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]

"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."

[hybrid_prince]

He... blushes. Blushes and nods. Geez, he's bad at this.

"I promise I won't touch you."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"Mhm, but if you change your mind, you have permission," Atem says simply, licking the fruit juice off his fingers and deciding that he's finally had his fill.

[hybrid_prince]

Okay, maybe his eyes are watching the path of Atem's tongue. But he looks away, blushing.

"That seems... forward."

He says to the consort in his harem.

[millenniumpharaoh]

Atem doesn't miss the other's blush or him looking away.

"More forward to picking out someone to be in your harem?"

[hybrid_prince]

He sighs in frustration. "My grandmother's responsible! I don't like this either."

And what is he supposed to do about that.

[millenniumpharaoh]

"Right," Atem exhales.

"And here I thought for a moment we were flirting."

[hybrid_prince]

Wait, they were? Well fuck.

"I'm sorry. I haven't... I'm out of practice. I haven't really been flirting in about two years now."

And clearly it was not a bicycle for him.

[millenniumpharaoh]

"It's alright," Atem laughs, glancing away. "I've never really had a chance to do much flirting myself."

[hybrid_prince]

"Seriously?"

Teddy seems confused by that. Atem is, objectively, beautiful. The guy should have had plenty of chances to practice.

[millenniumpharaoh]

"Life for a future pharaoh doesn't give one much freedom... and neither does war," Atem says with a simple shrug.

[hybrid_prince]

That is very true. And Teddy understands that quite a bit. He takes a deep breath and nods.

"I guess I haven't had much either."

[millenniumpharaoh]

"It seems like you might have had some," Atem says, thoughtfully and then shrugs.

[hybrid_prince]

"Perhaps once," he says. "I grew up on Earth, until I was taken by the Skrull. To lead the empire. And it... It's been hard. It's been isolating I guess. My grandmother definitely doesn't help."