blurry borders of 'things you'd do for an upset friend' and 'things you'd reward a well-behaved slave with', (the latter of which *still* elicit an involuntary positive response from Matt, it's not that easy to shake) so, yeah. There could be hair-ruffling, lying with his head on Foggy's thigh when they're enjoying a movie, giving Matt food - anything to remind Matt that he is NOT a slave to Foggy, but not because he's a *bad* one. Got any more ideas how that scene when Matt and Karen come back from that trip could go?
And argh, the glasses. I might have to write that purchasing scene. What are you doing XD
Also, Marci! Hah, yeah, a mutual blackmailing scenario between her and Matt would be fun. XD
And oooh, the cops! Yes to the tightening of the collar. They could be like 'Sir, I know there's no exact regulations as for the fit of the collar in NYC, but it really shouldn't be so loose that your slave could simply slip it off or loose it.' (which is exactly what Matt has usually been doing at parties when he went home with someone). And then he pulls it ridiculously taut, and Foggy can *see* the twitch in Matt's hands showing how uncomfortable and crushed he is to be reminded of his status in this way, and Marci holds him back before he does something stupid. They end the night, much later, by drinking themselves under a table at Josie's.
And oooh, yes, all the scenes where Matt feels himself slipping more and more into normal-person mode. Like, the first time when they've reached the joking-about-it stage, when Foggy makes a quip along the lines of 'You threw away my entire stash of cheese pretzels, Matt. They were only two weeks old. They were actually acquiring *aroma*. Why do you have to this, Matt? I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to whip you now or something.' and normally, this would mean that he'd have to throw himself at his owner's feet, begging for forgiveness, but right now, it's all he can manage to go 'nooo, no whipping. I've just found the perfect spot for lying in the sun, I don't want to move.' and turning over on his bed. ('also, that wasn't *aroma*, Foggy, that was *mould*.') ('That is just what a slave who doesn't want to get whipped would say.') And generally being a lazy-ass instead of always being at high-alert to avoid displeasing his owner.
The collar, yes! I have to admit I was wondering what he would do with it after he was freed. I've written slavery AUs with this kind of dynamic before and found it cute when the now-free-character keeps the collar and wears it wrapped around his wrist as a bracelet, buuuut I'm thinking that wouldn't quite work with the respectable-laywer-wardrobe. XD Now I kind of would like to read the scene where they're at the bureau in the end, *finally* submitting the paperwork, and the worker then tells him, 'Congratulations, you're now officially a free citizen. Please sign here for your new ID.' I'm sure they'd hug, and laugh, and then Foggy might reach up and go 'alright, here, lemme *finally* remove that vile thing off you-' but Matt could catch his wrist and go 'No. Don't throw it away. I'd like to keep it.' 'Keep it? Matt, what *for*?' 'It's the first thing you bought me, Foggy.' he gives a slight smile. 'It doesn't have just *bad* memories attached to it.' Heh, maybe he keeps it rolled up in his pocket to run his fingers along it when he needs something to either focus or distract himself (or is just thinking of Foggy).
And Karen! YES for Matt being a dork/bit of a prankster at the office, giving Foggy shit. Matt could be like 'Hm, you know, I think we're confusing Karen. There probably should be more punishment around here, you're being terrible today.' Matt tilts his head. 'You think? Huh. In that case...you could punish me by getting lunch from that Vietnamese place I like? Or maybe punish me with a shoulder massage. I think those are good punishments.'
Also ooooh, YES to Matt's panic at realizing not even his secrets should technically be his own :3 (and that means he might be so surprised when Karen comes to see him and doesn't know anything about the truth)
And hah, yeah, I like that idea with the Nelsons! Like, maybe his father thinks the whole idea of getting a study aid is ridiculous, because what could a slave possibly know, right? He probably doesn't even understand half the lessons he's supposed to go to. Cue Foggy gently nudging Matt to add something when a particular topic he's interested in comes up (and Foggy can *tell* Matt would usually speak up at this point if this were a discussion in class, he's just incredibly self-conscious because the parents know what he is, they're the ones who *bought* him, who saw him in the cage at the market) but at Foggy's request, he does, and actually delivers a very conscise, and thought-out argument concerning the topic of debate. And you can just tell the two parents are a bit wowed, because they're suddenly starting to see how maybe, slaves aren't *that* different from free people, they *can* actually think. (Even though that still doesn't stop the mother attempting to be pragmatic and to use him for chores a couple times. Foggy is not very amused when he finds out).
Re: Slavery AU; More Ideas HALP/4
I'm hoping that the red collar is wide enough (like...maybe 70cm around-ish?) that it *really* can't chafe, BUT I'm also thinking that when Matt needs to get a visible collar to be worn for an extended period of time (i.e., during their internship at L&Z) Foggy would go all out for the softest, most comfortable he can find. Matt still looks just so...defeated when Foggy puts it on him, though, that he knows it's probably just a small comfort.
Also, yes. The 'But not Foggy' is gonna be strong in these fills. XD
As for how others act around Matt - yeah, I'm thinking that most of them probably wouldn't even be deliberately *cruel*, they're just...not quite thinking of slaves as people, is what makes their treatment so horrible. Only after becoming actually friends with one do both Foggy and Karen get a crash course in a slave's perspective on the whole thing. (and it's doubly jarring because Matt is so strong-willed that he still internally reacts like a free person to this treatment, even if his pride has been trampled into the dirt for *years* now. But there would be slaves who've been born to this and actually act affectionate when there's belly rubs, which now makes both Foggy and Karen as uncomfortable as it does Matt.)
And yeah, Matt *would* likely return in a very bad mood to the office, even if he'd try to hide it from Karen. But Foggy knows him better than anyone and he'd find out. And then be relentlessly nice and caring until he's wheedled out of Matt what happened and can re-assure him again. I'm a huge sucker for hair-petting, so I'd like to imagine they have a few routines that fall juuuust in between the blurry borders of 'things you'd do for an upset friend' and 'things you'd reward a well-behaved slave with', (the latter of which *still* elicit an involuntary positive response from Matt, it's not that easy to shake) so, yeah. There could be hair-ruffling, lying with his head on Foggy's thigh when they're enjoying a movie, giving Matt food - anything to remind Matt that he is NOT a slave to Foggy, but not because he's a *bad* one. Got any more ideas how that scene when Matt and Karen come back from that trip could go?
And argh, the glasses. I might have to write that purchasing scene. What are you doing XD
Also, Marci! Hah, yeah, a mutual blackmailing scenario between her and Matt would be fun. XD
And oooh, the cops! Yes to the tightening of the collar. They could be like 'Sir, I know there's no exact regulations as for the fit of the collar in NYC, but it really shouldn't be so loose that your slave could simply slip it off or loose it.' (which is exactly what Matt has usually been doing at parties when he went home with someone). And then he pulls it ridiculously taut, and Foggy can *see* the twitch in Matt's hands showing how uncomfortable and crushed he is to be reminded of his status in this way, and Marci holds him back before he does something stupid. They end the night, much later, by drinking themselves under a table at Josie's.
And oooh, yes, all the scenes where Matt feels himself slipping more and more into normal-person mode. Like, the first time when they've reached the joking-about-it stage, when Foggy makes a quip along the lines of 'You threw away my entire stash of cheese pretzels, Matt. They were only two weeks old. They were actually acquiring *aroma*. Why do you have to this, Matt? I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to whip you now or something.' and normally, this would mean that he'd have to throw himself at his owner's feet, begging for forgiveness, but right now, it's all he can manage to go 'nooo, no whipping. I've just found the perfect spot for lying in the sun, I don't want to move.' and turning over on his bed. ('also, that wasn't *aroma*, Foggy, that was *mould*.') ('That is just what a slave who doesn't want to get whipped would say.') And generally being a lazy-ass instead of always being at high-alert to avoid displeasing his owner.
The collar, yes! I have to admit I was wondering what he would do with it after he was freed. I've written slavery AUs with this kind of dynamic before and found it cute when the now-free-character keeps the collar and wears it wrapped around his wrist as a bracelet, buuuut I'm thinking that wouldn't quite work with the respectable-laywer-wardrobe. XD Now I kind of would like to read the scene where they're at the bureau in the end, *finally* submitting the paperwork, and the worker then tells him, 'Congratulations, you're now officially a free citizen. Please sign here for your new ID.' I'm sure they'd hug, and laugh, and then Foggy might reach up and go 'alright, here, lemme *finally* remove that vile thing off you-' but Matt could catch his wrist and go 'No. Don't throw it away. I'd like to keep it.' 'Keep it? Matt, what *for*?' 'It's the first thing you bought me, Foggy.' he gives a slight smile. 'It doesn't have just *bad* memories attached to it.'
Heh, maybe he keeps it rolled up in his pocket to run his fingers along it when he needs something to either focus or distract himself (or is just thinking of Foggy).
And Karen! YES for Matt being a dork/bit of a prankster at the office, giving Foggy shit. Matt could be like 'Hm, you know, I think we're confusing Karen. There probably should be more punishment around here, you're being terrible today.' Matt tilts his head. 'You think? Huh. In that case...you could punish me by getting lunch from that Vietnamese place I like? Or maybe punish me with a shoulder massage. I think those are good punishments.'
Also ooooh, YES to Matt's panic at realizing not even his secrets should technically be his own :3 (and that means he might be so surprised when Karen comes to see him and doesn't know anything about the truth)
And hah, yeah, I like that idea with the Nelsons! Like, maybe his father thinks the whole idea of getting a study aid is ridiculous, because what could a slave possibly know, right? He probably doesn't even understand half the lessons he's supposed to go to. Cue Foggy gently nudging Matt to add something when a particular topic he's interested in comes up (and Foggy can *tell* Matt would usually speak up at this point if this were a discussion in class, he's just incredibly self-conscious because the parents know what he is, they're the ones who *bought* him, who saw him in the cage at the market) but at Foggy's request, he does, and actually delivers a very conscise, and thought-out argument concerning the topic of debate. And you can just tell the two parents are a bit wowed, because they're suddenly starting to see how maybe, slaves aren't *that* different from free people, they *can* actually think. (Even though that still doesn't stop the mother attempting to be pragmatic and to use him for chores a couple times. Foggy is not very amused when he finds out).
Gah, so many head canons, what is *happening*?!