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

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.

Laurent felt similarly. He didn't want to move anywhere. Holding Gansey while his betrothed played with his hair was soothing, and he felt safe and protected. There was no hurry at all, so he simply hugged Gansey, occasionally making soft little sighs or whimpers of pleasure as Gansey petted him.

After some unknown length of time, Laurent started to get a crick in his side from the way he was sitting on the hard stone stairs. Sitting up, he shifted so that he was sitting on the step just below Gansey, hooking his arms loosely around Gansey's waist.

"You might still find yourself jealous. People are often going to fixate upon me. They always have. And if it suits me politically, I may encourage it. But I will be loyal to you, and you may be assured that if anyone is touching me, it is without my consent."

He nuzzled very lightly at Gansey's throat, soothed by the solid warmth of him. "I will have you or no one. My prince."

Laurent's arms tightened around Gansey's waist, hugging tight to him, grateful that Gansey seemed to like and encourage contact between them. Laurent never wanted to let go.

The new position he found to be even more enjoyable. While having Laurent against his thigh had felt nice, he very much liked the feeling of his neck being nuzzled. This way, he was able to slide his arms around the other man's shoulders to hold him. Not too tightly, but firm, keeping him secure. It might only be better if they were in a more comfortable place.

Laurent was right. No doubt he would continue to be fixated upon—maybe not for the same reasons as he was in Vere, but fixated upon all the same. His beautiful hair was a novelty among largely brown and black locks and his fair complexion stood out among the sun-kissed tan state of most of the court.

"That is all I can ask," he said, nuzzling his face against the side of Laurent's face, more than happy for the contact between them. He would believe Laurent without question when he said that; perhaps some would call it naive, but he wanted to give his trust. It was important, he believed, for there to be trust between them. It started by giving.

He was quiet for another long time, content to simply be close to Laurent, but something was on his mind. It was an appropriate thing to mention to his betrothed much as he did not like thinking, remembering it.

"There is... something I should mention," he began, studying the stairs beneath them as he spoke. "Before we seal this engagement." Little choice he may have been given when it came to Gansey, nothing was truly set in stone until they said I do. It would not be fair to chain Laurent to him without giving him all the information.

Laurent loosened his grip, drawing back so that he could study Gansey's eyes. Something he should mention. Something relevant to their engagement and the budding relationship between them.

Drawing his guards back up, Laurent shuttered himself behind his defensive walls. His ice-blue eyes were calm and impassive, ready to take the worst possible news without even a flicker of emotion. Only his hands retained the connection between them, remaining on Gansey's hips as he waited to be told whatever was on his fiance's mind. "Yes?"

His mother would probably not be happy about him disclosing such delicate information, but he felt it necessary.

"When I was ten," he began, gaze lingering on the ruins around them, thoughtfully, "there was a party outdoors. For my mother's birthday. Back then, the court was much larger than it is now. Some of the other children and I spent our time exploring the outwoods. Not too far from the castle; there's an area that's thick with bushes and mostly harmless. Safe enough for kids to wander around unsupervised.

"I found an alcove. It was a place many of the adults already knew about but I had never seen, so I wandered in farther. It was sunset and things were growing dark. It was difficult to see the ground but I wasn't worried. Not until I stepped on something. I remember the distinct feeling of something crawling. One, two, and then suddenly a thousand. It was a wasp nest."

He flexes his fingers a bit, closed his eyes, as if remembering the sensation.

"I'm allergic. Naturally, that many wasps would kill even a normal man without prompt treatment. For someone like me? I didn't stand a chance. The physician swears it was nothing short of a miracle that I didn't die, especially since they did not find me right away. I think I did die. But, somehow, I had a second chance."

He paused, considering how to continue, wanting to make his point more clear. It was not just meant to be an anecdote.

"However, he also said that I will die if I'm ever stung again. Once is all it takes. It's a very big flaw. I'm half a dead man. My mother trimmed the court down after this happened—you see, those sort of wasps were not native to this area.

"She won't be around forever to weed out those who know that it would take only one bee to kill me." He sighed, finally, pressing his lips together. "I thought you should know. It's true that a king can be poisoned just as easily, but even leaving the window open one night could end up with me dead. I don't think it fair to ask you to marry me without knowing that sort of burden. I have nightmares about it, sometimes. In the past I've suffered some panic attacks. It—is difficult for me to remember how it felt. Frankly, I'm terrified of them now."

Laurent released his breath in a soft laugh, relaxing again and hugging his arms back around Gansey's waist to reassure them both. He rested his head on Gansey's shoulder, smiling fondly.

"I thought you were going to tell me about some secret wife or bastard child," Laurent mumbled, nuzzling at his beloved.

He knew what a mark of trust it was for Gansey to tell him what he did. It would be easy for someone in Laurent's position to strengthen his own faction in the court and then quietly arrange an accident to befall his husband once he was within reach of the throne. For Gansey to trust him with his greatest weakness when they'd only known each other for a day was a huge measure of trust, and Laurent both wanted to kiss him and to throttle him for being so trusting.

He went with the kiss. "If I do lose you," Laurent murmured, nuzzling at Gansey's cheek, "I suspect I'll be doing a lot of digging."

No doubt the Queen would have felt similarly. It was not a thing he was supposed to tell anyone for obvious reasons.

He laughed softly at the idea of a secret wife or a bastard child. "No," he assured while he combed his fingers through Laurent's hair again, "I have nothing like a secret wife or bastard. That is never something you'll need to worry about." Even if kings with same sex spouses in the past did have bastards or secret lovers—that was nothing Gansey was interested in.

Kisses, however, he was very interested in, when they were coming from his intended. He returned the favor and gave Laurent an affectionate kiss on the cheek.

"I hope you will never have to," he responded, giving another light kiss. "But I would not want something to catch you unaware."

Smiling and returning the kisses softly, Laurent moved so that he could straddle Gansey's lap, looping his arms around Gansey's neck and kissing him more sincerely. His heart ached with yearning for Gansey, and he wanted to both give and receive affection and reassurance.

He wanted Gansey like he'd never wanted anyone before, and this time Laurent's kiss was too hungry to be innocent. His lips parted, tongue flicking along Gansey's lips in invitation as his grip tightened around Gansey's shoulders. His Gansey. His sweet, warm-hearted fiance. Laurent wasn't ever going to let anyone hurt him.

When Laurent straddled his lap, Gansey's arms wrapped around his waist on instinct. To keep him close. To keep him secure. Curious hands found their way up along his beloved prince's back until the flats of his hands settled against the very center.

The want was mutual. A charge thrummed through him when he felt Laurent's tongue touch his lips. Warm, wet. It was an invitation he could not decline. He opened his mouth and tilted his head to better kiss, so he could move his lips and shyly return the gesture. He had kissed before, of course, but not when he was almost vibrating with how much he wanted to be close to his partner. Want was a curious thing for Gansey; when he did, he felt it through his whole body.

This time was no different. The only oddity was that it was for a person. So often he spent wanting to explore, to discover, to read and to learn. He was intensely dedicated to his passions. People enchanted him far less often. Which was why now that he had Laurent, he didn't want to let him go. Perhaps it was very stupid to think he was already in love, especially since he'd never felt that before, and wasn't sure how to recognize it. Whatever he was feeling, it was thick enough to drown in.

He broke the kiss only to chuckle, lingering very close to Laurent's lips still, "You truly are a marvelous creature." Gansey was in awe.

Laurent smiled at the praise, heart brimming with affection. He was completely starved for the sort of contact and approval that Gansey offered: freely given, without strings or ulterior motives. "I'm entirely addicted to you," he murmured in return, pressing a soft, playful kiss to the tip of Gansey's nose and then claiming his lips again.

His kisses were all teasing invitation, darting his tongue forward and then dodging back, tempting Gansey to chase and explore. Soft, repressed little noises escaped him as they kissed, little sighs and tiny moans, more and more of them as Laurent relaxed into trust for his beloved Gansey. He'd never known mutual affection like this before, never been able to simply play and explore.

Breaking the kiss with a soft laugh, Laurent dove straight back in, winding his fingers into Gansey's hair to keep him close.

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