[ he's never chosen to wear it. there's already a place on his halter for a lead to be attached, and if he ever balked in the middle of transit that's what the cattle prods and crops were for, to spook him forward. the stud chain is more of a choke collar with a length of sturdy chain attached to control him, accompanied by a thinner chain attached to both nipple rings. it's considered more artful to use the smaller chain, but shiro doesn't want to give anyone the impression that matt isn't in complete control of him. even the tiniest, most delicate stablehand could handle a gladiator wearing a stud chain.
wordlessly he takes the other end of the chain and winds it around his own neck, threading it through the larger hoop so that matt has the majority of the chain. the delicate nipple leash goes next, although he lets that hang down loose, shivering a little as the slight weight of it pulls at his piercings. ]
There. Hold onto it with both hands.
[ he paws with his front hoof, angrily, helplessly, thinking of matt being hounded and chased through the stables. the supervisors don't care, obviously. they might not even care if matt got seriously injured trying to fight back. there would always be more slaves. ]
I'm sorry, Matt. Are you--
[ he forces it out of his mouth, the words bitter. ]
no subject
wordlessly he takes the other end of the chain and winds it around his own neck, threading it through the larger hoop so that matt has the majority of the chain. the delicate nipple leash goes next, although he lets that hang down loose, shivering a little as the slight weight of it pulls at his piercings. ]
There. Hold onto it with both hands.
[ he paws with his front hoof, angrily, helplessly, thinking of matt being hounded and chased through the stables. the supervisors don't care, obviously. they might not even care if matt got seriously injured trying to fight back. there would always be more slaves. ]
I'm sorry, Matt. Are you--
[ he forces it out of his mouth, the words bitter. ]
Do you belong to anyone? Do you have protection?