"you've heard them," khusobek said groggily, rolling away from @Inji with a low grunt as he straightened inside his mazoi's quarters. he left her wrapped in the decent furs, and slowly stretched this final night of drink and entertainment away, tasting the sourness of stale wine in his mouth.

both prince and divine one had spoken. the expansion would begin.

"when the queen joins us in the south, will you be with her?" khusobek asked, not opening his eyes as he continued his sun salutations.

RE: ivory & steel - Inji - August 20, 2023

Expansion was now underway. Akashingo itself, overwhelmed in numbers, and Inji thought it just as much for her as well.
Princes from all over crawled the halls like spiders, and while none had eyes for her in particular — save for Naberius, who had taken what had been given — they made her prickle with nerves even still.
Aglow, she preens at the red-ticked fur of a spindly foreleg as she stares at the undressed spine of her suitor. Again, he sought her company, and ever was she happy to oblige.
For him alone she would open that tiny chasm of girlish longing.
If she wants me to, is her answer, bathed in the scratchiness of a tired throat. Her jaws stretch in a small yawn. will you?

RE: ivory & steel - Khusobek - August 20, 2023

"i will be leaving today, my sweet," khusobek said dryly, in the manner of a man pulling on his lighter clothing. he turned, half silhouetted, and looked upon her with a mingling of desire and interest.

he had allied with eset; he had taken now two servants of the queen into his embrace. a captain of the guard worked outside the walls; the captain within worked for his own aims.

"when you join us," for the crocodile had decided she would, "i will tell you to which prince you should turn your charms." a piece upon a senet board of darker stone. "you will want pharaoh of akashingo to favour you when he comes to power."

and through her, khusobek too would be rewarded.

RE: ivory & steel - Inji - August 20, 2023

He was leaving today. Her soft lip twists into a frown. Who else was to stay in Akashingo, anyway? I'll miss you, a teasing trill to her voice as it lifts in pitch, followed by breathless, quiet laughter.
And in some way, she truly would.
Pharaoh? To say Inji's inexperience in the world of Akashingo's politics showed would be an understatement. She looks upon him with wide, curious lavender. Was that why the Queen had so many men traipsing across the palace's metaphorical roses?
Is my job not to charm everyone, anyway? she retorts, a playful lift of her paw to the tepid air. I'll be sure to keep my eyes on them, though.

RE: ivory & steel - Khusobek - August 20, 2023

"be assured, i will miss you also," khusobek teased. but her ignorance rankled him, though not to anger. he settled down near her, propping muzzle upon the bed itself.

"you misunderstand, inji. it is a game to play. charm them all, lie with none save who i tell you. if you learn the proper steps, you will not be a fellahin forever."

was not ascension the goal of all servants?

RE: ivory & steel - Inji - August 20, 2023

But it was he who misunderstood. Her eyes narrow; not in anger, but in something akin to wariness. Such an odd implication, she thought. I chose to be a fellahin, she says simply, as if it had been obvious. Was it not obvious? Queen Toula made sure it was what I wanted before she accepted me. And, y'know, it is! I like it. I don't do anything I don't want to do, I don't have to worry about anything or anyone,
And then, she leans forward, warm mouth pressed to his shoulder. and I get tired soldiers like you as my reward.
And she was lucky, for it was not like this elsewhere. Had she gone to another palace, perhaps she would not have had the choice.
But I do worry about whoever our pharaoh might be. What he might expect of me. and in that is genuine concern, vulnerability, as she rolls to her side and exposes the pink of her soft belly. Perhaps, given that, she would heed his word.

RE: ivory & steel - Khusobek - August 20, 2023

at this khusobek wanted to openly scoff. and maybe he would have, had inji not soothed him with her touch, the lilt of her voice. he eyed the lotus-petal hue beneath the thin fur there and pressed a roughened paw against her flesh, not so hard, a hover of a touch.

that was the seat of power, not what was between one's flanks.

"any man with red blood in his veins will want you to serve him. and any pharaoh who wants more than one heir will make a fellahin a concubine the first moment it occurs to him that he can. do you wish your children to be heirs or servants?"

mazoi rarely married.

rhetorical; khusobek was turning. "stay in bed as long as you like, until you are called. sleep here while i am gone, if you wish." a lingering look; but he did not pause long, and soon was gone from the doorpost.

RE: ivory & steel - Inji - August 20, 2023

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She hadn't supposed he wanted her to truly answer that.
Instead, she laughs; serene, velvety. Be safe with your travels, Khusobek, before he gets up, a kiss is emphatically pressed to his cheek. Scandalous is her gaze as it rests upon him. I'll be waiting for your call.
His offer would be taken. His scent lingers heavy in the plush his bedfurs and with that, she would come undone once more, alone, in a series of muffled cries and spasms of her hips.
And when her name is called, sable-ticked fibers are laced in the ivory of her own and she makes no effort to hide them.