I was trying to think of a subject that would allow me to paint a beautiful, graceful male figure, and as I was trying to settle on a pose, the backstory for The Emperor's Boy formed itself in my head.
The boy depicted is something of a concubine. He is the Emperor's favourite courtesan, and he calls on him to dance when dark moods fall upon him. He gives him jewels and plies him with all the wine and sweets he could ever want, but make no mistake-- the boy is a slave.
As such, he both hates and loves the Emperor, and when he is called to dance he does so without hesitation. His body is lithe, utter perfection as he performs for his master. Only his eyes tell of his true feelings.
The boy is, after all, a bird in a gilded cage.
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Crits more than welcome, hi-res snaps here: http://www.trinitycross.net/red/g02a/36.html