Dielo (dee-eh-lo)
Content warning: Sexual exploitation. Article is PG level content.
Dielo
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Special abilities
Apparel & Accessories
Specialized Equipment
She twisted on the couch to the little cabinet behind her, with a row of tiny figures upon a shelf. She took one out, identifiable by its deep-black hair and perfectly dusky-gold skin, concealed only by a short kilt.Like all virilo, Dielo is attached to a chit. This figurine, approximately a finger's height, denotes a particular virilo and occasionally indicates even special talents or abilities. A virilo's chit is the equivalent to a title or deed, though the servant can be lent out (as to, perhaps, a potential business partner one is courting) without official transference. Many wealthy households will display a chit or chits prominently, as much objects of conspicuous consumption as the virilo themselves.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Sexuality
Education
Employment
Mental Trauma
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Likes & Dislikes
Relationships
History
The prince told Pasiphae Jade to stop sending women to his quarters. The next day, she sent Dielo instead. A virilo is an expensive gift, so it is possible Pasiphae Jade wished to purchase the displaced prince's good will. It's equally possible that she wished to place an intimate spy within his private quarters, to watch for any political actions he might take against the usurper despite her precautions. The prince, who had only just dismissed nearly all of his sera qadra after his father's murder by a courtesan, was suspicious of Pasiphae Jade's gift but could not refuse it. (He tried, once, and there were brutal consequences.) Thus he barely welcomed Dielo into his retinue, and not into his...personal service, while Dielo depends entirely upon his success in pleasing in this position.
Shared Acquaintances
Yovela, the remaining member of the original sera qadra, despises Dielo and makes little secret of it. She is not clear about her reasons, however, and it may be more than just his connection to Pasiphae Jade.
History
She remained when the prince dismissed his sera qadra, the only one he trusted to remain near him. Then Dielo was forced upon them by Pasiphae Jade, thrust into the prince's quarters and sera qadra despite his connection with the woman who had murdered Kayvin's father and held his mother a frozen hostage. He is almost certainly a spy. More, he is a willing, even eager participant in the twisted trade which provides living ornaments and pleasure on demand to the powerful. It may seem Yovela, also a member of the sera qadra, has little ground on which to disdain Dielo's position, but that isn't going to stop her.
Pasiphae Jade fixed her eyes on Dielo. “Do you know our role? What service we provide to our masters?” “We provide a respite from the trials and pressures of life, and pleasure—” “Wrong.” Pasiphae Jade cut him off with a curt tone and gesture. “That is what you were taught to say. It’s what they think, and it is even what we may think, but it is not the truth.” Dielo swallowed. “What is the truth?” “We provide power.” Pasiphae Jade rose, her robe slipping from her shoulder with practiced ease. “We are prey to be caught, which makes them feel dangerous, or we are weaker souls to be protected, which makes them feel strong, or we are trophies to be displayed, which makes them feel envied or respected, but we are always a means to power.” Dielo watched her move. What she said made sense, and it was not incompatible with all he had been taught about pleasing those who could give him a better life and a secure position. But then there was always the ultimate enticement, hanging invisibly in the air for every virilo trained to be more than a common prostitute. “But there is love.” “Is there?” Pasiphae Jade laughed. “Maybe there is, I can’t say. But when we use the same mechanism for power and for love, it’s possible the two are confused.”
Comments
Author's Notes
Character portrait created with Artbreeder. Chattel slavery and human trafficking are still serious problems today. Please join me in fighting these! You can find one previous fundraiser here.