Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2000 14:09:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: Par Lance <par_lance1@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Gift of a Friend

Title: The Gift of a Friend
Author: Parlance, Copyright 2000.
Email: par_lance1@yahoo.com
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/par_lance1
Feedback appreciated.  Flames will be passed among
friends and ridiculed.
Pairing: Lance/Joey
Rating: AU/Fantasy.  NC-17 and nothing less.  You've
been warned.
Classification: Plot quickly degenerating into smut.
Archive: Please ask fist.

Disclaimer: This story contains homosexual themes,
gender play and lovely, hot sex.  The series takes
place amid the backdrop of an environment of enforced
slavery, though the relations depicted in this
particular story are consensual.  If that offends you,
you're not old enough to be reading it in your
jurisdiction, or you cringe at the sight of
high-falutin' medieval prose, flee.

This is fiction.  I know nuthin' 'bout nobody.  I
especially don't presume to know nor care about the
sexual preferences of *Nsync, Britney Spears,
Christina Aguilera or Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

Author's Note: This story is set in the Lyris
universe, an alternate universe fantasy world I
created years ago.  There've been many characters and
lately I decided it's *Nsync's time to play.  It is
not entirely necessary, but you might want to read
"Idle Pleasures" to get some character background.

Set on Earth during the Middle Ages, but in a mythical
land.  Suspend your beliefs about race, color, gender
and sexual preference because the only prejudices here
are based on class.  Slavery is legal and forms the
socio-economic background for this society.

There are three genders - the third is a cross between
the male and female gender known as transsexuals, or
"transies" for short.  They have the faces and voices
of men, but the bodies of women and can reproduce.
Lansten is one of them.

Cast of characters/name changes:

Lansten - Lance
Justin - same
Joshua - JC
Joseph - Joey
Brittany - Britney
Christina - same
King Kenneth I - Babyface

A shout out to Brandi, who started the whole mess.
And to my tireless betas Chauvee, Sammie, Jackie B and
Karen.  And Jess, still kicking and screaming.  What
up, Goldblum.

For Joeyfull, who's been begging for it.  ;->
Apologies for the lack of "pulsating manhood"
references.

****************************************************

"Catch, Joshua!  Oh, come now, you are not even
trying."

It was a warm day in the kingdom of Lyris.  The
pleasure slaves were being allowed some recreation
outside behind the castle until they were called for
supper.  Some slaves sat and gossiped with each other
in a courtyard.  Others played catch or merely ran
after each other, laughing and yelling.

Joseph, one of the slave-grooms, stood inside at a
window, watching the other slaves.  He kept an eye in
particular on those he was in charge of: Joshua,
Brittany and Christina, as well as Lansten, the
transie for whom he had harbored more than a passing
fancy since their childhood.

The grooms and maids and other slaves who did not
serve as pleasure slaves were almost never allowed the
luxury of afternoon play.  Those rare moments a groom
had to himself were usually spent resting until duty
called.  Joseph smiled wistfully to himself.  He
enjoyed watching the pleasure slaves in their carefree
moments, and he often wished he could join them... or
perhaps even be one of them.  But then he reminded
himself that the price for spending one's days solely
satisfying their masters was often too dear to pay.

Joseph's thoughts turned to Jason, a comely, but
ill-fated pleasure slave.  His insatiable master, the
Crown Prince, had worked him to exhaustion.  Jason's
loyalty had amounted to nothing; one night when he was
unable to perform to his master's satisfaction, the
poor slave had been put to death.  Joseph shuddered at
the memory.  Best to leave the job of pleasuring to
those cunning and creative enough to fulfill the
freemen's desires.

"Joseph."  Joseph turned to the voice.  It was
Jonathan, the slavemaster, who was in charge of all
the pleasure slaves.   "I need you to retrieve
Lansten.  The King has offered him to a guest, a lady
of the Emperor's court.  He must be prepared and
adorned with his finest jewels as befits her
standing."

"Yes, sir," Joseph, the slave groom, bowed
respectfully.  Joseph turned back to the window.
Lansten, the slave in question, was playing handball
against a wall.

"LANSTEN!" Joseph called in a booming voice and
Jonathan jumped.  Lansten stopped to look up.

"I could have done that, Joseph," Jonathan told him
wearily.

Joseph grinned.  "Sorry, sir."  He told Lansten, "Meet
me downstairs.  You are being called."  Lansten nodded
and threw the ball to another slave before walking
quickly towards the slave entrance in the back.  The
other slaves continued playing as if nothing had
happened.  Such an event, after all, was commonplace
in their lives.

Joseph met a rather grimy Lansten at the back entrance
and shook his head at the slave's appearance.

"Lansten, why must exert yourself so when you are
outdoors?  Have you torn your skirt?  Yes, you have,
as I suspected.  No matter.  You will have to put on a
fresh one anyway.  Why do I allow myself to be
surprised?"  He took Lansten by the wrist and led him
upstairs towards the room where Lansten slept and
bathed.

"I thought you might be miffed with me," Lansten told
his groom as he grinned.  "So I brought you a
rhododendron."

Joseph took the flower from the charming transie's
hand and breathed deeply.  "Thank you, but we must
make haste.  We cannot keep your company waiting."

"Who is it, Da?" Lansten asked, evoking the term of
affection Joseph's charges had given him.

"The Emperor of Japan sent an representative to
discuss trading with the King.  A woman.  You will be
entertaining her tonight."

"Oh! I do not believe I have been with someone of such
high stature from Japan before."

By then the two had reached the room Lansten shared
with the three other slaves whom Joseph groomed each
day.  Lansten sat on a stool as Joseph filled a tub
with water that had been warming in a cauldron.

"No, I do not believe you have.  And I have been
instructed to decorate you with jewels tonight."  He
helped Lansten into the tub and swiftly bathed him,
without the deliberation he normally took each morning
when he bathed the pleasure slaves.  Occasionally, he
looked up at Lansten, and the transie admired his
warm, brown eyes.  He longed to caress his dark hair
and trail his lips with his fingers.

"Joseph, when is your birthday?"  Lansten asked as he
stood in the tub while Joseph soaped the triangle
between his thighs.

Joseph smirked at Lansten.  "In two days, I believe.
Why do you ask?"

"No particular reason," Lansten answered evasively.

"If you are planning anything on my account, do not
trouble yourself, duck."

"Do not be so silly, Da.  You are always so thoughtful
about our own birthdays.  We could not simply let the
day pass without a celebration or gift."

"You could.  I have the best gift already having you
ducks as my friends."  Joseph kissed Lansten on the
nose and proceeded to rinse away the soap.

After Lansten was dried and oiled, Joseph took a small
vial and dabbed Lansten's body with perfume.  Then, he
rouged Lansten's lips, cheeks and nipples with a dark
rose color.  Black kohl was applied to his shimmering
green eyes.  Joseph brought a small jewelry chest to
Lansten, who helped him choose a few thin gold chains
to attach to his neck, waist and ankles.  Bracelets
were attached to Lansten's wrists and upper arms.
Joseph paused to examine his handiwork, and added
small dangling earrings.  Last, he brushed Lansten's
hair and used a antimony paste to affix the tiniest of
pearls to his blonde locks.

"It was easier when the King had you wear your hair to
your shoulders," Joseph commented.

Lansten nodded.  "But it will turn out beautiful in
your capable hands all the same, Joseph."

"You flatter me, Lansten, but let us see if your
company agrees."  He patted Lansten on the knee.
"That is enough.  Stand up, let me put a new silk on
you."

Joseph attached a skirt of fine silk, but left
Lansten's breasts bare.  He approved of the final
results.  As he escorted Lansten to their slavemaster
to present before the Emperor's emissary, the transie
schemed of how he might best surprise Joseph with his
birthday gift.

A week passed after Joseph's birthday before Lansten
was able to corner the groom.  After Joseph fed the
slaves at noon one day, he gathered their plates and
cups and placed them on his cart.  Lansten flitted
after him as Joshua and the Twins exchanged knowing
glances.

"Joseph," Lansten called softly so not to startle him.
 Joseph turned to the blonde slave.  "Will you come
back after you have taken the cart to the kitchen?
Will you be busy today?"

"I do not foresee it.  But allow me to ask Cook."  He
raised an eyebrow.  "What do you have in mind,
Lansten?"

"I will tell you when you return, Joseph.  Not
before."  Lansten smiled coquettishly.  Joseph shook
his head but he returned minutes later.

"Now, what is it?"

"Follow me."  Lansten led Joseph down a hallway and
towards a closet.  He opened the door and as much as
his strength allowed, prodded the brawny man inside.

"Lansten, damn you, what is this about?"  But he said
this in mock anger, curious to know what the transie
had planned.

Lansten grabbed a torch nearby and followed Joseph
into the closet.  He rested the flame on a stand.

There was a stool in the closet, and Lansten placed
his hands on Joseph's shoulders and bade him to sit
down.

"Now, will you tell me what this is about?"

Wordlessly, Lansten untied his one garment and wore
nothing but a smile.

Joseph responded, "I have seen that, Lansten.  Several
times."

Lansten, undeterred, bent down and reached over to
slip Joseph's silk wrap from his hips.

"Lansten!"  Joseph struggled to keep his wrap firmly
tied around his hips.  "What do you think you are
doing?"

Lansten gave a mock sigh.  "Giving you your birthday
surprise."  Lansten straddled Joseph's formidable
thighs.  "I have wanted to make love to you for so
long, Joseph."  Lansten fingered the head of Joseph's
member through the silk cloth with his fingertips.
"But tell me this is not what you want and I shall
bother you no more."

Joseph groaned.  "Lansten, we will be caught.  We
might be punished severely."

"No, we will not.  No one inhabits this hall.  If we
are discreet, our masters will never know.  And even
if we were caught," Lansten continued as he coaxed the
head of the cock from its silk covering, "you are not
forbidden to bed with me.  And what does it matter if
those silly gossips in the harem know that we sought
pleasure in each other's arms?"

"You- you have Justin," Joseph began.  He was
weakening under Lansten's expert touch.  Lansten was
in turn delighted to see his penis swell at the
slightest touch of his fingertips.

"Justin knows.  He understands that this is my gift to
you on your birthday.  He lays no claim to me, nor I
to him."

"Lansten, I am your groom.  I am supposed to look
after you.  I cannot take advantage of you."

"Joseph, you think too much.  We will make love and
you will still be my groom and I your little duck.
And we will remain the dearest of friends.  But
perhaps we are avoiding what truly troubles you; if
you do not desire this of me, tell me and I will
leave."

Now, Joseph's entire cock was free from the fabric and
Lansten encircled it in the palm of his hand.  He
stroked it slowly, deliberately, as he spoke to
Joseph, and rested it against his own pubic mound as
he teased the defenseless groom.

"You are truly the devil's servant, Lansten.  Of
course I desire this of you."

"Then speak no more and let me have the pleasure of
offering my body to you."  Lansten caressed Joseph's
cheek and kissed his mouth, reveling in the feel of
Joseph's moustache and beard lightly scratching his
skin.  Joseph closed his eyes and surrendered.
Lansten released Joseph's cock and took the groom's
face in his hands.  He pushed his tongue past Joseph's
mouth and lapped gently at the sensitive flesh.
Joseph opened his eyes and began to relax, his fingers
trailing Lansten's neck and the outline of the
transie's milk-white breasts.  Lansten, encouraged by
Joseph's response, probed Joseph's mouth more intently
with his tongue.  The groom, afraid to make a sound,
suppressed a moan.

Joseph caressed Lansten's dusky brown nipples, but his
motions were gentle, apprehensive, as if he were
holding fine china.  Lansten wanted Joseph to play
with him more freely, and he took one of Joseph's
hands and pressed it against his breast, forcing
Joseph's fingers to close in a tight squeeze as Joseph
watched in awe.

Joseph lifted his eyes to Lansten's.  "I do not want
to hurt you," he whispered.

"Joseph!  You massage me with stronger hands than
these!"  Lansten whispered back.  "I am not asking you
to hurt me.  But you must not be afraid."  Now he
kissed Joseph more firmly, creating a powerful suction
between their mouths as Joseph cupped Lansten's
breasts and circled his nipples with his thumbs.  When
they broke away, Joseph gasped for air.

Lansten was wrong.

There *would* come a change after this day, if only in
the way Joseph perceived the transie, whom he had
groomed for the pleasure of others since Lansten began
his training at the age of 15.  Though he had admired
Lansten for years, he had been taught to groom his
charges with the utmost detachment.  Joseph had often
lain with the female maids and scullery girls in the
palace, but never one of the beautiful slaves of the
harem.  So thorough was Joseph's training that
strangely enough, he had never thought of Lansten as a
sexual being.  Now Lansten sat on his lap, freely
making a gift of his body.  The prospect was
overwhelming, to say the least.

Joseph continued his exploration in silence.  He
brought his fingertips to the undersides of Lansten's
breasts and down the transie's belly.  The King
preferred his female and transie slaves to be slender
in build, but nevertheless round of belly and thigh
and buttocks, and Lansten more than fulfilled the
King's wishes.  Joseph pressed his fingertips just
under Lansten's stomach and rubbed gently, sending a
pleasant sensation straight to Lansten's clitoris.
Lansten smiled and squirmed at the ticklish feeling.
Joseph look up and returned the smile.  Even by the
dim light of the torch, he was taken aback by the
sparkling beauty of Lansten's green eyes.

As Joseph paused Lansten took the opportunity to
caress Joseph's dark nipples, appreciating the feel of
the light fur on Joseph's chest, so rare to one who
lived among male pleasure slaves who were required to
be clean-shaven at all times.

Joseph put an end to Lansten's explorations by placing
his arms at this sides.  "No," Joseph told him.
"Allow me to do the work."  His hands traced Lansten's
spine, sending more delicious sensations to the
transie's nether regions.  The hands lowered to
Lansten's soft behind and kneaded them firmly.
Lansten was amused to watch Joseph take charge and
equally pleased to learn that Joseph's talents were
not limited to his morning massages.  As Joseph's
inhibitions waned, he touched Lansten's body in the
ways he already knew would emit contented sighs from
the transie.

Joseph asked Lansten to stand before him while still
straddling his legs.  Joseph's hands left his buttocks
and now massaged Lansten's thighs.  His fingers
trailed the silky hair between Lansten's thighs, then
firmly coaxed Lansten's clitoris until he climaxed.
Lansten smiled to himself, remembering the many
mornings he secretly reached his peak while Joseph
massaged him.

Joseph spoke.  "Lansten, you are truly beautiful. It
is a mystery why you would give yourself over to a
lowly groom such as I."

Lansten lowered his body until he was kneeling on the
floor.  "Because this groom is truly handsome and is
certainly never lowly."  With this, Lansten slid the
remainder of Joseph's wrap from his thighs and took
the head of his erect member to his lips.  He
delicately licked a precious drop of fluid from the
head and kissed the tiny slit.  He took the head into
his mouth and suckled it slowly, savoring the salty
taste and scent of musk.  The head sunk past his lips
down to the ring.  Lansten let tiny moans escape from
his throat, sending vibrations throughout Joseph's
taut body.  Then Lansten let Joseph's penis slip from
his mouth so he could lick it with circling motions
with just the tip of his tongue.  As he concentrated
on pleasuring Joseph, he shifted his body to the side
to keep his knees from growing sore.

By now Joseph felt as if his bones had become a mass
of liquid fire.  He caressed Lansten's hair and
pleaded silently for the transie to cease his
relentless tease.  And yet, he never wanted the
mounting pleasure to end.

Lansten drew his lips away from Joseph's cock as the
latter moaned in frustration.  But Joseph would not be
abandoned for long.  Lansten pushed back Joseph's
thighs and held Joseph's ball sac in his hand.
Gently, ever so gently, he caressed the rough skin
with his fingertips, as Joseph seriously contemplated
stuffing his silk into his own mouth to keep from
crying out.  Lansten bent forward and laved Joseph's
sac with his tongue.  Joseph looked down to see
Lansten smiling as he kissed and nipped at the tender
flesh.  Just as carefully, Lansten wrapped his mouth
around Joseph's sac, filling his mouth as much as he
could, and sucked as his tongue massaged the
underside.

So *this* is what they are trained to do, Joseph
thought as he anchored himself against the wall with
the palms of hands.

Lansten held each half of Joseph's sac in his mouth as
long as he could (an admirably long time!) and paused
only long enough to breathe before he took in the
other half.

After a few minutes of this, Joseph, red-faced,
gasped, "Lansten, by the gods, I shall die!  Please,
please..."  His words dissolved into incoherent
babbling.  Please what?  He knew not what he wanted
next, but Lansten absolutely *had* to end this
merciless torture or he would release before he wanted
to.

Lansten took pity and ceased his oral homage to
Joseph's body.  He stood to face Joseph again.  He
paused for a moment to smile at his friend, then
guided Joseph's member inside his moist sex.  Both man
and transie shuddered as Lansten lowered himself on
the swollen cock.

Lansten clutched Joseph's shoulders as Joseph held the
transie by the waist.  Joseph proved himself to be
well endowed and Lansten's hungry, tight sex eagerly
accommodated him.  The transie sighed with pleasure as
he rocked his hips.  Joseph awkwardly attempted to
mirror Lansten's movements until Lansten shook his
head with a grin.  "Let *me* do the work now."
Lansten closed his eyes and pressed his body against
Joseph's.  Joseph appreciated the position he was in
because he could hold on to Lansten's ample buttocks
and feel the muscles clench with Lansten's every
movement.

The two knew it would not be long; they had been
approaching the edge long before their bodies had
become one.  Though Lansten's eyes were closed, Joseph
never took his away from the gorgeous sight of Lansten
undulating his hips while beads of sweat shone on his
body and his lips formed a perfect "O."  The
flickering light of the torch illuminated their
amorous pursuits and Lansten's silhouette danced along
the wall.  Joseph buried his nose in the crook of
Lansten's neck and breathed in the scent of his body.

Lansten rocked his body with increasing fervor until
he felt Joseph stiffen beneath him.  Lansten grabbed
Joseph by the back of the head and pulled him forward
for an open-mouthed kiss, a trick he had learned long
ago to quiet one's screams.  Joseph gratefully
reciprocated the kiss as he and Lansten spent their
passion.

The two exhausted slaves remained joined for a few
minutes as their breathing slowed.  Lansten covered
Joseph's face with soft kisses - first his lips, then
his cheeks, the tip of his nose, and his eyelids.
They shared a few moments of silence before Joseph
withdrew.

Joseph and Lansten both prepared to leave before their
masters could notice that they were missing.  Joseph
bound them in their silks, then Lansten took the torch
and opened the door.  Lansten looked around and
finding no one in the hall indicated to Joseph that
they could leave.

Joseph instantly transformed from the lover to the
groom as they approached the room where he slept.
Joseph produced a pan for water and sponged both
Lansten's and his privates.  Lansten received a
tingling reminder of their lovemaking as Joseph
thoroughly bathed his clitoris, labia and vagina.
Fortunately, there was no other groom in Joseph's room
at the moment.  The sight of a groom bathing a
pleasure slave was nothing out of the ordinary, but
the sight of one also attending himself would raise
more than a few eyebrows.

After Joseph emptied and stored the pan, Lansten took
Joseph's hand and sat him down on his pallet.

"Thank you, Joseph."

Joseph smiled sheepishly.  "Why on Earth are you
thanking me, Lansten?  It was your gift."

Lansten shook his head.  "So modest.  You are not
planning to greet me in the morning with a mere peck
on the cheek are you?"

Joseph frowned.  "Lansten, I believe we agreed that
nothing would change.  Besides, we do not want to call
attention to ourselves."

"I realize that, Joseph, and nothing has changed. But
we do not need to go to such extreme lengths to
pretend nothing happened, do we?"

Joseph at first did not answer the question.  He was
deep in thought.  "Lansten, I am afraid."

"Pray tell, of what?" Lansten asked, almost
impatiently.

"Lansten, I regard you and the others with the utmost
respect.  And now I am afraid that I have committed a
breach that may have been unwise-"

"What exactly are you telling me, Joseph?"

"I am afraid of falling in love with you."

Lansten grew quiet as he regarded his friend
carefully.  "Are you saying this is a real
possibility?  Are you in love with me now?  Be honest
with me."

Joseph was startled.  "No, Lansten-"

"Oh.  Well, now I am disappointed," Lansten teased.

"Lansten, be serious, please.  I love you as I love
the others.  You are a beautiful transie and I admit I
have entertained fantasies of what it might be like to
spend a night in your arms.  But I am not, as you have
put it, in love with you.  And if I were, I would
content myself simply with being in your presence each
day, as I have for so many years.  You are with
Justin.  And as your friend, I would never do anything
to create a chasm between you."

Lansten nodded.  "Then why even speak of a danger that
does not exist, Joseph?"

Joseph hesitated.  "I- I do not know, Lansten.  I am
confused.  Perhaps I accepted your gift in haste.  I-"

"Dear Da."  Lansten took Joseph's hands in his.  "Once
again I say that you think far too much.  How many
times have you shared a bed with a maid?  Have you
fallen in love each time?  Of course not.  Can we not
see this merely for it what it was?  We enjoyed each
other's bodies, and no more.  And that in itself is a
joyful thing."

Joseph considered Lansten's words and smiled.  "You
are correct, Lansten.  And it is my turn to thank you.
 I could not ask for a better gift, or a better
friend."  Joseph stood and extended his hand to help
Lansten.  "But now I must go to see if Cook needs me."

"Busy, busy Da.  Scarcely any time to play."  Lansten
reached up to kiss Joseph lightly on the lips.  "Until
your next birthday, then."  Lansten winked.

Joseph grinned.  "Must we wait so long?"

"Well, I can see if Joshua is available," Lansten
teased.

"No, thank you."  But his grin never faded as he made
haste towards the kitchen.

Lansten returned to his own room, where all the slaves
were resting.  Justin was also there, having come to
the castle for his weekly visit with Lansten.

"So?"  Brittany, one of the Twins, inquired.

"What was he like?"  Christina, the other, asked.

"You must not eliminate a single detail, Lansten,"
Joshua chimed in.  Lansten ignored them all and
greeted Justin with a warm kiss as the other three
slaves surrounded them.

Lansten turned to the others as Justin held him in his
arms.  "I do not think that I should tell you."

"What?!"  Joshua cried.  "But that was the agreement.
We say nothing, and you share!"

"Listen to me.  Joseph is not one of us.  His is our
groom and takes care of us.  He is our Da!  Out of
respect for him, I do not think we should treat his
exploits in the manner we treat one of our own.  He
would sense that I told you and it would be an
embarrassment to him.  I cannot betray him that way."

The others were shamed into reluctant agreement.
"Well, it is understood, Lansten.  But could you not
give us the vaguest of clues?"  Brittany pressed.

Lansten sighed.  "I will say that Joseph is a
wonderful, appreciative lover.  That is all."

"Really?"  Justin asked with amusement.  "Should I be
jealous?"

"No more jealous than I should be when you are with
Joshua," Lansten retorted.  He sniffed at his lover.
"And from what I detect, it seems you two have already
availed yourselves."

****************************************

In the kitchen, Joseph shelled peas for a stew the
slaves' cook was preparing for supper.  The cook eyed
Joseph suspiciously.

"What have you been up to today, Joseph?"

Joseph stammered, "N-nothing unusual, madam.  Why do
you ask?"

"I noticed a skip in your step as you entered the
kitchen, that is why.  And you are positively glowing.
 Have you been sporting with the stable girls again?"

"I-I-"

The cook chuckled.  "Whoever it is must be special to
have stolen your tongue.  Well, keep it up.  A
satisfied slave is a productive slave, I always say."

"Yes, madam."  Joseph grinned back at the cook.  Keep
it up, Joseph echoed in his mind.  If only I could!
But as Joseph shelled more peas, he contemplated the
likelihood of Joshua's "availability."


FINIS

Feedback always appreciated!

=====
"Yea, verily, this sucks." - Christopher in "Idle Pleasures"

"The Secret Marriage": the fic that dares to ask, "Why run when one can
scurry?  Why decorate when one can bedazzle?"

Parlance's *NSYNC Fan Fiction:
http://www.geocities.com/par_lance1