>>53384632Good question! Obviously it depends a lot on the circumstances like the personality of the captor(s) and the captive but here are some pointers that should apply more often than not
Belyms have a stronger in-group/out-group mentality so new POWs can expect some breaking in. It's both to induct the new meat into the existing Belym group and to establish dominance over them. Because Belyms are more sensitive to other’s emotions (and because they’re under 5 feet tall and often lack masculine traits that humans recognize) they rely more on psychological dominance (screwing with the POWs basically) than physical pain, although they’re not above using violence and even torture to assert dominance if necessary. That said it’s probably less brutal than their human counterpart due to the aforementioned sensitivity (because they empathize with the captive… or because they have their fill of sadism faster)
Once someone’s introduced into the group (even if as someone’s whipping boy, see my story with (you) for a small example) they’re generally treated better than by human captors when possible. The POW might not have a lot of privacy from the nosy (sometimes literally) and sometimes chummy Belyms but that’s more a Belym thing in general than something unique to prisoners. Reasserting dominance’s also common but they’re more like teasing than actual torture. Belyms are aware of other races having different physiology and psychology and they tend to point that out whenever it’s relevant, but I won’t say they’re racist even if they think life must be tough for people who can’t see in infrared or breathe carbon monoxide-contaminated air
That said, once someone’s inducted into the group, they’re expected to remain subservient (that’s not to say they don’t tolerate any noncompliance – going along with competition’s a good way to earn their trust and improve one’s status within the group, and if the prisoner point out an error that could endanger them and the group, they’ll acknowledge that if begrudgingly) and observe the group’s rules. There aren’t many rules but transgressions won’t be tolerated. If the POW breaks a serious rule knowingly (or even accidentally) they better hope they’re too important to die since that’s how it usually ends otherwise. If nothing else it’s usually quick and without additional sadism though. That’s also how it ends if the prisoner continues to refuse getting included into the group
Overall I would say they can be seen as being more charitable and less cruel than humans (even if it’s not necessarily from the good of their heart) but their different psychology can make them look capricious. I guess you can say they would treat you more like an oversized, sometimes misshapen child of the group instead of an out-group prisoner that they happen to keep under watch. The POW can probably expect some degree of protection by designated ward(s) from other members in the group and (especially) outside the group
