Luke's Crew (M+/M+)(New Chapter 3/22/25)

[Bradstick]

Truly a 10/10 chapter. Using a strap-on for Haze was so clever for a punishment, then to be followed with the cum shot on his face. Then being chained up for the night, all for a lie. I can’t imagine the kind of punishments Luke can come up with for more serious mistakes.

I also really liked the difference between Spark and Crest. Both Luke and Haze noticing the differences in how they liked to be taken and letting that shape the way they took them. That was a really sweet touch. Crest’s bedtime routine was also so hot. The sleepsack combined with the sensory deprivation to block out Haze’s punishment was genius.

I am really curious on our Thief’s thoughts on tonight’s events. He didn’t get any ear plugs so he will be kept awake by Haze’s chains, not including his own restraints. Overall this chapter was amazing. Him being able to masterfully juggle all those subs was incredible. I can’t wait for the next chapter, excellent work!

[Socksbound]

Well that was incredibly creative from Luke and quite a show indeed. The intimate knowledge Luke has with his crew and the differing things they enjoy is a welcome change from the often inexperienced BDSM situations I read normally. That said the impending introduction of thief does have me wanting more much more. Luke is sure to give us another show as he breaks him

[gag1195]

@DeeperThanRed Thank you! It was a lot of fun writing this chapter, so I'm happy everyone enjoyed it! We'll learn more about the Crew as we get more updates, but as we've already seen, Luke tailors things to suit the kinks and personalities of his different Crew members!

@blackbound Glad you're enjoying it and that this story seems to be hitting all the right buttons! I really am teasing everyone with this Thief, aren't I?

@Volobond Thank you, friend! Luke is nothing if not a dedicated Master! He tries to meet all of his Crew's needs, even if that includes necessary punishment like with Haze!

@Bradstick It may seem a bit of a harsh punishment for a white lie, but Luke was very intentional with it, as we'll see later! I'm really enjoying getting to explore a bit more of the Crew's personalities in this chapter, so I'm glad it landed! You almost gotta feel bad for the Thief and Haze, what with all that rattling all night! Thank you, friend!

@Socksbound We are definitely joining Luke and his Crew well into their established BDSM relationships, but we will see plenty of flashbacks to when they were first starting out and getting to know each other. And of course, as you pointed out, Thief will get plenty of opportunity to learn the different ins and outs of this new life!

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, friends! I really do appreciate it! I've started a new poll as well: Which Crew Member is your Favorite?
I know it is early and that we haven't spent a lot of time with the characters yet, but I want to gauge reader reactions and thinking! This poll will stay active for awhile and you'll be able to change your vote as chapters are updated! And of course, feel free to share your thinking in the comments!

I'm also going to take the opportunity to tag some others that have enjoyed my stories in the past: @Pup Wingletang @squirrel @wataru14 @harveygasson @OrdinaryWorld @socjuc @NeedControl @LockedCheeseBird @gaggedfeety

[Bradstick]

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, friends! I really do appreciate it! I've started a new poll as well: Which Crew Member is your Favorite?

Right now, I have to say Spark. First he is my type, that being brown hair with a bit of a beard. He also likes it rough which I find adorable. Lastly was his obedience, bratty subs are not my thing. I want them loyal and trusting, something which Spark seems to exude. I can’t wait to learn more about him. He also knows his way around a kitchen which is such a turn on for me!

[Pup Wingletang]

It's the spin off we've all been waiting for! Who knew so much fun was lurking behind that TV show.

As others have said I like the contrast between the light and breezy interview segments at the start of each chapter with the far more serious work taking place in the basement.

I'm glad to see all the slaves have appropriate nick-names - it wouldn't be a home renovation show without that - and I love the colour co-ordination.

It definitely seems like these guys both work hard and play hard! But will the thief want to join in...

I voted for Leaf as my favourite - poking fun at Luke in the interview and then strapped to a chair in the basement, enjoying watching his husband have his way with other men.

[Volobond]

Gotta say Leaf intrigues me the most with his relationship to Luke and his advanced helplessness throughout

[KidnappedCowboy]

Loved the update...spider gags, sensory deprivation, rattling chains, but especially personal hygiene breaks!!! It makes sense, but it also shows Luke to be a responsible Master.

My favorite so far is Leaf. I cannot put my finger on the reason why. But he really intrigues me. That is until we find out more about "our little Thief."

[gag1195]

@Bradstick I'm right there with you with the Spark love! He does tick a lot of boxes! though, I initially expected you to choose Haze!

@Pup Wingletang So glad you're enjoying this story! If only we had more kink insights into our other favorite shows and celebrities, like when they say something in an interview that makes you go, "hey wait, did they mean...?" I'm thrilled to see that everyone is enjoying the back and forth between the interview scenes and the Crew/Luke interaction scenes! And of course, I spent a very long time trying to find the perfect color/nickname combinations for each crew member!

@Volobond Leaf is definitely in a unique position as slave and husband! And we'll see more of why Leaf was strapped into that chair later!

@KidnappedCowboy As Luke is fond of pointing out, he is very tough but fair! But if you'll notice, Haze was denied a hygiene break, while Crest and Spark got theirs! I gotta say, I am loving the Leaf support, even if I really wasn't predicting it! I fully expected Haze to be the reader front runner so far!

[Socksbound]

I voted leaf too for same reasons as others pointed out there’s just something unique about him. Otherwise it would have been Haze

[Bradstick]

@Bradstick I'm right there with you with the Spark love! He does tick a lot of boxes! though, I initially expected you to choose Haze!

I think out of all of them, Haze is the most interesting. Between his dynamic with the rest of the crew and his attempt to win the prize. He is full of character and I am very excited to see what happens with him.

However, I still find Spark as my favorite character. He is just the perfect little sub, even when Luke is not in the room. Leaf is his husband which adds another layer to Spark and the others sub space, which I adore. I love the whole set up for your story and cannot wait for the next chapter.

[harveygasson]

I'm not sure who I'm more jealous of haha

[gag1195]

@Socksbound @Bradstick It'll be interesting to see how and why votes might change as the chapters go on! Looking forward to seeing how you wonderful readers react!

@harveygasson It is a who's who of who's position is the most desirable!

Thanks for the comments, votes, and explanations everyone! I'm a bit under the weather right now, so the next update is going to wait until I feel better, which is hopefully soon! Stay tuned!

[wataru14]

Sorry, I've been MIA for a while. Existential dread will do that to you, I guess...

But I was quite happy to come back and see a new story from one of my favorites!
Like everyone else, I am intriguied by the thief and am eager to see what comes next for him.
I voted for Crest because I like his easygoing, contemplative nature. Although Spark was right behind.
But it was a tough choice because all of them have their attractive qualities.

I am a little concerned about Haze. He seems to have a privileged position among the slaves, but I can see discontent forming and that could lead to trouble. Luke will have to be very careful with that one and keep a firm hand. Although he also can't ignore him in favor of the others. A delicate balancing game.

[gag1195]

@wataru14 first off, welcome back! Great to see you posting again!

Thank you for the kind comments as well! I'm glad the mystery of our little Thief has everyone so invested! I'm hoping to dig into more with Thief in the next update. I'm trying not to wait too long and keep teasing everyone with Thief, Also, yay! Happy to see Crest getting some love! I am genuinely curious how voting might change as the chapters continue and we spend more time with the Crew! You have some great insights about Haze as well, stuff I plan on exploring when we explore each of the Crew member's backstories a bit more!

[gag1195]

Sorry for the slight delay, everyone! I was recovering from a head cold, so had little energy for writing. I am on the mend, so enjoy a somewhat smaller update this time around! Thank you in advance for reading and commenting!


Part 4: Qualifications

“So, it’s very clear that you and your Crew are close.” Laney continued. Luke nodded. “And you’ve talked about the high standards of your Crew Members. And we as viewers have also seen some of how things work, as new Crew have joined up throughout the shows’ seasons. But I’m wondering if you could speak more on how you choose new members? What’s the hiring process like? What do you look for in a potential Crew?”

Luke went wide eyed for just a moment, barely perceptible on camera. “Of course.” He smiled. “I think it’s safe to say that my standards carry over into the hiring and selection process.”

“Naturally.” Laney said. “But how do you actually go about choosing one applicant over the other?”

“Well, I will be completely up front about this. I don’t tend to look at applications that often. I do get them sent in from time to time, but very few stand out to me. Perhaps I am a bit unorthodox, but I have been very lucky in finding genuine connection with my Crew in unexpected ways.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, Fausto didn’t send in an application to be my electrician and then sit through rounds of interviews with me. We first met when I hired his catering services for a dinner I was hosting and we hit it off. After talking more and getting to know him, I offered him a position.”

“Definitely unorthodox.” Laney agreed. “Did Fausto have any experience as an electrician when he started?”

Luke shook his head. “Not a lick. But that isn’t a deal breaker. Anyone can learn the skills of the trade. And that’s what he did!”

“So, why Fausto, or any of the others, if they didn’t already have some of the necessary experience or skills for construction and renovation?”

Luke sighed. “Because what they bring to the table extends beyond their construction skills.” Luke leaned forward on the couch. “Every member of my Crew is very hard working, dedicated to their work, and always goes above and beyond in their work. But they are not the best in the business. You will find electricians better than Spark, plumbers better than Crest, etc. But they are the best damn Crew I could hope for.”

“And why is that?” Laney was also leaning in.

“If I was just a regular construction/renovation company, sure, I’d probably be hiring the best of the best, the most skilled trade school graduates, and the experts with lots of experience. But this isn’t just a regular construction firm. It’s a television show. So my Crew have to be good at their job, and perform well for the camera, have the charisma for talking-head-segments, and yes, need to look good. There are amazing experts out there that immediately freeze when a camera is in front of them. Or are a bit too abrasive to talk to, or don’t have a TV ready look.”

“I see.” Laney said, somewhat ruefully.

“And most importantly, whoever joins the Crew has to get along with the Crew. If they can’t work well on my team, I don’t care how skilled or camera ready they are. Skills can be taught. Comfort and confidence for the camera can be learned. But if they don’t gel with me or my crew, then there isn’t a place for them.”

Laney nodded. “I get it. So, when you are considering a new Crew Member, how do you determine their role? How did Fausto become Spark, Crew Electrician, for example?”

“Well, first we do some Crew compatibility tests and exercises. Then, it really is just more of a feeling. I think about what sort of Crew position is/was needed, and offer some checks to see if there is any sort of aptitude with that skill. When Fausto joined, I needed a full time electrician, so I tested him with some electrical tests, then sent him on for some proper training and schooling. When he came out, he was officially Spark.”

“And the same is true for the others?”

Luke nodded. “More or less. I see where they might have fit the most, and then send them to get a proper education in that skill, but only after their Crew compatibility has been proven.”

“Now, it’s been a while since Fausto joined the Crew. When can we expect to see a new Crew member join your ranks?” Laney raised her eyebrow.

Luke chuckled and Damian glanced over at his husband.

“I hate to say anything, because I don’t want to jinx it. But, I am currently ‘interviewing’ a hopeful Crew member, for lack of a better word.”

“Really?” Laney’s face lit up.

“It’s very early in the process, but yes. We are looking into his qualifications right now, and are going to start checking his Crew compatibility soon.”

—--

The next morning, Luke and his two slaves descended back down into the basement. It had been a wonderful night. After enjoying Spark again and again with Leaf looking on, Luke had fallen asleep with his arms wrapped around his husband, their straitjacketed third at the foot of the bed.

In the morning, Luke had freed Leaf and Spark, and the three had enjoyed a luxuriously hot shower together. Afterwards, Luke had not tied his slaves again. It was Chore Day, so his Crew would need their freedom.

Luke was dressed plainly, a loose fitting plaid shirt and some well worn blue jeans. Leaf was wearing more heavy duty work pants and his boots, and a striped green top.



Spark was also dressed casually, a simple blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and some dark denim pants. A matching blue bandana was draped over his shoulder, waiting to be tied around his neck once the collar was removed.



Leaf and Spark carried the night’s restraints and once downstairs, were dutiful in returning each item to its proper place in their respective alcoves.

Luke stepped up behind Spark and produced his key ring. Gently, Luke unlocked Spark’s yellow accented collar and held his slave’s shoulder as Spark reverently returned the collar to its place on the wall.

Luke spun Spark and tied his bandana around his neck. Trading one collar for another. He planted a kiss onto Spark’s lips and whispered. “Breakfast for the Crew? Waffles?”

Spark smiled and nodded, then quickly disappeared upstairs.

Luke and Leaf freed Haze and Crest from their restraints, including their collars. After each had had a chance to visit the bathroom, Luke gave everyone their marching orders.

“Spark’s getting breakfast prepared for everyone. After breakfast, it's Chore Day. You know your tasks. Haze, Spark will need a ride to the market this afternoon, so you can’t hide under the hood of the car all day.”



“Yes, Sir.” Haze barked.

“Crest, give the pool a once over, but the guest baths need serious attention. The Hosts at Home crew were not kind to the bathrooms.”



Crest nodded his head slightly. “Of course, Sir.”

“Leaf, the landscaping could use some TLC, but first, you’ll need to clean up the common spaces from the interview. Oh, and bring down two plates of waffles. I’ll be down here with our new friend most of the morning, then in my office the rest of the day. Only disturb me for an emergency.”

“Yes, Master.” Leaf said.

The three marched up the stairs, leaving Luke alone with the Thief.

He squatted in front of the prisoner’s cage. “Good morning, Boy.” Luke said in a calm, easy voice. “Did you enjoy the show last night? It was partly for your benefit.”

Thief perked up slightly. He still wore that glaring gaze, but there was something else there. Thief huffed. Not outright affirmation, but not his usual muffled vitriol.

“Thought you might’ve.” Luke answered for his guest. Some of what you saw piqued your interest?”

Thief sat perfectly still. He didn’t nod. But he didn’t shake his head. Luke smiled. He jingled his keyring and unlocked the cage door, stepping inside. He stood over his prisoner and stared at the gorgeous form of his latest acquisition. “I’m going to undo that muzzle. We’ll get the chance to talk, and if you behave, you’ll even get some of Spark’s amazing waffles. But you have to behave. No speaking out of turn, no screaming, and none of that vulgar cursing.” Luke waited. “Nod if you understand, Boy.”

Luke watched the conflict in Thief’s eyes. Should he nod, agree to Luke’s terms? Could he resist the urge to scream and curse and shout out? Was the promise of warm food enough to curtail some of his rage?

Finally, the handsome young captive nodded.

Luke bent down and freed the Thief from the muzzle, but held it close, a warning that it could just as easily go back on.

“We’ll start off with some simple questions. What is your name?” Luke smiled.

The prisoner hesitated, but finally swallowed. “Thomas.”

Luke waited.

Thomas sighed. “Thomas Prescott.”

“And how old are you, Tommy?”

“22.” Tommy said.



Luke nodded. He already knew this much, thanks to the Thief’s wallet and ID. But it was nice to see that his little Thief was being forthright and honest. “Gay?”

Tommy seemed confused by the question, or maybe it’s directness.

Luke repeated. “Are you gay, Tommy? Straight, Bi, something in between?”

“Umm… Gay, I think. Or Bi?” Tommy seemed very uncertain.

Luke reached out and ruffled the thief’s hair. “That’s okay. You’re still young. Plenty of time to figure things out. Now, I’d like a real answer this time. Did you enjoy the show last night?”

Tommy didn’t respond, but slowly nodded.

“Good.” Luke sighed and almost laughed. “There’s something about you, Tommy. You were pretty stupid to try and break in here, but I can respect the boldness. I’m going to start training you.”

“Training?”

“I think you have what it takes to join my Crew. I hope you don’t prove me wrong. The alternative is far worse than my hospitality thus far.”

[blackbound]

Hmm. The rest of the crew conspicuously absent as Tommy gets seduced/threatened into subservience... looking forward to seeing what his training will entail!

[DeeperThanRed]

It's a nice touch to show everyone in the crew in their working fits.

Interesting recruitment process. I think it's safe to say Luke might care about the looks and let's say submissiveness of his crew more than their ability but I doubt he's going easy on them about how they do their jobs.

Thomas is surprisingly calm about this! I think giving him some time to cool down and providing some eye candy worked!

[Bradstick]

I love the little slice of life elements of chore day. Everyone completing their tasks and working together. I am excited to see Tommy’s training and how he takes it. This chapter only added more questions.

What was the thief looking for? What is the worse alternative? Were any of the other crew members recruited forcefully like this?

Overall a fantastic chapter! I hope you get feeling better soon, those head colds are the worst! I am loving this series and can’t wait to see what happens in the next chapter.

[Volobond]

And so it begins! Luke had some pretty cool and cagey responses for the interview - I wonder what position he has in mind for our little Thief...

[gag1195]

@blackbound It's so hard to find any privacy in a mansion full of hunky slave Crew Members! Lots of fun training to come, and alone and with other Crew members!

@DeeperThanRed Gotta post the occasional Crew Pics, right? Luke care about a lot of factors when recruiting new Crew members! Attractiveness and ability to follow orders are very high up on that list! Tommy is definitely still a bit in shock if nothing else!

@Bradstick We'll explore more with Tommy in the next few updates! We'll also get the chance to explore how each other Crew member joined up as the story continues! And of course, more of Tommy's training!

@Volobond Cagey.... a very apt word to use! That's the big question, isn't? What role will Tommy fit into? That's assuming, of course, that Tommy makes it through Luke's training plans...


Thanks for taking the time to comment, everyone! I really appreciate it!

[harveygasson]

So Thief's journey begins, definitely looking forward to seeing how that goes.

[Guardianbound]

I wonder what thief will eventually specialise in.... home security perhaps

[gag1195]

@harveygasson Thank you for the comment, friend! I'm excited to reveal more of this journey with you all!

@Guardianbound The home security comment truly made me laugh out loud! Not what I had planned for little Tommy, but it would be fitting!

Thanks for taking the time to comment friends! The next update is ready and will be posted momentarily!

[gag1195]

Hope everyone enjoys the slightly smaller update! And I hope everyone enjoys the reference to some of my other characters! Don't forget to comment and vote! Thanks!


Part 5 An Original Ornst

“I might be getting ahead of myself”, Laney started, “especially because I want to talk more about the Crew…”

“But…?” Luke raised his eyebrow expectantly.

“...but, I couldn’t help but notice some of the artwork while we were getting set up. Is that an original Ornst in the foyer?”

Luke smiled. He looked over towards the entrance. A small round table stood in the middle, and on the table, the piece in question. A striking sculpture made of veined black granite had been chiseled and shaped expertly, fashioned into a modernist silhouette of a pair masculine figures moving in to embrace each other.

“It is indeed.” Luke simply answered.

Laney gushed. “I love Heath Ornst! His work is always so incredible! His sharp, clean lines, the striking poses!”

“Heath Ornst-Dionicio.” Luke corrected.


An image flashed on the screen for the viewers, showing a photograph of famed Sculptor, Heath Ornst-Dionicio.

“Hmm?”

“Ornst-Dionicio.” Luke repeated. “I’m fairly certain that Heath hyphenated and took his husband’s name.”

Laney’s eyes widened. “You are absolutely right! There goes my journalistic integrity!” She joked, and the three laughed.

“As it were, We’ve a few pieces by Heath. There’s that one in the entrance, a smaller one in my office, and one that Damian really liked that is now in our bedroom.” Luke continued, and Damian nodded appreciatively.

“Which we will happily show off during the tour!” Damian added.

Laney’s eyes widened even more. “Two more? Oh I cannot wait!” She cleared her throat. “But We can’t rush ourselves. Still more interview to get through before the tour. But wait…” She paused, scrunching her eyebrows. “Do you know Mr. Ornst-Dionicio?”

Again, Luke smiled and nodded. “We do, indeed. We go way back. I did some architectural design work for his husband, Maxim, and was introduced to Heath and his work. As you said, his work is amazing, so I had to snag a few pieces the moment I had the opportunity!”

“And besides your Ornst-Dionicio sculptures, I see some other equally nice paintings and artwork. Are you ever worried about thefts or break-ins? How secure is this Spy Villain Mansion?”

Luke laughed and shrugged. “Obviously, security is very important. Not just for the expensive artwork and furniture. I want Damian and I to feel safe and secure in our own home. Obviously, I don’t want to go into too much detail, but rest assured, this property is very secure. State of the art system, motion detectors, silent alarms, the works.” Luke smiled. “No trap doors or nets falling from the ceiling, but those alarms link not only to our bedroom, but also are directly linked to the police and emergency services.”

“And have you ever had a robbery or break in?”

“A few attempts, sure, but nothing major. We did have an incident just last week, though.”

Laney leaned in. “Really? Do tell!”

Luke leaned in as well. “I hate to disappoint, but there’s very little drama involved. We had a dinner party earlier in the evening, and one of the hired catering staff forgot to lock one of the doors. Hours later, some would-be burglar slipped in, tripping the silent alarm. Whoever it was didn’t make it very far before the not-so-silent alarms started and they fled. Police came out and checked the house, the property, and the surrounding area. No sign of them. And nothing was stolen.”

“That’s a relief.” Laney relaxed and leaned back in her chair. “Shame they didn’t catch the thief, though…”

Luke nodded and relaxed as well, settling back into the couch and pressing against Damian. “A real shame…”

—--

The alarm had been tripped. Not the blaring, police and neighbor alerting alarm, the one that would bring too many prying, questioning eyes to Luke’s stronghold. This silent alarm had only one direct link- the Master Bedroom. No louder than the average person’s alarm clock, it was still a distinct enough sound that Luke was awake in an instant.

Damian shifted when Luke jolted awake, unconsciously pulling at the arm binder that pinned his hands behind his back. He whimpered against the green tape silencing his mouth.

Luke leaned over and held a finger to his husband’s gagged lips.

Luke silently slipped out of bed. Despite his size, he could be quite nimble and quiet when needed. He nudged the door open, waiting for any movement or noise. Sensing nothing from the hallway, Luke snuck over to Spark’s room and ducked inside.

Spark was sleeping contentedly, limbs tied spread eagle in his signature yellow ropes. He’d been left ungagged. That, and sleeping in his upstairs room, had been his reward for the night. Luke made his way over to his slave and clamped his hand over Spark’s mouth.

“Shhh…” Luke whispered. “Intruder” He pointed out towards the hallway.

Spark nodded, awake and alert in an instant. He waited silently for Luke to release him before the pair went on the hunt.

Luke led his slave out into the hallway, both men straining their eyes and ears for any sign of the intruder, or intruders. Luke had no way of knowing just how many had infiltrated his home. Would he and Spark be enough to deal with them? His beautiful golden slave was well built and solid, but he wasn’t exactly a fighter. Haze would have been a better option, but he and Crest were down in the basement. There was no way he could get all the way down there to free either of them safely.

Still, Spark had some fight in him, Luke reasoned, remembering the few strong hits that Spark had managed when he was first chosen.

The pair waited at the top of the steps, listening. Luke saw a shadow approaching the entryway, and pulled Spark back from view. One figure dressed in all black studied the statue on the table. The intruder circled it, touched it, gripped it and attempted to move it. The would-be Art Thief quickly gave up. Heath’s statue was too big, too unwieldy for one man to manage. It had taken three burly movers to get it into position on the table.

Luke waited. If this thief was interested in his Ornst Original, then he had to have accomplices to help him move the piece.

But no other shadows appeared. The thief was alone. A stupid would-be art thief.

Luke and Spark held their positions until the thief went off to explore another room. Thankfully, he did not ascend the stairs. When enough time had passed, Luke motioned for him and his Slave to move.

They crept down the stairs, pausing after each one to check that the thief wasn’t in view or on his way up. Thankfully, he seemed to have busied himself elsewhere.

Luke led Spark towards the office. If the thief was interested in an Ornst-Dionicio sculpture, the smaller one in Luke’s study seemed a logical choice. Luke smiled. If the thief was indeed in the office, then he was in the perfect spot.

And yes, the door to the office was ajar. The thief was there. Luke could see the shadow shifting under the door. He nodded to Spark. They took up positions on either side of the door and pressed the door open a few inches. The movement had the desired effect as the thief abandoned his inspection of the statuette and went to investigate.

He opened the door and two pairs of hands grabbed him. Luke’s arms wrapped around the small intruder’s torso, pinning the man’s flailing limbs. Spark wrestled the black ski mask off the man’s head, revealing the baby face and tousled hair of the thief. Thief opened his mouth to scream, or perhaps curse, but Spark quickly stuffed the ski mask into the opening. He collected Thief’s legs into his own strong grip and Luke led them into the office.

Spark shut the door behind him.

Spark had to drop Thief’s legs in order to follow Luke’s inherent instructions, and Thief took the opportunity to kick at both men. He managed a solid kick against Spark’s side, and a few heel hits to Luke’s shins, but neither of them allowed Thief to get away.

Spark locked the door to the office, then quickly moved over to the wall of bookshelves. He pulled the correct sequence of books to unlock the hidden door. Thief paused as the bookcase swung open to reveal an ominously dark staircase curving down into the void.

“MMMMMM!” He cried into his mask gag.

“Wait til you see what’s waiting for you down there, little Thief…”

Luke and Spark manhandled the frantically struggling burglar down into the dungeon. The muffled screaming and struggling alerted Haze, who strained against the chains binding his arms together above his head as he lay on his bed. Crest was deafened, but even he began to stir, sensing movement around the alcoves.

Again, Spark moved quickly to follow Luke’s orders. He moved to the closested alcove, the one barred off from the rest of the playspace and swung the cell door open. He left Luke to hold Thief and began collecting a sturdy manacle set.

It was a struggle, but between the two of them, they managed to lock the cold steel around Thief’s wrists, ankles, and neck. They even managed to trade the ski mask in favor of the more secure leather muzzle.

Luke and Spark huffed and puffed from the late night efforts. “Spark…”Luke began, sucking in air. “Upstairs. Free Leaf. bring his restraints, and your ropes downstairs, then free Haze and Crest. Wait down here. Tell Leaf to wait 5 minutes and then to call the police.” He turned to look at Thief. “There’s been a break in.”

Spark nodded. “Yes, Sir!” And then he was off, sprinting up the stairs.

Luke watched the Thief struggle against the chains and locks of his bonds. “Not the night either of us was expecting, I bet. But a successful robbery after all, at least for me. I managed to steal a stupid little Thief.” He knelt down to Thief’s eye level.

“You belong to me now…”

[DeeperThanRed]

Are you ever worried about thefts or break-ins?

Oh, Laney has no idea! I loved the ensuing dialogue!

It's a nice touch to see how Luke maneuvers around the thief so that he can untie at least one member of the crew to help him while keeping Damian safely inside the bedroom. The security might be tight but I can also imagine a scenario where more burglars could overpower Luke and stumble upon the helplessly bound Crew!

Also, nice to see Heath and Maxim mentioned. I wonder if we could expect more cameos along the way...