Crossover Madness
>.>; It started with the story I just wrote, Arabian Days. I was joking with maderr that the boys should go play in her pretty desert world. She agreed, and deemed that for one of her silly meme-prizes I should write it. ^^; So, crossover insanity ensued between maderr's Harem-verse and my Arabian Days.
Apologies for both the madness and the possible OOCness of the boys that are not mine. ^^;
---
"So," Shaji asked impishly, curled catlike into his nest of soft cushions, "What are you giving me for my birthday?"
Atalaya grinned, emerald eyes shining with mischief. "I thought about it for a very long time, after all what can one get a Sultan, hmm? And then it came to me." He paused dramatically, waving his hands wildly as he announced, "A vacation!"
Shaji blinked. "A vacation? To where?"
"Somewhere very far away, I think," Atalaya mused. "Somewhere even I have never been. That should be fun, don't you think?"
Shaji chuckled. "You can make anything fun, Atalaya. Alright, let me tell-"
Atalaya cut him off. "Already done. Rahdi should be back any moment now and then we have the whole week off!"
Sure enough, in a few moments the djinn appeared in a cloud of blue and green smoke, looking rather pleased. "Okay, we're set," he announced. "Did you tell him?"
"He told me," Shaji replied, bemused. "How long have you two been planning this?"
Djinn and sorcerer exchanged innocently demented grins and Shaji shook his head. "Nevermind. Shall we?"
Rahdi took his left arm while Atalaya took his right, standing him up and touching the fingers of their free hands together. "Safra, Amniyi, Tavamara," Atalaya announced cheerfully. There was a slight moment of disorientation, then the room faded out.
A moment later everything returned to focus, but they were no longer in the familiar confines of the Iftikhar royal palace. Though they did seem to still be in a palace, given the beautiful decor and the way they were almost immediately surrounded by startled guards.
Shaji shook his head in bemusement. "Forgot to tell them we were coming, hmm?"
Atalaya grinned. "Oops?"
"Greetings," Rahdi said, bowing cordially to the nearest guard, completely unaware of the way the man's eyes nearly popped out of his skull at the way Rahdi was floating a few inches off the floor.
"We come in peace," Atalaya added, doffing his hat in a broad sweep and nearly falling over in his attempt at executing an elaborate bow.
From the far side of the room a curious and bemused voice spoke up. "Guards, leave them." Shaji turned to follow the voice back to its owner, finding a tall, well-built man of similar coloration to his own seated upon what could only be this country's variation of a throne. A ruler, then. To either side of the handsome man, seated upon soft cushions, were two of the most captivating men Shaji had ever seen, short of Atalaya and the uniquely-colored Rahdi.
One was beautiful, with longer hair than even women wore. The other was pale of skin and hair, though still breathtaking. Both were shirtless, decorated instead with glittering gold, with an odd bit of black fabric covering their legs that Shaji couldn't decide what it looked like. It took him a moment to remember that it wasn't exactly befitting of a Sultan to stare, but still it was hard not to.
"They're harmless, really," he told the man on the throne in a voice he hoped was reassuring, walking closer until it was clear from the nervous antics of the guards that they preferred he go no closer. "I apologize for our abrupt arrival, but for my birthday present one of my companions here decided I needed a vacation. Apparently he neglected to inform you that we wished to visit your beautiful country." Shaji bowed then, the short one of a Sultan greeting a foreign dignitary. He hoped it was appropriate, and that this country's customs weren't so different that what was polite to him was an insult to them.
The man on the throne seemed more amused than anything, fortunately, nodding slightly at Shaji's explanation. "I see. Well then, as long as you mean no harm to my people, then welcome to Tavamara. I am King Shahjahan."
"Shaja'a bin Kuwi Al-Khalir," Shaji replied, "But that's horribly long and stuffy. Shaji works just fine."
"You forgot the Sultan of Iftikhar part," Atalaya pointed out, coming up behind him on his left, Rahdi doing similarly on his right.
"I'm still getting used to that," Shaji retorted tolerantly. To Shahjahan he added, "The impudent one is Atalaya. The blue and green one is Rahdi."
The King nodded to them both, but did not introduce the men with him. "An... interesting coloration," he observed. "Does it hold some significance?"
"Rahdi's a djinn," Shaji explained, at a loss when only blank expressions resulted from his statement. "Um, he's... Rahdi, how do you explain djinn?"
Rahdi shrugged. "Enchanted slaves bound to material objects, geased to obey their Master's every command. Why our skin coloration varies from you humans is something I never figured out."
Complete silence met Rahdi's explanation. Shaji didn't know what was so strange. He'd seen odder colorations on painted street dancers. Finally Shahjahan cleared his throat cautiously. "Perhaps it would be better if we continued this conversation in private," he suggested, rising.
Shaji exchanged a puzzled look with Atalaya, apparently the sorcerer didn't understand it either, then nodded. "As you please, Shahjahan. We are guests in your land."
The court cleared away, leaving only Shahjahan and the two gold-and-black attired men, one of whom was assisted to his feet by the King. Shaji watched curiously, but it was the impudent Atalaya who voiced his thoughts.
"So, who are they?" he inquired. "Decorations? Very pretty decorations. Though the blond could use some sun."
Shaji winced. "Atalaya..."
Shahjahan laughed. "I suspect that my flowers will be as difficult to explain to you as explaining your... what did you call him, a djinn? to me," he observed. "Nandakumar and and Witcher are both members of my harem," Shah indicated each one in turn, "and there are three more you have not yet met."
All three of the visitors blinked in surprise, then Atalaya turned to regard Shaji thoughtfully. "So why don't you have a harem?" he asked mischievously, emerald eyes sparkling.
"With you around, who would have the stamina for such a thing?" Shaji retorted, bringing a soft laugh from the prettiest of Shahjahan's harem. Nanda-something.
"Energetic, hmm?" the beautiful man murmured. "I would say he should meet Beynum, but I am not certain the palace would not then fall down around us."
Shahjahan and Shaji both laughed, both at Nanda's words and Atalaya's thoughtful expression.
"I am intrigued. Who is this Beynum and where can I find him?" the sorcerer asked hopefully.
"This way," Shah answered, gesturing to a small hallway near the back of the room. "I will admit to being curious as to the reaction as well. My men will be most intrigued by your... friends? Companions?"
Shaji frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure what they are, really," he replied honestly. "Technically Rahdi is a slave, though neither Atalaya or I care for that label. As for Atalaya..." He glanced at the sorcerer in question who grinned angelically. "Well. They stay with me."
Shah nodded, allowing Witcher to lead the way, the rest following behind. Rahdi floated along near Nandakumar, earning himself odd looks from the lovely man. Rahdi grinned sheepishly, then startled them all when he momentarily vanished into smoke, reappearing moments later with hair as long as Nanda's.
"What on..." Witcher breathed. He may have gotten his name from some supposed connection to witchcraft, but this was real magic. "How did he do that?"
"I have no idea," Shaji answered, smiling faintly. "I'm still getting used to them and their magic myself."
Nanda was examining Rahdi carefully, confirming that the djinn had indeed copied his exact hairstyle down to the day's decorations. "Interesting," he said finally. "Rather convenient, not having to brush it."
Rahdi thought about it for a moment, then offered, "Well, if you wanted I could spell yours not to tangle. That's easy."
Nanda's eyes lit up, making him even more beautiful. Shaji was beginning to wonder if he was actually human, for certainly he'd never seen a human like Nanda before.
"That would be wonderful," Nanda breathed. "The time that would be saved..."
"Time to do much more interesting things?" Atalaya quipped, laughing at the look the man shot him. "What? I know what I'd find interesting if Shaji wasn't tied up in silly court stuff all the time."
Shaji arched a brow. "All the time? I hardly think you can call it such when you go to great pains to disturb court every time it's held," he retorted.
Shah chuckled. "Do you get anything accomplished?" he asked.
Shaji rolled his eyes. "Sometimes."
"Aw, that's hardly fair," Rahdi objected, pausing in his conversation with Nanda. "We never interrupt you when you're meeting with the people. Just those stupid stuffy nobles who keep trying to take advantage of you."
"No one has tried to take advantage of me since Atalaya turned that one minister into a camel," Shaji pointed out dryly.
Atalaya positively beamed.
"Camel?" Shah inquired curiously.
Shaji started. "Atalaya, don-"
Too late. With a dramatic wave of fingers, a large, highly-confused camel appeared in the middle of the hallway. It was hard to say who was more surprised: the camel or Shahjahan and the two members of his harem.
Shaji sighed. "Rahdi, would you please send it back to wherever Atalaya got it from?"
The camel vanished as quickly as it had arrived, leaving behind three startled men, one resigned, one amused, and one who was sulking over the removal of his camel.
"... Are they always like that?" Witcher asked finally with a slight shake of his fair head. He hadn't thought it possible to make Beynum look tame. Apparently he'd been wrong.
"That and worse," Shaji replied with a faint smile. "You kind of get used to them after a while."
"Somehow, I am not so sure of that," Shah mused. "If my councilors were to meet your companions, I do not believe they would not complain nearly so much about my harem."
They stopped by a small doorway which Witcher opened, stepping outside into the late morning sun. Without were three men, two engaged in a lighthearted duel while the third watched from the shade.
"No," Shaji said, forestalling Atalaya. The sorcerer pouted.
"But..."
"No. Please behave?"
Atalaya pouted again, watching the sparring men wistfully.
"I do not believe Aikhadour or Beynum would object to a new opponent," Shah offered courteously.
Shaji smirked. "He cheats."
"I do not!" Atalaya insisted. When both Shaji and Rahdi looked at him pointedly, he grinned. "Well, only a little..."
The fighters noticed them then, ceasing their exercise to glance over curiously, eyes widening as each spotted Rahdi. The third figure followed their gazes, getting to his feet as he noticed the new arrivals.
"Rakiah, Beynum, Aikhadour," Shah called, "Come inside. There are some people you might be interested in meeting."
The three came inside, looking over Shaji and Atalaya curiously, though their gazes lingered longest on the exotic Rahdi. Introductions were exchanged on the way to a small, private sitting room, during which Rahdi's hair changed three more times.
"Now then," Shah said, settling himself comfortably with his harem arranged around him, "If you would be so kind as to explain your Rahdi for those of my men who were not present before, I would be obliged."
Shaji laughed and repeated his earlier explanation of the djinn, holding up his hand and adding, "This is Rahdi's ring. The more powerful djinn are bound to lamps, but the only one of those I've ever met was not particularly pleasant to be around. I far prefer Rahdi."
The djinn smiled, summoning up a bowl of fruit which he then offered to Nanda, being nearest to him. The musician was momentarily surprised, though he covered it well, and selected the first unfamiliar thing he saw.
"Rahdi," Atalaya sulked, frowning, "You're spending an awful lot of time with the pretty decoration."
"Perhaps he prefers intelligent conversation to childish tantrums," Nanda observed archly.
Atalaya blinked, then scowled. "Conversations about hair don't count as intelligent," he retorted.
"That would be the only part of the conversation you actually understood, wouldn't it?" Nanda returned.
"Nanda!" Shah chided, at the same time that Shaji paled and grabbed one of Atalaya's arms. Rahdi held the other.
"My apologies, Shah," Nanda murmured, seeming quite amused by the way Rahdi and Shaji were literally restraining Atalaya from retaliating. For his part, the sorcerer didn't seem at all amused, though he did calm down enough for the other two to release his arms.
Shaji smiled apologetically at Shahjahan. "I think maybe we should keep those two away from each other before something explodes."
Shah chuckled quietly. "I think you're probably right."
Apologies for both the madness and the possible OOCness of the boys that are not mine. ^^;
---
"So," Shaji asked impishly, curled catlike into his nest of soft cushions, "What are you giving me for my birthday?"
Atalaya grinned, emerald eyes shining with mischief. "I thought about it for a very long time, after all what can one get a Sultan, hmm? And then it came to me." He paused dramatically, waving his hands wildly as he announced, "A vacation!"
Shaji blinked. "A vacation? To where?"
"Somewhere very far away, I think," Atalaya mused. "Somewhere even I have never been. That should be fun, don't you think?"
Shaji chuckled. "You can make anything fun, Atalaya. Alright, let me tell-"
Atalaya cut him off. "Already done. Rahdi should be back any moment now and then we have the whole week off!"
Sure enough, in a few moments the djinn appeared in a cloud of blue and green smoke, looking rather pleased. "Okay, we're set," he announced. "Did you tell him?"
"He told me," Shaji replied, bemused. "How long have you two been planning this?"
Djinn and sorcerer exchanged innocently demented grins and Shaji shook his head. "Nevermind. Shall we?"
Rahdi took his left arm while Atalaya took his right, standing him up and touching the fingers of their free hands together. "Safra, Amniyi, Tavamara," Atalaya announced cheerfully. There was a slight moment of disorientation, then the room faded out.
A moment later everything returned to focus, but they were no longer in the familiar confines of the Iftikhar royal palace. Though they did seem to still be in a palace, given the beautiful decor and the way they were almost immediately surrounded by startled guards.
Shaji shook his head in bemusement. "Forgot to tell them we were coming, hmm?"
Atalaya grinned. "Oops?"
"Greetings," Rahdi said, bowing cordially to the nearest guard, completely unaware of the way the man's eyes nearly popped out of his skull at the way Rahdi was floating a few inches off the floor.
"We come in peace," Atalaya added, doffing his hat in a broad sweep and nearly falling over in his attempt at executing an elaborate bow.
From the far side of the room a curious and bemused voice spoke up. "Guards, leave them." Shaji turned to follow the voice back to its owner, finding a tall, well-built man of similar coloration to his own seated upon what could only be this country's variation of a throne. A ruler, then. To either side of the handsome man, seated upon soft cushions, were two of the most captivating men Shaji had ever seen, short of Atalaya and the uniquely-colored Rahdi.
One was beautiful, with longer hair than even women wore. The other was pale of skin and hair, though still breathtaking. Both were shirtless, decorated instead with glittering gold, with an odd bit of black fabric covering their legs that Shaji couldn't decide what it looked like. It took him a moment to remember that it wasn't exactly befitting of a Sultan to stare, but still it was hard not to.
"They're harmless, really," he told the man on the throne in a voice he hoped was reassuring, walking closer until it was clear from the nervous antics of the guards that they preferred he go no closer. "I apologize for our abrupt arrival, but for my birthday present one of my companions here decided I needed a vacation. Apparently he neglected to inform you that we wished to visit your beautiful country." Shaji bowed then, the short one of a Sultan greeting a foreign dignitary. He hoped it was appropriate, and that this country's customs weren't so different that what was polite to him was an insult to them.
The man on the throne seemed more amused than anything, fortunately, nodding slightly at Shaji's explanation. "I see. Well then, as long as you mean no harm to my people, then welcome to Tavamara. I am King Shahjahan."
"Shaja'a bin Kuwi Al-Khalir," Shaji replied, "But that's horribly long and stuffy. Shaji works just fine."
"You forgot the Sultan of Iftikhar part," Atalaya pointed out, coming up behind him on his left, Rahdi doing similarly on his right.
"I'm still getting used to that," Shaji retorted tolerantly. To Shahjahan he added, "The impudent one is Atalaya. The blue and green one is Rahdi."
The King nodded to them both, but did not introduce the men with him. "An... interesting coloration," he observed. "Does it hold some significance?"
"Rahdi's a djinn," Shaji explained, at a loss when only blank expressions resulted from his statement. "Um, he's... Rahdi, how do you explain djinn?"
Rahdi shrugged. "Enchanted slaves bound to material objects, geased to obey their Master's every command. Why our skin coloration varies from you humans is something I never figured out."
Complete silence met Rahdi's explanation. Shaji didn't know what was so strange. He'd seen odder colorations on painted street dancers. Finally Shahjahan cleared his throat cautiously. "Perhaps it would be better if we continued this conversation in private," he suggested, rising.
Shaji exchanged a puzzled look with Atalaya, apparently the sorcerer didn't understand it either, then nodded. "As you please, Shahjahan. We are guests in your land."
The court cleared away, leaving only Shahjahan and the two gold-and-black attired men, one of whom was assisted to his feet by the King. Shaji watched curiously, but it was the impudent Atalaya who voiced his thoughts.
"So, who are they?" he inquired. "Decorations? Very pretty decorations. Though the blond could use some sun."
Shaji winced. "Atalaya..."
Shahjahan laughed. "I suspect that my flowers will be as difficult to explain to you as explaining your... what did you call him, a djinn? to me," he observed. "Nandakumar and and Witcher are both members of my harem," Shah indicated each one in turn, "and there are three more you have not yet met."
All three of the visitors blinked in surprise, then Atalaya turned to regard Shaji thoughtfully. "So why don't you have a harem?" he asked mischievously, emerald eyes sparkling.
"With you around, who would have the stamina for such a thing?" Shaji retorted, bringing a soft laugh from the prettiest of Shahjahan's harem. Nanda-something.
"Energetic, hmm?" the beautiful man murmured. "I would say he should meet Beynum, but I am not certain the palace would not then fall down around us."
Shahjahan and Shaji both laughed, both at Nanda's words and Atalaya's thoughtful expression.
"I am intrigued. Who is this Beynum and where can I find him?" the sorcerer asked hopefully.
"This way," Shah answered, gesturing to a small hallway near the back of the room. "I will admit to being curious as to the reaction as well. My men will be most intrigued by your... friends? Companions?"
Shaji frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure what they are, really," he replied honestly. "Technically Rahdi is a slave, though neither Atalaya or I care for that label. As for Atalaya..." He glanced at the sorcerer in question who grinned angelically. "Well. They stay with me."
Shah nodded, allowing Witcher to lead the way, the rest following behind. Rahdi floated along near Nandakumar, earning himself odd looks from the lovely man. Rahdi grinned sheepishly, then startled them all when he momentarily vanished into smoke, reappearing moments later with hair as long as Nanda's.
"What on..." Witcher breathed. He may have gotten his name from some supposed connection to witchcraft, but this was real magic. "How did he do that?"
"I have no idea," Shaji answered, smiling faintly. "I'm still getting used to them and their magic myself."
Nanda was examining Rahdi carefully, confirming that the djinn had indeed copied his exact hairstyle down to the day's decorations. "Interesting," he said finally. "Rather convenient, not having to brush it."
Rahdi thought about it for a moment, then offered, "Well, if you wanted I could spell yours not to tangle. That's easy."
Nanda's eyes lit up, making him even more beautiful. Shaji was beginning to wonder if he was actually human, for certainly he'd never seen a human like Nanda before.
"That would be wonderful," Nanda breathed. "The time that would be saved..."
"Time to do much more interesting things?" Atalaya quipped, laughing at the look the man shot him. "What? I know what I'd find interesting if Shaji wasn't tied up in silly court stuff all the time."
Shaji arched a brow. "All the time? I hardly think you can call it such when you go to great pains to disturb court every time it's held," he retorted.
Shah chuckled. "Do you get anything accomplished?" he asked.
Shaji rolled his eyes. "Sometimes."
"Aw, that's hardly fair," Rahdi objected, pausing in his conversation with Nanda. "We never interrupt you when you're meeting with the people. Just those stupid stuffy nobles who keep trying to take advantage of you."
"No one has tried to take advantage of me since Atalaya turned that one minister into a camel," Shaji pointed out dryly.
Atalaya positively beamed.
"Camel?" Shah inquired curiously.
Shaji started. "Atalaya, don-"
Too late. With a dramatic wave of fingers, a large, highly-confused camel appeared in the middle of the hallway. It was hard to say who was more surprised: the camel or Shahjahan and the two members of his harem.
Shaji sighed. "Rahdi, would you please send it back to wherever Atalaya got it from?"
The camel vanished as quickly as it had arrived, leaving behind three startled men, one resigned, one amused, and one who was sulking over the removal of his camel.
"... Are they always like that?" Witcher asked finally with a slight shake of his fair head. He hadn't thought it possible to make Beynum look tame. Apparently he'd been wrong.
"That and worse," Shaji replied with a faint smile. "You kind of get used to them after a while."
"Somehow, I am not so sure of that," Shah mused. "If my councilors were to meet your companions, I do not believe they would not complain nearly so much about my harem."
They stopped by a small doorway which Witcher opened, stepping outside into the late morning sun. Without were three men, two engaged in a lighthearted duel while the third watched from the shade.
"No," Shaji said, forestalling Atalaya. The sorcerer pouted.
"But..."
"No. Please behave?"
Atalaya pouted again, watching the sparring men wistfully.
"I do not believe Aikhadour or Beynum would object to a new opponent," Shah offered courteously.
Shaji smirked. "He cheats."
"I do not!" Atalaya insisted. When both Shaji and Rahdi looked at him pointedly, he grinned. "Well, only a little..."
The fighters noticed them then, ceasing their exercise to glance over curiously, eyes widening as each spotted Rahdi. The third figure followed their gazes, getting to his feet as he noticed the new arrivals.
"Rakiah, Beynum, Aikhadour," Shah called, "Come inside. There are some people you might be interested in meeting."
The three came inside, looking over Shaji and Atalaya curiously, though their gazes lingered longest on the exotic Rahdi. Introductions were exchanged on the way to a small, private sitting room, during which Rahdi's hair changed three more times.
"Now then," Shah said, settling himself comfortably with his harem arranged around him, "If you would be so kind as to explain your Rahdi for those of my men who were not present before, I would be obliged."
Shaji laughed and repeated his earlier explanation of the djinn, holding up his hand and adding, "This is Rahdi's ring. The more powerful djinn are bound to lamps, but the only one of those I've ever met was not particularly pleasant to be around. I far prefer Rahdi."
The djinn smiled, summoning up a bowl of fruit which he then offered to Nanda, being nearest to him. The musician was momentarily surprised, though he covered it well, and selected the first unfamiliar thing he saw.
"Rahdi," Atalaya sulked, frowning, "You're spending an awful lot of time with the pretty decoration."
"Perhaps he prefers intelligent conversation to childish tantrums," Nanda observed archly.
Atalaya blinked, then scowled. "Conversations about hair don't count as intelligent," he retorted.
"That would be the only part of the conversation you actually understood, wouldn't it?" Nanda returned.
"Nanda!" Shah chided, at the same time that Shaji paled and grabbed one of Atalaya's arms. Rahdi held the other.
"My apologies, Shah," Nanda murmured, seeming quite amused by the way Rahdi and Shaji were literally restraining Atalaya from retaliating. For his part, the sorcerer didn't seem at all amused, though he did calm down enough for the other two to release his arms.
Shaji smiled apologetically at Shahjahan. "I think maybe we should keep those two away from each other before something explodes."
Shah chuckled quietly. "I think you're probably right."