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bakerstreet2016-12-07 11:06 am
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The Scheherazade / Harem Shipping Meme
Straight out of the Arabian Nights, or any variety of the spin-offs and spoofs since, in a beautiful and fantastical realm of magic and djinn. You may be the great ruler, prince, or sultana of the realm, or you may be the tribute, captive, or arranged marriage spouse brought before that ruler.
Scenarios:
1. Arranged Marriage - You’re both royals or nobles of some variety, but one of you has been sent far from home to be wedded to a stranger in a foreign land.
2. Ambition - You’re just one beauty in a harem of dozens—or hundreds—but you’re determined to stand out, to earn the exclusive attention of the ruler, and to take your place by their side as the ruler of this land.
3. Scheherazade - One night with the king (or queen). Perhaps your one-night spouse had their heart broken, like in the story. Perhaps they’re simply a monster, or they have other motives. They may kill you in the morning, unless you can convince them to delay, by at least one more day.
4. Tribute - Perhaps your land was conquered, or perhaps you’ve been sent here to secure an alliance. Either way, this wasn’t your idea, and you aren’t particularly happy about it.
5. Within the Harem - Both characters are residents of the harem. You hardly see the ruler, and they don’t matter. What does matter is the friendship—or love—that you have found within the harem, and, possibly, your plans for escape.
6. Outside the Harem - You’ve fallen in love with someone you shouldn’t. A guard, a servant, or someone outside the palace entirely. But in order to be with them, you’re going to have to break all the rules.
7. Arabian Nights - Wildcard scenario, play any elements from the Arabian Nights that you please. Magic carpets, powerful djinn, curses and treasure!
How to play:
-Post with your character, preferred role (ruler, harem, other), and any other relevant info
-Reply to others. Use RNG or choose your favourite scenario!
--
originally posted by marlowe_tops
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The whistle makes him flush, and he finally forces his gaze back down at himself, but the damage has been done. That feeling in his chest? Yep, it's just gotten about a hundred times worse. He doesn't understand why this feels so entirely different from his nights with Emil, but there it is.]
Um. I'm glad that you like looking at me. [Again, he's not the best at this whole flirtation thing, but it feels strange to just stay silent. Depositing the cloth back into the water, he reaches for a nearby towel and dries himself off quickly.
It's not until he's done that he realizes the extra sets of robes in the room are behind him, closer to the bed, and retrieving one means having to face Viktor head-on. He can't exactly wear his old clothes again - they're not exactly dirty, but it's still inappropriate. So, taking a breath, he turns and hurries to dress himself, his eyes steadfastly refusing to look up.]
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[He breathes it out under his breath in his native tongue when he gets that solid glance at Yuri's whole body. The clothes he wore back in his palace had left little to the imagination, but seeing him completely naked is a different thing entirely.]
I think I'll be just as glad to hold you, too. The nights here get so cold.
[He squirms under the quilts and furs and makes a space for Yuri next to him, pulling them aside so Yuri can get in with him once he's dressed.]
But first, cover your glory! [He says it the same way someone might say "cover your shame!"] I don't know that I can take much more before such radiance strikes me blind.
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The comment about his 'glory' makes him squirm with embarrassment, and the blush on his cheeks descends to cover his chest and shoulders, still fairly visible beneath the thin cloth of his robe. When he gets into bed he covers himself with the furs, his movements slowing as shyness creeps back into his limbs.
The truth is, he's never shared a bed with anyone. With Emil he was mostly just left on the floor; he rarely visited the prince's private chambers, and when he did Emil told him he wasn't good enough to gain the privileged comfort of his bed. In the carriage things had been a little different, also: it was a small space, and the winds drifted in easily, so Yuri needed Viktor's warmth.
But now...
Gingerly, he reaches out to brush his fingertips against Viktor's forearm, searching for his hand. It's still difficult to make eye contact, especially now that Viktor has seen him naked - not that he didn't expect it to happen, of course, but it felt different than he ever thought it would.]
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So Viktor throws an arm and leg over Yuri, snuggling close. The full-body cuddle stops at just cuddling though. He doesn't let his hands wander anywhere inappropriate, he doesn't try to force a kiss on the lips. His lips brush against Yuri's temple in the ghost of a kiss but that's all. While it's somewhat intimate because of a few places where bare skin presses against skin, that also means they're sharing some much-needed warmth, the space under the blankets heating up just enough to leave them both nice and cozy.]
You've been through so much in so short a time, but try to rest, Yuri. [He knows it might be hard for him. He has a lot of reasons to be keyed up and anxious.] We have another long ride home tomorrow.
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It makes him smile a little, and he presses closer to Viktor, not minding the way their skin sticks together in places. It's warm and comfortable, and Viktor smells nice - like oils and perfumes, spicy and sweet without being overwhelming.
It takes him a while to relax, but Viktor's voice is soothing, as is his lack of expectation. Yuri still doesn't feel free, but he does feel a lot less confined than he has for the past few months. As he begins to drift off, he mumbles softly,]
Thank you, Viktor.
[Somehow, it seems okay to call him by his name, even though that technically amounts to treason. Yuri has a feeling he won't mind.]
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When they get home the other slaves and servants work hard to help Yuri get used to his duties, most of which involve menial chores and keeping Victor entertained with games and dancing and conversation. Phichit in particular takes a liking to Yuri, always trying to reassure him with a smile when he can. He's one of the servants that acts purely as a servant -- many of the others are concubines, though they're not particularly unhappy about it.
"He really isn't that bad," Sala tells Yuri of Viktor. "I don't think he's ever forced himself on anyone. Those of us that have chosen to share his bed did so willingly." Such a thing being a glowing endorsement is a reflection of how horrible their situation is, but it's something, at least.
"It beats the boredom," says Mila with a shrug. "He is very talented in the bedroom."
"Very talented," says Christophe, resting his chin on his hand. "He also looks the other way if we haff relationships with each other. Always a plus." In other royal households, that kind of thing happening within a harem sometimes led to punishment or death.
"And he lets us outside in the gardens whenever we want, as long as our duties are done for the day!" Phichit puts in. "But I've noticed he doesn't even give you that many chores to begin with; I think he likes you, Yuri."
The harem is guarded by a very young guard with long blonde hair, who would look too young to be a palace guard if it weren't for his eyes -- he has the eyes of a soldier. Most of the time he stands silent, but whenever they talk about something particularly ribald, his eyes roll back in his head and he looks like he'd claw the walls down to get away from it all if he could. The more he notices that Yuri works less the others, the more he glares, but he never speaks to him.
For Yuri, Viktor is all smiles and gentle words, always trying to coax him out of his shell. One morning Viktor shows Yuri exactly how much he does like him. When Yuri leaves his chambers and comes into Viktor's throne room, there's a present waiting for him on the cushion where he usually sits in front of Viktor or at his side.]
Yuri. I have a surprise for you.
[It's a little bundle of warm, practical clothes, folded carefully and tied with a ribbon, and a pair of very well-made skates.]
The ice on the lake is thick enough to ice dance on now. Will you join me?
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At home, Yuri works hard to find a place for himself. His fears have almost completely disappeared, and now that he not only respects Viktor but actually enjoys being around him, he doesn't mind the work so much. He still gets homesick, of course, but he realizes that he's very lucky to be serving someone so kind and generous.
The company of the others is welcome, too. When he was with Emil, the other servants were either quiet and frightened or brash and obnoxious. Emil liked the latter for their fiery personalities, and the former for the way they sounded when he was rough with them. Yuri does his best not to think about Emil.
When they discuss Viktor's habits in the bedroom, Yuri blushes and goes quiet, but listens intently. The feeling in his chest has settled somewhat, but it's still there, like a flower lying dormant beneath the snow. Phichit's comment about Viktor liking him seems unusual, but Yuri tries not to worry too much about it. He's glad to have found favour with the prince, whatever form that takes.
The guard frightens him, but not in the same way that Emil does. For all his glares and grumpiness, he's still just a child. Yuri avoids him, but it's mostly because he doesn't want to cause trouble. Sometimes he wonders what the guard likes to do, whether he has any family here, things like that. But the guard never speaks, and Yuri never asks.
Over time, Yuri grows more comfortable with Viktor. He never uses his name except when they're falling asleep together, and even then it comes out rarely; he doesn't want anyone else to know he's breaking the law like that. Nonetheless, it feels nice to say it, and sometimes when he's off by himself he whispers it, testing the syllables on his tongue. Occasionally he wonders what it would be like to say it as Viktor touches him - but he always forces those thoughts away and tries to busy himself with other things, not feeling quite ready for that just yet.
There are always surprises with Viktor, but this one outweighs all the others. When Yuri's eyes fall upon the gifts, he lets out a soft, broken sound and claps a hand over his mouth. Try as he might, he can't fight off the emotions welling up inside of him, and as he gets to his knees to examine the skates there are tears at the edges of his eyes.
The clothes are nice, of course, nicer than most things he wears, but the skates? They're absolutely beautiful. The skates he used in Happone were good quality, but these are worlds above that. Reaching out, he brushes trembling fingertips over the leather, then looks up at Viktor with a wide, watery grin.]
Of course! [Did Viktor ever expect him to refuse? This is the greatest gift he could've given to Yuri, almost as wonderful as it would've been to regain his freedom. If he could dance, he could be free, if only for a little while.]
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Before long, they're down by the iced up lake, lacing up their skates, with some of the other servants bundled up and attending nearby. They're just as much here for the show as anything else. Viktor feels they deserve a nice bit of entertainment now and again. A light snow falls around them, enough to make the air glitter but not so heavily that they need to come in.
Viktor glides out onto the ice with a grace that looks effortless, every movement smooth and powerful, even after seasons without practice.]
What kind of jumps can you do? Last season I managed some with four rotations.
[It's nearly unprecedented, quadruple jumps, but he's very, very good.]
I'll probably have to warm up to that again.
[And with that, he skates and launches himself into a smooth and powerful triple axel.]
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As they lace up their skates Yuri feels his shyness returning, despite his excitement to skate again. It's been so long now - he used to practice regularly, even in the warmer months, and while he dances for Viktor (and with Viktor) almost every day, it isn't quite the same.
So he follows Viktor out onto the ice with some trepidation, letting the other man take the lead. The mention of quadruple rotations leaves Yuri wide-eyed; he's well aware of how incredibly difficult that is, and of how few people in the world are capable of such things.
When Viktor performs the triple axel so flawlessly, Yuri feels his heart skip a beat. The prince is beautiful normally, but like this? He looks like a bird, long and elegant, flying away from the earth. His form is impeccable: no over-rotation, shoulders down - heck, even his expression seems peaceful.
For a moment, Yuri's nerves get the best of him. How can he possibly impress Viktor, who must be one of the best ice dancers in the world? But then he remembers that this is a gift, not an expectation, and his confidence rises somewhat. Determination fills him, and his expression turns serious as he skates out across the lake in a wide arc, setting up for a jump of his own.
He can't do any quadruples just yet, though not for a lack of trying. What he can do is a combination: a triple flip, followed by a double toe loop, which is what he chooses to show to Viktor now. When he lands he skates a small figure-eight and comes to rest at Viktor's side, grinning from ear to ear, his face flushed with pleasure.]
How was that?
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[Doing a quad is difficult but so are jump combinations, so he's genuinely impressed with Yuri's skill. After a brief warm up and a little bit of showing off, Viktor moves in to skate with Yuri, the two of them dancing around each other on the ice, showing off their foot work, occasionally veering off to do turns and flips and veering back together again as if playing a game of tag. As they dance, Viktor never quite wants to outrun Yuri and never quite wants to let him go. His own dancing is versatile, sliding fluidly back and forth from strength and power to moves as delicate and graceful as the falling snow.]
[Viktor smiles and laughs and acts mirthful most of the time, but while he's on the ice, the hollowness of that mirth off the ice suddenly comes into focus. It's only here that he feels himself, and every powerful jump off the ice is like him trying to launch himself off the ground to freedom, as if he wishes he could leave all this behind and just fly off into the distance.]
[In some ways, the only thing that seems to pull him out of his own head and his desire to fly off is Yuri himself, a tether that makes him want to come back down to the ground again and again and again.]
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The playfulness of their dancing reminds Yuri of his childhood, when he would do this with his friends. Growing up meant more responsibilities and less time for play, but Yuri was lucky; he was good enough to be given special grants that let him continue his dance training. When he'd told Viktor that he danced in the capital, the pride in his voice had been genuine. Not just anyone got to do things like that.
Dancing here, though, is different. It's not about proving himself, not really. As they move with and around one another, he and Viktor create a dialogue more powerful than they could with words alone. Watching Viktor jump again and again makes Yuri realize how desperate he is for a different way of life - one that, perhaps, he doesn't fully understand, but yearns for just the same.
It also makes Yuri realize how close they've grown, and how upset he would be if they were separated. Every time Viktor comes back to him his heart pounds in his chest and he skates close to him, as though he's trying to tell him not to leave. He's never felt this way towards another person before, and while it scares him a little, it's becoming more and more obvious that he won't be able to ignore it for much longer.
So when Viktor lands his next jump, Yuri is there by his side, one arm extending to wrap gently around the prince's waist and draw him closer, so they can skate in unison for a moment. He wants to say something, but there are no words that can accurately express what he's feeling - so instead he leans in a steals a kiss, quick and shy, before letting Viktor go again.]
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This is the first time that Yuuri has kissed him first, unprompted, and all of his measured flirtation and experience feels like it's disappeared in an instant. Viktor's cheeks go pink as he blushes like a schoolboy, and he gasps in a little sharp intake of breath -- and he even stumbles on his skates a little, not paying attention as he slides through an uneven section of ice.
For a moment, all he can do is breathe in little fluttery breaths as he looks at Yuuri, feeling as if there is something unseen between them that has tangled them together.
That's when the wildly enthusiastic clapping starts and interrupts whatever-it-is. Phichit, who has been watching them avidly, starts clapping loudly and furiously, completely taken in by the beauty of what they've been doing. He throws his arms up in the air, his eyes wide and sparkling.
"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"
Viktor laughs and huffs out a breath.]
What's incredible is your endurance, Yuuri. You make me feel my age. I'm done for the day, I think.
[They've been skating a good long while, barely paying attention to the passage of time, but the light has changed enough for Viktor to realize it. He skates over to the edge of the lake and looks to see if Yuuri is following, but then rethinks gesturing for him to come.]
If you want to stay out here longer, dance for as long as you like. [He knows it's the best that he can give him: freedom to stay or go, to come with him, or skate as long as his heart desires.] I'll have the servants prepare something warm for you to eat and drink when you come in.
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Phichit's clapping distracts him, and he ducks his head, trying to make sense of the emotions running through his body. He hasn't felt this happy - this free - in such a long time. Maybe that's why he feels these things towards Viktor. He can't really be...
Viktor's voice catches his attention, and a glance over at the horizon tells Yuri that they've spent far longer on the ice than he'd realized. A pang of sadness throbs in his chest as Viktor skates over towards the edge of the lake. Yuri knows he should follow, but he lingers there for a moment, not wanting to leave this precious place behind just yet.
So when Viktor tells him he can stay his heart leaps into his throat. For a moment all he can do is stare, unbelieving; then he grins and gives the other man a nod.]
Thank you, your grace.
[It's the best possible gift. Most of the servants head inside with Viktor, leaving Yuri alone as he skates laps around the lake. He's tired, but the opportunity to skate by himself is too precious to ignore. He loses himself in his dancing, his focus drawing inwards until the only thing left is the ice beneath his feet. Without anyone there to watch him, he feels entirely at peace. He doesn't even notice how dark it's getting until a wolf howls in the distance, long and lonely.
When he gets back inside he's practically radiating with happiness. Hunger tugs at his stomach, but he ignores it. There's something he wants to do first, something more important than eating. The throne room is mostly empty, so Yuri heads towards Viktor's room instead. He isn't sure what he wants to do, exactly, but he knows he has to show the prince exactly how grateful he is.]
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He's in deep. He knows that now, but none of it matters if Yuri doesn't feel the same way.
When Yuri comes into his room, Viktor is sitting on his bed, reading over some papers -- some documents regarding the tax collection of his serfs. His part of the kingdom is small, but there's still occasional work to be done for it. He's dressed in one of his long, luxurious robes, lined with fur, the robe hanging just slightly off his shoulders.
When Yuri comes into the room, Viktor smiles.]
Did you enjoy today? Tomorrow, we do quads!
[He's teaching Yuri to do the cooler stuff if it kills him. He wants to see the full extent of what he can learn to do.]
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The greeting throws him off, and he blinks a couple of times before replying.] Quads? [Not that he doesn't want to learn them - especially since Viktor is the one who will be teaching him - but quads are notoriously difficult, and Yuri isn't totally sure that he can manage them.] Are you... are you sure?
[It's not his place to question Viktor, and with Emil saying something like that would have gotten him a beating for sure. But things are different here. Yuri is allowed to speak his mind, at least to a certain extent.]
sorry this is so late, went on a trip for the holidays. Still up for continuing?
[When you consider how long it's been since Yuri has practiced, it's even more significant.]
And even more potential.
[Teaching has never really been an interest of his before, but Viktor likes the idea of contributing to that, helping coax even more talent out of him.]
[Viktor scoots slightly, making room for Yuri on the bed. By now, Yuri knows his intent. All it means is 'come here, get under the covers and get comfortable.']
no worries, I was away as well! & always! ♥
He steps lightly over to the bed and climbs in next to Viktor, immediately scooting closer to him. He feels especially touchy tonight, as though the gift Viktor gave him has helped to tear down his walls somewhat. It's not that he wants to say thanks with his body - though he would, if Viktor asked him to - it's more that he wants to share the warmth that's spread all throughout his chest and limbs.]
What are you doing? [He peers down at the papers Viktor has spread out over the blankets, squinting at the foreign language.]