thegoodfellas/blogset-br huggingface dataset:
not wait for an answer, butsaid, Russ, Owen, you can talk, you know.Idont know quite what to say, Sir, Russ admitted. Im alittle ill-at-ease.Aw,dont worry. Jesse reached out and tucked Russ hair behindhis ear, the gesture very tenderand not at all appropriate foreither master and slave orfor any two boys. Henry blushed again at the implied intimacy, and hefelt a hard nudge from Martins foot under the table.Jesseturned to Henry and said, Eli and I talk all the time, you see.Im surprised we find anything else to say to one another! But tellus what youve been doing, Henry. Have you been in touch withReggie?Ijust wrote to him this week, Henry said. I got my invitation tothe Metropolitan Ball and I told him about that.Eliand Jesse exchanged an amused glance. Ah, Eli said. Lawtonsball is the New Amsterdam Cotillion. We had a great time last year,all of us.Eliand I rented one of those big carriages and went together with ourgirls, Jesse said. They were awful girls, werent they, Eli?But we had fun anyway. I loved seeing Russ and Owen and all the restof the slaves in their black ties.Imlooking forward to that, too, Henry admitted. Im not reallylooking forward to escorting the girl, though.Elilooked surprised. Why not? Youre such a catch, Henry. Idimagine girls make it easy for you.Henryblushed. He had no idea how to say what the problem was withoutcausing more problems for himself.Jessesaid, Oh, Eli, Henrys so shy.Id imagine that having some saucy little minx flirting with him ispractically torture!Thewait staff arrived with their plates and served the masters first.The boys were all quiet a few minutes as they began to eat.Theyhad been the restaurants first customers of the day, but now theroom was beginning to fill up. About half the patrons wereaccompanied by slaves, and all seemed very artistic, in Henrysopinion. A pair of nattily-dressed gentlemen sat at a table atJesses back, their slaves at attention behind them. There wassomething Reggie-ish about them that made Henry wonder if they weresimply friends, or if the relationship might be more intimate. Hecould not very well eat his meat and gape at the strangers at thesame time, so he turned his attention to his plate with a red face.Jessewas feeding Russ bites from his plate off his own fork. Henry didntknow if he could manage such a thing himself; surely, his hand wouldshake too hard.Martinleaned close and said, Sir, would you like a bite of my chicken?Henryblushed a deeper crimson. Yes, please. He waited a moment, andMartin waited, too.Sir...didyou want me to feed it to you? Martin asked tentatively.Yes,Henry told him. He held his breath and watched as Martin neatly cutmeat from the bone and then hesitantly held it out on his own forkfor Henry to take.Sir!Martin said in a low, thrilled tone as Henry drew the morsel off thetines of the fork with his lips and began to chew.Henrylooked up and saw that Eli was glancing back and forth between Jesseand himself with a look of horror on his handsome face. Owen waseating from his own plate with ostentatiously good table manners,
marry her now.Theyll only argue with me about it and try to convince meotherwise. We havent decided what were going to do, exactly.She thinks she can fend off suitors until shes 18, and at thatpoint well either make a case to our families or well just runaway together.Ithink they should wait, Eli said. She wants to go to college,so I think she should go ahead and do that, and then just keeprefusing to get married for long enough that Jesse starts to looklike a better option than no husband at all.Shecan go to college when were married, Jesse pointed out. Icertainly wont try to keep her from going. I love how smart sheis.Youjust want to start having sex with her as soon as possible, Elisaid.Isthat so terrible? When you fall in love, youll want to have sexwith that person, wont you?Henrythought this was very true. Of course you will, he answered forEli. To Jesse, he said, When will you see her again?Wellgo out to Chicago again this July. Chicago has even worse summerweather than here, did you know? Terrible! But Ill get to see myElizabeth. Shes hinting that we can go further physically thisnext time were together, and Im definitely looking forward tothat!Youllbe bathed in sweat, Eli pointed out. You probably wont evenwant to touch her.Oh,youre so practical,Eli! Be a little romantic, wont you? Jesse urged.Thewaiter brought separate checks for the three masters. Henry laid downthe money for his own bill along with a generous tip, as he wasgrateful to the restaurant staff for allowing them to eat with theirslaves without fuss.Doeither of you have a quarter? Jesse asked. I didnt bringenough money.Henrygave Jesse a quarter, and they all put on their coats and hats andleft the restaurant.Elichecked his watch. I have to go home, he announced. Imsupposed to meet up in an hour with some guys from school.Oh.Peter and them? Jesse asked.Yeah.Theyve been asking me to do things recently.Theydont like me,Jesse remarked. Even though Ive never been anything but nice.Ithink you scare them, Eli told him. You intimidate people withyour enthusiasms.Henrycould see that this might easily be the case.Well,have fun, Jesse continued. Say hello for me, if you think itsworth bothering.Iwill, Eli promised. He stiffly accepted a hug from Jesse and shookHenrys hand. The slaves all said their goodbyes, and Eli turnedand headed down the block with Owen at his side.Nowwhat? Jesse asked cheerfully. You dont have to leave, too, Ihope?Henryshook his head. I dont have any other plans. We just have toget home in time for Martins dinner.Itskind of cold, but maybe we could just walk around for awhile anyway,Jesse suggested. Its so nice to see you, Henry! I dont wantto go our separate ways just yet. He gave Henrys arm anaffectionate squeeze.Wecould go to the arcade, Henry suggested. Wed be out of thewind and we could still talk.Imout of money, though, Jesse said. We dont even have changefor the omnibus.Illgive you money, Henry assured him, waving off his concern.Well,if youre sure...Imsure.Jesseturned and looked over his shoulder at the slaves. Want to testyour strength, Russ?Russlaughed. Me against Martin, Sir?Whynot?Henrycould see
that Martin liked this idea, as well.Ithink Im up to the challenge, Sir, Russ told him, grinningbroadly. He elbowed Martin and Martin smiled down at him.Martinsstronger than he looks, Henry told them. Theres practicallynothing to him but muscle. Muscle and soft skin and a beautiful,tender cock.Ican see that. Youre both very lean, Jesse remarked, but youlook like men. Me, I get taller and taller but I still look like aboy. Russ may be short, but he looks more manly than I do.Thiswas actually true. Henry said, You must be exactly what Elizabethprefers, though. I think its remarkable that you found each other,you know.Herfamily wasnt even supposed to be at my great aunts house, buther mother decided to come at the last minute. Clearly, it waskismet.Ittook about twenty minutes of walking at a leisurely pace to get tothe arcade and they made frequent window-shopping stops. There wereclothes in the windows of the haberdashers here that made the wildestgarments from Hamilton & Sons seem staid, and Henry wonderedwhether or not he could get away with wearing a velvet jacket asReggie did.Henrybought them all fresh, warm pretzels from a street vendor and theyate them as they walked.Haveyou and Eli always been as close as you are now? The older boys,especially Jesse, had always been nice to Henry, but it hadnt beenuntil this past Christmas that hed felt accepted into theircircle.Wealways liked one another when we were smalljust as you and I havealways gotten alongbut we became close when I started at Lawton.Elis been a really good friend to me, Jesse said, tearing off apiece of pretzel and putting it in his mouth. I actually have alot of friends at Lawton now,but when I first started there, the only reason anyone would talk tome was because Eli vouched for me. Lawton is a very snobbish school.Whendid you start there?Sixthyear. My old school wasnt anything special. I suspect your fatherpays for me to go to Lawton, though Ive never asked. I know youhave your problems with him, but so many of the good things in mylife have come from him that I cant help but have a high opinionof the man.Henrywas glad that Father had done so much for Jesse. Really, Father did alot for Henry, too, of course, and was always generous, but Henrycouldnt help feeling that Father was always at least a littledisappointed in him, and this sense left Henry feeling hurt anddisgruntled.Therewere crowds of boys, most younger than them, standing outside thearcade passing around cigarettes.Ihave cigarettes, if you want, Jesse offered.Nothank you. Henry made a little moue of distaste. They alwaysmake me sick. I think Id better just stop trying to smoke.Fairenough. He and Henry stopped walking and let Russ step forward toopen the door so they could all go inside.Henrygot change for a dollar and split most of it between the slaves. Russled Martin to the punching machine with its spring-mounted leatherpad. Henry and Jesse followed and stood watching while they tookturns. The first round was inconclusive, the slaves seeming evenlymatched.Doit again, Jesse said. Do it until someone wins.Ittook three rounds before Henry
master. Thinking of the violin, Henry said, Hes gotthings he loves to do, and I encourage him in that way.Well,Im glad you do, Jesse said. And Im glad hes gotinterests. Sometimes it seems like Im Russ only interest, whichputs a lot of pressure on me to be fascinating. He laughed andelbowed Henry. Not that thats so difficult for me, of course!Asthey watched, Martin punched the bag and then shook out his hand,laughing. Russ handed him their overcoats and stepped up for his ownturn.Iwant to apologize in case I embarrassed you today, treating Russ likeI do. I knowI embarrassed Eli. I alwaysembarrass him.Idont think Im embarrassed, exactly, Henry told him. Itsa little shocking, but I guess you dont mind that, do you? Youreally arent worried at all about what people might think?Notreally. I know myself pretty well, after all, so it doesnt matterso much what other people have to say about me.Henrywished he could say the same.Ilove Russ a lot, Jesse said, matter-of-fact. Eli is sweet toOwen in private and he thinks thats enough, and maybe hesright. Jesse shrugged, unconvinced. But I feel like Russ missedout on so much just by being born a slave that I have to make it upto him somehow. If hes going to get love, where will he get itexcept from me?Well,he couldhave someone of his own, Henry said tentatively. Anotherslave.Hedoesnt want that, Jesse said. I offered him the possibilityand he turned it down. Maybe someday hell change his mind, but fornow...we dogenuinely like one another, you understand. Were very compatible.Henrysensed that here he might ask questions and satisfy his curiosity asto the true nature of Jesses relationship with Russ. However, hewould feel obligated to share in turn, and he wasnt a good enoughliar to tell a sanitized version of his story and so let the momentpass.Ilike showing affection, Jesse said, and he likes receiving it.Hes like a little cat.Henryhad a memory of Russ naked, draped over Jesses lap on his bedroomfloor.Hesmy baby, Jesse continued in a low voice. Even when Imfinally with Elizabeth, I dont think Ill be putting him asidelike everyone says theyll do with their slaves when they marry.Elizabeth says I neednt bother, that I can keep him close and shewont mind, so long as I let her do the same with her slaveshellbe getting her girl at the end of this summer, of courseand I lovethat idea. There are so many possibilities! We could watch each otherwith our slaves, or we could evenJessestopped himself then, though it was quite clear to Henry that Jesseimagined he could swap slaves with his future wife. Henry wasrendered speechless by the decadent perversity of such a scheme, andwas impressed anew by his cousins unconventional nature.Returningto the slightly safer topic of the treatment of slaves, Jesse said,Feeling the way I do about Russ, Ive become really picky aboutwhat sorts of boys Ill be friends with. I know you dont shareMartin, but youve probably heard things about the boys at yourschoolwho treats the slaves kindly, and who uses a party as anopportunity to be cruel, or to take retribution for
their littledisputes with other masters. And from there you can guess which boysare good to their slaves in private and which are cold and callous.Ivestopped talking to three guys Id been friends with since sixthyear based on how they treated Russ, or how they treated their ownslaves. I dont see the point of being mean to a slave at all. Allthey do if youre mean is try harder to please you, especially theGanymede boys. They can be strangely helpless in the face ofunkindness, you know?Theresa boy at my school who was so cruel to his slave that the slavekilled himself at Christmas.Really?Thats terrible. Jesse shuddered. Poor thing. I cantimagine what youd have to do to get a slave to give up like that.Hetortured him, Henry said. At least thats what Martin tellsme. He thought a moment, then added. The boy, the master, wasthe other party bidding for Martin. It just makes me sick that itcould have been Martin instead.Yourfather would never have let that happen, though, Jesse said. Notonce he knew you wanted Martin.Henrywas baffled. Everyone says that. It must be true, but I guess Ijust cant see how my father actually cares much for me at all.Well,were together right now, and Reggies coming home, Jesse saidwith a shrug. Your father is allowing it because you want it.Henrydidnt actually like this idea much. If this was true, then it wasalso true that if he had only asked about Reggie when he was younger,and expressed a preference to have Reggie nearby, Reggie might havecome home years ago. If he had only spoken up during his lonelychildhood, he might have spent more time with his Wilton relatives.Henrydidnt want to talk about Father anymore. I actually donthear much about the way the others treat their slaves, headmitted. I sort of assume theyre being treated all right. Theonly one Martin has ever mentioned was the one who killed himself.Almost all the boys in our year knew about it and tried to getsomething done, but of course it isnt illegal to mistreat aslaveto a point. I tried to get Father to talk to Mr.Pettibonethats the other boys fatherbut there wasntanything he could do, either.Well,if your father couldnt do anything, there probably wasntanything to be done, Jesse said confidently, and Henry feltslightly irritated by Jesses faith in Father.Henrymade another effort to get off the subject of Father. So, I wantedto ask you...your, uh, games. Arent you afraid someone will accuseyou of being queer or something?Jesselaughed. Dont tell Eli, but somany of the boys in our class have played with me, he said. Ifthey try to cause trouble for me, I could cause trouble for them justas easily. Besides, they have fun with me. I create a niceatmosphere, very permissive.Henryblushed, thinking of Jesses invitation to watch, how it had seemedso dirty and so innocent at the same time.Iwrite down everything that happens for Elizabeth, of course, and shesends me back assignments, things Im supposed to do with Russ orhave one of my friends do, and sometimes theyre really difficultto accomplish! People have limits, after all!Whatsthe most youve gotten anyone
to do?Well,Ive gotten people to do all kinds of things. Just the other day, Igot a friend to suck his slaves cock, Jesse said, clearlyenjoying the memory. He said hed never done it before, and Ibelieved him. I dont think he was any good at it, though. Ivegotten lots of boys to kiss their slaves, of course. Practicallyanyone will do that, really. Elizabeth wants me to get someone tolick his slaves hole, but I doubt Im going to be able toachieve thatone.Henryfelt his cheeks grow hot and turned so that his red face was a littlehidden from Jesse. How are you getting people to do these things?Imvery persuasive, Jesse said with a shrug. I didnt try veryhard with you because youre my shy cousin and I didnt want tomake you mad or scare you off, but I can make doing forbidden thingsseem very attractive, very modern and daring. Sometimes, of course, Ihave to demonstrate a little willingness to cross the line myself.He laughed again and nudged Henry with his shoulder.Henrysface grew hotter. He was tempted to say something, to tell Jesse alittle of what had happened between Martin and himself these past fewmonths, but he was afraid. No matter what Jesse might do with slaves,or even other boys, it was clear to Henry that he had genuine feelingand desire for Elizabeth. Jesse would end up married to Elizabethorsome other wild bohemian girland even if he did continue somelevel of intimacy with Russ all the rest of his life, he wouldntreally be queer.Henry supposed other people might see it differently, but it wasobvious to him that there was a vast difference between Jesse andhimself. Jesse could pass for normal and didnt wantto; Henry was barely holding onto his normal facade.Themoment passed. Henry said nothing.Martinhad proven better than Russ at the punching bag. Now they had movedon to a machine where they took turns pulling hard at a handleattached to a cable that moved a needle on a dial. A group of girlsstood nearby, pointing and giggling at the boys and their slaves.Jesserolled his eyes and turned his back on them. You dont mess withworking-class girls, do you, Henry? It just seems so sordid.Imnot interested, Henry admitted. My friends think Im crazyfor not taking advantage, but I dont like the idea at all.Idrather rely on Russ, Jesse said. Hes clean and he wontget pregnant. Besides, I really enjoy him. Between him and Elizabeth,Ive got everything I need.Yourelucky, Henry told him. Id rather rely on Martin, too.Jesseleaned close. You know, if you ever change your mind, Henry, Idlove to see you and Martin together. Jesse blushed a little sayingthis.Uh...Henry didnt know what to say. He knew Martin would want to do it,put on a show, but he didnt think he could stand being sovulnerable, so exposed. He didnt think he could stand for someoneelse to see how Martin looked with Henrys cock in his mouth, orhow Martin looked when he stilled to come, his cock jerking. Floodedwith embarrassment, Henry said, I, uh, appreciate that youreinterested, but I dont know if I could ever feel comfortableenough
to do that.Iwont bother you about it again, all right? I just wanted to letyou know that the invitation still stands.Ill,um...keep it in mind? Henry said hesitantly. He would, for thatmatter: it was tempting, flattering, and embarrassing, and it madehim feel guilty because he had a good idea how much Martin wouldenjoy doing it, and he wanted to be bold enough to do the kinds ofthings Martin liked.Theslaves were conferring at the machine, gesturing toward the dial,their faces showing disappointment.Whatsthe matter? Jesse asked, stepping forward to look at the dial withthem.Itseems to be broken, Sir, Russ told him. The needle only goes sofar, no matter how hard we pull.Jesserubbed Russ back between his shoulder blades. Oh, well. Dosomething else. He gave Russ a couple of friendly thumps and cameback to stand at Henrys side.Givingup on strength testers, Russ and Martin moved down the row to look atthe peep shows, and now Henry and Jesse also took an interest inspending their pennies. They spent the better part of an hourwatching all of the reels once through and then going back again tolook at their favorites. Henry was particularly taken with a reel ofwell-muscled wrestlers in tiny trunks; while the gentlemen picturedwerent exactly Henrys type, he appreciated the chance to seemale bodies grappling, the men behaving as though they were unawarethey were observed. He had a sudden fantasy, a reel of Martin andhimself fucking, completely lost in one another; theyd watchedthemselves in the wardrobe mirror many times but it wasnt thesame. He thought that as an adult he might be able to have such athing made, if he were brave enough, and no one would even try tostop him.Martinand Russ seemed to really enjoy one anothers company, talkingabout boys they both remembered from Ganymede. Henry stood besidethem, bent low and sneaking glances at their faces as he turned thecrank of his Mutoscope very slowly....definitelyremember him, Russ was saying. So many boys got sick that time,but only Richard died, right? He was a good one, your Richard. It wasreally too bad.Martinseemed quietly pleased. Im glad you remember him fondly.Doyou know what happened to Noah from your year?Imafraid not, Martin said haughtily. I didnt take notice.Russlaughed. Oh, you didnt like him, I see.Notreally. We made our peace at the end, I guess, but I wont mind ifI never see him again.Well,Iliked him. He was friendly with a lot of the fellows in my year.Thatsbecause he wasnt well-liked in his ownyear.Thatstoo bad. Russ noticed Henry bent over beside him. Sir? Am I inyour way? I can move along if youd like.Henrystood up, embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping. No, no. Imfine. He turned to Jesse. Are we done here, do you think? Doyou want some ice cream or a soda or something?Oh,a milkshake sounds good to me, Jesse said. What do you think,Russ?Whateveryoud like, Sir.Theywent to the ice cream parlor and sat down with their slaves to eat.Isit really that unusual? I feel like Ive seen a fair number ofpeople do it in soda shops and ice cream parlors, Henry said,licking chocolate sauce off his spoon. Not so