bakerstreet | How royally common

How royally common

♕ The Royally Common Romance Meme ♔

❝And I tell you truly, Daenerys, there is no man in all the world who will ever be half so true to you as me.❞

Inspired by an anon comment on rpanons ages ago about a PSL they'd like to play.

Heavy the head that wears the crown, they say, and little could be more true. Of course, there is glamor in the life: power, privilege, lavish feasts, fine clothes...if your monarchy is doing well, that is. But there are also struggles that few others would understand, such as life or death decisions that need to be made to protect your kingdom at best and being a mere puppet with no real power at worst. At the very least, you're lonely. Certainly there are people around you at all times to protect and serve you, yet they aren't truly companions. They're no one you can talk to.

Well, not no one. Not completely. There is one person who's allowed close to you. Perhaps they're even allowed to be alone with you. A trusted advisor, a handmaid, a knight, a court jester, whatever they are, their companionship and support may leave you wanting those peaceful moments and lingering glances to mean...more.

And what if you are the other side, someone without royal birth offering your service to your highness? You may have been born into this life, forced into it, or gave yourself to it willingly. It could be much, much worse - at least you and your charge have a good relationship, to the point that you might do anything for them. Have your feelings for them always been more inappropriate than they should, or is this a new feeling? And such feelings - they can't be returned, can they? Or you could see your charge as the human that they are rather than an ideal. Does that mean you can give them the best advice and service you can? And what of their duties to marry and continue their line? Will you step back and let them be bound to another?

Then there are the pressures of the throne. The most innocent could be corrupted by power, and you would be in no position to stop them, no matter how it pained you to see the one you cared for twisted and become a wholly different person.

To allow anything to blossom between the two of you is risky and perhaps even deadly. Not even royalty can put a stay to an execution of someone who's, for all intents and purposes, committed treason by becoming emotionally compromised. All the same, it may be worth it, in the end. Royalty, after all, has a short shelf life, and the head on the spike may be the one wearing the crown.

HOW TO PLAY

Comment with your character and preferences, any relevant info, and what role you'd like to play, royal or not. You might also want to include if you're open to smut.

Reply to others.

Let your imagination guide you! Stolen moments, keeping secrets, battle plans, discussions about ruling filled with double meaning, jealousy, learning about arranged marriages, just spending time together, or being able to do nothing as your love turns into an evil queen/king are just a few ideas.

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[Being captain of the guard was great. Really, it was. Kasamatsu was young for the position, but more than capable between being both quite smart and a hard fucker to knock down in a fight. People couldn't help but listen to him when he spoke, and it seemed like everyone in the viscinity jumped to attention when he started barking orders.

There were all sorts of pros to it, like having his own office, his own sleeping quarters, more than one horse and custom-made, well, everything (and for a farm boy, it was still a bit dizzying). It also came with power, and a not insignificant amount of political say-so.

However, it also meant he was tasked with the protection of the royal family, and in particular, keeping an eye on the mischievous prince. Their kingdom wasn't at war, so there was no call for him to be anything more than an over-glorified babysitter to Kise Ryouta, crown prince and heir to the throne.

And it just so happens that today is said prince's birthday.

Kasamatsu has been just an arm's length away all evening, keeping an eye on the lavish party that is more or less a requirement for any royal's birthday, wearing his dress uniform and doing his best not to show how uncomfortable he was in it. There were more people here than usual, due to the fact that the prince had so many suitors and fans that just looking at the guest list gave him a migraine, and it meant he'd had his hands more full than expected. More than anything, he was ready to leave, but the frustration didn't show on his face. Instead, he was standing against the wall, watching with a careful gaze as the prince laughed at some joke one of the girls standing next to him had said.]

[The night has been so, so, so long. The days leading up to this night were even longer, with so much planning and discussion that Kise didn't care to take part in. He wants to sigh, but he doesn't dare do that in front of the many important women from very important families. He has a smiles plastered on his face, laughs when he's supposed to, compliments sparingly to keep his guests happy but not too hopeful.

All in all, Kise is bored out of his mind. Even with all the entertainment and company, it isn't really what Kise wants for his birthday. He cares little for the lavish gifts and feasts and traditions that come along with a royal birthday.

In fact, he doesn't want to be around these people at all.

So the first chance he gets, he excuses himself for a bathroom break. He doesn't need to turn to see if Kasamatsu is following him or not, he knows from years of experience that he is. So when he makes a wrong turn to the bathroom, to a secluded room on the first floor, he turns around to his long-time friend and bodyguard with a smile.]

I wanna go around town!

[It comes as no surprise that Kise eventually slips away from the crowds, moving from the ballroom towards the bathrooms. Or, at least, he thought it was the bathrooms, but he goes down a different hallway, ducking into a currently empty meeting room and turning to him with a smile.

Kasamatsu knows that smile, so he's already frowning before he can even open his mouth.]

Why the hell do you want to do something like that?

Because it's my birthday! And I want to.

["And the air is stuffy," he wants to say, "and I'm tired of pretending to smile so much, pretending that I care about what they're saying."]

Come on, it'll be like old times. When it was just you and me running around exploring.

We were kids, and I wasn't in charge of keeping you alive back then.

[But it would be a fucking lie if he said he didn't miss it, miss the way that when they were younger, they'd just been Kise and Kasamatsu, both too loud and energetic and constantly getting thrown out of the castle so everyone else could get some peace and quiet. It was harder like this, as prince and soldier.

God, he was just as weak now as he was back then. He pinches the bridge of his nose and scowls.]

If we go, you have to promise that you'll trust my judgement and leave if we need to, without complaining.

[Kise pumps his fist in the air in excitement. He doesn't always get his way with Kasamatsu, but he loves when he does. He quickly grabs Kasamatsu's wrist, dragging him to the window.]

There's a pathway outside the castle walls from here. We can make it to the marketplace before everything closes if we hurry!

No, nope, stop.

[he easily pulls both of them to a stop, changing direction to go towards the guard barracks.]

Highness, you're wearing your best outfit and are literally covered in jewels, there's no way you're going out looking like this You have to put on something more inconspicuous.

Oh right...

[Kise laughs awkwardly as he's tugged along, scratching the back of his head.]

Your clothes will be a little too tight for me, though... And I don't really have anything simple.

[he swats aimlessly at his friend, because yes, we fucking know, you're bigger than him.]

It's fine, we can borrow something from the armory. We keep basic uniforms there to give new recruits, so I know we'll have something in your size.

[kise was closer to the normal size of one of the guards than kasamatsu; he'd spent his first few years living in the castle constantly turning up the hems on his pants and keeping them up with a belt.]

[Kise happily skips after Kasamatsu, humming quietly and happily.]

Where should we go first? Maybe the bakery?

I know a good one, if that's what you want to do. It isn't too far from here.

[they exit the castle, hurrying across the courtyard and into the barracks. they don't run into anyone, since most of the guard is out patrolling the party and the grounds, so it only takes a couple minutes before kasamatsu is slipping into a room filled with crates of supplies.]

Uniforms should be in one of these, we've just gotta find them.

[Kise immediately rummages around, leaving a mess because he doesn't usually have to mind that sort of thing.]

Ah...seeing all this makes me want to spar with you.

You're too out of practice, your highness. I know you have to learn law and the like, but it's a shame to see your talent go to waste while you spend so much time in the library.

[kasamatsu finds a pair of plain boots in roughly kise's size, tossing them in the general direction of the prince.]

I'm a really fast learner, I promise! I'll pick it back up in no time!

[He's a little surprised at the toss, but he catches the boots easily. Then he eagerly starts stripping in preparation for the actual clothing.]

[Coughing, Kasamatsu turns his back to the room, focusing his attention on the closed door instead.]

Yeah, yeah. Just don't let your tutors try and get anyone else to help you catch up, alright? We've been training together since we're little, so I know your style better than anyone else on the guard.

But then you're just gonna use that to your advantage and beat me!

[Kise pouts childishly, before rummaging around the room some more for more of the uniform parts.]

You know you could use the same strategy to beat me, right? Since if I've known you since you were little, you've known me since I was little.

Ahhh, are you afraid, senpai? [Says Kise who was whining about it just ten seconds ago.]

[this would be really annoying if he wasn't completely used to it.] Yes. I'm absolutely terrified.

I'll show you you have something to fear, senpai!

[He exclaims when he finds the uniform and swiftly puts everything on.] After we tour the town a little. Now lets go!

[kasamatsu wants to roll his eyes, but it's cute how excited he's getting about everything. once kise is changed, he's happy to see that he looks a little more common; his skin is too clean and soft, his hair too pretty, but they should slip under the radar easily enough. nodding, he leads the way out of the barracks, nodding at the bored-looking guard watching the back gate out of the castle. the guard barely looks up, just salutes kasamatsu and lets them get on their way.]

Aww...I wanted to sneak out... Like in the stories!

[Kise pouts and keeps close to Kasamatsu, though his eyes still shine bright with happiness and mischief.]

We'll have to sneak back in, so you'll get to have your fun later.

[after all, the guard is far more alert later at night; that's when threats are using the cover of night to try and get into the castle. but it's fine, he's less worried about getting back in; instead, he just looks at kise expectantly.] So, your highness, where do you want to go first?

The bakery! They should still be open, right?

[Kise is practically...skipping into town, like an overgrown child excited for dessert.]

How royally common

kise ryouta | knb

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