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yuyupowers · 3 years

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aristocrat!seonghwa

aristocrat!seonghwa x fem!reader

genre: fluff

trigger warning(s): patriarchal society mostly. let me know if there’s anything else!

author’s note: none of the pictures are mine!!

for reference, i’m using british peerage (hierarchy). there are five ranks: baron, viscount, earl (count), marquess, and duke - the highest being duke, and the lowest, baron.

second son of a duke

i imagine seonghwa to be someone who values tradition

unlike hongjoong who finds who finds the numerous aristocratic mannerisms pointless, hwa believes upholding these (rather stringent) rules is a sign of respect

perfect gentleman pt.1

excellent in swordsmanship, horse-back riding, and hunting

well versed in poetry, literature, art, and finance

(can maintain a conversation about politics but honestly it kinda goes over his head)

a bit on the shyer side, but a decent conversationalist

good at keeping the flow and mediating in case anyone becomes a little too heated about their opinions

definitely cares about his and his family’s image

naturally caring and tends to dote on those close to him

(translates into excellent manners)

holds the door open, offers his hand when stepping out of carriages, makes sure to walk on the side closest to traffic, diverts conversation when things are too “distressing,” wouldn’t be caught dead alone with a woman that wasn’t related to him or his fiancée/wife

and surprise, surprise !!

this is where you come in

you’re the second oldest daughter, fourth child out of six; born to an earl

hwa’s family had the highest title bestowed upon aristocracy

whereas your family accumulated more wealth and land than the park family

and since both you and hwa were prime marrying age™, your parents decided upon a mutually beneficial marriage

the first time you met seonghwa was under the watchful eye of both your parents, when the park’s invited your family for dinner

tbh, you were pretty relieved when you met him

“prime marrying age” was different for men, so you were just glad he wasn’t some old geezer

and he seemed like a decent person !!

a well put together gentleman, and his image was only consolidated throughout dinner

all in all, you didn’t have much to complain about from the initial impression

though it was kinda annoying when your little sister would not shut up about how he was the handsome man she’s ever met

even if you agreed

and didn’t she say that when she met woo?

anyways

after the first meeting with the park’s, both your parents set up multiple occasions for you two to meet

whether that be evening walks, picnics in the park, etc,,,

you learned a great deal about seonghwa

how his favourite is black, how he loved the stars and that his favourite planet was mars

how he loved kids and doted on your youngest siblings (much to your sister’s glee)

how he enjoyed spending a quiet afternoon with you reading dickens, discussing afterwards the contrast between carton and darnay

how he was always considerate of your feelings and opinions

you liked to think you were a decent judge of character and thought overall that seonghwa was a kind and caring person

but you also noticed a few characteristics that-

you wouldn’t say it was off-putting or anything but,,,

it might bother you in the future

see, you were pretty good friends with hongjoong

and while you weren’t as extreme,

(you didn’t sneak out weekly to hang out with a bar maiden that you definitely did not have a crush on)

you certainly agreed with him on certain points

like hwa, you thought that abiding by certain mannerisms = display of respect

but unlike him, you didn’t care all that much about your image

okay, that was a lie.

you couldn’t say you didn’t care about your image

(social ostracization isn’t exactly fun ya feel)

but you thought it was,,,exhausting

it’s one thing to be respectful, but it’s another thing to say things you don’t mean

to fake humility

to undermine people that are supposed to be your “friends” or “one of you”

to be perfect, when “perfect” was such a subjective term anyways

it just felt so fake and that left a bitter taste in your mouth

even now, you could see all the efforts seonghwa made to constantly keep his image of a “perfect gentleman”

with perfect mannerisms and perfect answers and perfect-

yeah, it kinda frustrated you

not to mention how obedient he was?

of course you didn’t fault him for being a dutiful and filial son, but his loyalty blinded him

and it wasn’t like his parents were bad people !!

no, you’d say they were much kinder than the average noble family

especially considering their status

but when they made important decisions for their son without consulting him,

(because they were more experienced, because they knew better, etc,,,)

and he accepted whatever decision they handed to him?

well,,,

nevertheless, despite being his fiancée, you, by this point, had realistically had known seonghwa for a couple months

and you didn’t feel like it was your place

(at least not yet)

to point this out

so the two of you continued your cordial but emotionally distant meetings

that is until “the incident” (as hwa fondly likes to call it)

okay, so-

one day you paid hwa a visit and the two of you decided to take a walk in his family’s garden

chattering about this and that

a lovely time !!

it was a bit overcast, but it didn’t look too threatening

so the two of you ignored the clouds looming in the horizon and wandered deep into the garden

big mistake

the weather took a turn for the worst, and soon it was pouring

by this point seonghwa was a little panicked

he knew that for women, getting ready could be excessively long and tenuous task

(courtesy of his little sister’s complaints)

and now !! you were getting rained on !! because he didn’t bring an umbrella !! just in case !!

!!!!

he turns to you, ready to shield you with his jacket and lead you back to the manor

but he’s at a loss by what he sees

he had expected you to be upset, to huddle closer to him, to,,,idk, maybe reprimand him for this thoughtlessness??

but instead, he finds you staring up at the dark sky, eyes shimmering with barely contained glee with the biggest smile he’s ever seen from you adorning your lips

he likes your smile

and if he was already confused (he was), he was about to become even more so

because the next thing he knows, you’re hiking your dress in one hand and grabbing his in the other, running through puddles of water and mud and everything in between, laughter falling from you like the rain

up until this point, you had been acting like the perfect (you hate that word) lady

polite, demure, charming-

in public settings, you only spoke when spoken to, with a voice that was purposely soft and soothing

you chatted with his mother and sisters about traditionally feminine things over tea with impeccable manners

whenever you two met, you were always prim and proper; never a strand of hair out of place

but here you were, getting not only yours but his clothes soggy and muddy, laughing without a care about how pleasant it sounded or how loud it was

seonghwa liked to think he wasn’t a judgemental person-

he wasn’t repulsed or anything by your sudden change in demeanor

just.

really confused

and when you looked back, you could tell,if his expression was anything to go by

but your grin only grew wider, because you could work with this

he wasn’t enjoying himself per say; a bit too confused and bit too stiff to do so

but he wasn’t horrified or disgusted

okay maybe he was a little grossed out; he liked to be clean thank you very much

you could work with this.

and so over the next few months, you showed him things he never dreamed of doing

some of which he liked, some of which he didn’t

some he was willing to try, some, less

like sneaking into the restricted section of the library (he’s never been so scandalized in his life)

or visiting the kitchen in the middle of the night so you could teach him how to make some basic recipes (which he surprisingly enjoyed)

or meeting hongjoong

(“of COURSE it matters if they got the colour wrong?! lord help me you’re the most insufferable person i’ve ever met-”)

and the more the two of you explored, the more he,,,real he became.

and vice versa.

gradually, the mask of perfection he worked so on hard to maintain was slipping before you

don’t get me wrong, he’s still kind and caring and a gentleman

but sometimes he would whine and complain when you encouraged him to do something he was less than enthusiastic about (usually something that involved getting him messy)

or he made The Face™ (the disgusted one) to you and when he didn’t like something or someone

or he would be stupidly stubborn about some random fact that you KNEW was wrong but he just WOULDN’T admit if even when you showed him proof

(“seonghwa for the last time toads don’t give you war-” “LALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU” “eye-”)

once, he even playfully stole the strawberry from your cake

(big mistake. he’s never doing that again. he never knew a woman could move so fast or be so scary.)

it made you so, so happy because the two of you were finally getting to know each other

actually know each other

then one day, while the two of you were reading underneath a tree at the park

“,,,hey love?” (hwa)

“yes?”

“why are we doing this?”

“what do you mean, dear?”

“i mean,,,i’m not complaining, but i guess,,,why did you decide to show me this part of you? the part that runs around in the rain?” hwa

you don’t reply right away

instead, you shut your book and idly stared at the willow swaying over the pond, wind running its fingers through its drooping leaves

after a few moments of silence

“,,,i wanted to know you and what you believed in. actually believed in.”

seonghwa tilts his head slightly to the side

“love, i hardly think my convictions have changed”

“but do you know what your convictions are?”

and you know when you hear something that resonates with you?

something that strikes deep in your core and makes you rethink everything you’ve know?

yeah,,,this is one of those moments

now it was seonghwa’s turn to set his book aside, falling deep in thought

after an unnaturally long stretch of silence, you began to panic a little

because ?? maybe you misread the situation and got a little too comfortable-

cause i mean you were questioning his core values, which is something he takes very seriously

o god you messed up didn’t you o crap you need to apolog-

“will you help me figure it out?”

“,,,huh??”

“will you help me figure out my convictions?” he asked

and you swear, you’ve never seen such a smile from seonghwa

one that conveyed a plethora of emotions, ranging from honesty and vulnerability, to confusion and loss, to lightness and warmth

it filled you with an unnameable feeling

like something sliding into place, fitting perfectly; like it was always meant to be there, filling you with comfort

shyly intertwining your hands for the first time, you looked up to meet his gaze with a pattering heart and a smile matching his own

“,,,of course.”

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ignis-scientia-estrogen-brigade · 7 years

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Work's been super hectic lately :( Got any recipehs about the chocobros taking care of a stressed out s/o? As sfw/nsfw as you like?

[ISEB Author’s Note: I apologize for answering some of my inbox requests out of the order in which I received them (and send my thanks to those who have submitted new recipehs for their eternal patience), but my dearest thirdstreetcettin sounded like she could use some Chocobro relief ASAP! ♡]

Noctis: The crown prince has a saying, which goes something to the effect of “You can’t ever be stressed out while you’re fishing!” And although this personal ideology of his has proven to be unequivocally false time and time again I mean have you ever tried catching a Regal Arapaima and don’t even get me started on the Pink Jade Gar, that won’t stop him from dragging a tired and overworked paramour down to the nearest fishing hole at the asscrack of dawn with his tackle box in tow. This sudden sleep-deprivation might possibly serve only to exacerbate his partner’s agitation, and they may be tempted to voice a few complaints on the drive over (“How would you like it if someone interrupted your precious nap time?” they’d mutter with a scowl), but there is a method to Noct Gar’s early morning madness; it’s only when the two have cast their lines into a quiet pond, and are nestled comfortably beneath a warm blanket side by side, that the peace and serenity of the wilderness at twilight reveals to his lover a grain of truth in the Lucian heir’s assessment that one truly can’t ever be stressed out while fishing.

Prompto: One surefire way of blowing off steam is to blow the heads right off of a pack of aggressive Sabertusks, so the first thought that comes to the freckled sharpshooter’s mind is to persuade an anxious paramour to join him on a hunting expedition to the dusty outskirts of Leide for some live target practice. And while stopping the annoying vermin that have overrun The Three Valleys in their tracks does elicit some measure of respite, his partner’s relief abruptly turns back toward irascibility when they realize they’ll have to spend the rest of the afternoon scrubbing stubborn blood stains from their clothes. After he’s helped them launder the bits of gore out of their wardrobe, Prompto will attempt to devise an alternate, less gratuitously violent plan to ease their annoyance; he hesitates to reverse all the years of hard work he’s put into curtailing his sweet tooth, but desperate times call for desperate (and cleaner) measures, and a quick trip to the local Coernix station for some junk food and a few gallons of ice cream proves to be just the fix needed to soothe his lover’s dismay.

Gladio: The big man is less of a talker and more of a doer, so he doesn’t stop to ask questions or pick his partner’s brain when they express sentiments of woe; he simply stuffs his backpack full of bottled water and prepackaged food rations and sets out on a hike with them following behind in his wake. A view of nature in all its pure, unadulterated glory will surely help to take their mind off the mundane, he surmises, but even in the tranquility of the Duscaean woodlands, his paramour’s agitation is evident. He’d rather listen to the grating sound of aluminum camping gear scraping across granite, however, than the deafening silence of their melancholy, so he blazes a trail toward a secluded glen and guides them to lay down in the soft grass; after he’s managed to coax them out of their sweaty hiking apparel, he focuses his attention on massaging the knots out of their shoulders and back with strong hands. But Gladiolus is nothing if not a hot-blooded man, and his lover’s delightful moans are growing louder in his ears, so he peels himself out of his own clothes and offers to give them something entirely else to think about.

Ignis: Unlike Gladio, the strategist is one for talking, because he knows problems don’t generally sort themselves out on their own without first addressing the underlying source. He might broach the subject of his partner’s troubles casually over a cup of Ebony, or perhaps offer to whip up their favorite dish in an effort to prime the potentially prickly conversation; every quandary has a rational solution, he reasons, and examining a dilemma objectively from several different angles is key to resolving their predicament. But it’s not always his puzzle to decipher, tempted as he may be to try and overcome his lover’s obstacles for them, and he understands there are some questions that simply have no logical answer (why Noct can’t seem to keep his apartment tidy longer than a few hours, for example, has perplexed the royal advisor for years). When his infuriatingly nonpartisan conjecture appears only to wear down on his paramour’s last fraying nerve, Ignis will cease his argument mid-sentence and reach for a bottle of Altissian Chardonnay—for even a man of his astute intellect recognizes just when to keep his mouth shut and merely say, “Here, Darling—let me pour you a glass of wine.”

#noctis lucis caelum #prompto argentum #gladiolus amicitia #ignis scientia #ffxv headcanons #ffxv fanfiction #ffxv imagines #ffxv #ff15 #final fantasy xv #noctis #promto #gladio #gladiolus #ignis #ignis stupeo scientia

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northernstories · 4 years

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Meet Giovanni Pedrotti a microbiology major from Norway, Mchigan. We asked Giovanni a few questions about his NMU experience so far:

Why did you decide to come to NMU?

Giovanni: I originally went to Central Michigan University. I fell in love with college life: the people I met, the extracurriculars available to me, and investing in myself. But, I felt trapped in Mount Pleasant. There is nothing to do outside of campus--it's all flat farmland. After considering I wasn't too sure with what I wanted to declare yet and the fact I felt claustrophobic at CMU, I transferred to Bay de Noc to catch up on generals before heading to NMU. So why Northern? Because I could have everything I loved at Central while also going to the beach after class, or hiking around Wetmore on the weekends, or hammocking while I studied. Also, the student body really characterizes Marquette's community. Everywhere I go, I see a familiar and friendly face. It feels like home with a really big backyard.

What's a cool thing you've done as a part of your major?

Giovanni: There aren't a whole lot of opportunities in Marquette for microbiology, so I don't have any extraordinary experiences. But, my major has shown me how much I love science and lab work. I knew I needed to try and get into one of the professor's research labs to gain some experience. Dr. Ottem took me into his lab, and I instantly knew that I belonged in a lab. I enjoy doing everything from the tiny monotonous tasks, to the long precise protocols. I am so grateful for him and his graduate student, Casey Kimber, for taking me in and letting me take on as much responsibility as they saw fit.

What are you involved with on/outside of campus?

Giovanni: Right now, I am only involved with Dr. Ottem's research lab. It's pretty time consuming, and my interest for doing anything else is pretty limited due to that time constraint and also social distancing.

What do you enjoy outside of school?

Giovanni: I play the guitar, and my friend and I are working on making some music. I also started teaching myself piano. So, I guess I really enjoy listening/playing music. I also love any winter activity. I love snowshoeing, snowboarding, and playing some pond hockey. I really enjoy writing and reading, I wish I gave myself more time for that. The past couple summers, I would bring a book and my laptop to either Third Street Bagel or Contrast and read for a while, then write. Maybe I'll start doing that again--I've actually run into a couple of the employees from those shops, and they've been asking where I've been. Time to pay them a visit again and catch up!

What does "be Northern" mean to you?

Giovanni: Be Northern means to break out of your shell--in more ways than one. I've grown so much since I've transferred here.

Firstly, I would always do things with my friends--I wouldn't want to do anything by myself. But the more comfortable I got with the community and familiar with the area, I decided to finally step out of my comfort zone and start doing things by myself. I go eat by myself, I play pool by myself, I go hiking or hammock by myself. And the cool thing about that is I've met some interesting people. I've met a man named Craig, a Marine who carries the weight of his fallen brothers symbolically and physically via an armor plate with their dog tags painted on them. He is going wherever he wants to and he's taking his brothers with him. I've met another man named Patty Mike Spaghetti (that's what I like to call him) who has been married for over 50 years, used to ride cross country on his motorcycle, and once unintentionally hung out with the Rolling Stones. And I've met a lot of other people who I can now call my friends.

Secondly, I stepped out of my comfort zone in the classroom. I advanced classmates on getting study groups together, I've gone to my professor's office hours relentlessly, and I've sought out to be a part of extracurricular activities. I got up at 6am to rake leaves for Make A Difference Day. I went to several Science on Tap events. I've gone to several guest speakers or open panel discussions held by student organizations. All because I decided I did not want to stay in my dorm room whenever I wasn't in class. I think that's what it means to be Northern. Use all your opportunities until the well runs dry. You could see yourself grow like I did.

What are your plans after you graduate?

Giovanni: I am hoping to get into a Master's or PhD program for research in Microbiology. I would really like to study viruses or bacteria. I've been a Yooper all my life, so I think I am ready for the city. Hopefully I can find a program East or Northwest that is close to or in a city, but also has a similar ecological environment like the UP. After that, I hope to continue doing research somewhere and then eventually become a professor. I love engaging with students and listening to their questions.

Additional comments on your NMU experience:

Giovanni: Some people get turned off by the fact that it's a smaller school, but if you try your hardest to break out of your shell, you'll realize that a small school can have a massive connection. There is never a day I walk through school without saying hi to someone or catching up with them. The same thing when I am out and about in Marquette. Your life is what you make it, but so is your school. Use all of its potential.

Advice for current students.

Giovanni: You're only going to be here for 4-5 years of your long life. That is a blink of an eye compared to the rest of your life. But good god, are they important years. They are the structural years for your character and potential. Don't be afraid to try something new. Don't be afraid to go knock on that person's door three rooms away from your dorm. Don't be afraid to email your classmates and ask them for a study group. Don't be afraid to participate in some sort of event, even if you have to go alone. If you're scared now, in the 4 short years you're here, to do things that will change your life, then it will only be harder for you to get over your fear later in life. Break out of your shell. Prioritize your goals, and surround yourself with the people who want to watch you reach them. This is the start of YOUR life--not your parent's life, not your friends-from-back-home's life, not your high school teacher's life. It's yours. So go ahead and live the life you want to live and don't be scared to do so. Fear is just your false perception of an event you might be too reluctant to do. Conquer it.

What's your story?

Giovanni: My father is a blue-collared man--has been his whole life. When the mine shut down and his father was out of work, as a kid my dad helped his dad cut wood throughout the hot summer days. They were fully clothed so they wouldn't get eaten alive by black flies. My dad told me it was miserable, and at the end of a long day, his dad gave him twenty-five or seventy-five cents. My dad has always been a blue-collared man. The older he got, the more he worked and the harder he worked. My father is also pretty bright--he's good with math, and if my memory serves correct, he liked physics too. He wanted to be an architect after high school. But he took it upon himself not to go to college because he didn't want to pile loans on his parents' laps. He never became an architect. Instead he worked at a furniture factory, a manufacturing factory, a mine, and finally he got to land a perfect job he enjoys--being a millwright at a paper mill. Although he didn't get to become an architect, he wanted my brother and I to use his life as a testament. A testament of hard work, and a testament of doing what is best for you in your life and never giving up. I'm sure my dad has regrets of not pursuing being an architect, and that is why he wants to make sure my brother and I don't give up on what we love.

There are two things my father has told me growing up that will stick with me throughout my life. The first being, "put your head down and shut up." When I was younger and I had a bad soccer game, or if I thought it wasn't fair that I couldn't go on a field trip, or if I had to pick up someone else's slack at work, my dad told me to stop. Stop complaining, the world doesn't care for excuses or complaints. They are distractions of progress. You don't fix the problem by complaining, you don't seek what's fair by whining. He would tell me that life isn't fair, but it isn't fair to just me, it's not fair to everyone. So instead of pouting, I can brush it off and move on. I can choose to not be bothered by it and put my head down and continue working--nose to the grindstone. The second thing my dad told me was that my name is an example of my character and work ethic, so whenever I sign my name on anything, I better be proud to write it down. He told me that before I took tests in school, when I was filling out job applications, or even filling out loans. I try to live by those two pieces of advice as best I can.

A few years ago, my friend asked me what the meaning of life is. I thought about it for a moment, turned to him and gave him my answer. I said, we are born to die. It's a bit grim, but it doesn't have to be. All that means is that we have a timeline before someone else's begins. It should be a bit humbling, too. We shouldn't waste our time being hedonistic, we should utilize our time to leave the world a better place than we found it. We should sacrifice our time in this life to change something about the world. Whether it be being the best sandwich artist you can be, or being the most compassionate and patient teacher that you can. Whatever you choose to be passionate about, make sure that you make it easier and make it right for the next generation. That's what I think the meaning of life is: to sacrifice the time you have in this life to fall in love with changing the world for the next generation. Just like how I appreciate how my dad prepared me based on his experiences in order to make my life's journey easier, we have to appreciate those from generations before us.

We are standing on the shoulders of giants, so don't let it go to waste. Become a giant yourself, so one day someone else may stand on your shoulders.

I've been trying to live that life. And I hope this story is one that everyone can relate to one way or another. Let's change the world.

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