bakerstreet | Companion to Royalty

Companion to Royalty

Companion to Royalty Meme

There's one truth you must know of royalty: though power may lay in their hands, the crown is a cage. Whether you've always been noble, came into this position recently by complete surprise, or a simple person caught in the fray, you're realizing that leaders actually lead very little - even down to choosing who they spend their most intimate moments with. From eternal bonds of matrimonies to the distractions provided by courtesans, the people behind the throne make the rules. They cannot risk losing control of their most elevated and strategically placed pawn with a match gone wrong, which could create a domino effect and doom possibly thousands.

So, what part do you play in this game?

Lifetime Royal: This is what you've been raised to do.
Sudden Royal: You just learned of your position, which has been secret from you your entire life, or you unexpectedly inherited the job.
Spouse: You're to be married to nobility.
Concubine or Courtesan: For the royal, you're to be a sexual diversion.
Unaffiliated: You're either a lower-ranking noble or a peasant, but you're free from all the machinations of the shadowy cabal...for now.

How willing are you?

Completely Willing: Either you love the person you know you'll be matched with, or you're excited about the possibilities.
Wary: There's no choice in the matter for you, so you may as well approach this situation cautiously.
Unwilling: You didn't want to be matched up with someone. At all. Ever.

What path will you follow, once you're set upon it (there is, after all, little choice for the chosen ones)?

Prepared for This: Either you're a royal and have been one since birth, or you knew you'd marry or sexually entertain one.
Make Up for Lost Time: This life wasn't the one you lived until now, but times change. You're important or will be a companion to a very important person, like it or not.
A Sacrificial Token: Somewhere along the line, your people royally pissed off someone in a key position. So, in an attempt to smooth out relations, you've been given away as a gift to the highest power, either as a spouse for a political alliance or as a concubine or courtesan.
Pomp and Circumstance: All proper, this arrangement. You're to be married, as you've been promised to each other by your respective families. Consummation on the wedding night is key. Perhaps it's encouraged that the two of you act as if this is really a love match, to add insult to injury.
Genuine Love: Speaking of love matches, congratulations! You're one of the incredible few who gets to marry for love, so your lovemaking should be all the more enthused.
Only a Plaything: Heavy is the head who wears the crown, so you're expected to take on some side entertainment even if that's not your preference. Or you could be the courtesan...such a pretty, perfumed word for what the role really is...
Volunteered: You wanted this position, either of spouse or concubine. Your reasons are your own.
Cruel: You're powerful. You can do what you want to this person, a mere ant in comparison to you.
Forbidden: Even the most powerful can't have everything they want, such as someone who's promised to or with another; taking them for your own would create strife and destroy alliances, even to the point of tempting war.
Work Your Way Up: There's always a right tool for the job and you find no shame in using your own special tools to better your life.
Give Me an Heir: Whether you're legitimate or a concubine used as a surrogate, you must help in continuing the royal line.
Mutual Benefit: Both of you are comfortable with this arrangement because you're either compatible or it takes the pressure off of you otherwise.
Want to be More: Though you've been relegated to courtesan, you want to be there one and only spouse...no matter if that role is already filled or not.
Growing Affection: It may have started as all puppet strings and power plays, but now, you lo- care for them.
Loved Before: Before you became so important and powerful, before you became the focus of all the world, it seems, they were there with you. They were with you then, and you want them to be with you now. They ground you and they care about you for you.
Because You're Normal: They're outside of all the court's nonsense, and that's appealing to you. It's like a breath of fresh air.
WILDCARD

How to Play

Comment with your character, preference, preferred role, and any other information.
Reply to others.
RNG or choose your options.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

"If it were me," Laurent said, not accustomed to handing out compliments lightly, "I would deem you worthy."

He let go shyly, mounting up again and patting his horse's neck to coax her. The horses were eager to go again, and Laurent was glad to be moving deeper into the woods, where the shade would be thicker and they would be less at risk for running into anyone else from the castle.

His lips still tingled from the kiss, and Laurent felt the powerful urge to cuddle into Gansey's arms. And then... he didn't know what then. He had never cuddled, and was uncertain about the details.

Riding for a minute in silence, Laurent turned over his desires and the knowledge he had about Gansey. "Are you familiar with the Veretian practice of keeping pets? Human pets."

He followed suit, hoisting up onto his horse and watching Laurent's slender figure. It was a compliment he was deeply flattered by. Not because he was thought worthy, but because Laurent would have thought him worthy. Even if they had just met the day before Gansey could sense that the man did not give out compliments for the sake of giving out compliments. It made it worth so much more.

The shade was lovely. Cooling, now that the sun was high in the sky. They were in little risk of running into anyone from the castle. Back when Gansey first started going off into the forests his parents would send guards after him in bulk, but eventually they relaxed on that.

Kissing was still on his mind, certainly, leaving him feeling quite high. It would be lovely to nestle against the trunk of a tree, among its roots, smoothing his hands through Laurent's hair. Maybe the other man would rest his head in Gansey's lap—that way he could look down at him, give him an affectionate kiss here and there.

At Laurent's voice he tuned back in.

"Familiar in the sense that I know of it," he said, "but not much on its details." His voice was neutral yet with genuine interest, no hint of judgement. It wasn't for him to judge the practices of another culture. Especially a practice he knew very little of. But he was curious. Doubly so if Laurent was going to tell him something about it.

Laurent's eyes skimmed briefly around the woods. He had no reason to suspect they were being followed, and the woods were not conducive to listening ears, not while the two of them kept moving. Laurent should be able to speak without having to guard his tongue.

"I have no objection to the practice in theory. Nobles hire companions and pay them extremely well. The contracts are very competitive, and successful pets often become very wealthy persons who can afford pets of their own. Laws governing contracts stipulate that the pets cannot be abused or treated cruelly, but enforcing that is often... difficult."

Laurent spoke very carefully, eyes on the trees ahead of them, not looking over at Gansey as he spoke. His cheeks were flushed again, golden brows pulled together in a furrow.

"One of the aspects I dislike most is that contracts almost universally state that pets must always be available to their masters. Which means that pets can never refuse sex. It's treated, publicly, as a sort of competition, what sort of depravities the pets will eagerly endure or practice. You can't walk through the royal gardens without stumbling upon a pet with their face in their master's lap. Whatever you've heard about the sexual depravities of Vere, the truth is probably worse."

Gansey listened as Laurent spoke. Much as he wanted to study the other man he did not; he kept his eyes on the forest ahead, gently guiding Sky around creeping roots or stones laid in the path that might hurt him.

In theory, he supposed, it wasn't a bad idea. If the contracts were followed on the point of disallowing cruelty—there were benefits that, as a ruler, he could see. But theory and practice were, of course, two very different things. He was not surprised to learn that things were not always done by the book. When Laurent continued on and mentioned the fact that sex could not be refused, a crease formed in his brow. One could argue that if it was stipulated in the contract that one party could not refuse and they agreed to those terms, they knew what they were doing, but it didn't change his distaste for the idea. No one should ever be forced. While there were many problems in his kingdom that was one thing most agreed upon.

Gansey pressed his lips together. While sex wasn't something he was ashamed of, he didn't think doing it so publicly, and for competition, was proper.

"I see." Turning his head, he finally studied Laurent like he had wanted to. "It does sound like a difficult practice to monitor." There were laws you could put into place or loopholes in contracts that might be found but in the end, if it was as widespread as he was understanding, it wouldn't change the fundamental issues.

He was curious as to why Laurent was telling him this, however. Merely answering his question from yesterday? It was fascinating to hear about.

"Things here must seem quite tame in comparison."

"It's a relief," Laurent said, though his jaw was tense as he said it. "Everyone in the Veretian court thinks I'm a sexless prude. The going theory is that either I don't have a cock or it doesn't work."

Cheeks flushed and brow furrowed, his hands tightened into fists on the reins, but he was still careful not to pull unnecessarily at his faithful horse. "I want you to understand why I said you were naive. The Raven Kingdom is extremely gentle and tame compared to Vere. I'm grateful for it, truly. But I want you to understand that I'm not innocent."

He felt very far from innocent, and worried again that he would be a corrupting influence on sweet, optimistic Gansey.

He was silent for a moment, giving Laurent's words proper consideration. A man was a product of his environment; no doubt that, even if Laurent had not participated, he had seen far more than Gansey ever might. To make little of what he was trying to say would be foolish. There were differences between them. Differences between their experiences.

"I understand," he finally answered, still sounding quite thoughtful. While it was easy for infatuation to make him put Laurent on a pedestal, he knew that was something he could not do. Would not do. No one was perfect—everyone had a past, some more weighty than others.

"And it's all right," he concluded, looking ahead again and brushing his palm against the top of Sky's head, gently. "I would very much like to get to know you better, Prince Laurent, innocent or not." He smiled, though it was a small one, mostly to himself. "Though, I'm not quite sure things are quite cut and dry as that—innocent, not innocent. You are simply... you, I think. I'm all right with everything that might entail." A premature promise, some might think, but Gansey was genuine. He was not so easily swayed or turned off.

"As it happens, I look forward to finding out."

He paused, realizing he was being bold again. "If that's okay with you, of course."

Laurent smiled a tiny bit, glancing over and relaxing his grip on the reins. "I'd like that."

Gansey's reply made Laurent want to trust him, and to believe that Gansey would accept him and like him even as he uncovered more of Laurent's secrets. His heart tripped over itself, pounding with want. "I'm terrified that I'll corrupt you," he confessed, surprised by his own honesty. "That I'm too tainted a creature to deserve a place at your side. But I'm already far too jealous of that place to surrender it to anyone else, so I shall simply have to do my best to bring honor to you and your crown."

He glanced at Laurent as he went on, listening, letting him finish before he even allowed himself to try and begin. Tainted? No. While he had only known Laurent a day, he did not think him tainted. Though, perhaps he was not thinking of the same kind of tainted that Gansey was. To him, tainted meant cruel. Ruined by hatred and greed. Laurent did not strike him as anything like that.

But he would not diminish Laurent's feelings. He had his reasons, no doubt, and to assure him that he was not seemed... to make those feelings trite. Which he would also not do.

"You think too highly of me," he said with a small shake of his head. "Once you have to deal with all of my annoying habits and problematic—... issues, I'm sure you'll be more at ease." Sitting up straighter on his horse, he began to lead Sky off the somewhat-beaten path, gesturing at Laurent to follow. The ruins were in the thicker part of the forest.

"For starters, I've been told that I put my foot in my mouth far too often. I've been trying very hard to not say something careless." It was why he often paused, took so long to answer, "Once, I... carelessly implied that I would pay a woman for spending some time with my friend. I didn't mean it in that way, but, of course, she thought I thought she was a prostitute. He had just wanted to talk to her and wouldn't come over because she was working—I didn't think that one through." He laughed, the crease in his brow deepening.

"I've also been told that I'm far too controlling and have issues letting things be. Too reckless considering—well. Some history. That I can't accept not having things my way." He shrugged, glancing over to Laurent again.

"It's all true, by the way. I apologize in advance."

Laurent's smile widened as Gansey listed his sins. He loved hearing about Gansey's flaws. It made him seem so much more human and accessible, and Gansey's antics were utterly endearing.

Laughing at Gansey's apology, Laurent moved his horse a little closer, giving Gansey a flirtatious glance and biting his lower lip.

"I want to hear more about all of this," he insisted, grinning. "Tell me about how controlling you are. I want to hear all your flaws and sins."

Gansey laughed again, this time shaking his head, as though he couldn't quite believe that Laurent wanted him to talk about all his bad qualities.

"Then, I'm afraid, you'd be listening for quite some time. I may have to break it down into sections. For the ones I remember, anyway." If it put Laurent more at ease, he was all right describing how utterly not perfect he was. Perhaps none of his transgressions would match the things the other man had seen in his kingdom, but Gansey did not think the fact that they weren't quite as bad meant that they weren't bad at all.

"Let's see... I'll start with the one that distresses my family the most. My tactlessness." Perhaps the worst one for a future king.

"I once made a duchess cry when I told her she didn't look a day over fifty. She was actually thirty-seven. When I was nine, a girl—I believe she had a crush on me, but that quickly changed—asked me what I thought of her pink dress, and I suggested that it wasn't her quite her color. She was incredibly offended." Chewing his lip, he considered what else he had done.

"I've thrown Helen under the wagon more times than I can count. Though, it's a mutual thing, so perhaps that one isn't quite so bad. During one meeting with a possible fiance, a few years ago, he asked me how I would spend my time with him. I told him that I probably wouldn't since I preferred going out to the woods to sitting in court. At that point I knew he wasn't fond of riding or going outdoors in general so I thought I was being considerate... mother was appalled."

Laurent laughed happily at the recountings, enjoying the stories and scandals that Gansey had caused out of well-intentioned awkwardness. "I'm glad for that. It is my terribly biased opinion that you are much better suited with someone who can challenge you on horseback." His eyes flashed playfully at that, mood entirely lifted by Gansey's company.

"I'm likewise known for being tactless, though I do usually intend it when I give scathing insult. Once I've settled into court better and have begun to learn your customs, you may rely upon me to ameliorate your tactlessness and prevent you from offering any offense. Unless it suits me that you shall." Laurent smirked, not intending to give up his reputation for being scathing, though he hoped that it would at least be a reputation that any scathing retorts were politically shrewd. Laurent was particularly adroit at undermining his opponents with a few cutting remarks. If anyone put themselves in opposition to Gansey and the kingdom's interests, Laurent would be more than happy to put that skill to use.

"Tell me more about how awful you are, I'm thoroughly enjoying it."

"So I can see!" he laughed, imagining what it might be like when Laurent gave a scathing insult. No doubt he could cause much more impact with his words than Gansey could. He also appreciated the idea that Laurent would watch his back; while he was confident that he could be a good king, there were so few people you could trust. Not only with secrets and with his food, but with honesty.

Thankfully he'd gotten much better at thinking his comments through, having made himself so many promises on the matter. Still. Old habits certainly died hard.

"What else... well. You wanted to hear about how I'm controlling. I had mentioned how I'm the only one who tends to the flowers, yes? Ah... it's not so much because they simply let me because I enjoy it. I like having them a certain way, and caring for them based on what I've read so... truthfully, I just don't allow anyone else to do it." He sighed, a little ashamed of that admission. They were just flowers. "I try not to act bothered when I learn someone else has trimmed the roses or planted something new but it does bother me. Then I end up fussing about it."

He sighed again, yet he was still smiling, "The same goes for the library. It's true that it was quite barren when I found it, but Helen was willing to help, since she's also fond of books. Plus, she loves decorating. We started together but I ended up kicking her out because she simply wouldn't—well, we didn't agree on how it should look. I don't even regret it—I like it the way it is now."

Canting his head, he gave Laurent a playful look, "Truly awful, no?"

Laurent laughed, reaching over to catch Gansey's reins so that he could pull him close enough to steal a quick kiss. "Dreadful. When we are alone, I would very much like it if you would be as flawed as possible. I prefer my men to be bold and tactless, and it is very frustrating to me that you keep apologizing for being too bold every time you do something that delights me."

Grinning playfully, Laurent let him go again, though he kept his horse by Gansey's side, wanting to remain as close as he could. "Besides which, you think I think too highly of you, and if you will simply allow yourself your vices around me, I shall most quickly be disabused of the notion. That would be best, don't you agree?"

Laurent loved wordplay and being able to talk his opponents into a corner, and he'd never had the chance to do so while flirting before. Enjoying himself very thoroughly, he watched Gansey with a challenging sparkle in his eyes.

The kiss was enough to get his heart beating quick again. What a marvelous creature Laurent was. Being told to be himself, to be that flawed, strange young man that he so often stifled around everyone else was lightening. He could really only be himself around his closest of friends. Or when he was alone, of course. No one in the forest cared if he just wanted to spend his time studying ruins and searching for a dead king.

The desire to be close was mutual. He did not lead Sky into surging ahead; keeping pace, he let their legs bump every so often from the proximity. Sky and Star were very familiar with each other so he had no worry about one of the horses being startled by the other.

"I'm not sure that's logic that can be argued against," he agreed, tilting his head as though considering the idea, learning what that sparkle in his eye meant. Gansey had seem the same one last night.

"I am concerned, however, that you'll discern that my vices are too concerning. Being disabused of the notion might be the start of some motion that would leave me quite bereft, you see. I would be quite distressed if you left."

It was not often that he was able to engage in any kind of wordplay but he was certainly happy to.

"And yet I am certain that my prince would not wish that I should be in any way deceived," Laurent replied, his grin just a little bit cheeky as they bantered. "And you must also be sure that I would sooner or later see the truth of your nature, however delayed. I would prefer honesty between us, and I trust that you would never lead me astray."

Laurent tilted his head up toward the leafy canopy, enjoying the pleasant ride and the company. "I suspect that one of your vices may also be the tendency to change the topic. I beg that you will tell me more of the worst of you. I find it irresistible." Licking his lower lip, Laurent shot his companion another grin.

Gansey laughed, properly chided from trying to slide away from talking about his faults.

"You would be correct," he confirmed, shrugging his shoulders innocently, as though it had not been his intention. "Very much on purpose, I might add. Not always, mind you, but I am quite adept at not answering a question when I don't want to. I'm also very talented at getting my way."

Tossing his head, he shot a grin back, clearly quite amused over their exchange. "I'm not quite sure why you find it so irresistible. Perhaps I shouldn't question it? It sounds too good to be true."

Humming for a moment, he added, "I would like to hear more about you, you know. Will you tell me more about yourself? In return, I can promise you another riveting tale of just how flawed I am."

"Cheating," Laurent insisted, but he was still smiling, obviously enchanted by Gansey's repeated attempts to avoid the topic. "I don't know what to tell you, but I'll allow questions in return for all the most sordid details of your flaws and sins. What would you like to know?"

He thought that the conversation might be better if he were allowed to lay his head in Gansey's lap and lounge, but didn't want to delay their journey to the ruins, and so kept the inclination to himself.

"Absolutely," he answered with no hesitation before giving Laurent a smirk. "I cheat, sometimes."

Their journey was not far from being over, the heart of the forest not too far away, so he did not think he had a lot of time to ask what he wanted to know—which was everything. It also meant that there wasn't enough time to give Laurent all of those sordid little details he found so intriguing. There was always time for more in the future. That was something he reminded himself.

"I'm not sure where to begin," he said, slowly, chewing on his lip with some thought. "Though considering we are talking about my flaws, I am curious as to what you think yours are."

Laurent's face fell into a grimace of pain at the question, brow furrowing. He glanced over to check Gansey's expression, not at all wanting to respond to that.

Mulling it over, he watched his horse's ears, heart aching with self-loathing. "Must I? I suppose I've been told them frequently enough. I'm callous. Selfish. Vain. Petty. Lazy. Childish. Extremely vindictive. I'll pay any cost to get the things I want. People get hurt. Badly hurt."

His fists clenched, words spilling out once he'd gotten started, and thoughts crowded into his mind, all his flaws and sins. "Are you very sure you want to hear more of my flaws? They aren't nearly so charming as yours."

He could snort at that, but as always, policed himself. Even if Laurent told him to be as tactless as possible there were some things that were hard to break once taught.

"You might be the only one to suggest that my flaws are charming," he said with a raised brow. "I'm sure the people I've offended would highly disagree." They were certainly not befitting a king—even if plenty of past kings had been flawed, as history told. He did not want to be known as a tactless, selfish king.

"But if you don't wish to talk about it, then I will swap it for another," he added, not wanting to see Laurent with such a fallen expression. "Instead, you'll tell me your best qualities."

"Cheating again," Laurent reprimanded him, smile returning halfway as he returned to teasing Gansey, which was far more fun. "It's your turn to answer. And your flaws may only be charming to me, which suits me just fine, as it means I won't have to be jealous so often, and I shall get to keep you all to myself."

He smiled to himself, heart warmed by his fondness for Gansey and considering how he wanted to tease. "I'll let you out of telling me more about your flaws--for now--if you tell me something else embarrassing, instead. Tell me about a secret sexual desire of yours--I promise you that you won't be able to shock me."

He raised a brow at Gansey in challenge. It was very forward, and pressed on the boundaries of their fledgling relationship, but Laurent wanted to know, and couldn't resist the possibility of making Gansey squirm.

That was a good one to make him squirm. No, not ashamed of sex, though he certainly wasn't used to talking about it openly. It was far less likely that you would find someone inappropriately engaged at his mother's court.

So he gave a chuckle, rubbing his neck as he nudge Sky deeper and deeper into the forest. The trees were more abundant and bushes more overgrown. They were very close, now. He could tell by the jutting of stone out of the ground that had been from something built, not natural. No one was around to overhear him, which did make it better, but still. So bold.

"I'm sure I won't," he agreed, shaking his head once again. "In fact, I'm afraid you'll find me very boring. My main desire is to make love to someone I genuinely love." Which was probably incredibly cheesy and was more embarrassing to admit than he cared for.

But that didn't seem to answer the question. So he pursed his lips in contemplating, swapping out rubbing his neck to rubbing his bottom lip with his thumb.

"However, there are some things I'm inclined towards. Ah..."

Oh look. The ruins. He gestured toward the large broken stones—overgrown with moss and vine, off-white and brown, half in the ground and half out. There was a large open area into the ground by stairs, disappearing into the earth and leading into the supposed underground tomb. All around there were interesting things. Carvings into trees and areas that had been clearly dug up, and the grass had never grown back.

"Some of the ruins! Very interesting, no? Not much is left as far as things like pottery and other household items. Seems like it's mostly things they built for this space that remain, from what I've gathered."

Laurent laughed at Gansey's endearingly sweet first answer, then again as Gansey blatantly distracted them from the question with his comments about the ruins. He let it go for the time being, knowing that he would have plenty of time--all their lives--to ask Gansey later.

Dismounting from his horse, he tied Star to a low branch to let her graze again, wandering into the ruins. Interrogating Gansey was only slightly more riveting than the ruins, and interrogating Gansey could always wait until later when they weren't at the ruins.

"Is this digging yours?" Laurent asked, wandering into the stone ruins. He skimmed his fingertips lightly over a stone wall, admiring the place and imagining what it was like when it had been new and vibrant with life.

Gansey did the same, tying Sky so he wouldn't wander away, after dismounting. He stood for a moment just to breathe in the crisp air—it hadn't been very noticeable, but there had been a slight incline to their ride, and it was a bit cooler around the ruins. Just enough to leave his lungs feeling cool with a deep inhale.

"It's not," he said, finally following Laurent, watching as he checked it all out. "It's always been like this. Ever since I first found these... I think I was fourteen, or thirteen at the time." He bent so that he might tease some of the bare earth with his fingers, rubbing them together as though trying to decide what qualities it might have to keep grass from growing.

"It just doesn't grow back. I've always wondered why."

He stood again and let his hand drop to his side. "It's strange. Things here never seem to change. Almost like time stands still." Giving Laurent another boyish grin, he shrugged his shoulders, "That's probably just wishful thinking though. It's probably just because I find it peaceful."

"That is odd. Then perhaps you should dig. Perhaps it's an invitation." Laurent smiled, certainly not planning to help. He liked the ruins as they were, beautifully abandoned and overgrown. Wandering amidst them, Laurent admired the architecture. He walked halfway up a set of stairs to nowhere, then sat down to lounge, admiring the view--Gansey included.

It was wonderfully peaceful, and Laurent was in no hurry to go anywhere at all. "Tell me everything. History, stories. Whatever you please. I haven't yet had a chance to start the book, but I will. I just want to hear you talk."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject