OH MY GOD THIS ONE MADR THE DEADLINE (angel choir) due to an especially hellish work week (and by that i mean i had to pick up the slack of some who will not be mentioned and dealing with crap from my boss, I literally did not get this chapter finished until Friday evening. THANK GOD FOR ONE HOUR LUNCH BREAKS and NAPTIMES! I SWEAR!

Dedications for this go entirely to Val and Armamintheipswich, for being the best betas EVER! No joke soon as i told them the situation they got this back to me in just one day and my wonderfull grammar knight had a 12 hour time zone diff so, this one is all you girl! (GLOMPS!)

FOR ALL MY READERS: PLEASE READ THE NOTES AT THE END!

As always, read, review, reply, comment, critiqu, ask questions, post theories and concerns and flames must have a reason! Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter XXIV: Duties

Yugi awoke to the obnoxious bellow of horns blasting the next morning. The noise was so sudden that he awoke with a shriek and thrashed about until he landed on the floor with an embarrassing thump.

"Are you alright?" Timaeus was already awake and dressed. He looked down at him, eyes curious with concern. He had exchanged his heavy emerald armor for his silver skin-hugging under-armor—and it clung tightly to his form and only the belt that covered his hips and thighs remained, for which Yugi was grateful.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Yugi demanded, more embarrassed than angry. As one of the Per-A'Ah's children, he was used to waking before dawn. But in the confines of Timaeus' chamber, the forecastle's horizontal windows—always parallel to the sea and facing the rear—made it difficult to see when Amun rose and set.

Timaeus merely shrugged at the outburst. "You looked tired. I thought you would prefer sleep. If you are awake then you can change in the privy." He gestured a thumb to the adjacent wash room and privy chamber reserved only for the Captain and those of rank.

Immediately, Yugi looked down at himself. He'd been so worn out by the day before that he nearly collapsed as soon as they'd returned to the Trierarch's quarters. He couldn't remember if he ate anything—or if he even changed his clothes. He was so tired. To his relief, the silks he wore were still in place, though ruffled from sleep. The wrinkles smoothed themselves upon standing and he understood why the Locrians preferred the material.

"Why do you look so relieved?" Timaeus asked with a hint of a snap.

Yugi glared at him, expecting a fight. Instead, Timaeus regarded him with a sly smile, his hard eyes suddenly twinkling with mischief.

"Do you think me so roguish as to strip you while you slept? Do you truly think so little of me?" he feigned hurt.

Yugi, at least, had the grace to blush.

Timaeus only chuckled. "Rest assured, my darling, it is never my desire to make you uncomfortable," he promised. "And if that includes undressing you then I shall, of course, refrain." The smile curled with a tease. "Unless, of course, you wish me to."

Summoning the last of his dignity, Yugi rose from the floor, dusted himself off, and strutted towards the wardrobe without so much as a glance in Timaeus' direction. He thumbed through different fabrics, silks, and linens all in similar styles—longer and sleeker and poised to cover as much skin as possible without hindering movement, and definitely Locrian and all foreign under his fingertips. Though wrinkled and crisp from sleep, his attire remained smooth but the looseness made him feel naked and exposed. His fingers brushed the smooth, slippery, but strong material of Timaeus' under-armor—a protection so feather-light.

"Can I have one of these?" he asked, boldly but hesitantly.

Timaeus' smiled dropped to a gape. "That?" He tried to mask his surprise at the question, but failed. A confused hand pointed to the sets, a thinly-veiled gesture of confirmation.

Yugi nodded, his pale cheeks reddening. "Well, I need to act as your right hand," he elaborated shyly. "Best I look more like a Trierarch than a Lord's bride."

Timaeus considered that for a moment. "There is logic in that, and yet…" He smiled as he approached the wardrobe and ran a hand over the garments. He glanced at Yugi and sized him up quickly. "I'm uncertain if any are your size…" There was a shyness to his voice that sounded almost unnatural compared to his usual confident baritone. "But you are welcome to try," he added quickly.

Wandering fingers found a smaller suit—older than the rest, yet not the least bit faded by time. "Ah, yes." He pulled it out to examine it, eyes brightening. "Try this one." He thrust it into Yugi's startled arms, and ushered him into their shared privy. Yugi blinked, but did not argue.

He emerged from the privy a few minutes later, the silks bundled in his arms. It clung loosely, and hung off his slimmer build.

"I'm afraid the lad who wore it before you was a size too tall when he was your age."

"A boy?" Yugi asked curiously, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Timaeus noticed the twitch and grinned. "Ah, yes, about your age. A very foolish lad: very handsome, very strong, very quick to anger." A fond chuckle bubbled in his throat. He hadn't failed to notice the twitch in Yugi's lips, or the green glow hardening his eyes. Bright-eyed, he added, "And the most stubborn creature His Majesty ever brought to the Atlantian Court."

A flicker of understanding passed over Yugi's features, his jealousy retracting and replaced with an amused snort. "This was yours." There was no question in the words.

"From my earliest days in Atlantis," Timaeus admitted, unable to hold back a laugh. With a small step forward, he slipped his fingers behind Yugi's neck and tightened the lacings. "Back when I was naively young, ridiculously bold, and unbearably stupid," he punctured each adjective with a drawn-out groan of impatience. "And far too stubborn to realize what I'd been given."

"Were you really? Tell me the truth!" Yugi snickered. He tried to imagine Timaeus, wild and savage as a youth on the cusp of manhood.

Timaeus pulled the last lacing a little too tight. His lips curled to a smirk. When he pulled his hands away, one settled on Yugi's shoulder and the other bent his chin in an elegant curve to meet Timaeus' fraternal eyes of glittering emerald and enigmatic pearl. "I was twice as stubborn as you, my tongue was just as sharp, and my wit was at least a thousand times more vulgar. 'Twas a miracle of the King's patience. I should've been lashed every day. I would've deserved it."

Yugi pulled away, unable to suppress a roar of laughter. Timaeus grinned.

"How old must you have been?" Yugi asked between snickers, gesturing to the looseness of it.

"Oh, I was about your age. I was just this much taller." He waved a teasing hand a good few inches above the tips of Yugi's hair. Yugi snorted in derision, eyes narrowed.

"I'm only jesting," Timaeus chuckled then sighed. "Telling the truth, it didn't fit me quite right either." He sounded almost sad. "I was always more of a sailor than a warrior, I'm afraid." He said it so longingly and so quietly that, for a moment, Yugi wondered if he was speaking to himself. He opened his mouth to elaborate but Timaeus silenced him with a gesture. "No matter now." The playful smile had returned but the longing had not left his eyes—yet it was so small a flicker, Yugi would never have noticed it had he not been looking.

"Come, let's break our fast." He gestured him off with a small shove to his back.

The morning feast was a spread of plump figs, fleshy pears, juicy-looking pomegranates, bunches of plump green grapes, honey-sweetened cakes, and a round of bread. Only when Yugi smelled the sweet, tangy aroma of juice and the fresh pungent smell of bread and salt had he realized that it had been nearly a full day since he last ate. His belly ached to be filled and his mouth watered, dry and famished. His limbs ached to move but his steps were slow with forced courtesy.

Timaeus quickly took notice of the sudden stiffness and gave him an assured smile. "There's no need for that," he urged with a gentle push. "I'm aware you've not eaten since yestermorn, and as it is only us, there is really no need to impress."

Yugi's eyes turned bright and hopeful.

"You must be hungry," came the reassurance.

Discarding all courtesy, Yugi plopped into a chair and launched himself at the food. He was halfway through a honey cake when he grabbed another. Both were followed by a handful of grapes and a large gulp of mead. It tasted earthy and barley, and left a dry aftertaste following so much sweetness.

Timaeus sat down a little more formally and smiled as he watched Yugi eat. He pulled off his gloves one finger at a time and set them near the end of the table, and split a pomegranate with a kitchen dirk.

"Pomegranate, love?" Timaeus offered with a slight wink.

Yugi wiped his mouth on his sleeve and set the cup of mead down to grab it. "Thank you," he nodded, remembering that courtesy. Sparing a glance at his sticky fingers and the status of his plate, he bowed his head low, cheeks pinking. "I must have been hungrier than I thought."

"Indeed," Timaeus chuckled, amused, and scooped out a handful of pomegranate seeds. All at once, he popped them into his mouth and licked his lips. He looked devilish then, like a little boy plotting mischief. It was so unlike his normal behavior—so unlike the chivalrous, well-kept knight who courted him—that Yugi decided he liked that face and began pondering ways on how to bring it back into play.

He bit into the seeds, juice trickling down his chin. They were ripe and sweet like fine wine and summer nights. He swallowed with a hum of pleasure nearly shuttered.

"Good?" Timaeus teased.

"Delicious," Yugi nodded, wiping the juice from his chin until Timaeus provided him with a cloth.

"I love the juice myself," he confessed, wiping his hands clean. "But I can't stand the sticky fingers." He gestured to his gloves at his side. "I've ruined many a pair, I assure you."

He wiped his lips with his thumb and threaded his fingers together under his chin—the amusement of the Man gone from his face and the all-business Trierarch returning to replace it. "Now then, had Rhebekka spoken to you of your role at all? Duties, arrangements—that sort of thing?"

Yugi paused. "She spoke some," he admitted. "Only about certain differences with staffing management that I needed be aware of, what my duties will be and…" he paused and blushed. "And that we'll be sharing a chamber… and a bed." The blush darkened.

For an instance, Timaeus' gaze softened, the Rogue looking amused like he was biting back a tease, but the Man regarded him with kind and understanding eyes. Then the Trierarch returned and smiled. "Well, we've already discussed that particular bit of business." Despite the courtesy, the words felt and sounded awkward on his tongue, even nervous. "Has she spoken of anything else?"

"Not in detail," Yugi shook his head.

"I see," Timaeus nodded and paused to consider his next words. "Let us start by asking what your understanding of the Magistrate position is, then."

Yugi squared his shoulders. "It means that I am your consort, and as the younger of this marriage, thus I hold the position of lesser responsibility. I will organize marriages, tend to agreements over dowries, run the household expenses and the staff, plan parties and feasts, and take care of everyone. Births, funerals, healing illnesses, and agricultural…" He listed all he remembered from his and Rhebekka's conversation.

It was a curt answer, and Timaeus disliked it. "True," he cut Yugi off, wanting nothing more than to break through that armor of politeness. "However, it is much more than that." His fingers moved to palm the back of Yugi's hand. Yugi didn't flinch. "Think of the Magister and Magistrate as the monarchs of a lion pride."

Yugi immediately perked up at the reference. Timaeus smiled. "The Magister is the Leader, the Warrior, and the Protector. My duty is all external factors: I shall handle politics and trade outside our country, handle things like war, enforcing laws, passing judgments, protecting our borders, and training soldiers and ship hands."

Yugi nodded.

"Your duties, however," Timaeus began, "Are much more cultural and central. The Magistrate owns all the island's internal affairs. Yes, this includes basic things like household finances and dowries, but more importantly, you will be responsible for the aid of everyone on the island—spiritual aid, their health concerns and assisting with healing illnesses, and the like. They will seek your advice and guidance on marriages and possible suitors. It will be you they turn to for such matters, not I."

Yugi's eyes widened. "Health concerns?"

"Yes," Timaeus answered. "All matters related to life and death have been strictly reserved for women. As such, you will be responsible for not just the physical, but the spiritual: births and blessing of children, arrangements of funerals and blessings of the deceased, and all events held in the temples such as marriages, festivals honoring the gods—and music, which is very important to Locri's spiritual and cultural tradition, will also be yours to command. Again, traditionally, these are restricted to women, but as you are my consort and a former hem-netjer of Mut-Sekhmet, I believe an exception can readily be made."

His tone was bright, but Yugi only felt nervous. "And you?"

Timaeus nodded. "Me, they shall turn to for justice, but you they will look to for guidance and aid."

He paused to let the information sink. Yugi's eyes widened and he offered his hand a gentle squeeze. Yugi relaxed slightly into the touch and Timaeus softened his voice before he continued. "Do not fear, love. I know you are more than capable. I shall help you and so will my staff." He squeezed Yugi's hand again reassuringly. "I'm confident that, in time, they will adore you as I do."

It was the first time he'd said anything like that out loud and Yugi's chest suddenly tightened. He suddenly became all too aware of Timaeus' hand holding his and felt overwhelmed—but by what, he wasn't sure.

"I will not let you stumble." The words were meant to be reassuring, but Yugi only grimaced and pulled his hand away.

"Of course you won't," he said aloud. And looked down at his hands.

Timaeus said nothing, but his lips pulled into a thin line, his eyes dark with aggravation.

"I'll leave you to think on this, then," Timaeus said, sharp with closure.

Yugi didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

"Are you finished?" he gestured a hand to Yugi's plate, piled high with honey cake crumbs, pomegranate skins, and the cores of figs. He wiped his mouth on a cloth and nodded.

"Good," Timaeus clapped his hands. The bare skin made a snap when they collided. "Then once you've cleaned yourself up, we can begin our daily duties." He pulled on his gloves and gestured a hand for Yugi to follow.

Yugi nodded and wiped his hands clean, his posture aloof and unsurprised. Timaeus arched a brow. He'd been expecting at least a grimace, but if anything, Yugi looked nonchalant.

"What shall we be doing today, then? Steering the ship or advising the men?" The question came in an almost-relaxed tone.

Confusion made Timaeus blink. Then understanding curled his lips into a smile. "Actually…" he drew out the word, deliberately teasing. "We shall start by restocking the kitchen. Rhebekka's planning on something hearty this week, so we shall need to bring her at least a few crates."

Yugi froze in mid-step and shot up, eyes expanding. "Wait," he gasped. "You mean we will be bringing them to her?" he asked, confused and with poorly-masked dread.

Timaeus smirked teasingly. "Of course. And once we're finished with that, we shall organize the rest, re-rig the sails, repair the mast, and if we have time, we can start chipping some of the barnacles off The Eye." He said the last part with an affectionate pat against the wall.

Yugi's face paled from pink to colorless. "B-B-But what about the crew? Surely they—"

"They," Timaeus cut him off, "Will be spending the day as oarsmen. The current is favorable but the damn wind turned traitorous last night, so we shall be rowing for the next few days," he said with a snort, then added with a smirk, "And when they are not rowing, they will be spending every waking moment making my ship spotless until they've proved to me that they can behave."

That brought Yugi no comfort. His brain scrambled for another answer. "Then, perhaps Rhebekka will need me? You said yourself I'm an excellent healer!"

Timaeus couldn't resist a grin. Even defeated, he continues to fight. He sighed and shook his head. "There are no wounded right now, and Rhebekka has her hands full cooking at the moment, but she's more than capable of doing it herself. Had she needed help, I assure you, the whole ship would be hearing of it." His words were a hearty chuckle, but Yugi's face only looked more and more horrified at the thought of manual labor.

"Besides," Timaeus added. "You said yourself last night that the crew will not respect you unless you become one of them. They will not respect you if you hide away in your comfort zone, correct?"

Yugi's mouth twisted into a protest then froze upon opening when his bold request came back to him. Frozen, his mind scrambled for something—anything—that could form a workable answer. No ideas came.

"Surely you are not opposed to some manual labor?" Yugi stared at Timaeus' triumphant grin and glared.

"I'm sure I can manage," Yugi boasted with a humble undertone. His shoulders squared and a proud nose rose as he walked past.

Timaeus' smirk curled with pride. He was still there: that feisty, fiery prince he'd longed to call his own.

All it needed was a little push.

Grammar Knight's Glossary:

dirk - is a long thrusting dagger.

This Chapter was most Timaeus' pov which was fine cause he needed more spotlight and i wanted to do more with their 2-hour meal sessions than just recap boring details so hope this offered some clarify on just WHAT yugi will be doing when they get to Atlantis ;)

Originally this chap was gonna be longer, but after some SERIOUS debate and editing with myself i decided to keep this scene and cut the ideas i wanted to do into the next chapter where i could change the style of events and then in chapter 36 have the first big plot twists i planned on with Rhebekka! So because of that a lot of stuff that I promised would be in this chapter will actually be in the next chapters. So sorry about that ^^' I'm so excited i can't wait! and hopefully after that i can get into the Fun stuff ;)

thank you all so much for the ideas and feedback it keeps me going and inspires me!

ADDITIONAL NOTES: PLEASE READ OR AT LEAST SKIM:

Writer's blog Idea:

I've also been wondering about a pet-project I've been working on: should I start a writer's blog in my profile since a lot of people have asked me for writing advice and other relations, so what i was thinking of doing is starting a blog i can do here or on Deviantart or even as my own blog, where i review books, manga, show, anime etc that I think have effective qualities that writers can learn from: Characterization, Plot and Organization, Dialect and Dialogue, Realism and Setting, originality and plot development, storytelling or just the general uniqueness of a plot or taking a cliches plot and basically just MAKING it unique, cause I've seen some BAD ones and some AMAZINGLY good ones as well. Here are some i'd like to evaluate in depth:

Phantom Thief Jeanne (manga)

Dictatorial Grimmoire (manga)

Over The Garden Wall (Anime/cartoon)

Star vs the Forced of Evil (anime/cartoon)

Gravity Falls (anime/cartoon)

Teenane Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012-Present (cartoon/anime)

The Land of Stories Series (novel series)

A Modern Faery Tale Series (Novels by Holly Black)

and others...

So if anyone would be interested let me know!

Timaeus Updates:

It is official! Timaeus WILL become an original story! I already decided who the main character will be: she'll be a female still playing on the role of her being the youngest child of Pinedjam I and his second wife, and her name will still be Ujalah, but her nick name will be Haja (habibi Ujalah) and Timaeus, will be his same personality but loosely based on the actual timaeus of Locri, kinda like mine is already and i already have his appearance (he's keeping his green eyes-debating if he'll have the scar over his left eye or simply be blind in it, since i really like that aspect of his character and how it defines his mystery and origin but I don't want to plaherize the anime, so any ideas?

I also have some darkshipping ideas i plan to write in the future and would like to turn into originals as well which might be my last fics for a while...

Desert Kings: set in Ancient Egypt and loosely based off the Lion King (will contain caste, libra and blueshipping)

Dragon's Wish: (title may change) Loosely based off Aladdin with Atem and Yugi as the Princes and Bakura as Aladdin, Malik as Abu, and Duke, Jono and Haja (Tristan) as their band. Will also contain one-side peach and scandelshipping, with Teana as Iago, and Seth and Aknadin sharing the role of Jafar: Aknadin as his greedy, insane side, and Seth as his power-hungry, arrogant side who also has a lustful obsession with Atem (i seriously can't wait to write this one!)

The King's Lyons: Loosely based on the legends and ballads of Robin Hood and his fellow characters..you may remeber this as being originally puzzleshipping, but honestly the more i thought about it the more i wasn't feeling it (ans you know i refuse to make the story fit the cast, the CHARACTERS have to fit the story...and the more I thought about it and more i researched, the more i realized the Robin Hood character was a cynnical, older character matured by the struggled and hardships of his life, and becomes a thief as a middle finger against a corrupted government and then i thought, who does that sound like ;) then i thought of Maid Marian and how in each of her incarnations she's portrayed as a young woman with noble backgrounds, who often snuck out disguised as a boy and was fiercely loyal, independent and determined to do whatever it takes to help her people...now who does THAT sound like? Thus the new story was born ;)

THE FUTURE: I also wanna say after i finish Timaeus I will probably be on fanfiction about 75% ;ess, I still read weekly updates, but I don't always have time to read them every day which has become a problem as of late, that I do not like, but I need time to write, so I will probably be writing fanfictions less and won't be updating until I have at least a good chunk of the story done but it all depends, as Timaeus took six months and I'm still making it up as i go because of a huge section that's been giving me issues (ironically everything AFTER that i have plotted out, partially written and ALL that) but Its time for me to take a break and work on my original stories and that also included editing my current stories, finishing my current two novels Red Kings and Wonderland, rewriting Dragon Rose as an original novel, plotting and outlining two new ideas I have that I've been inspired, working on my poetry collections and finally sending things out for publication, so Fanfics will simply be on the back-burner, and i'd like to turn all three of my dark ideas and Bear's wife into original stories as well, so if anything I may make those the rough drafts but for the most part i want to focus on my original stories and actually FINISHING them, so yeah about 85% less...

NEXT UPDATE: OCTOBER 3rd (Depending on how fast i get the next few chapters written this may change and I may be able to get back into my once a week schedule. All depends on if work leaves me alone)

NEXT TIME: Yugi gets his first taste of good old hard work and the crew gets a taste of him. Ryou makes a decision, Rhebekka makes a declaration and Timaeus finds himself between a rock and a hard place with no way out.