SaDiablo Hall, Dhemlan, Kaeleer, Saturday Evening (Fandom Time)

[glacial_queen]

The first week Karla, Warren, and Raven had been back, they had been granted a leave on lessons. After all, Warren and Raven had just graduated from high school and that was an accomplishment of some note. Even Lucivar had announced his morning exercises for the week were voluntary only, making the three of them (okay, Raven and Warren) immediately popular among the coven and boyos.

Granted, calling the lessons "voluntary" was kind of a joke, because Lucivar was a prick, but it was the thought that counted.

The following week, however, it was business as usual, or, rather lessons as usual. Though Karla was the youngest at eighteen, Saetan had a firm rule that while Jaenelle's friends stayed at the Hall, they took lessons. The coven and boyos privately agreed that it was a last-ditch attempt to keep them out of mischief while they stayed, but since they'd all run off the most obnoxious of tutors years ago, the lessons that remained were no hardship.

And some, like Protocol, were necessary. Especially when dealing with the kind of Protocol only found in Courts. Some Protocol lessons were taken together, polishing the give and take between the sexes in a Court. Others, like this one, were separate, with the boyos sitting down and learning about what it was like to act as Consorts to Queens. Granted, Saetan hadn't been a Consort in over fifty thousand years, but that didn't matter. Saetan was the foremost expert on Protocol, then and now.

Comments

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

"Both of you shut up," Aaron glared. "I'm trying to listen, here."

Beat.

"...Which, really, you'd think Khardeen would be the one saying that, considering what I overheard Morghann mentioning to Kalush."

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

Rather than replying, Khary turned a bright red, almost the color of Morghann's hair and slid slowly down in his chair. Chaosti took one look at him and began laughing.

"You know, Brother? I think I've found a way to forgive you for egging Jaenelle on."

[wwiii]

"It isn't like any of the ladies in the coven need any egging on anyhow," Warren offered, right along with a sideways grin that was trying so, so hard to turn into a chuckle in spite of Warren's best efforts. "They're more than capable of egging each other on without Khary's help."

[hells-highlord.livejournal.com]

Saetan watched them all, allowing himself a small smile. This--the laughing and teasing and joking--was what made a Court function. The Court revolved around its Queen, yes, but it was held together and made made to work by the relationship of its males.

"So Morghann's Virgin Night has been scheduled?" he asked in a lull in the teasing. "Would you like to remain at the Hall for the evening?"

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

Khary nodded mutely, giving Saetan a grateful smile.

Look, Morghann having her Virgin Night was giving him all the feels and very few of those were of the 'pleasant anticipation' variety.

[hells-highlord.livejournal.com]

Saetan nodded; he'd expected that answer from Khary--and from the other boyos in turn when it was their ladies.

"So then, if no one has questions about last lesson, then it's time to move onto today's." Again, Saetan was not surprised by that. They were young and full of...vitality. Sure, that was a polite word for it. It was hard--if not impossible--for them to imagine a time when they'd need to employ things like safframate seeds or the like. "Today, we're going to discuss techniques to use when your Lady isn't feeling particularly amorous."

He offered them a frown. "We're not discussing these things for when you're in the mood and she is not. You're all males; I'm quite certain you all know how to take care of that. But there are going to be times when she's tired or stressed and a healthy romp between the sheets will actually make her feel better. Most kinds of strenuous physical activity will have similar effects, like riding or gardening, or sparring. But those activities can be handled by any male in her Court. So today we'll focus on those activities best handled by her Consort."

[wwiii]

Oh, hey. Warren knew the solution to this one, too.

Neckties. Pineapples. That bow that she'd seen him do back when he wasn't quite himself...

Yeah, Warren was having a difficult time keeping from smirking again.

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

This time, it was less an elbow and more a phantom kick. Funny how all the boyos looked completely innocent, their eyes fixed on Saetan.

[wwiii]

Yeah, they were innocent as baby ducks, weren't they? Warren's smirk went a bit tighter for a moment there, but in the face of a foot to the shin? Warren was going to just re-double his efforts to smirk a little more.

So there, boyos. So there.

[hells-highlord.livejournal.com]

And Saetan was just going to ignore that inteplay there, yup.

"There are multiple ways to intrigue and arouse your Ladies, even when she is otherwise exhausted or disinterested. The first and most important thing here is to pay attention to her. There may be times you think that a quick bout might be the perfect thing and she legitimately just wants to sleep. There is a difference between suggesting and cajoling--I'd go on about it more, but as I've met the coven and know that none of them would hesitate to pull a knife on you when you're being a pain in the ass, I think it likely we can move on. That being said, if I ever hear one of them bitching that she had to take drastic steps to get her to leave her alone, you will be dragged back into this study and that oversight rectified."

From his grim tone of voice, that wouldn't be a cozy lesson with coffee and nutcakes.

"That being said, the first step in properly seducing a lady starts with the senses. Usually eye-sight, since that's generally the first sense engaged. So, who can suggest ways to visually entice?"

[wwiii]

"The proper clothing can go a long way," Warren offered, because after a kick to the shin, like hell he was going to keep his mouth shut. "Especially if they're dress clothes that you might not wear often. Something businesslike, like perhaps a necktie, can... give a lady ideas."

Necktie, leash. Same difference. Wasn't it?

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

"Looks are useful, too," Aaron piped up. "Sometimes you can just stop and look at her. You don't have to be thinking anything overly lewd..." He coughed at that, yes. "Just that you're looking at the most beautiful desirable woman in the whole room or Territory or wherever. If she blushes or smiles a little as she looks away, she knows what you're thinking."

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

"Oooh, that's good," Khary said, scribbling down both Warren and Aaron's suggestions. "Ummm...well, there's sort of the opposite of Warren's idea. Instead of more, fancy clothes, fewer ones? But only if you have a good reason for it. I'm not suggesting just stripping down and prancing through the hallways--"

"Thank the Darkness for that," Chaosti interrupted.

"--But getting 'caught' coming out of the shower in a towel, or during sparring practice, or making woodchips. Those'd work, right?"

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

And now it was Chaosti's turn and some of his habitual Warlord Prince arrogance fell away. "Eating," he mumbled, trying not to flush. "You can do it...you know. Erotically."

The other boyos were trying not to laugh. That helped Chaosti get over his embarrassment enough to glare at them.

[hells-highlord.livejournal.com]

Saetan gave him an indulgent smile and nodded. "Excellent examples all of you, though I'm seconding Chaosti's suggestion of not running naked through the hallway, Khary. For one thing, Helene might never forgive you. For another, I can barely keep up with the exorbitant rate she charges me for dealing with you lot as it is."

The boyos grinned at one another. It had been...an eventful five years, yes.

"But moving on, much of what you suggested can boil down to to a simple idea: making the familiar unfamiliar. Whether it's something as simple as eating--and, yes, another time we will be covering sensuous ways to eat and feed someone else--or simply changing how you present yourself, a quick change to your look will often times result in your Lady doing a double take. Or, better yet, she will give you a long, lingering look and with that, you have a solid foundation to build on. Clothing is a matter of personal preference between the two of you. As time goes on, you'll learn the kind of clothing that catches her eye and attention. Neckties and business attire seem to work for Karla. For Kalush, it might be seeing Aaron dress in the kind of clothing native Nharkhavans wear, for Morghann, riding boots, and Gabrielle, a sharp blade or supple leather. Often it doesn't need to be an entire outfit, just a signature item or two. After you have been together for long enough, just seeing that item may start to do some of that work for you, because your ladies will associate it with successful seductions of times passed."

He paused to give them time to write this down, calling in several mirrors and a long, wooden box easily the size of his lap, though no more than a few inches high.

"Other times, you may wish to try something new, or something less subtle than clothing," he explained. "That's where these come in."

With that, Saetan opened the box and showed them the contents. "That's right. Makeup."

[wwiii]

OhGoodGod. Warren's gaze kind of lingered on the contents of that box, yes. Lingered and refused to leave, because...

"Um?"

Yeah. Yeah, that was the upper limit of the Worthington eloquence today.

"... Yeah?"

Indeed.

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

The boyos didn't seem to share his reticence, however. They were also peering at the box of makeup, but making small noises of curiosity and agreement.

"I've seen Grandmammy Teele's Consort in full face paint once," Chaosti murmured. "It was impressive."

"After Queen Lulann's last Consort's contract expired, you should have seen all the males showing up with paint on," Aaron agreed. "All trying to attract her attention."

"Morghann and I once broke into her grandparents' collection," Khary said with a laugh. "She had streaks of her grandmother's eyeshadow down her face and I proceeded to draw on the wall with her grandfather's khol. We were in trouble for weeks."

[wwiii]

That was not dawning horror on Warren's face. And people were totally seeing things if they thought otherwise.

"... This is... kind of seen as a very female thing to do, back where I'm from," Warren tentatively shared, still not quite peeling his gaze from the makeup kit. "Well, either female, or loud, angry musicians."

He was only the first very occasionally, and never the second.

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

AND NOW YOU WERE GETTING CONFUSED LOOKS FROM ALL OF THE BOYOS, WARREN. Look what you did. You were confusing the boyos.

"Well, females also use face paint," Khary said slowly, turning his confused look back to the others. "And, I mean, they use more of it, more often..."

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

"Not among the Dea al Mon," Chaosti supplied immediately. "Our face paint is usually much brighter and more elaborate than the females."

"Let me guess," Aaron said, cracking a smile. "There's some kind of brave, ass-kicking tale involved. Something like a dare."

"But of course, my friend," Chaosti replied. "When isn't there?"

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

"I don't understand," Aaron said, glancing back at Warren. "You said your females wear face paint, but not your males? Why not? Isn't the point of face paint to enhance your natural attractiveness? Why shouldn't males wish to do the same?"

[wwiii]

Warren actually took a moment's silence to think his answer through when the best he could come up with was, 'because it's a GIRL THING.'

You're welcome, boyos.

"Well... I guess we just find other ways to do so. The cut of our clothes, the way we wear our hair, even just the attitude we present ourselves with. I'm sure there have been different cultures back on Earth through history where it was appropriate for males to paint their faces for any reason beyond just the... the shock factor of it all, I guess. But if my dad had ever caught me wearing kohl, he would have thrown a fit."

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

More head-shaking. "I have seen pictures of Karla's dances," Khary said. "Females employ all of those same things, plus the face paint."

He was just going to ignore the elephant in the room, re: Warren's father.

[hells-highlord.livejournal.com]

"Warren's world has a different view of such things." Saetan ended the cross-chatter diplomatically, totally not mentioning how he thought that view was ridiculous. Or mentioning his less-than-favorable opinions about Warren's father, either. "But, in Kaeleer, both males and females wear face paint, though styles and amounts differ."

"Like pants," Khary added, grinning. The High Lord's views on ladies in pants were well-known. Ignored by the females at large, but well-known.

"Yes, thank you, Lord Khardeen." Saetan didn't roll his eyes, but his voice suggested he had. "Anyway, especially in the beginning, less is generally better for you. You're young, you're not painting to conceal anything, just attract. Having your nails tinted a different color means your hands are more eye-catching." He help up his hands, showing his usual black-tinted nails.

Of course, he'd begun tinting his nails to hide his snake-tooth, but that didn't change what he was saying.

"A bit of carmine to your lips adds color, the same when it's dusted lightly over your cheeks. Subtlety is key with those. For eyes, a smudge of khol over the lids and lashes darkens them and makes them far more dramatic. Powder over the face can make you look paler. Gold dust in certain areas catches the light and the eye. I would not combine these all at once, but applied with a light, deft hand, and you will be able to attract attention from almost anyone."

He took out the paint pots, and with the ease of long practice, applied subtle color to his cheeks, eyes, and lips. It was done with such skill that it made him look androgynous and yet more savagely male, an unsettling blend.

"When I was Consort to Cassandra, this was a look I wore often for her pleasure," he said, setting them aside and allowing the lads to examine the job he'd done.

[wwiii]

Okay. Okay, Warren was okay with this. See how okay with this Warren was? He was totally fine with this.

He was going to have to put on guyliner. And there was no subtle when it came to that sort of thing for him. He was blonde with blue eyes, and already pretty damn pale. It would stand out on him no matter how subtle he was about it.

And the damning thing about it was, he had to admit that it was a look that actually suited Saetan. In that unsettling sort of way that was so... Saetan.

"I might need some help with mine," he mumbled. Totally not awkwardly in any way, shape, or form. Honest.