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desdansa) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
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
no subject
You know Keith? You-- you know each other?
[ The dark-haired Paladin finally looks to the feed upon hearing Shiro's voice, and if he had been economizing his voice, the recognition is enough to draw sound out of him -- and he looks as if he is seeing a ghost. ]
"Shiro?" [ The others once again "jam" the feed with their reactions, talking at the same time at the sudden revelation. Keith looks flustered being put on the spot like that, but he pulls his attention from his peers and just looks to Shiro, tight little smile on his lips like he's fighting a grin, and speaks above the other voices. ] "Talk to you when you land!"
[ Coran then unceremoniously decides to monopolize the feed. ] "There's a lot of work to do, Princess. Zarkon isn't going to take his sweet time after that stunt you pulled.
[ The universe can be kind, if one knows where to look. Allura acknowledges Coran's advice before cutting the feed. She turns her attention to Shiro. ] What are the chances, hm?
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The irritation disappears as quickly as it flared. Because Coran was right. Zarkon isn't going to sit still for this and he tends toward immediate and overwhelming as opposed to subtle. Subtle is Haggar's department. Zarkon - the only good thing about fighting an empire that stretches as vast as the Galra one is that mobilizing even a portion of its far flung war ships will take time. Not much - but maybe enough. If they move quickly enough. And that doesn't mean putzing around on a communications screen.
He still feels shaken to see that face again and its a good thing he's the pilot he is and that Black is so intuitive because he can pilot down to the planet without having to completely focus on the task. He glances at the woman next to him and there's something vulnerable in his eyes.]
I never thought I'd see him again.
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She meets his gaze and she takes her turn in being the source of (possible) stability for him. ]
My people believe in destiny, that people are destined to meet regardless of how the universe twists and turns. I do not believe that the five of you have become Paladins out of sheer coincidence.
[ That thing about destiny stings to think about, however. It's like saying that her being torn away from her father, to have her people and countless others suffer, to have Zarkon and the Galra rule over a great portion of the universe and become cause for strife. had been in the capricious hand of destiny. ]
You will have time to speak with them, to get your proper suits of armor... [ Allura allows herself a hopeful smile. ] and you will form Voltron.
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But it would be a lie if he didn't say it was easier with her calm voice in his ears.
Destiny... That was a tricky thing. He wasn't sure he believed in it.
But he wasn't sure he didn't.
Because the chances of Keith being there once Shiro found his freedom... at this exact spot in this exact time when the contents of their homeworld had been scattered like beach sand across thousands of starts and millions of planets...]
He's like a brother to me. One I always tried to watch out for.
[And there was guilt in that. Because how well had Shiro managed that last part if he'd been captured before Earth had even been aware of the Galra or aliens at all for that matter? But - he was here now. There was time. Shiro focused on the present, which was guiding the lion in to the port he saw lighting up. And maybe, just maybe, there was that memory of a smile at the edges of his lips.]
New armor, huh? [And then, focusing on what was important:] How do we - form Voltron?
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Keith doesn't talk much, does he? But he is stubborn. I'm thinking now that he probably gets that from you.
[ There is kindly affection when she speaks of the younger man. She has had to spend a fair amount of time with him, between the time he had been presented as a gift until she found a way to send him over to Arus. She can say more, but Allura decides that it's Keith's story to tell, and not hers. ]
Voltron is formed out of five lions. Two arms, two legs, and this one, the Black Lion, is the head. That would make you their leader. The five Paladins therefore must be of one mind and one heart for the lions to come together as one.
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which makes him wonder how they ended up together and the first answer that comes to mind is how he ended up in her keeping. He's - not sure that's a comfortable thought. In fact - he's pretty sure its not. But he also has to put that aside because she's still talking and now its about Voltron and -
and everything seems to hinge on that. So he focuses on her words and... and they don't make a lot of sense. Inside his head the Black Lion is just about as helpful, treating the entire act as something that's already been done. And, he's sure, for both the queen and the lion it has but -]
Is there a button for that? Or an implant?
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I only have information that came from my father and our scientists. Forming Voltron is... more of a matter of the heart than pure mechanics. It forms out of a unified will of the Paladins.
[ She lets out a small sigh -- a mixture of mild frustration, and great relief in that they finally touch land. ]
I wish I could explain better; but the power of Voltron does not lie on science alone. It's something that is rather... experienced, than gained as knowledge.
[ Allura waits for Black Lion to finally settle and to open up. ]
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It wouldn't be the first time he had to make something up as he went.
Black touches down so gently there's not even a jar in the cockpit to prove it and the great head lowers. Shiro feels the withdraw - but not the withdraw as the lights dim and - he's reluctant. He's reluctant to get up and leave, reluctant to go. He doesn't -
he's had so much taken away from him. If he takes his eyes off Black for a second -
the soothing thrumming rumble is in his head and his chest and he would swear its almost touched with amusement. As if the lion would ever let anyone take its paladin away from it...
It's the nudge he needs to stand up and he inhales. Exhales. Counts the beats between.
And he follows her out of the lion and into the hanger.
The others, his team he supposes, are already there and his face changes as he sees Keith, feeling torn between laughing and weeping, tears and joy and he's just taking a step forward, one arm out when - ]
Matt?
[Because there's a second face in the group that he recognizes and - no. No, it's not possible. He feels a knee buckle and goes down on it hard, heart suddenly beating too fast in his chest, mouth dry. Because - ]
Matt?
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The moment is halted, however, when she hears a familiar name. Little Katie had mentioned that name a few times, along with the name of her father. Allura looks over her shoulder from Coran's embrace, worried over what's unfolding. She had been about to approach Shiro, but Coran holds her back, shaking his head. ]
[ Katie's face turns from anticipation to shock in a matter of ticks. She doesn't wear glasses like her brother, but she gets where the confusion may be coming from because of her hair. There's a darkness in her eyes when she regards the larger man on his knees, and her small clenched fists show a network of scarring from recovering burns. Her voice is eerily controlled when she speaks -- the voice of a young girl, and not that of a teenage boy. ]
I'm not Matt. I'm Katie, his little sister.
[ Does Katie know Shiro too? Allura doesn't recall her talking about him. Katie seems to recognize him, but she shows no familiarity with Shiro; or at least not yet, not when she snaps her mind to what had been plaguing her ever since she got separated from her family. ]
Do you know what happened to him? Or to Samuel Holt?
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Not Matt.
Shorter. Slighter. Same eyes though. Same hair. And Matt had lost his glasses early into their captivity. But - the face was rounder, younger, more feminine. The way she was holding herself was different. The voice was different. His heart started to slow down even if his chest didn't relax. He didn't move to stand up.]
Katie. [His voice came out throaty and he swallowed, eyes watching her closely. There were parts of his memory that were closed to him, parts that were only shadows and screams but he was still living in it, there had been no break of an escape to give him a way to slip sideways in his mind and try to forget. Not while the bracelet was still a part of things, not while he was still so close to being Champion again. Another exhale and he shook his head.] They were never in the Arena. [Did she know what that meant? I want blood! He should have done more. Somehow - he should have done more.] They went out to work camps. I tried - I think they were in the same group. They'll still be together if they did.
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I was supposed to work in the mines too -- started off there. But I got caught messing with the machines so, they sent me over to-- to be a companion to Allura. [ She rubs at her arm self-consciously. ] I know dad and Matt went to a different camp, but after that, I've lost track of them.
[ Her face twitches in that same manner that Shiro's does -- a halted smile, and one that doesn't really reach her eyes. Finally, she recognizes him: Matt's colleague and friend, the ace pilot her father won't shut up about... ]
Thanks. For looking out for them.
[ Katie might not know the details, but if Shiro had been able to keep track of them, at the least, then that would mean he had an eye out for them. It's easy to become self-centered in this messed-up world, but she'll take what she can. She holds out her right hand to Shiro. ]
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He hadn't been able to protect her family. Was he really allowed to have a second chance?
Would he take that second chance if it was given to him?]
Katie. [His voice was soft now, steady again. Another chance. Maybe for both of them. He pulled in a breath and counted its slow exhale in his mind. His human hand reached out and long, large fingers closed over her hand. Gentle, Katie was precious, but firm - because Katie was a Holt. And the Holts he knew were tenacious. She hadn't needed to give him a second chance. She could have turned away or blamed him. He held out his other hand, palm up. An offer of damaged to damaged. And he met her eyes with his, sure.]
We'll get them back. We'll get them all back. I promise.
idk if I got the correct arm reference here, but lemme know if I need to change this up!
Yeah. We will. Just-- [ She becomes aware that she's speaking to someone who, by all respects, is her superior officer now. But since he's not pulling rank and whatnot, Katie decides to take advantage of that. She takes a breath as she registers that his arm is not out to hurt her. Her shorter fingers barely allow her to make a proper grip about Shiro's bigger hand, but she grips what she can and her eyes soften. ] please don't freak out on me like that again, okay? I know you're cooler than that.
works for me!
Except her hand closed over his instead and hung on and he felt that horrible tearing inside his chest, as if his heart was somehow beating again and vulnerable.
He's not her commanding officer yet. He's not anyone's commanding officer. Because no one has accepted him in that role yet and no matter how much the queen wants that, he knows its not her choice. It's theirs.
But he'll take the role, if they'll give it to him. Because its a chance. For all of them. There's something in the edges of his lips this time, something soft, something that might be the memory of a smile for Katie and he stands up, getting back to his feet in one easy, long, slow move. He lets go of her hand, but his human hand finds her shoulder and he looks down at her. And there, might, just maybe, be a touch of humor in his eyes.]
No. I'm not. But I won't lose it again either. [His hand on her shoulder gives a very gentle squeeze. This could be his team. And if it is, they need him to be stronger than that. So he will. His voice is firm as he looks at the rest of the small group and there's the sound of who he once was in it.] Huddle up, Team Voltron. Let's figure out who we all are.
Re: works for me!
'Team Voltron', is it?
[ In her mind, she hears the soft and happy chord, indicative of the lions' quintessence in peaceful harmony. She looks at Shiro with the rest and she feels vindicated, that her faith had not been misplaced. "So long as there is an Altean in this castle, there is hope," her father used to say, and his words ring true.
After a gentle reminder from Coran and him fussing over her injuries, Allura gears her mind for a fight -- the first in a long war, if Zarkon is to have any say on it. Speaking clearly, she addresses Shiro. ]
They're in your hands now. I trust you will good care of them.
[ The tall lanky one, for a breath, had looked as if the idea isn't sitting too well with him, and the stockier one looks to Allura as if he wanted to say something to her but decided against it. Misgivings certainly cannot be discounted, but in the end, the young men know that their duty comes first, and they turn their attention to Shiro. There will be time for talking if they make sure they live another day. Keith, however, shows no qualms over Shiro's leadership, and it shows markedly on how he stands -- a subtle kind of confidence Allura hadn't seen until that moment. ]