penguinmerchant

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Savage God by PottersPink, binding by DCB Bindery

Summary: Past, present, future, Steve knows Bucky Barnes. It’s why he recognized him when he found him in that alley in April of 1942, even though Bucky was older, stronger, wearier; he called himself The Asset, and had a metal fucking arm. He flinched when Steve tried to touch him, and when Steve told him he loved him, his first response was to ask why. The Asset was only with Steve in 1942 for a few days, but it’s enough to change the course of Steve’s life forever; the journey to becoming Captain America is coloured with urgency, with an undercurrent of fear and determination that in the end he just can’t manage to hide from everyone — But it was all for nothing. Steve saves Bucky from Zola, just to lose him on the train. Their second chance, wasted. Seventy years later, Steve wakes up in the twenty-first century, and he doesn’t know whether to be heartbroken or hopeful when some of the things Bucky revealed to him in 1942 start falling into place.

Specs: Square back bradel, red edges, marbled patterned endpapers and endbands, A6, with slipcase.

A gripping read from @potterspink, undoubtedly one of my all time favorites. I’ve revisited this fic over and over again and it is no less satisfying to read each time!

On the process: I knew I wanted to base the design of this binding around a matchbox, and decided to go with Diamond matches. Really liked how it turned out, especially with the striker design on the spine of the book. Had a lot of fun bringing in elements of the story into the slipcase design too, and the slipcase construction was so much simpler and easier than I expected!

I’m quite pleased with the matches marking parts one to three as well, adding a little pop of red that ties everything together. I’m binding three editions of this fic for Binderary so check out the paperback & collector's edition for a more in depth look at the typeset!

More DCB Bindery Projects

#not my binding #truly inspired design #the design on the spine is perfect #fanbinding

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"....Even to me."

#eh hehe hehehehe #beautiful #Laurent is very much like #I have miscalculated #Damen's cuff!! #and Laurent's hand pushing him away #what did it cost him to touch him just then #ugggghhh I am vacillating between cackling maniacally #and sobbing #it's so beautiful OP #Damen not looking anywhere except Laurent's face #gorgeous

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Second "hello, lover" image is done. D: It's always kinda nice to realize that when I know exactly what I want to draw and how (values/colors are planned out), how much faster and straight forward my whole process becomes. I guess that means you will get a new illustration tomorrow.

#is it fucking christmas? #what have we done to deserve such a fine gift? #is it too much to hope for that it's the part where Damen squeezes Laurent's shoulder until he bleeds? #i will wake up at 4am and then every hour after that to see if it's posted yet #honestly I don't care what it is #it's going to be amazing i am sure of it

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"Hello, lover."

I made the mistake with this one to change the lighting half way through the painting which always messes with the values and colors, but oh well. Sometimes a painting doesn't go the way you want to and then you got to let it go. But I still like the overall comp and all that, so you get to see it, haha. Maybe I manage to be a bit clearer in terms of values with that extra painting that I have planned for this scene, because this scene is just too good to only get one.

#AHHHHH #AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH #OMG I love the way we get to see Damen here #the blood on him #the way the light is framing Laurent's face #omg it's perfect #Laurent's little bitchy cape #i love it

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(cont. anon because i cannot handle social interaction. apologies in advance for the goddamned formatting.)

aaaaa there's a couple things to say to that

one, I think I just...couldn't read (it was very dark) so. I need to know what happens in the umhww-verse because those 10k words left me with many feelings and many thoughts and many questions. What happens after?

what happens to the regent? (will my revenge fantasies caused by that summary be fulfilled?)

do damen and laurent fall in love over the course of one week and then live happily ever after with zero complications ever?

ancel? what happens to ancel i need to know

two, squints is that an invitation because why is Damen wearing anything besides two pieces of sheer silk during this conversation? is now a question I desperately need the answer to

Don't worry about social interaction anon! I will talk about this stuff until the end of the goddamn universe if anyone lets me, so without further ado:

What happens after? Well, I'm most likely not going to follow up with the story...however. I am imagining that Laurent and Damen secretly see each other for a while (secrecy is Laurent's idea, not Damen's) and everything is going swimmingly UNTIL Torveld, the evil Duke who's funding their downtown location (sorry Torveld, you're always evil, it's not your fault it's just too convenient) tells Laurent that he's loved him forever and that if he wants to secure their funding he has to sleep with him. Cue the entire plot for Moulin Rouge except nobody dies at the end and Laurent becomes a Duke (Duke consort? I dunno) and he and Damen are happy until the end of time.

Honestly I think that by the time Unpack starts Laurent has already accumulated so much blackmail on his uncle that he's already rotting in prison and will be there forever. Laurent never thinks about him ever again and the uncle gets beaten by the guards every couple of days and eats moldy bread.

Damen and Laurent do fall in love and even though there might be complications it doesn't matter because they love each other and love is a many splendored thing, love lifts them up where they belong, all they need is love (cue more Moulin Rouge plot points...I haven't watched this movie in 15 years but I remember every single word)

Ancel is happy that Laurent is so happy, but mostly he's happy that Laurent's stopped bothering him about spending all of their money on caviar and brocade and he is still a total simp for Berenger and they also live happily ever after.

Well...Laurent had a story where he was in a brothel, it would be unfair if Damen didn't get that same chance...👀

#capri asks and answers #i love this no one ever sends me asks #ask away! this is fun #I'm gonna go watch moulin rouge now bye

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hi! so because your fics fix most everything that is wrong in the world and cause flowers to bloom in capriland et cetera, i was rereading unpack my heart with words, and i noticed your end notes. so here's the ask - how's the the thief and the duke AAU going?

thank you for all your work!

Actually anon, Unpack My Heart was the AAU! The longfic I was referring to is a wholly separate AU and it is so, so close to being done...which on my timeline of sluggishness probably means 6 months or so. It's sitting pretty right now at 120k and I'm beyond excited to share it once it's finished.

But, since you asked so nicely and all (causing flowers to bloom in capriland! 🥰🥰🥰 oh you) here's a little excerpt, the one I was planning on most likely using for the summary.

“You're Akielon,” Laurent said. It wasn't a question, but Damen answered anyway. “Yes.” “And how well do you know your country?” “I've lived there my whole life, up until two weeks ago,” Damen said, his chest tight. He closed his eyes. “No. Three weeks, now.” “That wasn't what I asked.” “I know the country. I've been everywhere from Ios to Isthima to Sicyon and further. I've traveled in carriages and on horseback and on foot through half the country, easily. I could replicate the geography and layout of the entire country from memory, even the places I haven’t been.” His father and his myriad of tutors had made sure of that; now, he wished they had spent a little more time on enemy territories, so he could figure out exactly where he was in Vere. “Why? What does this have to do with anything?” Laurent took a deep breath before answering. “I want you to take me to Ios.”

Why does Laurent want to go to Ios? Why is Damen trapped in Vere? Is Damen wearing anything besides two pieces of sheer silk during this conversation? You'll have to stay tuned to find out! There's going to be magic, there's going to be hidden identities and secrets being kept, there's going to be road trip shenanigans and possibly an instance of 'there's only one tent'.

I WILL fold under the slightest pressure to talk about this more, otherwise as soon as I'm done I will be posting to AO3! Thanks so much for asking, anon, it made my day to hear that someone was interested in my story 😊

#capri #my story #well #my future story #I'm so close you guys I can taste the ending #unfortunately it requires actually writing and not just daydreaming #which is just #like #the worst

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Save me vashwood mutuals

vashwood mutuals save me

i am having Thoughts

#it does not get better #sometimes it just gets a little quieter and that's the best you can hope for #I still listen to the tristamp soundtrack on the regular #(like every day) #(god don't admit that) #tombi gets twice a day #at least lol

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Chapters: 1/1, 2600 words

Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Fandom: Captive Prince - C. S. Pacat Relationship: Damen/Laurent Additional Tags: Selkies, Alternate Universe, Roleplay, Porn with Feelings, Consensual Non-Consent, Rape Roleplay, trapped selkie x highly sinister fisherman, except they are deeply in love also

Laurent said again, “No. You can’t —” “Too late, my sweetheart,” said the sailor, and he rose to his feet smiling. It was like the sun had come out all over again. He had a dimple in his left cheek. His arms were broad and warm as they encircled Laurent’s waist. “I’ve caught you, haven’t I?”

#cuuuuuute #selkie myth #lamen

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-The Summer Palace -

#cuuuuute #that curl of hair around his finger #the cuffs #the water is such a pretty color! #and I love the tile design ha ha #oh yeah and our boys are amazing here too

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Happy Valentine's Day from Damen and Laurent, who say the most romantic things 💖

Bonus:

#Happy Valentine's day everyone #this holiday kind of sucks but these make it totally worth it

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summer night

#beautiful #disappointed? #I would be if the lamp weren't behind you #hopefully this is for a quiet night in lol #just love everything about this

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"Even before Laurent had hit the ground, the man had drawn his sword. Damen was too far away. He was too far to get between the man and Laurent, he knew that, even as he drew his sword—even as he wheeled his horse, felt the powerful bunch of the animal beneath him. There was only one thing he could do." -Prince's Gambit by C.S.Pacat

and a continuation of the same scene with more spoilers:

#beautiful #again the colors are just gorgeous #someone get OP in charge of the CaPri graphic novel! #and OH that look on Laurent's face when Damen asks if he's okay #like he has literal stars around him #it's too good #it's such an interesting perspective too #in my head I always saw it from Damen's POV (obvs) #but this is so interesting and so good! #ugh please #i love it #Hey OP #I'd die for a picture of Laurent's face in the “hello lover” scene #in case you were taking vague requests lol

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a friendly spar 😊

#Whoa holy shit #This is like #So visceral #It's freaking amazing! #And the colors! Perfect!

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@delfeur I don't have a finished illu for giggeling Laurent, but have some sketches.

#ha ha YESSSS #love giggling Laurent #Damen BLUSHING #hand up against the wall #best of luck to you buddy you're done for honestly #also i still love his little cape #it's so cute

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"If Laurent moved back even a half-inch, he’d bump the shutter. To prevent this, he was plastered so tightly against Damen that Damen could feel every crease in the fabric of his garments, through which, the warm, transmitted heat of his body.

‘There’s no one here,’ said Volo." - Prince's Gambit by C.S.Pacat

#okay okay okay #first off #Damen in Veretian clothes #the fancy coat #the cape #Laurent's hand over his mouth #I love the POV from up high looking down on the city! #it makes what they're about to do so much stupider #it's the game he likes #yeah the game of breaking his leg #also OP #Damen's nose #I don't know if I've really taken notice of it before but I LOVE IT #it's perfect for him #everything here is perfect

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#it had to be prince's gambit #BUT #the scene where Laurent gets drunk #the SWORD FIGHT #Hello Lover #Laurent getting the cuff #don't toy with me #It was one kingdom once #“this man thinks I'm the King of Akielos” #honestly if it weren't for the whole baby plot Kings might be my favorite #virgo intacta #HA

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A little something imagining them a few years after the books...

#AHHHH #AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH #I just also want to say from a normal place I love the purple #honestly I love all these colors #Oh an also our beautiful boys #obvs #god their legs #they way they're so close to each other #the way they're LOOKING at each other #i'm dying #fuck #the LACES