Specialisation

An odalisque is, in herself, a specialised slave. She specialises in the provision of sexual pleasure. Other slaves (memlooks) are low slaves who can be deployed to a range of services including manual labour and domestic work. An odalisque is preserved from toil. She is elevated into a special position among slaves. She does no work because it would spoil and waste her beauty and her sensuality. She serves her Master's bed. That is her work. She is an expert in the erotic arts.

But among odalisques there are some recognised specialisations. There is, for instance, the fellatrice - the expert in oral sex, an expert cocksucker. There have been famous fellatrices in history. It has been recognized as a sexual specialisation since ancient times. Some women have a natural aptitude for certain sex acts. This is obvious among prostitutes. Other than the regular, all-purpose whore there are whores who offer specialised services and cater for particular tastes.

In Code d' Odalisque there are several recognized specialisations besides the fellatrice. An odalisque can nominate two specialisations, or one, or none, as she wishes. Odalisques are known by their specialisations. An odalisque who specialises in anal sex is known as a "sodemella". An odalisque who specialises in FFM play is called an "ambiphiline". There is also an "orgophon" specialising in group play and an "ejacaline" specialising in cum play.

If an odalisque nominates a specialisation her Keeper has an obligation to use her for that purpose. If an odalisque specialises in FFM play (and loves bisexual play) and she declares herself to be an "ambiphiline" then her Master should use her for those purposes and not, say, submit her to lots of anal sex as he would to a "sodomella". In this way a woman who becomes an odalisque has some say in the type of use to which she will be put during her time in bonded service. Obviously, if a man has a particular passion - let us say enjoying deep cocksucking - then he should purchase a slave with appropriate expertise.

Table Manners

In most contemporary expressions of female submissive slave play the slave will never eat at the table with her Master. In the so-called 'Old Guard' and the Gorean systems/styles of consensual slavery it is axiomatic that a slave will not eat at table with her Master, for this very gesture would suggest she is his equal. Often slaves are made to eat on the floor or in a corner - never at table. Meal times are almost always an occasion when the slave's inferior status is illustrated by the fact that she is not permitted to table.

In Code d' Odalisque such treatment is normal in regards to memlooks (low slaves) but an odalisque has a special status - accordingly she is permitted to the table with her Master. Memlooks have a much lower status than an odalisque. A memlook is a common slave (a work slave) and it would be unthinkable that they would eat at the same table as a Slavekeeper. But an odalisque is the most precious of slaves and is special to her Master - she is granted the great privilege of being allowed to eat at a table rather than on the floor.

Her conduct at table is set out in Code d' Odalisque. The Code sets out a general standard of etiquette and behaviour and it gives specific instruction to odalisques.

24.52. - An odalisque at table

An odalisque at table shall eat quietly and keep her eyes downcast as far as is natural. She shall speak only when spoken to and shall regard eating at her Master's table a great privilege.

A Slavekeeper may give her other instructions besides these, according to his own standards. An odalisque, however, cannot be made to feed her Master his food. The Code specifically forbids it.

24.53. - Cockslave not to feed men

An odalisque shall not be made to feed her Keeper or his Guests.

The main points of table etiquette are given in article 24:51. They reiterate what were once general standards of table manners but are now often overlooked in common society. It is improper, for example, for people to rock on their chairs at table. It is certainly highly improper for an odalisque to do so.

As always, Code d' Odalisque seeks to place the female slave in an environment of some refinement and taste and to bring the hardcore sexuality of odalisque slavery into a civil, refined context.

Bonded Service

Odalisque slavery is an application of bonded service. A whore is for hire but a slave is for sale. The odalisque is a woman who sells her sexuality to a man - her owner and Keeper - and is bonded to him for continuous use, not at a rate per hour. In many respects the whore and the odalisque are similar. Both are women who regard the sexual service of men as their occupation, or even as their vocation in life. Both are women who decide that sex is preferable to other forms of work.

But they go about their business in very different ways. The whore rents her body out by the hour. The odalisque serves one man. He has free use of her at all times and she is bound to obey him and serve him sexually. But he has a responsibility to her. Her preserves her from toil. An odalisque is a precious thing. It is a travesty to see her working in a factory or in meaningless jobs where her beauty and eroticism is wasted. A Slavekeeper protects an odalisque from the savageries of the labour market. She is neither maid nor cook. And neither is she expected to go out to work. She is kept. Kept for sex.

The advantage of bonded service is that the slave is within the protective, continuous care of a Keeper who is charged with the responsibility of putting her welfare first at all times. The whore has to fend for herself, or she is subject to a pimp. Pimping is forbidden in Code d' Odalisque. An odalisque cannot be rented out. But her Keeper has free use of her. He can exercise his imagination and use her as a fuckpuppet in his fantasies. Usually, in Code d' Ode, this will include sharing her with others.

In some ways odalisque slavery counters whoredom. An odalisque is a bonded sex worker. She serves under a Keeper. Her task - like the task of a whore - is to provide an (often extra-marital) sexual service to gentlemen. Her Master keeps her, feeds her, pays her bills. She lives a life of leisure and never dirties her hands. She is devoted exclusively to the erotic arts.

Aesthetics

Code d' Odalisque is based on different historical models to other styles of consensual slave play, and indeed is based on a different erotic culture than that which is now predominant in the BDSM world. The dominant models are based in the French Revolution and in the inspiration of Marquis de Sade. De Sade has given Western civilization an enduring erotic and aesthetic culture, but it is one characterized by sado-masochism. The dungeon, whips, chains, leather, black clothing - these familiar features of alternative sexuality are all part of the erotic culture created by de Sade. By extension it is a grungy, industrial aesthetic. Typically, for example, a woman will be bound and whipped in an old factory. That is de Sade's idea of sexy.

Code d' Odalisque is a departure from this whole tradition. Not only does it offer an alternative style of play to those that are current in BDSM, but it also offers a different aesthetic. It is a refined and sensual aesthetic - not the dark, grungy aesthetic of de Sade. It draws upon the sensuality (and rich erotic heritage) of the Turks, Arabs, Persians, Berbers etc - all very sensual (and sexual) people. This oriental aesthetic is combined with a modern hardcore sensibility.

In the current aesthetic order sensuality tends to be equated with softcore. Hardcore tends to mean rough, ugly, harsh, violent. But in Code d' Ode, hardcore sexual play and sexual exploration is placed within a context of refinement and sensuality. An odalisque is a thing of beauty. Code d' Odalisque is a celebration of that beauty. But at the same time the odalisque is an object to be enjoyed and explored. Code d' Ode is about hardcore sexual exploration. The sensuality of the aesthetic does not mean "softcore".

There is no sado-masochism in Code d' Odalisque. And by extension there is no cult of ugliness. There is beauty, fantasy, mystery and there is excess, obsession, oblivion - the aesthetic context is sensual and sumptuous, drawing upon the rich traditions of the old orient. Code d' Odalisque revives odalisque slavery from the Ottoman empire. Accordingly, it draws upon the sensuality of that world, especially as it was *imagined* by Europeans in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.