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

[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."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"Why?"

[hybrid_prince]

Listen, he's still blushing and he focuses on his food.

"Because I really don't know most of this."

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem bites back a smile but he loses the battle and a soft laugh escapes him before he tries to focus on eating.

"I'm sure you'll be able to perform passably."

[hybrid_prince]

"You might well have more faith in me than I have," he says with the deepest sigh.

[millenniumpharaoh]

"I trust that will change with time," Atem says simply. Having someone have faith in you generally does have that affect after all.

[hybrid_prince]

Perhaps it will. Perhaps it won't.

"If you'd like, I can sleep on this couch. You know, so you have space."

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem contemplates that offer and then shakes his head as he takes another piece of fruit.

“The bed is large enough for both of us.”

[hybrid_prince]

Oh, it's more than large enough for them both. It could probably easily fit four people. But come on...

"You'd be more comfortable with me not over there though, right?"

[millenniumpharaoh]

"It doesn't make much difference to me. I don't want you to be kicked out of your own bed. Stay with me."