Only for rich men?

Question: Is keeping an odalisque only for rich men?

An odalisque is a luxury slave - she is not one of the essentials of life. So any man who struggles to maintain the essentials - mortgage, medical fees, loan repayments etc - should not add keeping an odalisque to his financial burdens. An odalisque is an indulgence, like a sports car or a yacht. Clearly, not every man can afford one.

On the other hand, keeping an odalisque is not the preserve of only the filthy rich; it is possible for men of relatively modest means to purchase and keep a cockslave. It is quite possible to keep an odalisque on a decent middle-class income if one is prepared to forgo other luxuries in order to pay for her. If it is what a gentleman really wants to do, and he is sufficiently well-off to meet all the essential obligations in life, then he can easily reorganise his finances in order to accommodate her.

Ideally, an odalisque is entirely kept. This means that her Master keeps her in occlusion and pays for her; she does not have to work. In Code d' Odalisque, work is a characteristic of low slaves (memlooks) and an odalisque, by definition, is "preserved from toil." Indeed, it is a travesty that an odalisque should have to get her hands dirty with common labour. It is an outrage that an odalisque - an object of beauty - should ever have to work in a factory or at menial tasks. By definition, an odalisque is lifted above labour. She is kept. Ideally, a man who owns an odalisque should be able to provide for her entire up-keep in order to preserve her from labour.

In today's conditions, however, this is not always possible. For financial or for other reasons, it is often the case that an odalisque may have to earn some money at a part-time job. The rules of the Code allow for this. The slave may go on "sojourn" like a freewoman between the periods when she is held in active "occlusion". We know of many cases of this. For many couples, there is no alternative because they would struggle to live on a single income. The woman (odalisque) plays slave to her Master as often as possible, but she goes out to work (or study) on a part-time basis in order to supplement their finances. This is not ideal, but it is often necessary.

If that is the case, then the odalisque should only be required to do suitable work and should be protected from any injurious labour. For example, she should not do any type of work where she might get burnt or where it will impact upon her beauty. She should not be a dishwasher, for example, because that type of work will age and damage her hands. She should not be a bricklayer; hard physical labour will age her and make her skin rough and damage her beauty. If an odalisque must go out to work, it should only be to part-time jobs and jobs that are soft, clean and light. Light labour only. Secretarial work would be suitable, for example.

Other than having the slave work part-time, there are other strategies that can help make keeping a cockslave a viable option. Most importantly, Code d' Ode is a social form of slave play. An odalisque is bound to a single man (her Slavekeeper) but, by default, he is to share her. It is quite possible for a group of gentlemen to contribute to the maintenance of an odalisque. She can only be bound to one Master, but she may be enjoyed by a circle of gentlemen. Her Master cannot prostitute her - a Slavekeeper is not a pimp! - but there is nothing to prevent an agreement between gentlemen concerning the maintenance of an odalisque.

Similarly, let us remember that an odalisque is, by definition, extra-marital. In many cases, husband/wife couples play Master/slave, but it is not necessarily the case. It is possible for a married couple to acquire a slave for themselves. In that case, the slave will be bound to the husband as her Slavekeeper, but she plays the role of sex toy to the married couple. In such cases, the combined income of the married couple is enough to support owning an odalisque. (This, of course, requires an agreeable wife.)

How much does it cost? There are different estimations. In the past, we have quoted the figure of $12,000 a year, but this has proved to be inflated. That figure works out at about $250 a week. We have, however, spoken to Slavekeepers who put their costs at much less than that - barely $100 a week.  Figures can be very rubbery, though. The main pitfall is health costs. Provided an odalisque remains fit and healthy, costs can be kept to a minimum. There are no clothing costs. Feeding an extra mouth doesn't take too much extra money. But if she needs medical attention, it can start to get expensive and go well beyond $100 a week. That is life. Life often has many hidden costs. This should be taken into account.

It would be wrong, though, to say that owning an odalisque is only for rich men. It is more accurate to say that it is not a game for poor men. Experience shows that any man who is relatively settled in life and who is gainfully employed can, if he is keen, make the financial adjustments in order to keep an odalisque. It means not buying so many CDs, not spending $150 for tickets to a sports game, and cutting back on other luxuries. An odalisque is luxury enough. If a middle-class gentleman cuts back on frivolities and other indulgences, and manages his finances well, there is no reason why he cannot afford the pleasures of an odalisque.