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

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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."

"I do love to talk," Gansey admitted with a laugh, giving the barren land one last look before joining Laurent in wandering about the ruins. "History and stories happen to be my favorites."

He walked along a line of trees with old carvings in them. Letters of a language he didn't recognize but he found them to be quite beautiful.

"They say that the Raven King was lead to this land by a single raven. They were nomads before, never finding a land that was free or good enough to settle. So, just when they had given up hope, a single raven landed on his shoulder and took off in flight again." Gansey brushed his fingers along the etched lettering in bark, "They followed it. For weeks they followed the single raven. His advisors called him mad. Several of them left for other lands and kings. He, however, could not settle for falling into another man's rule. Not for his culture or people."

"So they continued on until the raven landed in a single grand tree. In the heart of this very forest—in even deeper than these ruins. It was the biggest tree they'd ever seen. They took it as a sign that they were meant to settle these lands and he became known as the Raven King. They found these ruins and left them as they were—when the Raven King first found them while looking for a good place to construct their new village, there was an old woman waiting on those stairs. She told him, When one worthy finds the King of Old, so it's told, his heart's desire will be granted, no matter how bold.

"Then she left. They searched the ruins and in the end, decided to leave them be. It would have been disrespectful to destroy them in search of a wish when they already had what they wanted. Moving on, they found where the town is today, and the King decided to construct his castle a little farther out."

"I like that story, and I personally much prefer the ruins left untouched and serene. They're beautiful like this. I'd be more than happy to stay here all day," Laurent said, coming up alongside Gansey and studying the lettering with fascination. "Have these ever been translated? Or at least transcribed? I'd love to study them."

His fingertips brushed unconsciously against Gansey's elbow, addicted to touch now that he'd allowed Gansey within his defenses and trust.

Even the barest touch of fingertips to his elbow made his heart skip a beat. For a brief moment he was brought back to a tavern in town, one night, when he'd been drinking with some friends. They'd been talking about nothing special and at the next table over, one girl had said loudly I have such a crush, whenever he looks at me I just want to melt into a puddle in a gushing voice. Was this what she had felt like? Because now, he felt like he understood; he'd never had a crush before. Did it even count when it was on his betrothed? How did that work?

"I agree. That's why I've never dug. I don't want to disturb such beauty." He glanced at Laurent with a crooked smile when he said that, but quickly turned his attention back to the strange lettering.

"No, they haven't been translated. Unfortunately, languages have never been my forte—I never had a talent for learning them. We could have them transcribed, if you would like."

"I'll bring some paper next time we come," Laurent said. He realized his hand was on Gansey's elbow, and he took it away, cheeks pinkening in a blush. Turning his attention instead to the letters, he studied them, wandering through the ruins and considering all of them. He was no expert linguist, but he loved language, loved studying and playing with it.

He wandered the ruins, drawing story after story out of Gansey about the history of the place. At last he came to sit on a short stairway, taking a seat a few steps beneath Gansey so that he could lean back and rest his head on Gansey's thigh. One arm curled up to rest by his head on the stairs, allowing his fingertip to slip under Gansey's shirt and drift along his bare skin. "Now you have to answer my question," Laurent said, eyes shutting contentedly.

He was pleased to tell Laurent as many stories as he wanted to hear. One thing he never tired of was telling stories; he'd been honest about that. He loved them. And he loved history. It was so rare that he ever showed anyone the ruins, too. Not many people were interested in hearing about them much less wanted to go see them. The fact that Laurent did just lead him deeper into infatuation.

When they finally took a rest on the stairs, Gansey lifted his face to the sky, watching the clouds roll and form into shapes. Feeling Laurent rest his head against his thigh, he lifted a hand to gently run it through those fair strands, teasing it with his fingers. Threading them through, smoothing them carefully. He very much liked how Laurent's hair felt.

"I do?" he mused. Unsurprised, given that Laurent was far too sharp to be truly distracted.

He made a soft mn when he felt the fingertip trailing along his bare skin. He was very much aware of it, especially when he was answering a question about his sexual desires.

"Just one, yes?" One wasn't so bad. "I... would like to be bitten," he admitted after a lengthy pause, "and marked. In an obvious place, where it would be clear as to what it was, but everyone would be too polite to ask." After another pause he added, "I also wouldn't mind being the one to inflict a mark, for that matter. Being the cause might be equally as thrilling."

He laughed, shaking his head.

"I really am quite tame."

Laurent laughed with delight at the request, pleased by it and wanting very much to leave Gansey covered in possessive love bites. "I like the sound of that," he murmured, feeling utterly indolent as Gansey's fingers combed through his hair. No one had ever done this for him before, and Laurent had never liked being touched. He'd certainly never craved touch like he did with Gansey.

"Sounds like fun. I've never done that before, but I understand the concept." Laurent's finger continued its idle brushing along Gansey's skin. "It's my turn, isn't it? Ask something."

And Gansey's hands continued to play with Laurent's hair. Using his nails, he gently scratched Laurent's scalp, massaging his fingers down and then smoothing them back. He loved the way it looked in the sunlight. Much prettier than his own, regular brown hair. It was uncommon, such light hair, in their kingdom. He was fascinated by it.

Almost as much as he was fascinated by the brushing of that finger along his skin. Several times he resisted the urge to laugh, a little ticklish around that area, but somehow managed to keep it in.

He had asked about Laurent's good qualities before but he didn't really need that answered. Not when he was learning them well enough on his own. So he was quiet as he considered what to ask, rubbing his fingers together with a few strands of flaxen hair caught between them.

"Do you have any dreams for the future? Anything you would like to accomplish, or do?"

Laurent made a tiny sound of pleasure as Gansey's fingers massaged his scalp, stifling it almost as soon as it had come. He felt the soft twitches of Gansey's breath as the ticklishness got to him, and smiled fondly.

"I don't. Is that bad?" Laurent grimaced slightly, arm moving further to hook loosely around Gansey's hips, holding onto him. "I always knew that I would be sold off to secure some alliance. I've always loved books and riding, but beyond that... I never dared to hope. What would it matter, if my fate was already sealed? The closest I ever had to a dream for the future was to wish that I'd fall in love with my spouse and rule beside them, helping bring prosperity to a kingdom. As I got older, the thought of falling in love like that seemed naive. At best, I could hope that my spouse would at least respect me for my political and diplomatic acumen. At worst..."

Laurent trailed off, deciding he didn't want to think about the possibilities for worst.

"I see."

It was a perfectly reasonable way to think. Perhaps it was something Helen would be able to understand even better than Gansey; Gansey had never been worried about being paired off and sent to another kingdom. He would be the next king unless something... happened. Always felt tied to the crown, not that it stopped him from dreaming.

"It's not bad. Very practical, actually." He did not stop playing with Laurent's hair, massaging his scalp with more dedication now that he'd heard that sound of pleasure. "But, I think, if it would please you... you should consider it. I would not stop you from pursuing whatever your heart desires." In fact, he would encourage it. Whatever gave Laurent happiness.

"I would like it if you dared to hope." Gansey added that softly, brushing his fingers against Laurent's forehead before leaning down to leave a light kiss against it.

Laurent smiled, utterly adoring. He reached his arms up, hooking them around Gansey's neck to coax him into another kiss. It was brief but very sweet, and Laurent's smile widened, heart quickening.

"You give me so much hope," Laurent murmured, leaving one arm hooked around Gansey's neck. "I've never met anyone like you before. You make all my defenses drop away. I'm helpless before you, and yet I find that I trust completely to the knowledge that I am safe when I'm with you. How am I supposed to resist you?"

No, he did not think he would ever tire of kissing Laurent. Easily coaxed into that kiss, it left his lips warm once more, remembering the softness and heat of his fiance's mouth.

It was comfortable, having Laurent's arm hooked around his neck. The touch against the back of it made goosebumps ripple up his arms. So incredibly aware of the pressure; it was enough to make him pause, eyes flickering closed for a moment as he digested the overwhelming sensation. He had been touched there before but only in fleeting hugs or pats. Never prolonged, and he had no idea he would like it so much. It helped, probably, that he was incredibly attracted to Laurent.

"Then don't," he murmured as he finally opened his eyes again, gaze steadfast on the man below him. "Don't resist me." His fingers slipped around to Laurent's temple so he could stroke his thumb against it.

"I don't know how much say you had in your pairing to me," he added, voice still very low, "but I find myself very grateful. I want you to know that I will never hurt you. That you are free to hope and pursue whatever you might want. I will always support you."

He traced his fingers down the side of Laurent's face, "I hope I can make you happy."

Laurent made a soft little sound of pleasure as Gansey caressed his temple. "I made quite clear to my father and brother that I would not marry a woman. I do not ever desire to procreate, and I know myself well enough to be certain that if I have any hope of happiness, it will be with a man."

Heart aching as he told Gansey all his deepest secrets and longings, Laurent turned, pressing his face into Gansey's belly and hugging his arms around his fiance's waist. "I had flat out refused several earlier offers from men who were... unbearable. What information I had of you said that you were charismatic, bookish, and liked horses. You were by far the best option, and my brother knew that. It was presented to me as though I had no choice."

Laurent's hands slipped up Gansey's shirt again, reassured somehow by the contact with bare skin. "I've never been so infatuated with anyone in my life. Never knew I was capable of this."

Gansey shifted only slightly to accommodate Laurent when he moved, making better room for him between his legs when he felt the face press against his belly. On instinct his slid his hands back through Laurent's hair and caught them up at the back of his skull. Brushing through fine, thin strands, held the other man close.

How he adored the feeling of those arms around his waist. If he could, he would gladly hold Laurent like this forever. Or perhaps even closer, wrap his arms around Laurent's body and hug him tight. That would also be acceptable.

"I am selfishly pleased to hear you say so," he said, bowing his head to press another kiss to the top of Laurent's head, nose tickled by lovely hair. "I think I might be quite jealous if you had been so infatuated with another man."

It was somewhat amusing to him, how they had come together, if he was really presented as the only tolerable choice to Laurent. It was almost enough to make him snort. A good thing, then, that he was charismatic, bookish, and liked horses.

He, too, found comfort in the touch of skin on skin. Being close to Laurent at all was a comfort, truthfully. Even if they were simply in close space to one another. But he did not know what Laurent might find to be too much. Not wanting to smother, Gansey leaned up again, but still gazed down at his fiance with affection. Rubbed his fingertips into the man's scalp, traced along down the back of his neck, idly.

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