NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Brace
"When is dinner?" Yoongi broke the silence, the awkwardness of the apology had enforced.
Looking at her bracelet Teddy noticed the time. "I usually eat dinner at 7 it's 6:30 now. I don't have the energy to try and make anything so if you guys aren't opposed to it we can order takeout." her eyes focused on the bracelet as she typed away.
"I'll send my link to you so you can cho-" she froze before dropping her forehead on the table with a thud that caused some flinches on the part of the men. "I can't believe I forgot that."
Standing up she moved to a desk in front of the curtained window and yanked out a drawer. "You'd think my IQ would mean I have a great memory, but nooo. And let's not even think about how I designed and manufactured these bracelets in my own dang company." Teddy muttered to herself as she rummaged through the junk before counting out eight of the bracelets.
The bracelets given to most men had limited functions, and most mother bracelets could connect to them and shut down those limited functions. Many of the common ones also had a small taser attached that could give an electric shock. Without a mother key the bracelets could not be removed.
Coming back in front of them she tapped the release on her phone the bracelets dropping off of the men. Jungkook and Taehyung flicked wide eyes between her and the fallen bracelets. Yoongi and Namjoon seemed relatively unimpressed their gaze skeptical, but they didn't keep their eyes on the ground and their posture relaxed. Hoseok and Jimin gave smiles. Jimin's more of a smirk.
Teddy looked at the bracelets on the ground with disgust not only was their functions deplorable, but even their design was ugly. Unsnapping her "mother" bracelet she let it join the rest of the trash on the floor.
Grabbing the first one in her hand she snapped it on her wrist. A collective gasp went through the room. The bracelet was clearly a men's bracelet, woman's bracelets tended to be thin with several jewels embedded in them.
Ignoring the shocked expressions in front of her she spread the rest of the bracelets out on the coffee table making sure the different engravings were facing the men.
"Choose whatever one you want. They all have the same functions." Pulling up her bracelet's holographic screen she demonstrated. "You can text, call, browse the internet, download some games, or take videos and photos."
Hoseok kept his eyes on her before turning his gaze to the bracelets choosing one with copper engraving. His gaze locked with his mistress' before buckling the bracelet on his wrist. Seeing his trust in her Teddy hurried to reassure him.
"You can unlock it at any time, I don't have access to anything you do unless you buy something with my money, there are no discipline features." That settled she proceeded to walk them through ordering what they wanted. Jungkook and Taehyung were the first to place their orders, the rest close behind.
"What did you order, Teddy?" Seokjin questioned. At some point during the demonstration, he had reclined himself on the couch. Teddy never thought lounging could look so regal, he was clearly relaxed, but pride and power seemed embedded in the placement of his limbs. Swallowing any salvia that may happen to drip from her mouth Teddy responded.
"I didn't plan on eating with you guys." Closing her eyes with her hand held out she took a deep breath before clarifying. "I didn't plan on eating today, and I doubt eating in front of me while I stare blankly into space right above your head is going to make your first day here comfortable."
"Treating us like equals taking a toll on your appetite, mistress?" Yoongi jabbed. Teddy unhurriedly turned her head to meet his gaze. She held it for a minute, she seemed to have what she was looking for because she tilted her head and smiled.
"No, Min Yoongi. You being treated as a human being did not make me lose my appetite."
Yoongi didn't move his gaze even stepping closer to where she knelt behind the coffee table. "I don't trust you." He crouched beside her lowering his voice to whisper. "Mistress."
"I don't expect you to," she responded before copying his whisper. "Min Yoongi."
If he was going to be formal with her then she would return the courtesy. He wanted her to drop the other shoe, for her to be just as horrid as the rest of womankind.
"Why did you lose your appetite?" Namjoon asked. Teddy gave a contemplative hum before responding.
"I get migraines, they usually have the side effect of making my body try and upchuck my internal organs." She finished with a cheerful grin.
"And you have had this migraine recently?" Hoseok tentatively asked.
"All today." she sing-songed. "Don't worry I slept most of it off when we got home."
"What are your symptoms? How often do you get them? Have you found a trigger for them? How was your pain throughout the day? What other side effects do you have? Do you take medication, does it help?"
"I lose vision in the beginning, just some spots here and there. Then the actual migraine comes with stabbing pain, vomiting, general shakiness, and sensitivity to light and sound. I don't know maybe once bi-monthly. Not sure what causes them. All migraine pain is a nine or ten for me on my pain scale, but I have a separate one for migraines. It was three when it first started before and during the "choosing" afterward, it escalated to a seven or eight. By the time we got home, it was a solid ten. Just the vomiting, turns into dry heaving sensitivities and shakiness. I take medication when they start, it doesn't do much except make it easier for me to go to sleep."
Teddy took the questions in stride slightly surprised but attributing it to the curiosity of a smart man, and the need to stay informed about a potential threat or ally. She wasn't sure what he considered her right now, but she hoped it was the latter. If not she hoped she could change his mind.
Namjoon continued to ask questions about her migraines and general health until the food arrived. Seemingly satisfied with the answers Namjoon halted his questioning, to join his friends as they ate in the dining area. After Teddy gave her explicit consent for them to do so. Teddy decided to take a warm bath before turning in for the night the daytime having effectively drained her.