#After a long-distance courtship

[courtingchaos]

I’ve been thinking about eddie who’s in the early pre relationship stages with you. but in his mind he’s married to you he’s been pining after you for so long. he doesn’t want to scare you though so he’s pumping the breaks and trying to take things slow.

you’re spending the night at his and he’s managed to keep enough distance from you that he deems respectful in his courtship of you. but when he wakes it’s to your hand high on his thigh, and you’re out for the count. and he’s hard as a rock and needs to move you before you wake up and see what state he’s in.

not wanting to wake you and alert you to his issue he thinks on his feet and decides he has to become soft asap, then he can move you. then if you wake up it’s not going to be to him feeling like a complete pervert.

so he’s reciting his favourite passages from all of the books he’s read.

only it’s not doing much. the pretty girl in his bed is winning this round.

he starts reciting them backwards to increase the difficulty and hopefully distract the ache away. but in his ingenuity to up the anti he’s inadvertently made it so tough that he’s now whisper shouting the words out loud. waking you. eddie still hard as a rock reciting poetry in a wicked order that makes no sense to man nor beast, is stopped abruptly in his tracks, gasping at the feel of your palm squeezing the meat of his inner thigh. Mortified and yet. Still painfully erect with no hope of going down anytime soon

sorry to vomit this at you but it seemed like fate that you’d asked for a request (this is far too long and detailed I’m sorry) and I was thinking about this at the same time

1. Don’t apologize, you’ve struck gold. You have not dug too greedily nor too deep.

2. You’ve written this really well so I could just post this with a bunch of reactions under it but, if you’ll allow me to expand upon this.

Picture this with me okay? He’s reciting Jabberwocky to himself. It’s a nonsense poem. He had an English teacher once give out a project for them to learn and recite a poem and of course he chose this. It has fun words in it like vorpal and borogoves. It’s become one of his bits actually when he’s trying to command a room.

“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:”

Everyone will sigh. Jeff and Gareth and Frank will drop their heads onto their desks or over the backs of their chairs in long groans. Dustin still thinks it’s fun, he hasn’t gotten tired of it yet, and Mike likes it he just won’t admit it. Eddie loves it though, likes the way slithy toves slides off his tongue when he puts on that creaking voice he uses for warlocks durning games.

Now though he mumbles it to himself in the dark, his ludicrous attempt at bringing down his mood. Something had woken him at the witching hour, 3:07 shining a bright green from across his room. He wasn’t cold, his window shut against the chill earlier when you’d come over. He wasn’t overheated, quite content with you softly cuddled up next to him. No itch or ill folded sheet causing him discomfort. He had seven solid minutes of waking, a few he spared to revel in the heat of you lying next to him. To feel your shoulder lying on his as you pressed your face into his pillow. Your knee bent up and almost over his own and your hand planted firmly on his thigh.

Oh. That.

Those fingers he liked to twirl around his own and lick salt off of when you were done with your fries? Those fingers were under the hem of his boxers and a very much pressing into the meat of his thigh. You don’t move except to breathe but all he can focus on is that hand literal inches from his dick. The dick he’d kept in check for weeks now in the hopes he wouldn’t chase you away with the absolute need he felt. Kind of like right now where it lays heavy and hot against his thigh just like your hand.

So Jabberwocky it is.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

But in the dark with a hard on, slithy toves makes him chuckle. Almost full on giggle and he slaps a hand over his mouth to keep himself quiet. Slithy toves sounds like a euphemism for pussy and he can’t help the huffs of laughter pushed through his nose. He looks down in the hopes that this has distracted his dick but apparently laughter makes him harder and he files that away to look into at a later date. Borogoves floats through his brain and he immediately thinks about giving your boobs a new nickname and he has to put a foot down for himself.

Next verse.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!”

Bandersnatch has to be a euphemism, there’s no goddamn way, it has the word snatch in it. He rolls his eyes and before he can sigh you shift beside him in your sleep, closer with your nose in his curls on his pillow and that soft hand he’s thought about when his own is too boring in the shower scoots another inch closer to the problem.

Maybe if he whispers it out loud?

“He took his vorpal sword in hand;-”

Absolutely not. Nope. New plan when he feels your sleeping breath across the front of his throat. It ghosts over his adams apple and all he can think about is your lips on his neck last week and how he’d pulled at his hair after you’d left just because it drove him insane.

Maybe if he recited it backwards it would confuse him enough all the blood would need to race back up into his brain.

“Outgrabe…raths…the-no…mome the and…” He’s squinting hard in the dark, reading invisible words on the ceiling in this new attempt to circumvent disaster.

“Borogoves…ha. Damn it. Borogoves…the were…mimsy all.” A headache is all this is giving him but for a moment he’s forgotten your hand and where it was. He’s searching the next line in his head and trying to jumble it so it isn’t so halting in the early morning quiet.

“Wabe the in gimble and gyer did!” He almost claps his hands when he makes it through without pause but he stops himself for fear of waking you up. Instead he spends 20 minutes working his way backwards through his poem, whispering to the night about the Jabberwock.

O frabjous day indeed when he realizes his dick is half soft now, not such a nuisance and a terror after he’s distracted himself. He thinks about waking you gently, a hand brushing your hair away from your face or running lightly over your leg but then you move. You move of your own accord and hook your leg over his. Kneecap bumping your hand higher and if he breathed wrong right this second you’d be brushing fingertips over his balls.

“And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,”

He mutters without whisper. It’s not full volume speaking but he really doesn’t want you to wake up and find him hard and awake with your hand shoved up his shorts. As much as he would really love to feel your hands on him like that he’s been trying his best to be gentlemanly. Only necking on your timetable when you steal him away to a quiet corner. A little over the pants stuff, heavy petting but you’ve never pushed it and it won’t make you uncomfortable, no matter what his dick wants him to do.

“Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!”

Eddie sighs. “Jesus Christ.”

“Hm?” You hum at him. A high note in the back of your throat that has him whipping his head to see you stirring. Adjusting to your side and dra-a-agging that hand. He doesn’t know what to do as you come around and blink up at him in the dark. He can see the edges of your expression from the light filtering in from outside, smooth brow and faint smile until it isn’t.

“Di’ yousay sumthin’?” Slurred against his shoulder where your mouth is pressed.

“Uh, kind of.”

“You okay?” You press up against him, your pelvis into his hip and he’s about to be caught. There’s no way you aren’t going to notice the outline in his boxers or the way he’s gotta be sweating gallons just in nerves.

“I…yeah?”

“What’s the ma-” You shift to prop yourself up so you can sleepily inspect him and he wants to subsequently die and sigh happily when your hand meets trouble. “Oh.”

Oh. Oh? Oh yeah, no big deal, it’s just his dick showing up to ruin the party like the world’s worst frat guy. “Look, I was trying to make it go away and I-“

“Why?” Having just woken up your voice is soft in a deep way. Scratchy from dry air but it fits the mussed hair and the rucked up t-shirt you have on. His gaze falls on the sliver of stomach that you’re showing off between the covers and he’s having a hard time coming up with an answer.

“Why?”

“Is there an echo in here?” You laugh and slide your palm over his stomach that tenses. “Yeah, why.” Your pinky catches the hem of his thin shirt and pulls it up to reveal his own section of underbelly. “We’re alone right?”

“Y-yeah.” It comes out like a hiss though because your nails scratch across that newly revealed skin and right over the trail of hairs below his belly button. “We don’t have to do anything.”

“I know.”

“I just don’t uh, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

Your fingers move back and forth over his stomach before you let them dip back down to the waistband of his boxers, fingertip seeking under the elastic ever so slightly. “You’ve been very patient Eddie.” The rings on your hand are body warm but hold a child to them when they glide over skin. “I think we just had a little misunderstanding at first though.” Fingers comb through wiry hairs on their search for their prize. “I’ve been trying to do this since you asked me out, but I thought you wanted to wait.”

“Oh my god, no. I mean yes, because I thought that’s what you wanted but I read into things too much sometimes bec-ause fuck.” He was running his mouth but then you’d grabbed him. Wrapped that dreamy hand around his cock and sighed into his cheek like you were the one experiencing earth shattering euphoria.

“Eddie I’ve wanted to do this for months.” A slow tug to the tip and you do something with your fingers that makes his mouth hang open in a silent plea. Another twist before you run your thumb over his slit and he grabs your wrist.

“This is gonna be over so quick if you keep that up.”

“Well that’s not so bad, I was still a little tired.” Highlights pick up the line of your lips and that sleepy smile that’s all for him. Heavy lashes flutter when he lets you go and shoves his shorts down to give you room to work. “You can get me back when we wake up.”

He throbs in your grasp at the promised idea of getting you back and all that entails. He can’t help himself but think of wet and warm places while your hand moves in languid strokes. Hot puffs of air across his chest where you lay your head to watch and then he’s watching you watching yourself and falling into a vortex of horniness. He wants to weave his fingers into your hair for some reason. Wants to feel the softness between his fingers while you rub velvet skin through your own.

“Eddie?” You pant into his shirt, lips catching and dragging on the cotton.

“Yeah?”

“What were you reciting?”

It almost pulls him out of his pleasure it’s jars him so. Briefly he thinks about lying and saying Shakespeare but you’re already giving him a 3 am handjob so he thinks he might not have to fib. “Jabberwocky.”

“Alice in Wonderland?” Your hand leaves his cock suddenly but he doesn’t get to whine about it before he’s whining about you licking your palm and getting back to work. He nods above you like you could see him but it earns him a chuckle from you and a stray few fingers that tug at his balls.

“God damnit yes.” He does push his hand into your hair then, the other fisting into the sheets beside him. You make a passing remark about reciting it then but he honestly might not even know his own name. The way his legs move restlessly against the bed and his fingers grip into your scalp. The damp slide of your palm over the head of his cock, the twisting motion you keep doing, it’s all rocketing him towards his finish. The burn of it in his belly clouding his senses and making him buck his hips up into your touch. The air of your breath keeps breezing over his overheated skin and your panting laughs are shoving him closer and closer until he’s squeezing his eyes shut and going stiff.

Warm lines splash up his stomach and he knows in a minute or two he’ll feel shame unmatched by man heretofore known but right now he couldn’t care. Soft hands drag him through the aftershocks while you make praiseworthy noises into his chest. You coo at him for a job well done and he can feel the heat rise on his cheeks. Sitting up again to look back at him your drag a finger through the mess he made and when you take three seconds to inspect it he doesn’t expect you to bring it to your lips.

“I-“ He what? What can he say while he watches you suck on your index finger like he does? When a slick grin hooks the corner of your mouth up into something devilish and he has an awakening at almost 4 am.

“How was that, huh? Glad we got that over with?” You drop your cheek to your shoulder to give him a smolder but Eddie needs to taste your lips after you’ve tasted him. It’s a need not a want so he rushes you, pushes you back into the bed and gets his mess everywhere but it doesn’t matter. He kisses you deep until you both have to come up for air and then he’s peppering your neck in them until your giggling is too much.

He uses his shirt to wipe himself off, promising a shower in the morning, and pulls both of you under the covers to conspire in the afterglow.

“Do you think reading that poem is gonna Pavlov you now?”

“How so?”

“I mean,” your laugh cuts into your explanation, “slithy toves kind of sounds like a name for-“

“Pussy! I know!” He laughs with you. “And Bandersnatch!”

#Eddie Munson #Eddie Munson Fic #Eddie Munson Smut #Eddie Munson x Reader #My Fic

[starryevermore]

the house of snow (15) ✧ coriolanus snow

the house of snow ✧ a royal coryo au | pinterest board| ao3

pairing: king!coriolanus snow x fem!reader

series summary: the king of panem is in search of a bride. and, for reasons you can never understand, coriolanus snow has set his sights on you. it would never be a happy marriage, you’re sure of that. but none of that matters, because when snow decides he wants something, he will do everything in his power to ensure it is his. 

chapter summary: you cannot seem to stay away. 

word count: 1,443

series warnings?: 18+ MINORS DNI, royal au, regency au, arranged marriage, rivals to lovers, obsessive!coryo, jealous!coryo, protective!coryo, eventual smut, eventual pregnancy, more tags to be added later

chapter warnings?: another shorter chapter im so sorry, pet name (petal), not proofread

The Snow family cottage was beautiful. It looked like it had been plucked straight out of a storybook. The cobblestone walls, the window boxes overflowing with flowers, the ivy growing up the side of the house—all of it was gorgeous. Though you loved your life in the Capitol, a part of you would be content to live here forever and you hadn’t even seen the inside yet. 

“It was a wedding gift from my father to my mother,” Coriolanus said as he walked you up the stone path. “She always preferred the quiet. She would often come here just to escape the noise of the Capitol.”

“Your father must have loved your mother very much,” you said. To build an entire cottage as a wedding gift? You wondered how long it took. Buildings could be erected quite quickly in the Capitol due to all of the resources being sent straight there. But even then, there could be delays when things were not so readily available. How long had it taken to bring everything out to the countryside? 

“They had a long courtship, so he could have the cottage ready by the time they wed,” Coriolanus continued. “In the end, it was worth it to him if only because it was where she chose to have her children.”

Your breath caught in your throat. “She…” you tried to ask, but the words didn’t sound right. It sounded too insensitive to even try. 

“It was the one place that reminded her of my father that had been left untainted by the war,” he said. “I hated this place for so long because it felt like it took her from me. As I grew older, I began to appreciate that at least, through the pain, she felt some amount of peace.” He glanced at you as if to see your reaction. “I hope to make some better memories here with you. If that is alright.”

You swallowed. Oh, why did he have to be so sweet? To share his pain with you, to be so vulnerable…Fuck. Did he do this just so he could confuse your thoughts even more? Or was he being genuine? “I can try,” you offered. 

The corner of Snow’s mouth quirked up. You wanted to kiss it. “Thank you, petal. That is all that I ask.”

But is it all that you will ever ask? you wanted to say. What if you disappointed him? What if you could not provide him with the love he wanted from you? What happens then? 

Instead, you offered a small smile. “Can we go inside? I’m quite hungry after our journey.”

Coriolanus smiled, too, and led you in. It almost felt like you were being taken straight into the lion’s den. You pushed the thought from your mind. You told him you would try. Maybe you couldn’t make better memories for him here, but maybe you could try to understand him. Maybe, away from the Capitol, you could look between Coriolanus from the Academy and the Coryo you’ve come to know and find the true man laying inside. 

You reached for his hand, and gave it a squeeze. 

After lunch, Coriolanus allowed you your space. He gave you leave to pick which room you would like to stay in over the course of the your honeymoon, showed you where he would stay, and other points of interest in the cottage. Then he disappeared into his study, leaving you to do as you pleased. 

A part of you ached as he left. It had been what you wanted—distance to figure things out on your own. To determine how much you cared about Coriolanus without his presence influencing your thoughts. But you had so much time with him in recent weeks, had gotten to experience him so intimately, that for him to leave you be…It felt wrong. It felt like he took a part of you with him. You swallowed your self-inflicted hurt, though, took a book from the library, and retreated into the gardens. 

Still, as you sat among the grand rose bushes that seemed to follow the Snows wherever they go, you couldn’t focus on the pages. The words blurred together until they were unrecognizable. You found yourself glancing to the window to Coriolanus’s study, silently urging him to walk to it, to look out at you. He never came. 

What was wrong with you? 

You closed the book, not bothering to mark the page you were on. You hadn’t processed a single thing on the pages you flipped through. Hell, you weren’t even sure what it was you were trying to read. This was just a cheap attempt to push away your feelings, to not have to bother sorting through them. 

You retreated back into the cottage, setting the book aside on a table, before marching up to Coriolanus’s study. The door was open. Coriolanus’s back was to you as he gazed out the window. You raised your hand, rapping your knuckles on the doorframe. He turned, his pale blue eyes wild with worry.

“Is everything alright?” he asked. 

“You drive me mad. You make me ill every time I see you. I cannot tell if it’s because of the butterflies girls talk about or because you scare me. You do. Scare me, I mean.”

Coriolanus took a step toward you. “I scare you?” he repeated.

“Your anger terrifies me. I don’t think…I don’t think you would ever hurt me. But the idea of what you might do to someone who does…Coryo, I have never been more terrified than when you thought I was going to run away with Sejanus. I was sure you would have killed him where he stood.”

A frown settled on his face. He took another step. “I should have. You are everything to me. I won’t let anyone try to poison you against me.”

“I cannot for the life of me understand why. You could have anyone, Coryo. You could have someone who knows that they love you, who can say those words.”

“I don’t want anyone but you, petal.” He stepped closer. One more step, and he would be in front of you. Part of you wanted to shy away, to put distance between the two of you. Your feet remained firmly planted. 

“Why?” you begged. 

“Because I burn for you. You have burrowed yourself into my soul, if I should have one. Since we were fourteen, all I have wanted was you. All I have ever wanted was to be good enough for you. I made a name for myself for you, I became king for you. I will be any man you want me to be. Just give me the word.”

Your brows pinched together. “We only met when we were fourteen.”

Coriolanus closed the distance. “I fell in love with a girl who could look me right in the face and say I was wrong for thinking the opera useless, a gratuitous performance than something contributory to society. I did not come to love the opera that day, but rather the girl whose face lit up at every note. Who nearly rose out of her seat as if she might be sing too. I have loved you for a long time, petal. I fear I always will.”

He reached up, his hands cupping your face. You leaned into his palm, your eyes fluttering shut. “I will go to as many performances as you wish, petal. I will pretend I love every one. I will build you a thousand libraries. I will adopt a million cats. If you…If you tell me to beg for your love, I will get on my knees without a second thought. I will do anything, I will be anything, for you.”

“What if you tire of me?”

“I could never. The months I spent with the Peacekeepers, the years I spent climbing the social ladder, all I could think of was you and all of it would be worth it if I could hold you just once.”

“And when you learn that I am a far cry from the woman you think me to be?”

“Then I would love her, too. You are it for me, petal.”

You opened your eyes. Your gaze fell to his lips—how plush they were, how his tongue darted out to wet them, how they parted, ready to say more. Words never fell past them, though, for you stopped them right in their tracks. You kissed your Coryo until you were breathless. 

When you finally parted for air, you whispered, “I…think this is better than a love match.”

#the house of snow: a royal coryo au #coriolanus snow imagine #coriolanus snow x reader #coriolanus snow x fem!reader #coriolanus snow x female reader #coriolanus snow x you #coriolanus snow x y/n #coriolanus snow fanfiction #coriolanus snow fan fiction #coriolanus snow fanfic #coriolanus snow fan fic #coriolanus snow fic #starrywrites #starryevermore

[lichpassing]

Let's talk about spring hounds!

Spring hounds are the analog for dogs on Aurum, occupying a similar niche to wolves. They became domesticated a lot later than ours did, having become genetically distinct from their ancestors about 20,000 years ago. Because of this, along with other factors, they aren’t as physically diverse as our dogs are, but they fill many different niches and do have distinct breeds.

Remains of their ancestor species were found in singer burial grounds as far back as around 48,000 years ago! That’s around 20,000 years before Aurum’s last mass extinction event! The working theory for why it took them so long to become their own species is that bands of C singers would kidnap pups and raise them as their own on occasion. Since that was uncommon at the time, domestication just didn’t have the chance to come about until later.

Later on, because of an asteroid impact, populations of most species dropped drastically or completely disappeared. Spring hounds ancestors had a hard time coping with the post-impact world, and taking more scraps from the species who can hunt large game seemed very alluring. Over the next few thousand years, as the two singer species started to get more and more intertwined, spring hounds changed a lot. Close proximity to C singers made them much more sociable, trainable, and visually appealing (yay neoteny).

The reason why working with this species specifically was so appealing to Cs was the difference in their hunting methods. Cs are ambush predators, they can reach extremely high speeds, but not for very long. Spring hounds are endurance predators, they can pursue prey for much longer. When whatever is being hunted tries to escape, spring hounds are there to cut them off or herd them back to the hunting party. It's a system that benefits both, and that forged a deep bond between the two species.

Spring hounds still exist in the modern day, they're a very common working animal and even more common companions. It's common practice for Cs who give birth to only one child to get their child a spring hound pup to play and socialize with.

E singers also keep them as pets, but their relationship with them is similar to our relationship with cats. Spring Hounds are slightly intimidated by Es size, and Es have a harder time forming bonds with them because of this. However, they are still pretty popular pets, and the two can form close bonds with each other like Cs can. Es just need to approach them with more patience and understanding.

Biology

With strong legs, stocky bodies, and mouths full of sharp teeth, spring hounds make formidable predators. Their body plan is similar to that of a kangaroo because of their shared need for endurance. They can hop at a stable speed for miles, pursuing prey until the exhaustion overcomes them.

Their tail has the same 3 segments most members of their class do, and it's used as a leg when they aren’t moving. The only exception to this is the awkward shuffle they do to move very short distances.

Their feet have one large claw to hook onto prey while they hold them down. Since they hunt in packs, they use their collective weight to hold down whatever they catch.

Large ears give them great hearing, allowing them to be alerted to things moving a considerable distance away from them. The long, thin feathers on their head are connected to recessive ears, which evolved to be used for communication and courtship.

Spring pups are much fluffier, lacking the tusks and open ears of an adult hound. Their young are more altricial than Cs, and are unable to walk or hear for a few weeks after they are born. The two parents of the pups will take turns watching over the litter while the other one hunts. They can start eating meat after a couple of days but cannot crack through shells and bones until they're older.

On average an adult spring hound is about 2-3 feet tall, but some breeds get closer to 1 or 4 feet.

Their mouths are a bit overcomplicated, again like most animals in their class. One thing that sets them and the species closely related to them apart is the fact they are both carnivorous and have external tusks. The external tusks are not really for hunting, but for manipulating and holding onto carrion, and for building nests. Unlike their internal tusks, the external ones can move slightly up and down. They'll hold objects between their external tusks and tongue, and while they don't have the strongest grip, it makes up for their lack of forelegs or arms. The internal ones are used for hunting, so they’re are more firmly set in the jaw and are much sharper. Their beak is the real star of the show, however, it's the strongest part of their mouth and can bite through a lot of the harder parts of the animals they eat. In households, they have a bad habit of biting chair legs in half that are too thin if they don't get trained to use a designated chew toy. The “tongue” inside is a radula, and it's covered in thousands of teeth.

Their eye color ranges from yellow to red, but their sclera is usually the same shade of very dark blue. Similarly to c singers, their eyes are not round, and are instead eye stalks similar to a mantis shrimps underneath skin, fat, and muscle. Their eyes rotation is limited, and they often will rotate their heads or bodies to get a good look at something. The “pull apart” style pupil is common amongst more nocturnal or crepuscular predators, with spring hounds falling into the latter category.

Coat genetics

There are 12 categories of spring hound base coat colors, with 4 major color categories. Brown and tan are the most common, with black being a bit more uncommon and red being the rarest. The dilute gene is self explanatory, it lightens the color and patterning of the coat to varying degrees, nothing too flashy. The blush dilute is somewhat similar, but it impacts the pheomelanin less than the eumelanin, therefore it leaves a bit more of a rosy tone. The gene for dilute and blush dilute are both recessive, but it might show up again if the same type of dilute gene exists in both parents.

There are some other colors that are the result of genetic mutations. All white coats don't exist in spring hounds standard coat colors, but leucistic spring hounds are not uncommon, so it was assumed they were part of the standard array. Albinism and melanism are both rather rare, but melanism doesn't come with health issues like albinism does, outside of being more vulnerable to heat stroke in some regions. Spring hounds with albinism tend to be visually impaired or blind, and it also weakens their tusks enough to require a diet with less hard bones and shells.

The most common coat pattern is the colorpoint pattern. On earth, colorpoint cats have pigment in the warmest parts of their bodies. Spring hounds get pigment on the parts of their body that get the most sun exposure. This coat pattern comes about with age, and the amount of sun exposure they get in their early years has an impact on how dark their fur gets, along with genetics. Pigment shows up on the feet and under the tail because body heat does have some influence over where pigment shows up. This patterning frequently shows up along with other coat patterns, and most spring hounds will at least have a faint version of it under their stripes or splotches.

The other common coat pattern for spring hounds is stripes, but some patterns are less common than others.

The most common stripe pattern, feral populations would often revert back to this pattern after a few generations.

The same as above but with more intense striping.

The equivalent of a blotched tabby, it’s less common but not rare.

The same as above but with more intense striping, this is a very popular stripe pattern.

A much more rare version of the common striped pattern, with less striping and larger light patches.

A similarly uncommon version of the “blotched” stripe pattern with larger light patches.

The primary multicolored gene has a lot of color variety within it, with the gene causing specific pigments in the fur to either be greatly reduced or absent entirely. This exists in all fur coat genetics, but shows up a bit differently in all of them. Pigment loss tends to be concentrated on the underside of the body. Above are some examples of how this gene can change a spring hounds coat.

A lack of eumelanin, causing the affected fur to have a red to orange hue.

A complete lack of melanin, causing the effected fur to have a white hue.

A partial lack of melanin, causing the affected area to be a diluted tone, it can have a “blush” tone if the spring hound carries the gene for it.

An example of how the first version of the multicolor gene would look on a brown fur tone, the genes do not add pigment, so they change in accordance to the melanin ratios in each fur tone.

There can also be white spotting that goes along with this gene, here are a few examples of what that looks like on different variations of the multicolor gene.

Finally, here are some examples of different coat lengths. While these exist on a wide spectrum, they usually fall between 1 and 2. 3 is only really seen in breeds from polar regions and occasionally in mutts with the genetics for it. Short fur is seen as the most aesthetically pleasing, as it is easier to maintain and keep neat.

There are many, many combinations of all of these genes, giving spring hounds a wide variety of coats.

As for other physical features, the genetics are less clearly understood for a few reasons. Namely the fact they have not put much effort into recording the lineages of breeds.

While there are no agreed upon breed standards, spring hounds have still changed in accordance to their jobs. Differences in appearance are either practical or purely incidental, breeding for specific traits for aesthetic reasons is more common in domestic fungi or plants. The image above is just a few examples of the variety of appearances.

Fun facts

They clack their beaks when they're content, it sounds a bit like this, but muffled.

A common play behavior is to nudge their companion with their tusks, which hurts BAD if they’re being rough or are running up to you before doing it. This is discouraged at a young age as to not cause any actual damage when they’re larger and stronger.

They’re mesocarnivores, with about 60% of their diet being meat.

Their favorite places to be pet are usually behind their ears, their cheeks, and the top of their back and tail.

#thank you my good friend cosmo for the name! and everybody who helped beta read this too! #spec bio #speculative biology #my art #worldbuilding #singers #ive been working on this for a bit over 5 months im finally done im free im alive and breathing fresh air #i feel like chell post portal 2

[jessamine-rose]

‧̍̊˚ᵕ⋆Part of Your World⋆ᵕ˚‧̍̊

After two months and several “Part of Your World” loops, my Yandere Mermaid AU has been written!! I hope you all enjoy these tragic fairytales featuring Capitano, Pantalone, Dottore, and Pierro ϵ( 'Θ' )϶

Tw:: yandere, violence, death, kidnapping

♡ 2.5k words under the cut ♡

Shark! Capitano x Coral Reef Fish! Mermaid

♡ Humans and mermaids alike are afraid of Capitano due to the misconceptions about sharks. It doesn’t help that he is considered intimidating even by his own species—a masked hunter who reigns victorious over every feeding frenzy, adorned with scars from his deceased opponents.

♡ In contrast to his fearsome reputation, he is actually one of the calmer creatures of the sea. He mainly keeps to himself and avoids unnecessary violence, confident in his ability to survive alone. So it comes as a surprise when Capitano swims into your coral reef and scares away the mermaids who were bullying you.

♡ He understands your initial fear of him. You are quite the little mermaid, a weaker species of coral reef fish, though your scarred tail is proof of your capacity to defy natural selection. And you achieve another victory as Capitano gently asks if you are all right.

♡ Your quiet “Thank you” results in more encounters. He soon becomes your attentive companion, leading to more peace in your coral reef. The two of you regularly admire the sea anemone and swim together, the distance between you disappearing in no time.

♡ You’ve watched Capitano hunt on a few occasions; and while his strength is terrifying, the spectacle reminds you that he can keep you safe from other species. (Come to think of it, what happened to your bullies?) Likewise, he accepts the algae and small animals you’ve hunted from tiny crevices, affectionately calling you his little hunter.

♡ You even visit his home! His cavern is located in the deep sea, with less sunlight and more aggressive mermaids who mistake you for Capitano’s meal. Don’t worry, he is quick to scare them away and escort you to his safe territory. Look, he has a pretty collection of sea anemone which he knows you’d love.

♡ It’s strange, really. To Capitano, you are no worthy competitor nor a species with symbiotic relations to shark mermaids. So why do you bewitch him? Why does he feel the urge to protect you? Why are his instincts telling him to bite you, not as a prey but as a mate?

♡ He tries to repress those urges. He really does—it would be an offense to your own resilience. How fitting, then, that his boiling point is triggered by the worst predator known to your kind, a group of humans who catch you in a net and drag you up to their boat.

♡ Needless to say, a rare mermaid attack is reported that day. In the wake of the carnage, all you can do is tearfully hug Capitano and thank him for saving you. But the bloodshed does little to calm him. His little mermaid was almost stolen from him. How many more predators are eager to harm you?

♡ It’s too late for you. Before you can swim out of his grasp, Capitano holds you more tightly and makes his decision. The world is merciless to the weak, so you are to stay by his side from now on. It is his only way to ensure your safety.

♡ Well, look on the bright side. With Capitano as your provider, you are never alone in the sea—not that you could leave his territory without him, given his predatory neighbors. He still allows you to swim freely so long as he is there to protect you, and who can forget the many sea anemones he brings home for you?

♡ You can only pray that you survive your new role as his mate. Capitano may be willing to accommodate your softer flesh and courtship rituals, but the difference in strength is apparent. If he isn’t careful, his bites could become fatal…not that he would ever harm his beloved.

Jellyfish! Pantalone x Exotic Pet! Mermaid

♡ Pantalone is regarded as the jewel of the sea. Everything about him is perfect, from his graceful demeanor to his ethereal jellyfish features. Beneath that languid veneer, he is quite skilled in navigating the dangers of the deep sea and preying on unsuspecting creatures.

♡ When a ship capsizes in the midst of a storm, he takes advantage of the situation. He kills stings several humans, collects their valuables, and comes across a new treasure. A pretty mermaid trapped in a large aquarium, gazing at him with wide-eyed wonder.

♡ He easily deduces your identity. You are a rare mermaid raised by humans, a pampered pet who doesn’t know how to survive in the wild. And you have nowhere to go, seeing how your owners have either drowned or abandoned you.

♡ In that case, why don’t you stay with Pantalone? He must be a reliable mermaid if he’s willing to set you free and welcome you into his territory! His cavern is larger than your old aquariums, furnished with a gorgeous collection of pearls, human trinkets, and other treasures. And you fit right in with your shimmery scales and bright smiles.

♡ It takes a while for you to adapt to the wild. Outgrowing your expensive meals is easier said than done, much less learning how to hunt. You’re also a slow swimmer due to being raised in captivity, but Pantalone is patient enough to wait for you. He is a warm presence, always watching over you and educating you in How to be a Mermaid.

♡ He is also incredibly beautiful, which is high praise from an exotic pet. How can you not approach him when he illuminates the dark with his bioluminescent features? How can you not accept his offer to share body heat on cold nights, tails intertwined? How can you not applaud his underwater dances, unaware that it is a courtship ritual?

♡ You’re really lucky to have met him, you know? That is what Pantalone says whenever he stops you from meeting other mermaids and leaving his territory unsupervised. Had you met another sea creature, you would’ve quickly succumbed to the natural order of the world. You’re so naive and helpless, but he is willing to put up with it.

♡ Furthermore, something must be done about your view of humans. Despite the truth to his horror stories, it’s still common for Pantalone to pull you away from the surface and scuba divers. How many times has he warned you against showing yourself to humans? Don’t you know that the creatures who imprisoned you are just as likely to turn you into sashimi?

♡ Your shared life is perfect. So why are you suddenly saying goodbye to him? Pantalone can only stay silent when you tell him that you’d like to find your natural habitat. Your species isn’t meant for the deep sea and you feel guilty for freeloading. At the end of your speech, you leave the cavern to give him some space.

♡ That was your plan until Pantalone reaches out and stings you with his tentacles. He is incredibly apologetic about it, checking your wounds with cold hands and a calm smile. Oh dear, he’s so sorry. It seems that he let his emotions get the best of him. Why don’t you come back inside, darling? In your current condition, you would be easy prey.

♡ You listen to him. Eventually, you agree with Pantalone that you’d made an unconscionable decision. How could you possibly survive in the wild without him? Why put yourself in danger when you already have a perfect mate to care for you? You’re already home.

Octopus! Dottore x Marine Biologist! Human

♡ Octopus mermaids are perceived as intelligent troublemakers, and Dottore lives up to that reputation. His curiosity of the human world has caused many near-sightings, human deaths, and criticism from his peers but who is he to shy away from forbidden knowledge?

♡ It is during one research expedition that he meets a like-minded scientist. You are diving solo when Dottore reveals himself, and you react with genuine excitement. Not conventional fear, greed, or cruelty but pure fascination towards a foreign creature—a sentiment which he reciprocates.

♡ He is cautious, of course, but you remain undeterred by his bared fangs and clouds of ink. You carefully approach him and communicate with hand signals, to which Dottore surprises you with a few human words learned from previous research.

♡ An unlikely friendship is formed. Over time, you and Dottore secretly meet in the same area to share information and learn about each other. The language barrier remains an issue but you soon gain a rudimentary understanding of his speech patterns.

♡ While most humans equate octopi to sea monsters, you are clever enough to discover the truth on your own. You politely study Dottore’s mermaid biology, marveling over his grip strength and the suction marks he leaves on your skin. Likewise, you allow him to poke your legs and squeeze you with his tentacles. Half the time, the latter is an involuntary action which he tries to deny.

♡ One day, he follows you to the surface! Dottore has visited the surface before but it’s different when you are part of the view. Above water, you can remove your diving mask and speak to him clearly. An important observation is made: You have an attractive face. He’d like to see your expressions more often.

♡ Unfortunately, the moment is interrupted by an approaching boat. Quickly, you push him underwater and speak with the sailors. Thankfully, they don’t notice your companion and offer you a ride back to shore. You comply, unaware that Dottore is still watching you.

♡ What an unwelcome intrusion, he thinks bitterly. Despite your sociobiological boundaries, he can’t deny his fondness for you. The involuntary hugs from his tentacles, this odd feeling in all three of his hearts…could it be? Is such an attraction pursuable?

♡ Well, Dottore hasn’t been accused of witchcraft for nothing. In your following visits, he is more rigid in his research. He collects more human data, takes a few DNA samples from you, and acts clingy during your departures. You brush it off as an ordinary change in mood; it’s not like you could ask about it, anyway.

♡ One day, he guides you to the deep sea for some local mermaid games. You’re having so much fun that it comes as a total shock when Dottore forcibly removes your diving mask. For a few minutes, he restrains you with his tentacles and watches your distress with a cold, calculative expression. A deep kiss follows, flooding your throat with a bitter sedative.

♡ You know something is wrong as soon as you wake up. Dottore is looming over you with a frightening grin and when he speaks, you can understand him? That is when you notice the gills on your neck, the scales littering your skin, the mermaid tail in place of your legs.

♡ Aren’t you impressed? It took him ages to create a permanent transformation potion, and he even accommodated your favorite marine species! Now he can see your lovely face all the time and show you parts of the sea which no human can explore. Worry not, Dottore will guide you through your adjustment. The two of you will be closer than ever.

Orca! Pierro x Rescuer! Human

♡ Orca mermaids are no stranger to animal cruelty. Pierro can attest to that, having lost his habitat and escaped captivity. So when he washes up on shore, too weak and dispirited to resist the currents, he thinks it is the end for him.

♡ Only to be proven wrong by a compassionate human who lives near the sea. Before anyone can see him, you bring the beached mermaid home and put him in your bathtub. You add some foam pillows, treat his wounds, and wait for him to wake up.

♡ Pierro is naturally distrustful at first but there’s only so much he can do inside a bathtub. Apart from your concern, you are naturally curious about him and surprised by his fluency in human languages, an ability exclusive to his species.

♡ For a human, you’re oddly empathetic. Recognizing the social needs of orca mermaids, you spend hours in your bathroom to chat with your new companion. You introduce him to human culture by providing personal stories and warm meals which taste a thousand times better than the stale fish fed to captive animals.

♡ As the weeks pass, Pierro grows to trust you. You treat him like a companion, not a beast or pet, and go the extra mile to keep him comfortable. While he is embarrassed to sit in an inflatable kiddie pool, he’s willing to set aside his pride for more interactions in your home.

♡ Once his wounds have healed, you bring him to shore and set him free. In the dead of the night, you have enough time to properly say your goodbyes and wish Pierro a safe future. He thanks you one last time and disappears below the surface, leaving you to resume your ordinary life.

♡ Months later, you are roaming your neighborhood when you bump into a familiar person. It’s Pierro, appearing distinctly human with his two legs and fancy suit. After the initial shock wears off, he explains that he took a transformation potion to visit you. The effect wears off in three days; until then, would you be so kind as to give him a tour of your world?

♡ You eagerly accept. In his human form, Pierro can properly explore your house and natural habitat. The two of you go on several outings, eat your meals at your dining table, and share your bed. He regards your bathtub and kiddie pool with endeared nostalgia.

♡ On the third day, you cook a special farewell feast and invite Pierro to visit another time. He thanks you again, for both your hospitality and your previous act of compassion, but makes one clarification: Who said that he is saying goodbye?

♡ You aren’t given a warning before Pierro physically overpowers you and twists your leg. Calmly, he carries you to bed and soothes your pained cries. Walking is quite inconvenient, isn’t it? All it takes is a single injury, a shift in balance or gravity, for a human to be incapacitated.

♡ Well, Dottore’s the Sea Witch’s potion was worth it. He still has a few days before the effect wears off, enough time to decide on what to do with you. You see, darling, you’re too precious to him. How can he search for a new home when he has already found one in you?

♡ Now he just needs to decide whether he’ll remain a human or drag you to the deep sea and permanently turn you into a mermaid. It’s a difficult choice, seeing how either of you must make a sacrifice. But one thing is certain: Wherever you go, land or sea, he will be a part of your world.

♡

Read the sequel + more mermaid lore ʚʘ͜͡))❨

Fufufu which Harbinger’s story was your favorite?? The mermaid brainrot and nostalgia was very strong in this one. If the couples seem familiar, that’s cuz I incorporated the characters and darlings from my Yandere! Harbinger longfic series~

A big thank you to @diodellet for beta-reading this and putting up with more of my nonsense. And to the fishfuckers, I know you exist. I hope you are happy u_u

Tag a Harbinger enjoyer!! @bye-bye-sunbird @yandere-romanticaa @nicebonescomrades @harmonysanreads @ansy-tea @leftdestiny-posts @thescribeoflostmemories @kocherry @gum-iie @oofasleep @crypticbibliophile @yanmaresu @frogchiro @lcveaesop @shumidehiro @mirdance @surveyycorps @theinnerunderrain @teabutmakeitazure

#capitano #pantalone #dottore #pierro #capitano x reader #pantalone x reader #dottore x reader #pierro x reader #yandere capitano x reader #yandere pantalone x reader #yandere dottore x reader #yandere pierro x reader #yandere capitano #yandere pantalone #yandere dottore #yandere pierro #yandere fatui harbingers #fatui x reader #genshin x reader #yandere genshin #il capitano #il dottore #tw: yandere #tw: dark #tw: violence #tw: death #tw: manipulation #g/n reader #jessamine-writing

[amazeingartist]

alien vibe times (octosoap edition)

“alien soap being an apex predator species that ghost’s team finds floating in a test tube during a laboratory raid. soap’s conscious and floating around, tracking ghost’s movement in particular with large star filled blue eyes”

(slight divergence from the writing to this but shhh it’s fine)

(and full design here with all my little starting notes and scuffed as fuck photobash doodle)

here are some more notes that go into it a bit more if you’d like to read em (I basically made the species first and then was like, “ok soap your this now” lmao)

(also sorry for not posting for a bit before the global strike, hopefully this makes it up a bit)

currently calling the species “cephalopinna,” literally just combined scientific names lmao

physically they look like an octopus given seal qualities, but they don’t have as many bones as most of their body is just pure muscles. the bones they do have are dense like most aquatic life, and are there to support vital organs or provide the most simplistic skeletal structure

the planet cephalopinna live on is entirely water, with the landmass being submerged and most of the time floating along with the planets current. plantlife does exist, these landmasses varying in size and vegetation—from coral reefs and underwater forests, to sandbanks and floating debris.

cephalopinna are an incredibly intelligent and semi-social species, usually only straying away from other members of their species when a pair are incubating their young

cephalopinna are monogamous and only have one partner, at most two if the first partner dies, otherwise they can die from loneliness after being paired

cephalopinna also have up to 4 spawn but usually only one or two make it maturity. also technically have eggs that are kept tucked away under the hood of the adults neck, next to the gills so that they’re oxygenated and once born, cephalopinna will raise their young to maturity (young could be called pups, cubs, or whelps)

they are incredibly territorial and both male and female “equivalents” of cephalopinna will fight off a competitor to be paired (I say equivalents because there is no proper determination or designation of a male or female sex within the species by human standards)

courtships are dances where a pair will flash colours, gifts of food, and tests of intelligence via what could be considered puzzles (intelligence is highly regarded among cephalopinna)

the front fins have claws that can used for hunting, foraging, fighting, even potentially grooming (gently scraping off algae and parasites) and are very functional as hands as they sorta have a thumb claw

cephalopinna are incredibly large but are excellent ambush predators, laying in wait to latch on and bite while pumping prey full of venom. if the ambush fails, they will chase down the prey till they are close enough to prick them with venom to then follow behind from a safe distance as the prey succumbs to their incredibly potent paralytic toxin

their teeth can crush through bone, nothing of the prey is ever left afterwards

they have a long life expectancy

the connective tissue between their primary tentacles stretch to cover body, while swimming cephalopinna will cover themselves to be more hydrodynamic. they also often do this when sleeping out in the open to protect themselves.

cephalpinna grind their back teeth, like deer, which reverberates through the water, add it with their aptitude for colours, this form of communication has multiple meanings

they have an incredibly advanced camouflage ability, which helps soap in particular in this au appear human. for whatever evolutionary purpose, they have the ability to breathe earth’s—and a few other planets—atmosphere, however they do need to be kept appropriately hydrated it would seem

#soapghost #ghostsoap #soap mactavish #john soap mactavish #simon ghost riley #alien!soap #personal alien species lore dump too lmao

[ewanmitchellcrumbs]

Anhedonia

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x nameless female character (third person perspective) Warnings: Canon typical sexism. Mentions of past trauma. Angst. Heavy Petting. Oral (m receiving). Smut. Word count: ~6.1k

Summary: A young noblewoman's family have travelled to King's Landing for an upcoming tourney and are guests of House Targaryen. She is excited to explore the capital and all it has to offer, however, she finds herself dismayed when a certain Prince does not share her adventurous spirit. She makes it her mission to ensure he learns to appreciate the pleasures he considers to be "depravities". Based on this request.

Author's note: No gods, no masters, no tag lists. Only scabs community label fics. If you find yourself tempted to slap a label on this, please block me instead.

A month in King’s Landing, she can hardly wait. The journey from the Vale to the capital has taken ten days, each of them feeling like they stretch on for an eternity. She hops down from the carriage once it pulls to a stop in the grounds of the Red Keep, helped by the footman, and does her best to remain poised and ladylike despite the overwhelming urge to exaggeratedly stretch her limbs after having been seated for so long. Her and her family are to be guests of House Targaryen, invited to attend a tourney being held in honour of King Viserys’ upcoming name day, a gesture of goodwill for having hosted the royal hunting party the last time they visited the Vale.

While life in the Vale is lush, green and peaceful, it is also quiet, too quiet, and she finds it dull. The only excitement she has are her visits to Riverrun to spend time with her betrothed; she is six months into a courtship with Lord Tommen Tully, but even the Riverlands do not offer the excitement that King’s Landing boasts. She longs to explore the maze-like streets of the city and immerse herself in a culture where sheep do not outnumber people.

They receive a warm welcome from Queen Alicent and the Hand of the King, Otto, who informs them that, regrettably, the King’s health prevents him from being able to greet them personally, but he sends his regards. The children that Alicent shares with Viserys all stand in a row as part of the greeting party. Prince Aegon leers at her, his eyes roaming the length of her body, making her feel self conscious and embarrassed. Princess Helaena puts her at ease, however; there is a natural slouch to her posture which lends an air of informality to her, and makes her seem more approachable than the rest of her family. She smiles easily, which is in direct juxtaposition with the stony demeanour of her younger brother, Prince Aemond. He stands straight as an arrow, arms clasped firmly behind his back and offers little more than a curt nod and a quick glance her and her family’s way, his gaze remaining fixed on the middle distance the rest of the time. She wonders if he is like that all of the time, or if he has taken a particular dislike to her presence.

Once they are settled, she is elated when she is sent to spend time with Helaena, her imagination running wild with the possibility of all the interesting things they might get up to. She is disappointed, however, when she finds that Helaena is happy to simply sit and embroider. The Princess talks dreamily about insects, as she stitches away with her needle and thread, but from the faraway look in her eye, she gets the distinct impression that it wouldn’t matter to her if she was there or not.

She slips out of the Princess’ quarters in search of something else to do, and doesn’t have to go far to find it.

“Did you tire of my sister already?” Aegon leans against an alcove, a smug smirk on his face.

She feels her cheeks heat up, she hasn’t even been here a day and yet already she has caused offense. Remembering how he’d looked at her earlier, she worries what he might do to her, her heart thudding loudly as her eyes dart around the corridor, looking to see if there’s anyone to save her. “N-no, my Prince, I simply-”

“-it’s fine,” He holds up a hand to halt her embarrassed apologies. “Helaena isn’t what I’d describe as exciting. You’ve come all this way, it seems a shame for you to sit cooped up in the Keep, when there’s an entire city to explore.”

His apparent lack of anger towards her, and offer of companionship eases her mind. and she grins at the possibility of finally getting to see more of King’s Landing. “What did you have in mind?”

“Follow me.”

Aegon leads her to what she assumes are his chambers, donning a hooded cloak, before throwing one to her. She slips it on, her eyes going wide as she watches him move a chest of drawers out of the way and push through an opening in the stone wall. They exit the Keep and head down the hill to what Aegon tells her is “Flea Bottom”.

She is overwhelmed by the sights of street performers dancing, breathing fire and offering palm readings, the sounds of traders shouting out to sell their wares, the smell of urine that seems to linger in every corner they pass, and the sheer number of people. They jostle in crowds up and down the narrow, winding cobbled streets and she grips tightly to Aegon’s hand, terrified she’ll get lost if she lets go even for a moment.

They drink brown ale that tastes like old copper coins and eat roasted meats that have been burned to the point that she is no longer able to discern their animal of origin. She decides it’s best that she doesn’t know. For every cup of ale she drinks, Aegon has three and it’s not until they reach the door of a building where the cheers of a crowd can be heard from inside, that she realises how far into his cups he is as he sways beside her.

“Perhaps we ought to go back.” She suggests uneasily, feeling apprehension begin to gnaw at her insides.

“Rubbish...” He slurs. “...come on, you’ll enjoy this.”

He grabs for her hand, tugging her through the jeering crowd and she recoils when the sight of two children hitting each other in a pit below comes into view. Her stomach turns at the sight, not wanting to look long enough to comprehend what she is seeing, the thought is simply too awful. She wrenches away, pushing herself back outside.

She leans against a wall, catching her breath and it is not until her heart rate has slowed that she notices that Aegon has not followed her. She had assumed he’d be just as disgusted as she was, and a shiver runs through her as she realises that he had intended for them to watch that, it was no mere accident, he enjoyed it.

The faces of the people on the street seem more sinister now she is alone and it dawns on her how perilous her situation is; she is a lone noblewoman in a foreign city, absolutely anything could happen to her here, and there’d be no one to save her. She breaks into a run, sprinting through the narrow streets, not knowing if she’s following the same route that she took with Aegon on the way there, but just knowing that if she keeps the castle on the hill in sight then she will make it back in one piece.

Winded by the time she eventually returns, she shuts herself away in her bedchamber and vows never to spend time alone with Prince Aegon for the rest of her stay in King’s Landing. His idea of a good time could not be farther removed from her own. 

She has a troubled night’s sleep, plagued by the visions of what she’d seen in the fighting pit. She feels fuzzy headed by the time she eventually rouses from her bed, and a sadness settles over her. The month was going to be an incredibly lonely one without anyone to keep her company; her parents would be entertained by the Queen and her father, they would not want her around. Tommen could not even come to visit; an invitation had not been extended to the Tullys, it would be impolite and presumptuous for him to simply turn up.

Walking towards the window, she looks out across the city. The faint orange glow of the sun has barely begun to rise above the rooftops in the distance, it is still the hour of the rooster. A sound of steel clashing against steel draws her attention to the courtyard below.

She watches a tall, silver-haired man cross swords with a dark haired knight. Though they both fight valiantly, it is clear that the knight’s opponent is getting the best of him. It’s only when the fairer of the two turns that she notices the eyepatch. Aemond.

Though she has yet to actually speak to him, she knows all about him, all of Westeros does, she presumes; the terrible accident that cost him his eye and that he rides the largest dragon in all of Westeros, both subjects of keen interest in every noble household.

She wonders if he is as vulgar as his older brother, or perhaps possesses a gentleness that’s more akin to his sister; it was impossible to tell from his stoicism when she’d arrived yesterday. Smiling as she watches him point the tip of his blade towards the knight’s throat, she decides she will seek him out and find out for herself. Perhaps he will be a worthy companion for the duration of her stay.

Once she is washed, dressed and has broken her fast, she goes in search of the One-Eyed Prince. He has long since departed the training yard, so she wanders the halls of the Red Keep, hoping she might run into him.

It’s not until she reaches the library that she finally encounters him. He is seated at the head of a long, mahogany table with a book in his hands. He has changed out of the doublet he wore when sparring and is now dressed in a black leather tunic, his long silver-white hair falling elegantly around his shoulders.

He does not look up as she enters the library and she finds herself unsure of how to handle the situation; she hadn’t anticipated that he’d ignore her.

She draws in a breath and clears her throat, and when he still doesn’t acknowledge her she then speaks.

“Prince Aemond, it is a pleasure to meet you properly. I saw that you were part of the welcoming party for my family and I yesterday, but I wanted to formally introduce myself.”

He looks up then and she feels she may wither from the intensity with which he glares at her.

“Hm,” is all he musters, before returning his attention back to his reading.

The logical part of her knows she ought to take offense to his dismissiveness of her, however, her curiosity is far greater and she wants to know precisely why he’s so reluctant to speak to her. She walks towards him, stopping a few paces in front of where he sits, regarding him carefully.

It’s obvious that he does not enjoy the intrusion, visibly bristling and shifting haughtily in his seat. She makes no moves, determined to stand her ground until he talks to her.

Aemond sighs, closing his book and fixing her with a pointed stare. “What is it that you want exactly?”

She gives a gentle shrug of her shoulders, fingertips grazing over the smooth wood of the tabletop as she approaches him. “I thought we might be friends.”

“I don’t have friends.” He replies stiffly, reopening the tome in front of him and continuing to read.

“You must get lonely.” She watches the way his eye scans the page and smiles to herself. He isn’t really reading.

“No.” He doesn’t look up, keeping his focus firmly on the text.

“What are you reading?” She pulls out the chair next to where he sits at the head of the table and sits down.

“It wouldn’t interest you.” He says dismissively.

“Try me.” She stretches out her arms, gently drumming her fingers on the table.

He looks up then, annoyance pinching his angular features. “What do you mean?”

“Read it to me.” She fights the urge to laugh at the expression of horror that flashes across his face.

“Read to you?! Are you an infant?”

“I’m not going to leave you alone until you do, and it means you get to carry on with your book, so you might as well.”

He sighs, rolling his eye. “Fine, but I’m not starting from the beginning.”

She settles back in her chair as he reads aloud, paying rapt attention to the way his brows raise for particular sentences, the way his lips shape around each word. His voice is soothing when he’s not being petulant. A warmth blossoms in her chest at how animated he becomes. It is a history book he reads to her from, but he is almost passionate in his delivery of every word. It seems she has found common ground with Aemond, and perhaps the beginning of breaking down the walls which he appears to have built up around him.

She watches Aemond train from her chamber window every morning, and visits the library every afternoon over the next few days. Each time Aemond reads to her; books about history, philosophy and dragon lore. She finds each topic fascinating, but it perhaps has more to do with how ardently he speaks of them than her own interest or understanding. Whether he enjoys or simply endures her presence is a mystery to her, but he doesn’t turn her away and reads aloud without complaint, so she continues to come back. Each day their chairs draw closer together, until they sit shoulder to shoulder, her leaning in to follow the words along with him. He is stiff at first, seemingly unsure of her physical presence, but gradually softens, leaning into her as much as she does to him.

The day of the tourney arrives and as she is seated in the stands she looks around, noticing that Aemond is absent, despite the fact the rest of his family are all in attendance; even Viserys has made it out to spectate, though he appears to be frail and in ill health. A golden mask covers half of his face, and a maester hovers by his side, while Alicent looks on worriedly. She wonders if he’s even aware of what he’s supposed to be watching. Assuming that on account of all Aemond’s training, he will be taking part, she is surprised that as the jousting gets underway she cannot spot him.

She feels restless and bored without her new found friend, if she can even call him that, and during a commotion when a knight is unseated from his horse, she uses the distraction to sneak away back to Keep. It’s the time of day when Aemond would usually read to her, so she knows exactly where to find him.

He looks up from his book as she enters the library, the faintest of smirks pulling at the corners of his lips.

“You’re late,” He drawls. “I started without you.”

“I was at the tourney,” She replies, taking her usual seat beside him. “I thought you would be too.”

“I don’t give a shit about tourneys.” He says matter of factly.

Her eyebrows raise in shock, she’s never heard him speak so colloquially before, but she finds she rather likes it. “No ladies whose favour you’re after then?”

“No need. I’m to be betrothed to one of Lord Baratheon’s daughters.”

“Lucky you! Which one?”

Aemond shrugs slightly. “I’ll choose when I fly to Storm’s End.”

“And leave three poor ladies heartbroken afterwards.” She teases with a smile.

“I hardly think so.” He mutters, stiffening with discomfort and frowning slightly.

Assuming he is being needlessly modest, she places a hand on his arm. “You must have no end of admirers.”

Aemond snatches his arm away, fixing her with an angry stare. “I do not appreciate your mockery.”

“I-I wasn’t…” She stammers, stunned by the abruptness of his reaction.

“Well, then I do not need your pity.” He utters darkly, rising from his seat and striding from the library.

She stares after him, a tightness in her chest preventing her from calling out to him. She has no idea what she has said or done to make him behave in such a way, but the urge to burst into tears is overwhelming, so she makes a hasty return to her chambers so that is able to do just that in private.

She weeps bitterly as she curls up on her bedspread, a combination of remorse for having offended her only companion in this city, and shock that such a harmless remark could have done so in the first place. As her cries subside, they give way to confusion. What had she said that had upset him so much? She had only meant to pay him a compliment. Words of flattery should not inspire such outrage. Her perplexed state gradually evolves into anger. She decides it is him in the wrong, and if he wishes to be annoyed with her then he can be.

For two days she does not speak to Aemond, fighting the urge to go to the window in the morning to watch him train, refusing the familiar path to the library that her feet long to take in the afternoons. She misses him, and the Red Keep becomes a lonely place to be without the only friend she has made within its walls. She wonders if perhaps he misses her too, but is resolute in her determination not to seek him out.

It is on the third day that she hears a soft rapping at the door to her quarters. She only ever receives visits from the Keep’s serving staff, so she calls out for them to enter. Her heart feels as though it has leapt into her throat when she sees Aemond slip through the door, softly closing it behind him.

He holds a book in his hand, and the pair of them stare at each other in silence for a few moments. She knows she should rise when in the presence of royalty, but it’s taking all of her effort just to remind herself to breathe, formalities are the furthest thing from her mind as her yearning for his company and her anger at how he’d spoken to her are at direct odds with each other.

It appears he is unbothered by her lack of formality, however, as he grips the book tightly in both hands, swallowing thickly. His right eye is almost pleading as he looks at her. “It’s been a few days…I thought I might read to you, if you’d like me to?” Though he does not say the words aloud, they are clear; I’m sorry.

She softens, unable to help the smile that spreads across her face. She’d expected him to be far too proud to have ever come to her, and yet here he was. “I’d like that,” She says; I forgive you.

Aemond seats himself next to her on the settee and begins to read. It is a volume about the Age of Heroes, and though interesting, she is barely able to register the words, just thankful to have the ease of his presence once more.

He squirms as he reads, something she is unused to seeing. Aemond is still by nature, his posture stiff and unyielding, yet he arches his back and rolls his shoulders until eventually, with a sigh, he stops reading and closes the book.

“This seat is unbearable, how can you stand it?” He grumbles.

“We could go to the library, if you’d prefer?” She offers.

“I’ve a better idea,” He says. “But you’ll need to be dressed in something warmer, much warmer. Get changed and I’ll meet you back here in a moment.”

She watches him leave, wondering what he could possibly have in mind, and why she’d need to dress warmly. It is early summer, and the sun shines brightly, regardless of this she dons her thickest clothing before Aemond returns. She notices that he too has changed, he’s wearing a long, thick jacket and leather riding gloves. Puzzled by his choice of attire, she does not have time to ask questions as he gestures for her to follow him.

He guides her out of and away from the Red Keep, the briskness of his pace causing her to break into a light sweat on account of how wrapped up she is. Her discomfort is short lived, however, replaced by a mixture of fright and awe as the sight of the largest and most monstrous beast she has ever laid eyes upon draws closer into view the further their footsteps draw them away from the center of the city.

“Are…are we going towards that?” She asks fearfully.

Aemond chuckles drily. “That is Vhagar,” He tells her proudly. “Is she not the most magnificent dragon you’ve ever seen?”

“She is the only dragon I’ve ever seen.” She replies, voice shaking slightly.

“I thought you might enjoy an opportunity to escape the Keep, and experience something more exciting than a tourney.”

“We’re going to ride her?!”

“It’s perfectly safe, I do it often. But if you’re afraid, we don’t have to.”

She chews her lip in uncertainty. The thought of flying on dragonback terrifies her, but at the same time she’d arrived in King’s Landing in search of adventure and this certainly was one. She decides to place her trust in Aemond. “I want to.”

Trembling as Aemond helps her up into the saddle before climbing on after her, she tries her best to be brave in spite of the way her stomach lurches as Vhagar takes flight. She holds onto the handles of the saddle for dear life, thankful for her thicker than usual garments as a rush of cold air gusts over them as they gain more height.

The queasiness she feels at the weightlessness subsides a little, as she feels Aemonds arms encircle her waist in order to take hold of the reins of Vhagar’s saddle. For a moment she is sure she imagines it, until she hears it again; Aemond is actually laughing. It’s the first time she’s ever heard him express such unbridled joy since she met him, and she turns slightly, taking in the view of the upward curve of his mouth, the crinkle of his seeking eye, how utterly carefree he looks. It suits him. She would endure a thousand death defying flights on Vhagar if it meant she got to see more of him like this, it is so far removed from how solemn he usually seems.

They land on a grassy cliff top, overlooking the sea, and he informs her that he has brought her to Parchments, as he helps her down, an area that overlooks Tarth and the Narrow Sea towards the Flatlands of Pentos and Myr.

“It is too loud sometimes, even in the most silent parts of the Red Keep. It’s quiet here.” Aemond tells her, shrugging off his coat and laying it upon the ground before sitting upon it. He gestures to the empty space beside him and she joins him.

“You like the quiet.” She muses, looking out sea, watching the gentle undulation of the waves as the breeze softly moves through her hair.

“It is preferable to being laughed at.”

She startles, assuming he is referring to their conversation in the library a few days’ prior. “I wasn’t–”

“I did not mean you,” He tells her, glancing quickly over at her, then returning his gaze to the horizon. “They have always laughed at me. I grow tired of it.”

She is unsure of who he means by they, but is eager to comfort him. “I think you are magnificent, Aemond, I’d never laugh at you. My compliment was genuine.”

“I know that now,” He admits. “No one has ever sought my company willingly before, or expressed that I am…desirable. It was hard for me to imagine you weren’t joking.”

Her heart aches for him. “Have you never even kissed a woman before?”

Aemond shakes his head. “Aegon took me to a pleasure house on the Street of Silk for my thirteenth name day. He said ‘time to get it wet’. I don’t really remember much of that day, just that it smelled unclean, and that when I encountered the woman I was to lay with…” He pauses, drawing in a breath. “...the sight of her spread out like that was too much. I couldn’t do it, so I turned and ran. Aegon laughed. He has always laughed. I haven’t bothered with that sort of thing since.”

She frowns, thinking back on her own experience in Flea Bottom with Aegon. “Aegon is a shit,” She tells him, earning the slightest of smiles from him. “But I am sorry that that happened to you, you deserve better. It is not supposed to be that way.”

“How should it be then?”

“You should feel safe and comfortable, it should be with someone who cares for you, who wants to take the time to learn what makes you feel pleasure.” She says wistfully, heat creeping across her cheeks.

“It sounds as though you speak from experience.” He says with a slight raise of his eyebrow.

She hesitates a moment, shame giving her pause, but she has trusted Aemond once already today and he has not failed her, so she decides to confide in him. “Yes, I am betrothed to Tommen Tully. We have…explored the various aspects of intimacy together during our courtship. If you are going to enter into an arranged marriage then it makes sense to know what you are doing, and are able to keep your partner happy.”

“Hmm, Lord Tully,” Aemond says quietly. “Lucky man!”

She giggles at the way he mimics her compliment from a few days’ prior, and they both turn their attention back to the expanse of the Narrow Sea.

It is dusk when Vhagar lands back on the outskirts of King’s Landing. Streaks of lavender, orange, pink and yellow all disappear into the horizon, slowly swallowed by the darkness of light as she climbs from the saddle with Aemond’s help.

She is taken aback when he sweeps her into his arms as she makes her dismount, pulling her close to him. He presses his lips to hers and it is filled with the clumsy inexperience that comes with the action of a first kiss, but the plushness of his mouth against hers is not unpleasant and she returns the gesture softly and slowly.

He pulls back, his eye looking deep into hers. “I feel safe and comfortable with you,” He murmurs. “And I would like for you to teach me…how to be intimate. If that is agreeable to you?”

Her stomach flutters as she stares back at him breathlessly. “Yes,” She whispers, before leaning back in again.

Aemond is a fast learner and over the coming days he becomes more confident with his kisses. He leans in to kiss her each day as he reads to her, begins walking her back to her quarters at the end of every evening so that he may kiss her goodnight, his tongue licking deftly against her own. His lips possess hers with such assertiveness that it steals her breath away, the softness of them molding to hers in a way that has her chasing forward for more with a whine when he pulls away.

She knows that she ought to feel guilty, she is betrothed to Tommen after all, but she reasons that they are not married yet, and it is unlikely that he has shied away from having fun of his own when they are apart. She is merely ensuring Aemond feels confident when the time comes for him to depart for Storm’s End in pursuit of his own betrothal. With this in mind, she does not push for more beyond what he is willing to give, waiting for him to give the signal that he is ready.

It is early evening as he walks her back from the library, his mouth moves unhurriedly against her own as he presses her back against the door to her bedchamber.

He lingers once they break apart, not bidding her goodnight as he usually would. “I thought I might…come inside, if that is fine with you?”

She nods, her breath quickening as he follows in behind her. Aemond sits himself on the edge of the bed, suddenly looking uncertain of himself.

“How do I–”

“It’s alright,” She smiles, sitting beside him. “I don’t mind taking the lead. Just tell me to stop if it’s too much.”

He nods, laying against the pillows as she gently pushes him back. Draping herself over him, she resumes their earlier kisses, deep and passionate, both savouring the taste of each other. She breaks away to trail her lips along the sharpness of his jaw as her fingers work to unbuckle his tunic. She delights in the soft sighs that he emits, unbuttoning his undershirt and admiring the hard planes of his lean torso.

“Do you ever touch yourself?” She whispers, feeling how his pulse races as she strokes her fingers over his neck.

“Sometimes…” He breathes, eyes fluttering closed as her fingertips trail across his chest.

“What do you think about?”

“Lately…” He inhales a shaky breath as her hand moves lower, toying with the laces of his breeches. “...I think of you.”

She feels the warmth of arousal pooling between her legs as she palms the hardness of him through his underclothes. Though she does not have much to compare Aemond to, he is much larger than Tommen. She cannot resist dipping her hand beneath the fabric to touch him. “And what am I doing in your thoughts?”

He hisses through his teeth as she wraps her hand around him, and she lets out a hum of satisfaction at how weighty and warm he feels against her palm as she strokes him.

“You are…fuck…you are beneath me, and I-I am inside you.”

“Is that something you’re ready for?” She questions, slowly lowering herself on the bed, mouth watering at the sight of him; long and thick, flushed pink with arousal at the tip.

“I want to be.”

“Why don’t we start with this instead…”

She licks delicately at the head of him, grinning to herself at his quiet gasp, then allowing him to pass between her lips, suckling delicately. He is slightly salty against her tongue, though not unpleasant. Releasing him, she glances up.

“G-gods…don’t stop…” Aemond all but whines, his eye screwed shut as he bucks his hips slightly.

She smirks, taking him once more into her mouth, deeper this time, bobbing her head back and forth and using her hand to stroke the length of what won’t fit. He tenses and trembles beneath her attention, his knuckles turning white with the intensity with which he grips the sheets. She readies herself as the telltale pulsation of his length indicates he is nearing his peak, swallowing as he releases down her throat with a low groan.

Wiping her mouth, she crawls to lay beside him, smiling softly as she takes in his lazy, blissed out expression; right eye hooded with pleasure and lips slightly parted.

“Can I stay with you?” He whispers.

“As long as you’d like.”

From that point on, when Aemond walks her back to her rooms he does not depart to his own. They spend every evening exploring each other, hands, lips and tongues roaming over every bared inch, before falling asleep in each other’s arms. She does not recoil when he lifts his eyepatch for the first time in front of her, instead she takes his face in her hands, turning it slightly, admiring the way his sapphire glimmers in the firelight, before softly stroking her thumb over the scar on his cheek.

He takes her that night. It is brief, as she knew it would be, a few awkward thrusts inside of her and he spills himself, embarrassed apologies uttered into the crook of her neck. She strokes his hair and tells him not to worry, they will try again once he is recovered, and they do.

She sits astride him, hips rocking back and forth, head tilted back in pleasure as the length of him stretches and fills her over and over, working at a spot inside of her that causes her to clench around him. Taking his hand, she guides it to her pearl.

“Stroke here,” She instructs, moaning wantonly as he begins to rub in tight circles.

She collapses against his chest, white hot waves of pleasure coursing through her as she falls apart, and he follows soon after.

Aemond is dutiful, fetching her moon tea without needing to be asked, and the pair fall into a happy routine of reading and dragon riding by day and lovemaking by night.

She lays against his chest, listening to the soft thud of his heartbeat as his fingers stroke through her hair.

“Thank you,” He tells her earnestly. “For all you have done for me.”

“I have done nothing but remind you of what is already there,” She replies. “You are intelligent, you fight fiercely, you are a skilled dragonrider, anyone can see that.”

“How do I fare as a lover?” He asks.

She does not need to look at him to hear the smirk in his tone and she giggles lightly. “Extremely well. Your Baratheon girl will certainly be lucky to have you.”

She hates the pang of jealousy she feels acrid and hot within her chest as she says those words, but what she detests even more is the look of sadness that flashes across Aemond’s face, his eye glancing away as the upward curve of his mouth falters. So they speak no more of it, clinging desperately to each other and the time that they have left.

On her final night in King’s Landing, Aemond fucks her into the mattress as though he means to push her through it, his grip on her hips so tight it is sure to leave bruises in its wake. She does not care though, clinging to him just as tightly, her nails digging crescent moons into his shoulder blades as she tries her best to memorise the way that he moves inside of her.

Come the morning, he sits up in the bed, his expression sullen as he watches her hurriedly throw her belongings into a chest - a task she ought to have completed the previous evening, but Aemond had kept her otherwise occupied.

“The stewards will be here for my things soon,” She says, stuffing a dress down the side of the rest of her haphazardly packed possessions. “You should leave before anyone sees you. You’ll be expected to be a part of the official send off for my family anyway.”

Slowly, Aemond rises from the mattress, walking over to her. “Don’t go,” He pleads quietly, taking her hands in his.

She could cry from the gesture; a month ago he’d have rather flung himself from the walls of the Red Keep than initiate any form of physical contact with her, let alone a gesture so intimate.

“You can’t ask that of me, Aemond,” She tells him gently, softly pressing her fingers into his palms. “It isn’t fair.”

He swallows thickly and the sincerity she sees in his eye is more than she can stand. “But I love you.”

She feels wetness rim her eyes, sharp and stinging. “And I love you. But so what? It’s not enough. We are duty bound, you and I.”

He bows his head sadly for a moment, but eventually nods. “I hope Lord Tully appreciates what a fine woman he has.”

Smiling warmly, in spite of her unshed tears, she nods. “And I hope the Baratheon girls give you a warm welcome. Be sure to kiss them all, don’t settle for what’s offered up first.”

He huffs a silent laugh, that releases itself as a heavy exhale through his nose.

“I mean it,” She urges. “This world is too small for you, never let anyone make you feel less than what you are.”

“Thank you,” He murmurs. “For everything.”

She lets go of his hands, crushing herself against his chest as she wraps her arms around him, as he envelopes her.

“Don’t forget me.”

“As if I could.”

She stares out of the carriage window as it rolls away from the Red Keep, away from King’s Landing, away from Aemond. Though she is returning to the Vale, she knows a part of her will forever remain in the capital, a part that she has imprinted upon Aemond. It is bittersweet to leave him behind. She is comforted knowing that she has pieced together the broken man she encountered when she first arrived. The world is too small a place for the likes of the Targaryen Prince, but she has given him the confidence to realise that he holds it in the palm of his hand.

#aemond targaryen #aemond #aemond one eye #aemond stannies #prince aemond targaryen #pro aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen smut #aemond targaryen angst #house of the dragon #hotd #hotd smut #hotd angst #aemond targaryen fan fiction #aemond targaryen fanfiction #aemond targaryen fan fic #aemond targaryen fanfic #hotd fanfiction #hotd fan fiction #hotd fanfic #hotd fan fic #aemond targaryen imagine #aemond targaryen x y/n #aemond targaryen x you

[bookofbonbon]

How about these prompts? “Was any of it real? Or is this your way of getting back at my father?” And “Please, don’t shut me out again.”

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Reader.

Word Count: 1109.

Posted: 05.02.2023

Edited: 03.09.2023

Three years.

Three years did Prince Aemond spend courting you. An exceptionally long time considering the two of you were already of age to marry when you met.

Of course, you thought nothing of it. After all, your father had initially rejected Aemond’s proposal so, you had always just assumed this was his way of punishing you for pushing back against his decision.

The thought brings a bitter smile to your lips.

How brave you once thought yourself for doing so.

So, proud of yourself you had been.

How foolish you truly were.

In hindsight, you should have kept your wits about yourself, that your father would continue to draw out your courtship for as long as he did; that the dragon-prince would so eagerly continue his pursuit for your affections despite your father’s hindrance.

You thought it was love.

It was only after your father’s death that you discovered the reason behind his hindrance. When upon your return to your homelands for his funeral, your inconsolable mother forced you to see the truth of it - the face of Aemond’s vindictiveness.

How you were nothing more than a puppet and Aemond the puppet master in a cruel game he had been playing with your father. He pulled at your every string and made you dance and dance you did.

Tears prick at your eyes as you stare longingly into the distance through the barred window of your bed chambers within the Red Keep. Breathing a small laugh, the irony is not lost on you.

A prisoner of your own making.

Too caught up in your own thoughts, you miss the first knock but, the second one comes louder, harsher against the wooden grain of the door.

You ignore it, you already know who it is, you already know he’ll let himself in and sure enough, he does.  

“We are not yet wed, you should not be inside my maiden chambers,” you speak plainly, continuing to stare out the window.

As if he hadn’t been inside a hundred times before.

“I could not be content to retire to my chambers knowing that you are upset with me.”

You almost laugh at his words; upset was an understatement.

“I’m not upset with you.”

Not entirely a lie, not entirely the truth.

You finally look at him, dark circles line the underneath of his eyes, the skin around his sapphire one a particularly nasty shade of red – as if he’d been digging his fingers into it. Fingers that were now anxiously twitching at his side.

“You did not seek me out upon your return. I thought perhaps it was the exhaustion from a long journey but, at supper, you would not spare even a glance toward me. You ignore me when I knock on your doors and dismiss me when I enter. You are upset with me,” Aemond sighs tiredly. “It pains me to think that in the time that you have been away I have done something to hurt you, that you would shut me out so coldly and so near to the day we are to wed.”

His words send a chill down your spine, the deep hurt that had been coursing through you over the last few weeks simmering for far too long and bubbling into a quiet fury that lurked beneath your surface.

Had he no shame?

“Does your spite know no limits?” you seethe. “Is there no reprieve in your wickedness?”

Aemond freezes at your words, your eyes cold, hard, and unforgiving and, it doesn't take him long to figure out why. Face blanching as realisation dawns on him - he should've known better; you had after all chosen to remain in your homelands for an unusually long time. He thought perhaps it was the grief but, as he looked upon you now, he could see the cold fury burning bright within your eyes.

Aemond swallows your words thickly, mouth opening but nothing coming out - his silence speaking volumes. He knew that you knew and when your coiled frame seems to shrink further, Aemond begins to truly fret because it wasn't like that anymore. It hadn't been for a long time but, how could he tell you that without admitting loudly to his once true intentions?

Stepping closer to you, Aemond hesitates- he wants to both bring you into his arms and comfort you and, drop to his knees and beg your forgiveness but, you flinch at his almost touch.

“Was any of it real?” your voice is small and far away, gaze focused on the skyline.

“Of course, it was real,” Aemond tries to reassure you. “It is re-”

“Enough with the lies,” you snap, his words sending you over the edge. "You will tell me the truth of it."

Surging forward, you grab his face roughly between your hands, forcing him to look at you.

“Now, I will ask you again. Was any of it real? Or was this your way of getting back at my father?”

You search Aemond’s eye desperately, hopeful still but, his eye strays as he speaks his next words. He cannot bear to look at the devastation he has caused you, will cause you as he confirms what you already know to be true.

“…it was my way of getting back at your father.”

A strangled sound leaves your lips as you violently rip your hands from either side of his face and turn away from him, hands burning from his touch.

“Get out.”

“No, no, no,” Aemond panics, rushing forward and pleading with you. “It is not like that anymore; I swear it to you. I love you now, I love you honestly, I love you truly, I lov-”

“Aemond!” your voice cracks, defeated. “Just get out- please.”

He doesn't want to leave, he wants to stay and fix this and fix this now but, Aemond knew you better than he knew himself… knew when to keep pushing and when to stop and this time he knew he needed to stop as the threads barely holding the two of you together threatened to snap.

“Okay,” Aemond nods reluctantly, walking backwards as you usher him out. “But please- just don’t... please, don’t shut me out again. Just give me one more chance. We can fix this; I can fix this; I will fix this.”

You say nothing as you close your chambers doors on him, waiting a beat for his shadow to disappear from the space beneath the door before, you collapse to the ground. Hurt and anger spilling over and staining your cheeks as you mourn your father, your Aemond, yourself.

A prisoner of your own making.

-

All fics are my own work - I have not posted my work anywhere else.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters/places mentioned above.

Do not copy. Do not translate. Do not repost.

bookofbonbon 2023. All rights reserved.

#requests are closed #aemond targaryen #ewan mitchell #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen fanfiction #aemond targaryen imagine #aemond imagine #aemond x you #aemond x reader #aemond fanfiction

[bethanydelleman]

Could you rank the Austen main couples from the least to the most likely to have sex before they are married?

Least to Most Likely:

Edmund Bertram & Fanny Price: It is all very proper. They probably have sex with their clothes on after the wedding.

Fitzwilliam Darcy & Elizabeth Bennet: She would have been down, he wasn't. He later congratulates himself on his excellent self control.

Edward Ferrars & Elinor Dashwood: There were definitely smooches, but after that roller coaster of a courtship, Elinor wants things legal and in writing. Also, just because something feels good doesn't make it right, MARIANNE.

Henry Tilney & Catherine Morland: he is a gentleman, but it was really the long distance relationship that prevented them from doing anything. Was there some racy content in those letters? I'd love to know...

George Knightley & Emma Woodhouse: Donwell is right there. You can walk right over...

Charles Bingley & Jane Bennet: "Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane" I see your intentions, sir. I see them!

Colonel Brandon & Marianne Dashwood: "I have feelings," said she, "let's indulge them." If something feels good, that makes it moral, right? Romanticism says yes, ELINOR.

Captain Frederick Wentworth & Anne Elliot: Do not care about anything except getting married as quickly as possible. Banns take far too long when you've been waiting 8 years and Napoleon just escaped from Elba. Let's get this DONE.

BONUS:

Lucy Steele & Robert/Edward Ferrars: No way in hell with either of them. She's too cunning to give up her best card before she has the man secure.

Frank Chuchill & Jane Fairfax: Not in a million years, no matter how many times Frank makes puppy eyes.

Robert Martin & Harriet Smith: Abbey Mill farm is like, right there. You can walk over. It has a hay barn...

Related: First Kiss for each Austen Heroine Couple

Also, marriage and birth records show that premarital sex was pretty common. Or else the Regency era had magically good premature baby care 😉

#jane austen #question response #anticipating their vows #austen main couples #am I going to tag them all or be lazy? #edmund bertram #fanny price #elizabeth bennet #fitzwilliam darcy #jane bennet #charles bingley #emma woodhouse #george knightley #captain wentworth #anne elliot #elinor dashwood #marianne dashwood #colonel brandon #henry tilney #catherine morland

[nessa007]

"On to the crux of why I wanted to speak tonight - first of all, it's been a while. But mostly I wanted to share a story. A story that I wrote about the man that I love and the way we met. Let's call this a modern fairy tale. Once upon a time there was a girl from LA, some people called her an actress. And there was a guy from London, some people called him a prince. All of those people didn't fully get it because this is the love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together. They meet on July 3rd, 2016 in London and they giggled endlessly. So the next day they have their second date and he brings her cupcakes because it's Fourth of July. "A bittersweet celebration", he says. Ironic, really. Her country's independence from his country. Yet in this moment they know they don't want to be independent of each other and after a month of long-distance courtship, they settle into the quiet of Botswana. And amidst whatever momentary worries that creep in, they look at each other and think, “Whatever, world, we’re in.” They would love, and garden, and travel, and laugh, and rack up more air miles than any couple could have. And when the tides were rough, they squeezed each other tighter. “Nothing can break us,” they say. “For this love, she was a fighter.” I appreciate, respect, and honor you, my treasure, for the family we will create and our love story that will last forever. So I ask you to raise a glass to the astounding assurance that now life begins, and the everlasting knowing that above all, love wins." - Meghan Markle's speech at her and Harry's wedding

#meghan markle #meghanmarkleedit #prince harry #harry and meghan #femaledaily #userladiesblr #dailywomenedit #dailywoc #dailymenedit #useroptional #contentbynessa

[kckt88]

Take My Breath Away II.

Summary:

Vaeryna makes a friend, meanwhile Aemond is convinced that his betrothed is hiding something, so he searches her room and makes a discovery.

Warning(s): Language, Angst.

Word Count: 2300.

GREENS WIN - SLOW BURN - ENEMIES TO LOVERS.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon or Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are very much appreciated.

After that first disastrous dinner, Vaeryna and Aemond had taken to ignoring one another.

She spent her time in the library or flying with Cannibal.

As he was too large for the dragon pit, he had taken to resting near Vhagar, which sometimes led to some slightly awkward encounters with Aemond, but Vaeryna always turned away from the kinslayer. Not wanting to speak, lest she say something else to upset his obviously fragile ego.

They were supposed to be spending time to get to know one another, as some type of courtship, but Vaeryna didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

If she could get away with roasting him alive, she would do it in a second, that would serve the smug shit right.

When she returned to the Red Keep after flying with Cannibal, Vaeryna stopped in the gardens and took a moment to appreciate the momentary silence.

Until inevitably of course Ser Arryk appeared and resumed his watch over her. The guard had taken to remaining a safe distance away from Cannibal lest he get eaten. As her boy could be hot tempered and prone to outbursts of violence should he feel as though his rider was under threat.

Even though she was his first rider, their hearts had been entwined from the very moment they took the skies for the first time and after she had lost her family, Cannibal had taken it upon himself to protect her with vicious fury when necessary.

Suddenly a soft tapping on her arm broke Vaeryna out of her daydreams.

The small silver haired girl looked up, her eyes wide and curious.

“You must be Jaehaera?” asked Vaeryna as she crouched down.

The girl nodded and wordlessly took Vaeryna’s hand and led her further into the garden.

“Pretty, aren’t they?” asked Jaehaera as she pointed to the butterflies.

“You know, there are some people who believe that butterflies, especially the white ones, are our lost loved ones coming to visit us” replied Vaeryna.

“D-Do you believe that?”.

“Yes, I do. It gives me comfort to think that my mother is here in some form” said Vaeryna.

“M-My mother is dead too” said Jaehaera firmly.

“I-I know. My father and brothers are also dead” muttered Vaeryna as she sat on a old wooden bench.

“Both my brothers are dead. I’m the only one left”.

“I have two half-sisters, but I haven’t seen them in a long time” replied Vaeryna.

“A-Are you lonely?” asked Jaehaera as she sat next to Vaeryna.

“Sometimes. But I have my Cannibal”.

“M-My father is still here, but I don’t see him much. My uncle Aemond visits me a lot but mostly I’m with my grandma” said Jaehaera.

“My mother once told me that the ones who love us never really leave us. They exist in our hearts, and we can feel them every time it beats”.

“A-Are you really going to marry my uncle Aemond?” asked Jaehaera.

“I guess so” muttered Vaeryna.

“He’s lonely and sad too. People call him names” muttered Jaehaera.

“They do?” asked Vaeryna curiously.

“Yes. They call him kinslayer and some of the ladies at court say horrible things about his scar” replied Jaehaera.

“Sometimes people can be cruel” said Vaeryna.

“You’re not cruel”.

“There are times where I have been” said Vaeryna sadly.

“Will you be cruel to uncle Aemond when you get married?” asked Jaehaera.

“How did you know about me and Aemond anyway?” mumbled Vaeryna avoiding Jaehaera’s question.

“I heard grandma talking about it. She doesn’t seem to like you very much”.

“That’s my fault. I said things I shouldn’t have done, but in truth I don’t like her all that much either” said Vaeryna.

“Maybe both of you should say you’re sorry” suggested Jaehaera.

“Do you think that would work?” asked Vaeryna.

“Maybe, but you won’t know unless you try” replied Jaehaera.

“JAEHAERA” shouted Alicent.

“Oh no” gasped Jaehaera as she wrapped her arms around Vaeryna.

“I-Is everything ok?”.

“I ran away from my septa. She’s mean” exclaimed Jaehaera.

Vaeryna smiled slightly at Jaehaera’s attempts to hide. But then she looked up and spotted Aemond silently observing them.

“There you are. Septa Una told me you ran away from her lessons again” snapped Alicent.

“It-It was my fault Your Grace. I brought her to the gardens” said Vaeryna.

“YOU?” shouted Alicent.

“Apologise Your Grace, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Jaehaera just looked a little sad and I thought she would like to see the butterflies” said Vaeryna quickly.

“I-I wanted to come” muttered Jaehaera.

“Jaehaera. Y-You spoke?” questioned Alicent stunned.

“W-What?” asked Vaeryna confused as Jaehaera took her hand.

“Jaehaera hasn’t spoken since Helaena passed-“ said Aemond as he slowly approached, his arms folded behind his back.

“-Oh” replied Vaeryna surprised.

“You’re the first person she’s spoke to since then”.

“P-Please sit with me in the gardens tomorrow” begged Jaehaera.

“If that’s ok with your grandmother” muttered Vaeryna.

“As long as you promise to stop running away from your Septa” replied Alicent.

“I promise. Thank you, grandmother”.

“Now come on back to your lessons” said Alicent.

“See you tomorrow” shouted Jaehaera as she was led away from the gardens.

“That was kind of you” said Aemond.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” replied Vaeryna.

“You never brought Jae to the gardens, she escaped her Septa and came here alone”.

“Maybe she did. Maybe she didn’t. Who knows” shrugged Vaeryna.

“Still, it was kind of you” said Aemond.

“She’s a child. I bear no ill will towards her”.

“Just those around her?” asked Aemond curiously.

"Those who deserve it more like" said Vaeryna coolly.

Aemond scoffed slightly and cast his eye skyward as the shadow of Vhagar passed overhead.

"She wasn't very happy with the presence of your Cannibal at first, but I think she has grown used to him" said Aemond.

"Most other dragons are too afraid of Cannibal" replied Vaeryna.

"Well he does feast on the flesh of his own kind, his reputation speaks for itself".

"As does yours uncle" muttered Vaeryna.

Aemond stood next to Vaeryna in silence as the wind blew through the gardens.

“This does not belong to you” said Vaeryna as she reached forward and ran her fingers along the hilt of Dark Sister.

“It was gifted to me by the King as a symbol of my victory” replied Aemond smirking.

“Lucky stroke of a chancer more like” muttered Vaeryna.

“Not like it’s previous owner is coming back to claim it”.

Vaeryna glared at Aemond before she raised her hand and attempted to slap him, before he caught her wrist, digging his blunt nails into her skin.

“Let go of me kinslayer” snarled Vaeryna.

“You dare attack a-“ muttered Aemond his attention caught on the thin white scar that graced Vaeryna’s palm.

Vaeryna tried to snatch her hand back, but Aemond gripped it tighter as he brought her palm closer to his face.

“How did you get this scar?” asked Aemond curiously.

“Like it’s any of your business” snapped Vaeryna as she finally managed to yank her hand out of Aemond’s grasp.

“Tell me” ordered Aemond.

“Fuck you” snarled Vaeryna as she turned on her heel and fled the garden.

Since that day in the gardens, Aemond had become convinced that Vaeryna was hiding something.

He takes to observing her as often as he can without casting aside his own duties.

At first nothing seems out of the ordinary, she visits the library, flies with her Cannibal and spends time with Jaehaera in the gardens.

Then one of her maids reports to him that Vaeryna has a small, locked box hidden in her wardrobe.

Aemond waited until Vaeryna had finished her breakfast and took her usual route to the library, then he entered her chambers.

He looked around the room and paused when he noticed some of the books on the desk, he approached the desk with mild curiosity.

She had an assortment of books. History, philosophy, and poetry. Vaeryna wasn’t one of those pretty empty-headed ladies that flounced around court moaning about dress patterns or the taste of cheap wine, she was obviously well educated.

As he walked around Vaeryna’s chambers he could scent faint traces of lavender in the air, it reminded him of when he was younger, and she was living at the Red Keep.

Neither of their cradle eggs had hatched, so whilst everyone else had their dragons, they had each other.

Vaeryna would steal cakes from the kitchens, and they would hide from the cook in the gardens so they could eat them.

When he was a boy, he would often pray to the gods that one day Vaeryna would be his wife, and in some twisted way the gods had finally answered his prayers.

But he was no longer that little boy and she was no longer the girl would steal cakes.

Aemond shook his head as he opened the wardrobe door, now was not the time for reminiscing about his youthful exploits or the ridiculous crush he once had on his bastard niece.

Vaeryna’s riding leathers and dresses were hung neatly and her night dresses were folded and tucked away on a small shelf.

Aemond carefully moved the hanging clothes out of the way and soon found the wooden box.

He took the box from it’s place in the wardrobe and set it on the desk, it was locked. The key he knew was on a chain around Vaeryna’s neck.

Aemond took his dagger from it’s sheath and jammed it into the edge of the box, after some less then gentle manoeuvring, the lock snapped, and he opened the box.

There was a seahorse pendant, a Valyrian steel necklace, a gold ring, a few scraps of parchment that had some kind of childish scribbling on, some dried flower petals and letters.

Aemond read a few of the letters and noticed they were mostly from Jace. Some appeared to be pointless anecdotes and news from his time at Winterfell. But there were others, that could only be described as love letters.

‘Falling in love with you has been the best thing for me in this life. I still wonder how such a beautiful, loving, and caring girl can love someone like me. I think I have just been lucky. I promise to always be there for you, to keep you happy and smiling, and to never stop loving you. Please accept my humble attempt at trying to express my feelings. Your presence lights up my life. You make me feel safe and loved with your warm embrace. There is no one else I’d rather spend my life with.

I love you,

Jacaerys

Aemond frowned as he picked up another letter.

‘You may not know, but you are the only one who will rule my heart. No matter how old I get, my love for you will grow with each passing day. You are the sun that lights up my world, the fresh breeze in the morning that wakes me up, and the inner voice that comforts me when I’m struggling. I love you more than words can express.

Love,

Jacaerys.

Aemond took another letter from the box, his hands shaking as he read the messy scribbled writing.

‘I know things may seem impossible right now. But we must wait until mother sits the Iron Throne. Then we can be together properly. For now, we must remain as we are. I will not cost mother her alliance with the Velaryon’s. I miss you so much my love, I dream of holding you in my arms. We must remain steadfast and see this war to its end’.

The remaining letters were from Rhaenyra, but as he read one, Aemond noticed that odd pieces of parchment had been torn so he couldn’t read the rest of the letter.

In fact, all of the letters from Rhaenyra had pieces ripped from them. Like someone was trying to deliberately conceal or remove what other information the letters had originally contained.

What was for certain, was that Vaeryna had obviously been involved in some illicit relationship with her strong bastard brother Jacaerys.

Aemond was far to engrossed in his discovery that he failed to notice that Vaeryna had returned to her chambers.

“Who gave you permission to enter my chambers?” asked Vaeryna.

“I am a Prince; I will go wherever I please” snapped Aemond.

“Does that Princely right also grant you leave to rifle through my private things”.

“Good job I did, otherwise I wouldn’t have discovered your involvement with Jace” said Aemond firmly.

“My involvement with Jace is nothing to do with you” replied Vaeryna sharply.

“Have you bedded him?” asked Aemond.

“Would it matter if I had?” muttered Vaeryna.

“DID YOU BED HIM?” raged Aemond as he seized Vaeryna by the upper arms.

Vaeryna seemed to hesitate for a moment, delighting in Aemond's anger.

“Yes. I went to bed with him” said Vaera smirking.

“You are to be my wife, yet you sullied yourself with that bastard boy” snarled Aemond.

“Should a wife not lay with her husband” retorted Vaeryna smugly.

“WHAT?”

“Oh, come on, you saw the scar on my palm, you knew what it was from” said Vaeryna.

“Y-You were married t-to him?” exclaimed Aemond.

“We had a Valyrian ceremony in the Vale” replied Vaeryna as she wrenched herself from Aemond’s vice like grasp.

“Your nothing but a whore” snarled Aemond.

“Guess I’m your perfect woman then, considering you have a thing for whores, but then again I’m not old enough, am I?”

“Careful” warned Aemond.

“Truth hurts, does it?” mocked Vaeryna.

“You know nothing of Alys” snarled Aemond.

“Tell me how it feels knowing that you were nothing to Alys other than my father’s sloppy seconds?” said Vaeryna smiling.

“S-She loved me” exclaimed Aemond.

“Even after you slaughtered all of House Strong in your temper?” asked Vaeryna.

“Your father-“

“-Alys did what she had to in order to survive, and you were all too eager to believe the honeyed words she whispered in your ear as she took your cock” said Vaeryna.

Aemond advanced on Vaeryna before he thought better of it and stormed out of her chambers, slamming to door in his wake.

“Guess the truth really does hurt” muttered Vaeryna as she picked up the discarded letters.

#house of the dragon #aemond targaryen #hotd aemond #aemond x oc #hotd fanfic #aemond fanfiction #aemond fic #aemond x original female character #hotd fic #prince aemond #aemond #aemond one eye #alicent #alicent hightower #jaehaera targaryen

[paimonial-rage]

what are they like in a relationship? For diluc

do you have headcanons about them? for xiao

[Character Analysis Ask Meme]

What is Diluc like in a relationship?

The day you found out his feelings, he didn’t approach the matter like most men in Mondstadt. He didn’t smile, nor did he meet your gaze. If you had to be honest with yourself, it seemed as if he wanted to be anywhere but here with you. Yet even with his stiff expression, he asked if you would meet him on the veranda privately. There, with the sun setting from behind and a slight dusting of red upon his cheeks, he then requested permission to court you. 

It doesn’t take you very long to notice how awkward he is in his courtship of you. Whenever you walk side by side, he always keeps a respectable distance. He does not reach for your hand, nor does he hold you close. Still, you can’t deny he’s earnest. Every meeting greets you with a bouquet of flowers. Every parting leaves you with a kiss upon your hand. 

It takes you a bit longer to see through his cold exterior. How his frowns when you speak are only in frustration due to not knowing how to respond in a way that’ll make you smile. How his eyes tend to follow you when he thinks you are not looking. How he turns away to hide his smiles when you do something that warms his heart. 

You come to the conclusion that even though he left his past behind him, he is a knight through and through. Never having been in a relationship before, he lets propriety dictate the way he acts toward you. It’s so incredibly stiff and awkward, you can’t deny that. And yet, when you look in his eyes, all you can feel is warmth. 

-----

Xiao Headcanons

Self-focused

Though many of the workers at the Wangshu Inn attempt to create a calming atmosphere for Xiao, there’s nothing he hates more than silence. Many people would not expect it with the young adeptus, introverted as he is. How would they know that the worst times of his life were spent struggling to survive on his own? And the best? When he closes his eyes, he can still hear them—the melodious voice of Sister Bonanus, the loud and rambunctious teasing of Brother Bosacius—his family. Sometimes, on the worst nights, he finds himself drawn to the edges of Liyue Harbor to let the sounds of life and living draw him to sleep.

Relationship-focused

Though you may have realized it before entering into a relationship with him, it only becomes even more noticeable after that Xiao isn’t one to express his needs. Oftentimes, it’s only until after he’s fully withdrawn himself that you realize something may have happened that caused him undue stress. It takes you time to realize that it’s not because he’s upset with you or that he doesn’t trust you; it’s simply that he does not wish to inconvenience you with his problems. It’ll take time and patience before he feels truly comfortable relying on you during his weakest moments.

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #diluc #xiao #diluc x reader #xiao x reader #character analysis #thank you for the ask!!! i hope you like it! #sorry i know the diluc one isn't my best work #i couldn't come up with a satisfying last sentence aaaaa #actually about xiao though #another headcanon that i have for him that i didn't want to put up... #in a real world au i have this headcanon that xiao probably suffers from an illness similar to hiv #it's the closest parallel that i can find to karmic debt #i dislike using hiv as the direct parallel though so let's just say a fictional infectious disease that is passed through body fluids #i imagine he got it through his mother which caused a lot of health complications as a child #hence why he keeps to himself #idk haha #karmic debt plays such a huge role in him during the present that it's kind of sad that a parallel is not seen in rl!aus #and for diluc i didn't want to make it into a complete story #the question focuses on how diluc would be in a relationship not how reader would interact with him #so i tried to keep reader out of it as much as possible #hence why reader feels so passive haha

[angstcorp]

HOW THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU

Summary: Oh no, they're falling for you. How did it start, and how do they react?

Author's note: Fluff two days in a row? What am I doing. This is AngstCorp not FluffCorp.

Characters: Ayaka, Ayato, Diluc, Kaeya, Zhongli

Warnings: Gender neutral reader, Ayato being slightly manipulative, mention of Zhongli feeling possessive.

It is a very natural and progressive process with AYAKA. You start by being friends and it all evolves from there. She feels at ease when you spend time together, and she'll try to see you more and more. At first, she struggles with being herself when it's just the two of you, feeling like she needs to keep up the appearances but it's so hard to resist you.

She wants you to meet her, the real her, she wants to bare her heart and soul so you can embrace her as she truly is. And as long as you respond positively to that, she'll let herself fall in love. It's slow, but kind and beautiful, and you'll make many tender memories together before the start of your relationship that you'll fondly recall when you're snuggling on the couch many years later.

Things are a lot more complicated with AYATO. Yes, you catch his eyes and his interest, but he has his position and clan to think about, so he'll have to do a background check on you and maybe observe you to know your true intentions. He tends to take his distance with his feelings and tries to rationalize them. Everything is calculated at first, from where you meet, how he follows the proper courtship steps, how he acts with you, etc. It's not fake per say, but it lacks spontaneity and some sincerity? He'll stop the more he sees you having more genuine and open interactions with other people.

He'll feel a pang of jealousy in his heart, so he'll try to be less calculating the next time he sees you. After that though; the very moment he gets in tune with his emotions, there's no coming back. Ayato will get addicted to this feeling in less than five seconds. He will be desperate to get more and more of you, more of your smile, more of your laugh, more of your gentle touch. The man will have to learn how to control himself all over again when you're in the same room, lest he starts looking at you with loving eyes and the softest smile in front of important people.

DILUC absolutely denies everything and completely ignores his feelings. You're a dear friend and he is simply worried about you, like a good friend should be, and that is why he spends so much time with you, to watch over you and make sure everything is alright. Yes he carries your bags, yes he buys you gifts when he thinks you would like them, yes he makes sure to walk you home when you're alone and it's already late, but it's all friendship. Luckily, Kaeya is here.

There might be tension between them both now, but he still knows his adoptive brother well and it's very obvious to him what's happening exactly. He sees it as his job to give Diluc the push he needs to make him face his feelings. He has quite a few cards up his sleeve, like flirting with you, or having someone else flirt with you, or encouraging you to take a few weeks of vacation for travelling, whatever it takes. When Diluc has no choice than to recognize that yes, he is hopelessly in love with you, he is just unable to pretend anymore. He loves you, he needs you, he wants you. His courtship will be very stiff and quite awkward at first, but give him some time and he'll be the softest partner you could hope for.

KAEYA on the other hand, knows very well what's happening from the very beginning. He knows. He sees all the signs, and he recognizes them for what they are. How his heart skips a beat when he sees you, the butterfly in his stomach when you smile, how he can't stop smiling for hours after seeing you. However, he will be very hesitant to let it grow any further than that. Kaeya has secrets, and they cost him his brother already, he doesn't want to lose you to them too. So for some time, it's going to be weird. Kaeya will switch between being kind and soft with you, and being colder and putting some distance between you.

You can confront him or not about his behaviour, but the moment he realizes he is just hurting you acting like that and being so damn indecisive, he'll stop his nonsense. Who is he even kidding? If he didn't manage to stay away from you before, it's not going to change now. Expect an apology, and a genuine proposition to start over and to please give him a chance to make amends? He'll see himself as a fool for ever thinking he could resist you.

ZHONGLI had a lot of lovers in his long life. It was always people he cared about truly, but there was never a romantic attachment to them. No one he would consider his mate. So he recognizes all the signs when he gets interested in you, and after some consideration, he decides that he would very much like sharing that special bond with you too. Besides, it's the first time he'll have a lover while he lives amongst mortals so he is quite excited to discover that with you. He truly thinks it'll be the same as it has ever been with everyone else.

He is, however, completely and utterly WRONG. It starts simply enough, getting to know each other better, spending time together, slowly building a strong bond, something solid to start your relationship on. He is totally unprepared when all his instincts awaken and it feels all his being is caught on fire. The trigger could be anything, like you getting hurt, seeing someone flirting with you, or simply seeing you wearing one of his gifts on you, but suddenly his soul is a dragon and he is holding you close to his chest, growling possessively. When he manages to calm down and after much confusion from both you and him, that's when he knows he is fucked and this is nothing like before, and it's way too late to go back now.

#genshin impact #ayaka x reader #ayato x reader #diluc x reader #kaeya x reader #zhongli x reader #Fluff #headcanons

[turbulentscrawl]

I LOOVE your Luca he's soooo <3 may I please request some headcanons for him with an s/o from the future? (As in our time) like they time traveled back to the manor and are now stuck there. Sfw and if you can think of anything nsfw then go for it!

Thank you! And I love writing for Luca, he's definitely a favorite of mine <3

I may have missed the mark a tad here? I think Luca would largely treat an future-s/o the same as one who's not...but technology definately plays a factor in some aspects of the relationship.

Also the whole time I wrote this i kept thinking about what skills someone from the future would have. It would be hilarious to blare music to speed up ciphers, or maybe chug a preworkout and get a kiting boost hahah

-So first of all, everyone is completely mindblown by this development. It’s not like anyone really knew anything concrete about the manor’s time-space situation, but this just proves even the most popular theories hold no weight. Are you from a different era, or a different timeline all together? Why are you the only one—or are you just the first?? Has more time passed than they suspected, is anyone here even from the same universe???

-Basically, there’s a lot of chaos, spoken and unspoken. Everyone is varying degrees of scared, distrustful, and excited. It’s mostly the last one, in Luca’s case, which is why he’s one of the first people you get to know. Instead of avoiding you, he’s constantly around you. Question after question after question—it probably gets tiring after a while.

-But he’s just so earnest! His excitement is contagious, and despite running his mouth a lot he’s incredibly respectful and well-mannered. When he gets a moment with you alone, he concedes that this must all be more overwhelming for you than it was for everyone else, considering that you’ve lost about 100 years of development along with the regular shockers. So he asks you to come to him if anyone treats you too harshly. He promises to be a respite from that, if nothing else.

-And he is! Luca doesn’t often let people in his work spaces for several reasons…but he makes an exception for you. Just don’t touch anything, okay? You’re safe in his messy spaces. It’s during a visit there that he tells you about what happened to him, all the things he’s been told but doesn’t remember. He’s open about having been in prison, of course, but he doesn’t give the details to just anyone. This is his good-faith peace offering, strange as it might seem. And you can share your life with him when you’re ready.

-If any of your technology happened to come through with you, he’s going to want to look at them. I don’t…entirely suggest letting him? It’s up to you, but just know your phone may not survive the thorough disassembly-inspection he wants to give it. On the other hand! I think Luca could charge your phone just by holding it so no worries if you didn’t have a charger in your bag.

-Years down the line, you two will still have things to teach one another. Culture and technology both are very different in each of your homes, and the little details show themselves at the strangest times. Luca, in all his genius, does his best to replicate the things you miss most about home. It’s only fair that the manor be populated with creature comforts for everyone. It’s not that he’s trying to impress you or anything.

-At some point he starts to ask about dating modern culture. It has its perks, obviously, like being able to stay in immediate touch long-distance, but honestly he’s a bit disappointed to hear about the rush and informality of it. Luca returns the favor, explaining how courtship tended to work from his time…so you know what he’s doing when he starts courting you. He can speed things along if you really want him to, but Luca would enjoy a month or so of gentle flirting and pining. Anticipation is part of the enjoyment!

-After being together for so long, he starts to pick up some of your mannerisms and modern dialect. It’s funny for him to suddenly be throwing out pop culture references when he doesn’t fully understand them. It’s like teaching your grandparents slang; he doesn’t get it but he’s happy to be involved. I’m 100% sure there’s no wifi at the manor but if you have any funny videos saved to you phone they become Luca’s favorite thing. You are now designated manor documentarian! Make sure to catch all of everyone’s embarrassing and funny moments.

-On that note, it’s also incredibly helpful for Luca if you film the two of you a lot. Literally anything, him mumbling to himself while he works, silly jokes, him playing the piano. It’s so much easier to show him things when his memory fails, than to try and explain your relationship from the ground-up.

#idv x reader #identity v x reader #luca balsa x reader #turbulentscrawl #idv prisoner

[gabessquishytum]

Maybe an already discussed God!Hob au but i still have it in my mind. Like. Hob who is a minor god over something like a forest or a warrior path. He's pretty used to being overlooked but thats ok! He's doing what he loves! And one day while he's tending to his duties, Dream and Death of the Endless roll in and hes like 👀 should I run? I should run. And Dream taking one look at him and Immediately wanting to whisk him away. But Hobs like Dude. We just met. We both have work to do. Meet me again in 100 years if your serious. Then starts the epic courting of these two immortal beings. (And if calliope is in it too all the better)

Hope you get feeling better friend!

💳 anon

Akajdjfkgkg thank you so much my love this is wonderful!

Hob is a god, sure, but he's only like... 5000 years old! He's still just a little baby in terms of immortals. Dream is literally billions of years old. It's like a fresh faced 20 year old being approached by a very rich, very powerful and very attractive old man. Hob is very confused and... OK he's a little turned on, but he's been alive long enough to take it reasonably slow.

Dream wants him right now, no hesitation, no time to think about it, but ok. Ok. He can wait 100 years, that's a blink of an eye to him. Whatever.

(He totally spends the whole century stalking Hob from a distance and leaving him increasingly elaborate gifts. Hob just smiles and shakes his head fondly).

Hob shows up for their date after the century is up and Dream, who has been very very patient, honestly... sweeps him off to the dreaming immediately and offers him all the riches of the universe. Hob (still scared, still confused, now very very turned on) gives him a smile and a kiss on the cheek and says why dont they get dinner together first?

Calliope is watching the whole courtship like its a soap opera and laughing as Dream is forced to ~take it slow~ and do vaguely normal human things (because Hob enjoys human things! In his role as a god he's very close to humanity). She decides that she needs Hob as her bestie immediately, and with Dream’s ex wife now in the picture... its fair to say that this soap opera ain't getting less dramatic any time soon!

#💳 anon #the sandman #dreamling

[beautifulhigh]

Jen, I know everyone in the fandom goes nuts over Alex saying "I love him on purpose." but this never made any sense to me. Love is not something you plan and create a purpose for. It sweeps you. What does this mean because I don’t find it that profound? I just find it confusing.

Firstly, thank you for your patience with me on this. Yesterday was a long and tiring one and honestly I'm fed up with work right now so am doing something nice with my brain.

So.

Love, as a word, is both a noun and a verb. It is a thing (an abstract noun if you're interested) and it's a thing you do, you show. This is why love is also a choice.

You're right when you say that love isn't something you plan for, but you do plan with it. And love can have a purpose.

Henry talks about wanting Alex "the whole time" - he saw Alex pretty much across the room and had a reaction to him so visceral that he was determined to... well...

I thought, this is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, and I had better keep it a safe distance away from me. I thought, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire.

This is very much 'love at first sight' for Henry. But it isn't the love that Henry talks about in the V&A. It's not the love they share in the LA hotel room, the email exchanges, the photos they take to mark the courtship. The love that Henry feels for Alex at that point is not this love. It can't be.

Same for Alex: the way he felt about the prince in the magazine, the boy who kissed him in the garden, it's not the same love that puts him on a flight to London to storm Kensington. It's not the same love that gets him on a plane with Zahra after their outing.

Both of them were very much attracted to the other, wanted more from the other, but in between their hook ups they shared stories and bits of their lives, let the other in to their fears and their worries. They build a relationship on top of the physical desire.

So now we come to love.

As a noun, it is a thing they have for the other. It is the thing that settles in their heart and will drive them to do what they do to and for the other. And that is love as a verb. It is an action, a choice they make.

And it's a choice they could not make.

We saw it best with Henry: years ago he saw a boy at the Olympics and knew that the reaction he had towards him could be the best and more dangerous thing ever... and so Henry did nothing about it. He kept Alex at arm's length, didn't try to strike up a friendship so he could have something. He stepped so far back that Alex took umbridge with it and started the feud between them.

But once Henry did something, put love into action, it started another action and another one and another one and another one. Over and over the boys made choices: Alex choosing to accost Henry in the Red Room; choosing to go to the polo match; to Wimbledon; the night in LA; the storming of Kensington. Henry choosing to talk to Alex about his family and the expectations placed on him; telling him his truth as best he can in stories about princes and armour and rooms in the palace; the conversation in the V&A. Choosing to embrace the outing and own his truth.

They both have love as a noun, it is a thing that they have and feel for the other. And they both have love as a verb, it is something they do for and with the other.

And that is why Alex says he loves Henry on purpose. Because he is making the active choice to be with Henry, to forge a forever with him. To accept him for all that he is, dark corners and all. He's not trying to fix Henry, he's not trying to make the shadows go away. When he realises how dark Henry's moods are he is just there for him, with him. That night he just slots into place with Henry and isn't trying to tell him that it's all going to be OK.

Alex is choosing to love Henry. He isn't taking his feelings, pushing it down and doing nothing about it like Henry tried after the Olympics. You have to choose to do an action, and choosing to do nothing is also an action. So Alex flying across the Atlantic to be there with Henry, to support him after the email leak, is him making a very deliberate choice. He doesn't cut and run when it gets hard. He's not backing off. He is deliberately, on purpose, saying that Henry is his choice. That he is going to do something with this love (as a noun) that has taken up home in his chest.

Whether you find this profound is a personal thing, but for Alex it is profound. This is the moment he says something, out loud, that this is forever. He and Henry have talked around it, talked about it in quiet moments where they laid everything out after the V&A. But that was between them. This is something more, at least for Alex. This is him making it clear to Bea, the sister that Henry loves so much that he begged her to get sober so he wouldn't be alone. The sister who loves Henry so much that she did just that.

But it does mean something. Alex is taking his love-as-a-noun and turning it into love-as-a-verb and that is something he has to do on purpose. He has to want to do it, he has to choose to do it. And he does. On purpose.

#jen answers stuff #anonymous #overthinking jen is overthinking #firstprince #alex claremont diaz #prince henry of wales #henry fox mountchristen windsor #red white and royal blue #rwrb #otp: history huh

[dreamingsnowflake2013]

Prapai reinventes intimate touch for Sky, who has previously been to used to associate such intimacy as something triggering, unwanted and dirty at worst and at best as something he needs to pay as a currency for being ‘loved’. However, Pai makes him rethink that notion and re-discover what it means to be truly touched by someone after everything he’s been though. 

The difference comes down to the fact that this is the first time Sky is being touched by someone who treasures and cherishes him, by someone who places his well-being above his own pleasure and needs. Pai never asks what Sky can do for him but constantly comes up with new ways to help Sky, ready to bend over backwards just to see him smile and getting frustrated and desperate when it seems he can’t. 

He literally strives to make Sky’s life better and happier whether it’s treating his illness, chasing his loneliness away, keeping his nightmares at bay, or even such mundane things as washing his clothes and buying him food to make sure he eats.

I already previously mentioned how touch is Prapai’s way to express his love for people. In other words, it’s a visceral means of non-verbal communication for him and thus extremely important. Sometimes, when words are not enough or in moments when some emotions are just to overwhelming to put into words because it’s too fast too soon, he delivers what he feels this way and thus bridges the distance between him and Sky, and Sky sub-consciously understands that message, which might not have been put into words but it’s still been delivered loud and clear - everything that Pai communicates and offers him with those touches: the solace, the hidden love, care,... 

Those touches are always meant to protect, soothe, comfort and support, never to take. He actually turns himself in Sky’s personal shoulder to lean on. All Pai asks in return is a chance and a smile. 

Some may say Pai is selling himself short when asking so little for so much; however, in his eyes it’s all worth it, he is giving Sky his everything and it’s an equal exchange because Sky is beyond and above any value because you can’t but a value on something that is priceless and, in Prapai’s eyes, Sky is priceless.

Throughout his courtship, Prapai showers Sky with myriad of touches, and whereas at the beginning of their relationship Sky either merely put up with them or rejected them, now he doesn’t just accept them, he has been eagerly taking them, actively seeking them, trying to prolong them and make them last as long as possible. It’s like a guilty pleasure for him as he tries to steal as many as possible. All because he’s been touch-starved and love-starved for so long, and what’s more, he is even Pai-starved.

Gradually, he becomes addicted to it because he’s been starved for so long that now he can’t get enough but he still lacks the courage and confidence so he needs an excuse. Sometimes, it’s the excuse of ‘payment’ because he doesn’t want to owe Pai anything, other times, it’s when he finally allows himself to show all that blatant longing when Pai is sleeping. 

He allows himself to touch Pai without the excuse of any payment - the gentle way he places his second hand on their intertwined hands, the shy way he tentatively brushes Prapai’s hair with his fingers. Compared to the way how self-assured he was when having sex with Pai, it feels so clumsy and vulnerable and inexperienced, as if it’s his first time touching someone this way, as if his ex taught him to fuck and how to bring HIM pleasure but never how to lovingly touch because his ex never lovingly touched him.

However, what truly gutted me was SKY PRETENDING TO SUFFER FROM A NIGHTMARE (the person who refuses to show any weakness to anyone and has been so fiercely independent his whole life) AND USE IT AS A GUISE TO STOP PRAPAI FROM LEAVING HIM, EVEN FOR A SECOND, AND AS AN EXCUSE TO CLING ONTO HIM. 

And Sky knew what Pai would do, Sky knew that Pai would envelop him in his strong embrace and comfort him throughout the night as he slept because Pai told him he had done it the previous night. It shows the depth of Sky’s sheer need and yearning for Prapai and his hidden abandonment issues. Some people might say Prapai is the more desperate one of them, but the truth is, Sky is as desperate and as in love  with Pai as Pai is with him.

#love in the air #fortpeat #LITA #prapaisky #skyprapai #bl drama #thai bl #thai drama