Welcome To The Fold

[hybrid_prince]

"We do it so they feel hope for the power their people can attain."

That was what Emperor Dorrek had been told when he was a teenaged prince and found himself expected to take the first member of his imperial harem. One person of each people of the empire, on the idea that some day he would choose his consort from among them, would sire a child and heir upon them. It was his duty, and the people's they ruled would know they were close to power through the subject who might one day rule next to him.

The problem with it all was that Dorrek found the whole thing repugnant. Most of those given to his 'imperial consorts' were women, which was a problem for him. Which made every instance of these moments in the court tiring. Here he sat, upon his throne, awaiting the presentation of the newest offerings for his harem. He would have to choose one to take into his family, someone he would no doubt eventually send back to the others, trying not to feel disgusted by the whole process.

"You are before his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Dorrek-Vell. Kneel before his splendor and know you are close to greatness," his herald calls out to the assembled and Dorrek tried not to yawn.

Comments

[hybrid_prince]

Yes, it really could. It could be pink and teal. Teddy at least looked good in purple and green.

"I could request some black. It might not look bad against your skin. They'd care about that. Are there styles I should hint at preferring on you?"

He'll work with this guy the best he can.

[millenniumpharaoh]

"Have you seen the carvings of what pharaohs wore in ancient times?" The other had mentioned spending time on Earth.

There's a small smile. "However, spending time in more... modern era, I mostly favored wearing black tanks. I liked my collars and chunky bracelets," Or really they were Yugi's but that would be complicated to explain.

[hybrid_prince]

Well, yes. Something like a skirt and a collar.

"At least back won't be too hard of an ask. But they won't like things that could be used as weapons."

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem sighs, and then lifts his a shoulder. "Better than nothing," he says.

[hybrid_prince]

Yes, he supposed that was true. Though neither of them had to like it.

"If I leave you in here to order food and clothing for you, do you promise not to try and blow anything up?"

[millenniumpharaoh]

"I don't blow things up," Atem says, crossing his arms.

[hybrid_prince]

There's some relief. He nods and moves for the door.

"I'll see what I can arrange then."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"Okay,” Atem says and he watches the other move away, staying where he is and trying not to think too much in the meantime. The expanse of the sight of space from the window view feels him with anxiety and so he turns away and tries to rest until the other comes back. Or at least take some deep breaths while he’s alone and doesn’t have to put on a brave front.

[hybrid_prince]

When he does come back it's with a tray laden with earth foods, heavily skewed toward fruits and vegetables. When he enters it's large and green, but by the time he gets to the table he's back down to looking more human.

"Hopefully something here will serve."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"You didn't need to go through so much trouble," Atem says with a sigh as he looks over the tray and the way the other's body changed is again a bit intriguing and troubling at the same time.

"Why do you change forms?" he asks as he reaches for some berries to start with.

[hybrid_prince]

"It's not a lot of trouble. I ordered it and it was delivered," he says with a shrug. Though when he sits down he considers Atem.

"Are you not more comfortable seeing me like this?"

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem lifts a shoulder at the question as he continues to eat his berries, eyes resting on the other.

"It doesn't bother me either way," he says. After all, he's faced Zorc and the other isn't even half as imposing.

[hybrid_prince]

"You wouldn't rather see me as something human?" the guy asks, looking intrigued. "Most people like to see something like them. Actually, a lot of my consorts seem more comfortable if I mimic their species."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"I would rather see you without tricks," Atem says simply and reaches for a peach.

[hybrid_prince]

"You know that this is me without tricks, right?" Teddy asks as he grabs the general fruit salad and curls up with it. "I'd call this my Kree-self, which is half of my blood, and how I lived most of my life until my teens."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"How am I supposed to know anything about you?" Atem counters, his eyes following Teddy's movements. He leans on one hand and his brow furrows. "After all, you can change how you look as easy as I breathe, it seems."

[hybrid_prince]

"You could ask," he reminds the guy as he enjoys some of the fruit. "And yes, I can change that easily. It's part of the Skrull half of my biology."

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem's quiet, processing the information slowly as he eats.

"So this is the form you would want to use if we are to..." he trails off, glancing at the emperor.

[hybrid_prince]

If they were to... WHat?

When Teddy finally processes what is being said he blushes.

"I mean, at this point they're both pretty natural to me, and I'd do whatever you'd want."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"Why are you blushing?" Atem questions, raising a brow. "It's what all of us were brought for isn't it?"

[hybrid_prince]

Yes, it was. That doesn't mean...

"I don't have a lot of experience with it, okay? Like I said, most of the people paraded before me are women, and I don't exactly like the idea of a harem or forced relationships or all of that."

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem raises a brow but he can understand. He sighs and takes another bite of the peach.

"I'm sure if I had... I'm sure I would have dealt with this one day myself."

In truth, Atem also doesn't have much experience. He doesn't want to let on to that, though, clinging to some semblance of power in this situation as small as it is.

"Would I be the only one then, if we do?"

[hybrid_prince]

"I mean, other than some awkward fumbling with a high school boyfriend, like, a handful of years ago? Yeah, pretty much," he admits.

So that's fair.

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem nods. There's a certain ache at the memories of childhood kisses with Mahad before everything had changed when he became pharaoh... of the feelings he'd had for Kaiba but had never acted on.

"I won't let you down in what's expected of me," but he also won't let go of wanting to work together to achieve his own goals.

[hybrid_prince]

Teddy blushes because he didn't know what to do with it.

"I'm more certain that I'll let you down."