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estelofrivendell · 10 months

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If you’re still taking prompts/requests, would you consider writing something with Aragorn and a fem reader where they are trying for a baby and then pregnant (with maybe some breeding kink)?

I feel like Aragorn has waited so long to be able to start a family and have children, and he’s eager to do so with his partner. But he’s also conscious of the fact it is his duty to provide an heir for the kingdom of Gondor and ensure the continuation of his line. And I feel as though he and his partner would acknowledge both of these reasons.

I can imagine the courtiers and servants in Minas Tirith being surprised by how attentive and hands on Aragorn is with his partners pregnancy. The King of Gondor rescheduling meetings to attend medical check ups! Using his knowledge and healing skills to help with morning sickness or other discomforts. Being present in the birthing room and helping during delivery instead of waiting somewhere for news of the baby’s arrival.

Thank you for keeping this fandom alive! ❤️

Aragorn x Female Reader

A/N: Gotta tell you, anon, breeding kink is not my thing. Yet I can kind of see Aragorn having one. This is really a cute request however and I can see him do everything you stated, he would not let his wife alone and in pain :)

WARNINGS: Pregnancy, mentions of childbirth and death, breeding kink and smutty themes.

It is a king’s duty to produce heirs and raise them to be the most honorable of men. Issues of the king are supposed to be proud, courageous and valiant leaders just like their forefathers, keep their country and their people safe to ensure lasting power.

So what does a king and his queen that seem to struggle with making a child say about them? Three years after taking you as his wife there is no heir, at this rate they would be happy to have a daughter if not a son. Everyone in the king’s vicinity started to worry; had Aragorn doomed himself and Gondor by marrying a barren woman?

He will gently shut down any negative remarks anyone in his circle makes and he felt sorry for the immense pressure you were currently under and the anguish you were feeling, but he had to admit that he too wanted to start a family as soon as possible. He was certain about two things in his life: become king and having you as the mother of his children.

Perhaps this desperation was why he was starting to feel rather animalistic behind closed doors that it disturbed him. Each time he came inside you, releasing his seed, he can only imagine you with a swollen belly, carrying his child, and the thought of that aroused him more than he would like to admit. He started to fantasise about taking you roughly when you are far along.

Eventually, both your wishes came true. After experiencing morning sickness and missed periods, a healer informed you you were pregnant. The council was so delighted with the news that they held a celebration for it. He would inform you of his newfound urges and felt relieved when you told him you did not see anything wrong with it. You were willing to indulge in his fantasies as he is for your own and if anything became extreme for either of you then it all comes to an end instantly.

Aragorn proved to be a devoted and loving husband (not that you weren’t already aware of that) by accompanying you at every check up the healer scheduled. The healer accepted his presence since he is essentially a healer as well. The return of the king healed the Rohirrim in the Houses of Healing, calling them back to life and away from the Black Breath, and nobody was going to forget that anytime soon. The most unexpected of all was the king staying by his queen’s side during childbirth, his hand in pain from your deathly grip. Kings and lords were often absent whenever their wives were giving birth and he did not want to be an example of that.

Minas Tirith had many open secrets but the king’s love for his wife and newborn son was no secret at all. Even the common folk heard about how present he was in his family’s life. He grew up never really knowing his own father and his mother lived in despair for the rest of her life, grieving his loss.

He did not want you and your son to go through the same thing and he will make sure of it.

#lotr imagine #lord of the rings imagine #aragorn x reader #aragorn imagine #lemon #not really lol but i added that for filtering purposes

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vigilskeep · 7 months

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i just wish to inform you that i am insane about tristan. as an avid cousland stan he compels me in ways i cannot fully put into words. does he have interests outside of the courtly duties he had to learn? like does he care for battle strategies and such?? what is his opinion on loghain??

yes he has a very well-rounded noble education, combat too!! despite knowing the kind of life he was intended for, they couldn’t blatantly leave him out without risking questions, they couldn’t risk him being the only heir left and untrained if anything happened to fergus, and also i suspect bryce has no idea how else to interact with a child. between that, his magical training, and his noble education, tristan barely had any time for interests of his own, and it’s almost lucky he’s a creature of boundless roaring unspent energy. he’s intelligent, chivalrous; though he’s not nearly as talkative after the events of the origin, he’s wry and charming and he should be well-spoken and well-read enough to hold his own when asked to speak on anything. i’m drawing on, like, chivalric archetypes, courtier ideals, and even, idk, regency novel style standards for the “accomplished lady”. he can charm, he can entertain guests, he can rule, he can fight, he can play music, he can cast judgement, he can write, he can settle land disputes, he can cast walking bomb, and hell, he can even dance

physically, these days, he doesn’t train as much as he did as a boy hoping he could convince his father of a few things, but he still maintains his fitness. a little more vanity in that than dedication to combat, though, lmao. it mayyy be more about looks nowadays than actual strength. also just about being a big wolf in a small cage who is so foundationally bored. the same way cousland’s mabari acts up in the castle because it’s a war dog playing nursemaid. you gotta pace along the bars of your enclosure sometimes, because eventually you run out of books to read and catastrophically bad ideas of who to sleep with. he has a high-ish con score for a mage that i would put down to the above

as for loghain, he was a hero of his as a child. i think a specific part of tristan’s background is being raised on glorified tales of the rebellion and idealising that, romanticising it, and coming to understand that he would never be permitted to achieve anything like the warlike standard that had been set up for him. (he has such bad luck with this. he used to be genuinely fond of arl howe because his visits meant news from outside highever and stories from the old days.) anyway, with loghain, tristan also likes the idea of a historically great “right hand man” somewhat in the shadow of his king’s greatness, because tristan believed he would always be effectively that to his teyrn father and brother. at ostagar he’s spitting mad at cailan, and only his respect for loghain has him following the plan. tristan’s not got quite the head for pitched battle strategy—that was one of the things he was explicitly not really trained for—but he’s educated in history, he’s as good as you’ll find in siege warfare, etc. similar to alistair, he has every good, knowledgeable, evidence-backed reason to trust in the ostagar strategy. afterwards, he can barely react to loghain’s actions. it’s something of a quiet final death knell for the person he used to be, the things he used to believe in, when he wakes up in flemeth’s hut. howe could be an anomaly; loghain can’t

but it’s worth saying that if tristan said what he wants to say to loghain about ostagar—that if he had any heart, any honour, he’d have stayed with cailan, died with cailan if necessary—he’s not really talking about loghain. or ostagar. survivor’s guilt is a bitch

#tristan cousland #thanks for asking!! :)

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the-savage-garden · 10 months

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Nitpicking ACOWAR 4 +5

I've returned! I gotta work on reading more of ACOWAR since I had a "break" and I'm still just up to Chapter 7. So the posts for my notes will be slow for a little while until I write more.

Chapter 4

-Summer Solstice celebrations begin in Spring. Feyre thinks about what she looks like in her new white dress. Brings up Tarquin and how she betrayed him.

-Tarquin never tells Tamlin that Feyre was in Summer. I don’t know why.

-Everyone looks at Feyre but she looks at Ianthe. Why is everyone looking at Feyre?

-Feyre thinks of herself as a wolf, she did this in the 2nd book too. Isn't she a hunter not a wolf? I guess they’re similar.

-A year ago on the same day as the Summer Solstice, Feyre and Tamlin shared their first kiss. I don’t remember if that’s correct.

-Flashbacks to the “wedding.” Feyre admits at the time that she felt that Tamlin didn’t deserve her because she was “broken.” And Rhys saved her.

-For a moment Feyre pities Tamlin when he notices the wedding ring is missing from Feyre. This is probably to make Tamlin look pathetic and barely deserves pity from Feyre, rude.

-Feyre complains that Lucien and Alis are trying to spare Tamlin about Feyre’s suffering by hiding the truth from him. This doesn’t make sense to me. She also complains about them not helping her. Did Tamlin really not notice what was happening to Feyre in the beginning of the 2nd book? Was everyone hiding things from him?

-Brannagh made fun of Summer Solstice according to Feyre, and implied that in the future they won’t have it anymore?

-While Ianthe performs the ritual for Solstice she brings up “the light is strongest today, let it drive out unwanted darkness… banish the black stain of evil” and for some reason Feyre thinks it has to do with the Night Court?

-Feyre wants the weird twins to do the honor of the blessed wine. She apparently made Ianthe believe that the twins hate her rituals and want to get rid of her, so Ianthe is going to convert them.

-Feyre also requested that Ianthe add a prayer for the warriors, Jurian does this one.

-For some reason Feyre planned for the rising sun to light her up while she’s wearing white and everyone’s in awe of her. What? She was able to get Ianthe discreetly away too, since it was her spot. I guess this is to make people trust her?

-Feyre did all of that to one-up Ianthe.

-Tamlin is wary of Feyre because of all of that. Feyre continues to be a show-off.

-Feyre claims she has no problem with the Spring citizens but has issues with the courtiers and sentries for some reason. I don’t remember them even noticing Feyre in the 2nd book? I guess some of the sentries maybe? She’s throwing every Spring Court Fae under the bus.

-Feyre talks to Rhys through the bond. If I pretend that Rhys wasn’t abusive in the 1st book and Spring wasn’t used as a scapegoat, I could’ve been behind these 2. This Rhys seems different from the 1st and 2nd book.

-I thought Feyre was making plans with the Night Court to deal with Hybern? But Rhys wants to know when she’s coming home?

-Feyre believes she was a shy doe in the 1st book.

-Feyre asks Tamlin to dance with her, Tamlin is happy. Feyre thinks about her hands being at a strangling distance with his throat.

-Tamlin is sometimes surprised by magic.

-Feyre compares Tamlin to Amarantha, and doesn’t know how Rhys dealt with Amarantha when she can’t stand being around Tamlin. It’s a confusing comparison. It feels like Feyre is downplaying what Rhys went through, Amarantha had forced herself on Rhys, Tamlin has never done that to you.

-Tamlin couldn’t stomach the Calanmai Rite. In Feyre’s head she complains about Tamlin stomaching Hybern instead and that she was some sort of stolen item to Tamlin.

-Feyre toys with Tamlin by offering that the blessing might’ve been intentional.

Chapter 5

-Feyre claims that Tamlin and her kissed last year during the dawn on Summer Solstice or is it after?

-Feyre asks Lucien to escort her to her room. Something about Lucien being a mated male not interested in other female company? I hate soulmates in this series so much.

-Claims of Ianthe trying to corner Lucien to find out what happened during the ceremony. The one where he kneeled to Feyre.

-Feyre has a nightmare about the Attor, the Weaver, and her sisters being thrown in the Cauldron. She let herself have the nightmare?

-Feyre goes to Lucien. Oh no.

-Feyre tells a truth and half a lie to Lucien. She manipulates him.

-Feyre uses Lucien so that her “fear” and “pain” from her nightmare can mask her scent so that she could use her magic to search the house.

-This was all a ruse to have Tamlin see Feyre with Lucien. I don’t know why no one’s suspicious of Feyre, this is ridiculous.

-Feyre begins to ruin the friendship between Tamlin and Lucien. I don’t know why Tamlin decides he’s going to be jealous of Lucien, their friendship shouldn’t fall apart this fast.

-I hate Feyre, friendship ruiner. I want to punch her so bad.

-How am I supposed to root for Feyre when she does all of these terrible things?

-Feyre lying to herself that in the 1st book Tamlin was jealous of Lucien and Feyre’s friendship. He supposedly told Lucien to “back off” because of jealousy. I don’t think SJM remembers what happened in the 1st book.

-What?

-Something about Lucien’s new mating bond with Elain, if Tamlin is wondering who would Lucien choose?

-This book is a nightmare.

#anti sjm #anti acowar

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jaimebluesq · 1 year

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The Trust - CDrama Recommendation!!!

This post will NOT contain spoilers for the show, just my enthusiasm and spoiler-free screencaps :D

All righty! So I discovered this show on Viki the other day and binged it all in a week (yeah, I might have also been trying to relax my brain from panicking about 2 RBB fics to finish). I've actually had a hard time finishing shows lately - many I look up because there are actors I like but they're in the background and the main protagonists don't interest me much (looking at ChongZi - I wonder if they would issue a "Wang ZhuoCheng" cut without the main couple?). So often I'll look at shows and just give ones a try that sound interesting even if I've heard nothing about them from the peeps I follow on Tumblr or Youtube, and sometimes I hit gold.

What it's about:

The bulk of the story is about a Chinese Emperor and his Empress who've been estranged, and something happens in the first episode that has them switch bodies - yep, an Imperial political/harem drama that does a bodyswap! - and the consequences of this. It's mostly a rom-com type, lots of humour and the occasional silliness with some really good poignant moments, but the main 2 actors are also really good and have great chemistry! Not only do they have to act as their original characters but as each other as well. And there's a neat little thing the show did, that the Imperial storyline is actually fiction, part of a project written by a modern day couple in the middle of a divorce, so often the emotions and such of the Emperor and Empress mirrors that in the modern day couple. I just find it's a neat storytelling device!

As I mentioned, there's also imperial politics (the empress now has to deal with court and courtiers) and harem drama (the emperor now finds out what it's like to be one of his concubines and how they really act when he's not around) and I can't speak to any historical accuracy because it's not my background, but I found it to be very fun to watch.

Why I think my mutuals will like it:

Bodyswap shenanigans!

Good acting

Genuinely funny and made me smile.

... The Untamed/CQL actors!!!!! (Found accidentally, always fun when that happens!)

Aside from the main villain, I came to enjoy all of the characters, even the harem concubines that seemed to be villains in the beginning.

SHIPPABLE AS ALL HELL!!!!

Now let me introduce you to some of my favourite characters and ships because I am SO tempted to write for some of them. -- All images screencapped by me while watching on my PC

Let's start with Emperor Xiao Jinyun and his Empress Xu Yu: they're adorable and sweet together, have very different personalities and aptitudes, and really learned what it's like in the others' shoes. Not tempted to write for them, but I thoroughly enjoyed them.

Next, THIS PAIR who may very well live rent-free in my brain for a long while to come:

Recognize the guy on the left? It's our beloved Ouyang Zizhen channelling NHS as the Emperor's useless fan-carrying younger brother! And next to him is the court astrloger/diviner who carries the brain cell between the 2. I lived for every second these two were on screen together. Like this:

And this:

And THIS:

Yeah, I'm dead!!!

But they're not the only ones to pique my interest - nor the only ones with a familiar face! Because there is also these two:

To the left is the Empress' brother, and to the right... Wen Zhuliu! But no core-melting this time, he actually plays a doctor! And these two are quite sweet as well, like here:

And here:

But you know what? Why let the boys have all the fun? Because we also get these two schemers:

Vying for the Emperor's attention at first, but when his attention is elsewhere, well, girls gotta stick together, right?

And last but not least, these two - one of whom we've already met:

I am just SO FUCKING ENAMOURED with them! My bisexual heart is a-fluttering. I won't say anything about the lady on the right because it might be too spoilery, but I was very, very, very pleased with how they handled her storyline (again, I'm white/Canadian so take that with a grain of salt).

If you'd like to give it a try, it can be found on Viki, and I just found it on Youtube with English Subs

So that's my little spoiler-free recommendation! Have I tempted you yet?

#the trust #cdrama recommendation #the untamed cast #possibly a new fandom?#nothing on AO3 at the moment #maybe that will change?#maybe I'll change it?

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shadow--writer · 3 years

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request: platonic picnic with volta

*bursts through door, trips on my own fucking foot and slides on the floor* hello Courtier fandom

(these got out of control I apologize for how wild I am, I write what I think and I have a unicycle with the devil at the pedals for a brain)

AND I WROTE THIS LATE LAST NIGHT SO HOLD ON: Requests are still open, but yadda yadda follow 3 characters max rule etc etc. Will also do other Courtiers! *rules are found here

Volta and MC picnic!

~~~~

Okay first of all ya gotta ask if Volta wants to go on a picnic (the answer will ALWAYS be yes but it’s nice to ask)

Anyways Volta will LIGHT UP and start doing a little happy wiggle dance

She loves hanging out with you and food and she gets both :D

asckdmndfh she’ll just be,,,so excited days leading up to y’alls little picnic date

Every time she thinks about it she gets a large smile on her face and starts doing her happy wiggle again

She will...get some stares but no matter Volta is happy and THATS WHAT MATTERS

Bring Mazelinka’s soup for her and she will burst into tears

She’ll bring sweets! And other foods but hey I’m writing this I can be self indulgent with Volta. She’ll bring cakes and sweetened fruit for you

Watches very closely as you try her cooking (which is always delicious. Never mind how long she stayed up making it perfect for you)

DANCE WITH HER OMG

Taking her hands and stumbling around

I’m going out on a limb here but hear me out

Volta not quite knowing how to dance in the way you might want to. Like,,,she’s a courtier so my guess she knows how to dance

But she just can’t relax after years of not being able to

So you reteaching her how to have fun while dancing because like

I think Volta would love to dance. Something about letting loose and giggling esp with her excuse me while I just *tissue honks as I blow into it*

She starts laughing as you spin her, tripping over her own feet and skirt hem as she dances with you

Frosting on y’alls lips and noses :,3

Tripping and falling into the grass, tugging one another down as you fall down a hill

asldkmsjhghfdj taking her out on a picnic in flower fields and making her a FLOWER CROWN

She’s just eating some bread and you plop a wildflower crown in her hair

Y’all im giving myself feelings for the sweet thing give me a moment

She would feel so honoured and treasured by the wildflowers and HAVE to make you one too

It’d be a bit sloppy and you’d have flower petals falling around your shoulders but the PRIDE ON HER FACE IS WORTH IT

Going on a stargazing picnic usually ends with Volta asleep on your chest

Cold days she brings lot’s of blankets and warm drinks as well

She loves feeding you lmao, and going on picnics with you would push her to cook and bake more

idk I just love the idea of Volta making treats for you and bringing new recipes on picnics

and if your MC bakes she would be happy to try devour in a single bite like the mood she is what you made! (in fact she’d be touched you made something for her as well)

#the arcana #the arcana game #volta #volta the arcana #the arcana courtiers #arcana courtiers #the arcana headcanons #fluff #picnic headcanons #my writing #LOOK I WAS GETTING SOFT WRITING THIS #rough week #solve it with soft volta

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contemplativepancakes · 3 years

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Following the Thread Transcript

AKA all the "canon" there is of Aiden. Google doc to save for easy reference is here. Providing this is entirely selfish of me, please use it and write some lambden <3

EXT. SUPERVISOR’S BUILDING

GERALT approaches a GUARD standing outside of a door.

GUARD: Don’t like folk wandering around here.

GERALT: Oh yeah? Well, got a beast you need someone to get rid of? I’m here about the notice.

GUARD: Ah, supervisor Lund posted it. Yeah, a beast haunts the outskirts, murdering folk. Got ‘em scared to leave their homes after dark.

GERALT: I’d like to talk to this supervisor.

GUARD: Too bad he don’t receive petitioners.

GERALT: So what’s he do, exactly?

GUARD: Delivery relief on behalf of the city council—flour and groats for the paupers. Meaning, he don’t do it personally. He’s got men for that. He, himself, he, uh. (GESTURES BROADLY)

GERALT: Supervises.

GUARD: Exactly!

GERALT: I aim to hunt down this monster.

GUARD: Best hurry, then. Some other bloke’s already after it.

GERALT: Who took the contract?

GUARD: Didn’t see the man. Was just told some brave fool’d turned up.

GERALT: When’d you find the last victim?

GUARD: Just last night. Hubert, a beggar, but a decent man. I’d let him sleep in the shed from time to time—that one, on the right. Eustace hasn’t come for the corpse yet. It’s lying in there, where I found it.

GERALT: Any eyewitnesses to these attacks?

GUARD: No, just the bodies. Beast appears only at night, chooses isolated victims.

GERALT: Thanks. So long.

Geralt goes to the shed and examines it, finding a puddle of blood that’s not human, and Hubert’s body, which is drained of blood. There’s ekimmara tracks in the shed that Geralt follows along the river’s edge, until they disappear at a dock. Geralt swims across the river and finds the tracks again, leading him to another building. Geralt notes that’s there’s rat corpses outside that have been drained of blood.

INT. DARK HOUSE

There’s the sounds of combat upstairs, blade clashing, an ekimmara screeching, and a whoosh from aard. Geralt rushes up the stairs to see LAMBERT fighting the monster. They kill it together.

GERALT: Greetings, Lambert.

LAMBERT: Damn, it’s good to see you, Wolf.

GERALT: Decide to do some hunting in Novigrad? Far as I remember, you never liked this city.

LAMBERT: Still don’t. Thing is, got a certain matter to take care of.

GERALT: What have you been up to? Any luck on the path?

LAMBERT: A lot, in fact. Quite the takings in Lan Exeter. Was asked to hunt down a giant, who turned out to be a forest troll and some bandits.

GERALT: Bandits?

LAMBERT: (SHRUGS) Came as a package with the troll.

GERALT: The matter you mentioned, anything I can help with?

LAMBERT: Hmm. Maybe. But we’ll talk about that later. Got our reward to collect. I’m kinda in a hurry. Let’s say you’ve earned half, what the hell.

EXT. SUPERVISOR’S BUILDING

Geralt and Lambert approach the guard from earlier.

GUARD: So?

LAMBERT: What do you think? We did what we had to do. Time to pay up.

GUARD: Wait here, I’ll go see the supervisor, get your reward.

LAMBERT: Do that ourselves. No reason you should leave your post.

Geralt gives Lambert a sideways glance.

GUARD: Hmm, can’t argue with that logic. Go on in.

EXT SUPERVISOR’S BUILDING, COURTYARD

Lambert and Geralt approach SUPERVISOR LUND in an outdoor space. There’s three guards milling around.

LAMBERT: We dealt with the monster at the docks. Here for our reward.

LUND: Witchers? Since when do you travel in pairs?

LAMBERT: Lots of dangers for a lone witcher. Bandits, for example.

LUND: I’d advise you to change your tone.

LAMBERT: Where’s Jad Karadin? Talk!

GERALT: Who?

LAMBERT: Trust me, Geralt. This is important. There’s something I gotta know.

LUND: I do not know any Karadin. Take your coin for the before and bugger off before I lose my temper!

LAMBERT: (YELLING) Where’s Jad Karadin? Asking you for the last time!

LUND: Guards, to the dungeon with them!

Lund runs out of the courtyard, and Lambert chases after him, leaving Geralt to fight the three guards.

INT. SUPERVISOR’S BUILDING

Geralt walks inside to find Lund cowering from Lambert.

LAMBERT: This guy’s more trouble than the ekimmara.

LUND: Karadin’s disappeared. I swear! The others, too! I only know of Vienne.

LAMBERT: What about Vienne?

LUND: She drinks at the Seven Cats. There day and night.

LAMBERT: See? You can be helpful.

Lambert unsheathes his sword and stabs Lund in the gut while Geralt watches. Lund collapses to the floor. Lambert turns to look at Geralt in challenge.

GERALT: That was murder. Was that really necessary?

LAMBERT: Yes.

Geralt shakes his head.

LAMBERT (cont.): More guardsmen’ll show soon. Let’s go. Meet me at the Seven Cats. Tell you everything there.

GERALT: The tavern Vienne frequents?

LAMBERT: Yeah. See you later.

EXT. SEVEN CATS INN

Lambert is leaning against a rock when Geralt approaches him.

GERALT: All right. High time you explained some things. Why’d you kill Lund? What’s this all about?

LAMBERT: Want the short version or the long one?

GERALT: Lemme hear the whole thing.

LAMBERT: Had a friend. Aiden was his name.

GERALT: You? Had a friend?

LAMBERT: Oh, hi-fuckin’-larious. I met him soon after I'd accepted a contract to lift the curse from the Ogre of Ellander. Aiden had been hired to kill it. He was a witcher from the school of the cat.

GERALT: Far as I remember, the ogre was killed in the end.

LAMBERT: Yeah, after it gutted my employer, we really didn’t have a choice. I cut a deal with Aiden. We joined forces, split the reward for killing the ogre between us. After that, we worked together a lot. Hands down the best man I’d ever met. I mean, I like you, you know that. Still, no comparison.

GERALT: What happened to him?

LAMBERT: Some time ago, Aiden took on a contract to lift a curse off a duke’s daughter. It was a political mess from the start. Then there was the hatred for the school of the cat to deal with.

GERALT: They worked hard to deserve that hate. Basically hired assassins.

LAMBERT: (SNAPS) Aiden wasn’t like that. (PAUSES, LOOKS AWAY) Anyway, some of the duke’s courtier’s had designs. Weren’t all keen on the curse being lifted from the duke’s first born. So, a band of trained assassins ambushed Aiden, murdered him. Our dear supervisor was one of them.

GERALT: And Jad Karadin?

LAMBERT: The assassins’ leader. And the one to deal the mortal blow.

GERALT: Sorry about your friend.

LAMBERT: Don’t need your sympathy, just your help. (PUSHES OFF ROCK HE WAS LEANING ON TO STRAIGHTEN) We have to talk to Vienne. Must’ve had enough to drink by now. Let’s go.

INT. SEVEN CATS INN

Geralt and Lambert approach VIENNE, a lithe elvish woman wearing a deep cut purple blouse with her dark hair in a braid. She has a drinking glass in front of her where she sits alone at a table.

GERALT: Vienne?

VIENNE: What do you want?

LAMBERT: We wanna see Jad Karadin.

VIENNE: (LAUGHS) Now why would I help you?

GERALT: It’s really important to my friend here.

VIENNE: And what will I get out of it?

LAMBERT: Pay for your beer, for starters. Then we’ll see how valuable your information is.

VIENNE: (CONSIDERS, TAKES DRINK) I was part of Karadin’s band, but… When was that? I don’t know where to find him; I’ve fallen out with the lot.

Geralt sits at her table.

VIENNE (cont.): Besides, he’s no longer chummy with his old mates. Word around town is he’s changed.

Lambert sits down, also, now.

GERALT: Karadin’s changed? What do you mean?

VIENNE: He’s dropped all his old connections, stopped taking on petty killings. He’s hidden himself away in some hole. Must be planning something big.

GERALT: Who else was in Karadin’s band?

VIENNE: Aside from me? Selyse, Hammond, and Lund. But they’ve scattered all over the world. Selyse went to Tretogor, Hammond to Skellige, and Lund—

LAMBERT: Lund’s dead.

VIENNE: (CACKLES) Finally met his match. Well, you’ve only Hammond or Selyse to talk to, then.

GERALT: What about you? What’s your story?

VIENNE: Scoia'tael was decimated, so I joined Karadin. They never treated me as an equal. No. I could hit a sparrow from a hundred paces, but I was never good enough for Karadin. He always preferred that cunt Selyse…

LAMBERT: You have a hand in the murder of the witcher Aiden?

VIENNE: Perhaps. I don’t remember.

GERALT: We need information about Hammond.

VIENNE: Karadin’s right hand man, once. When the band broke up, he went back to Faroe whence he had come. He’s a pirate, now. Even the jarls treat him with respect.

GERALT: This Selyse, where can we find her?

VIENNE: She’s done well for herself. Runs a brothel in tretogor, the kind rich men frequent. Whores suck information out of them, then she sells it.

LAMBERT: Name of this brothel?

VIENNE: The Black Lily. Selyse always did have horrible taste.

GERALT: (TO LAMBERT) Satisfied?

Geralt and Lambert both stand.

LAMBERT: She doesn’t know anything. We need to talk to Hammond and Selyse.

VIENNE: Don’t go looking for Karadin. If he senses you nipping at his heels, he’ll kill you without batting an eye.

LAMBERT: We’ll see. As for you…

OPTION ONE

GERALT: No, Lambert.

LAMBERT: Right, better to leave her like this.

VIENNE: What about my coin?

Geralt and Lambert exit the inn.

VIENNE (cont.): Arseholes.

OPTION TWO

GERALT: Do whatever you think is right, Lambert. Not here to preach morals.

VIENNE: (LAUGHS) “Do what you think is right?” Only one thing worse than cold blooded murder—hypocrisy. Informers, racists, snitches!

VAREN: Vienne, bloody hell. What is it?

VIENNE: They’ve come for me, Varen! I told you someone would, sooner or later!

VAREN: (IN ELDER) Don’t be afraid.

GERALT: Shit.

A fight breaks out in the inn and ends with Vienne dead.

EXT. SEVEN CATS INN—NIGHT

LAMBERT: You’ve gotta help me, Geralt. Best thing will be to split up. You sail to Skellige, try to squeeze something out of Hammond. I’ll go to Tretegor and try to get something out of Selyse.

GERALT: Lambert, let’s talk about this.

LAMBERT: Let’s not. This is one of those situations, serious situations, where you don’t ask unnecessary questions and just help your friend.

GERALT: Where’ll we meet once I’m back?

LAMBERT: At the Nowhere Inn.

GERALT: All right, I’m off. Good luck.

They both nod to each other, and the scene fades to black as Lambert walks away.

EXT. PIRATE’S SETTLEMENT, SKELLIGE

Geralt approaches two men standing guard outside of the settlement he’d been pointed to in order to find Hammond.

GUARD: Whaddya want?

GERALT: I’m looking for Hammond.

GUARD: What for?

GERALT: Business.

GUARD: He prays at the chapel on the hill this time of day. If it’s slaves you’re looking to buy, you’ll have to wait ‘til he’s done.

GERALT: He’s praying? Wouldn’t have thought him a god fearing man.

GUARD: Hmm. Yet it’s not something that would surprise any man who knows him.

GUARD TWO: Another snoop! You know the drill!

A fight breaks out with all of the pirates. After Geralt defeats them, he travels across the island.

EXT. HAMMOND’S SHRINE

Geralt walks into the shrine, and it’s an outdoor space with wide, curved beams driven into the ground that create a circle. Hammond is in the middle of the area in front of a pile of weaponry and shields. Hammond is shirtless and wearing a green tartan kilt with a wide leather belt. His hair is in a ponytail, and a leather strap encircles his left bicep. There’s a brown arm guard on the same arm, and there’s a gold band wrapped around his right bicep. There’s a large war hammer strapped to his back.

HAMMOND: Gods of the sea, I’ve never begrudge ye no gifts. Grant me another victory, so I can make an offering of me loot. (STANDS AND NOTICES GERALT) Fuck, what now?

GERALT: Heard you were in Karadin’s band.

HAMMOND: Fuckin’ say what you want. C’mon, spit it out, you arse lickin’ bastard!

GERALT: I’m looking for Jad Karadin.

HAMMOND: And just who the hell’re you?

GERALT: A friend of a friend. I’m looking for Karasin, thought maybe we could make some sort of deal.

HAMMOND: What, our business rubbing some Novigrad pricks the wrong way? Ploughin’ guild! (TO HIS GUARDS) Come on, what are you waiting for? Kill the fucker!

A fight breaks out and Geralt kills Hammond and his three guards. After, Geralt searches Hammond’s body and retrieves a letter on elegant stationary.

Hammond,

Thought I made it clear during our last face to face talk. I don’t want to keep in touch and I especially don’t want to do any business with you. I’ve no doubt the enterprise you proposed would be profitable. Nevertheless, to speak colloquially, count me out.

There are plenty of other potential buyers in Novigrad: goldsmiths, jewelers, and merchants dealing in luxury goods, for starters.

I don’t want to get involved.

Whatever you decide, I will wish you well in it. Treat this letter as our final farewell.

Karadin

INT. NOWHERE INN

Geralt approaches Lambert. Lambert is sitting at a table scattered with gwent cards and with a tankard in front of him.

LAMBERT: What the hell took you?

GERALT: Pretty likely Karadin lives in Novigrad. And he never severed ties with Hammond. They’re actually in business together.

LAMBERT: Mm. Learned something, too. He trades in, uh, live goods on the sly. Owns a ship called the Pearl of the Coast. Runs between here and Skellige. Changed his name, too, to Roland Treugger, who officially is a respected Novigrad trader and philanthropist. Has a residence in Gildorf.

GERALT: Anything on Selyse?

LAMBERT: Hmm. Well, didn’t have you there to stand up for her.

GERALT: All right, let’s pay Karadin a visit.

EXT. KARADIN’S HOUSE

Lambert and Geralt stand in a stone alleyway, looking at several guards.

LAMBERT: Think I know how to get in. Got a plan.

GERALT: If your plan doesn’t include dealing with an escort of guardsmen, best revise it.

The guards approach Lambert and Geralt.

GERALT (cont.): Calm, now. Let them start it.

GUARD: You’re expected. Come in.

Lambert and Geralt share a glance, and the scene fades to black.

EXT. KARADIN’S BACKYARD

There’s a child in a blue smock, who points at Lambert and Geralt and runs to Karadin. Karadin has yellow slitted eyes, dressed nicely, and there’s a sword at his hip.

KARADIN: Make yourselves at home.

GERALT: (TO LAMBERT) He’s a witcher.

KARADIN: Very true. Let me introduce my wife, Laetitia, and my two little tots. (GESTURES TO A WOMAN AND TWO CHILDREN SITTING IN THE GRASS) You know who I am, and I’ve heard of you. You’ve been asking questions about me. That always draws my attention.

GERALT: What school’d you come out of?

KARADIN: That of the cat. So few of us left.

Lambert sneers.

GERALT: Witchers can’t have children.

KARADIN: But they can have wards. Or take in a woman along with her children, embrace them as their own.

GERALT: I could understand a witcher becoming a hired assassin, but a merchant?

KARADIN: Why ever not? Not one among us doesn’t dream of changing our life. I simply did not stop at dreaming. They say no witcher has ever died in his bed. I aim to be the first.

LAMBERT: Remains to be seen.

GERALT: My friend needs to talk to you.

KARADIN: (TO GUARDS) Lads, take the children and Laetitia and leave us. Our guests wish to speak with me.

His family leaves.

KARADIN (cont.): I’m all ears.

LAMBERT: Talk to him, Geralt. If I do, first word he says to me, I’ll lose it and throttle the fucker.

GERALT: Nice place you got.

KARADIN: As it turned out, I’ve a flair for enterprise. Now I’ve coin enough to provide my family with the finer things in life.

LAMBERT: With some left over for philanthropy.

KARADIN: Miss Marabella’s institute does not scorn small donations. Neither does the city's Widow and Orphan Relief Fund, amongst others.

GERALT: Your wife know who you were?

KARADIN: We are thoroughly honest with each other, harbor no secrets. She prays for me each day. You know what? I think it’s working.

LAMBERT: Fucking hell.

GERALT: Relax, Lambert.

KARADIN: I confessed all just before we pledged to marry one another. Began a new life that day, with a clean slate.

GERALT: Remember Aiden? A witcher. Murdered in Ellander. Guessing the killers were paid well.

KARADIN: I remember him as I remember all the others—with the deepest regret. Yet Aiden was different, in a way. Contrary to rumor, we did not set out to kill him. We were forcced to, when he attacked us.

GERALT: What’s your version of this story?

KARADIN: Aiden had accepted a contract to lift a curse from the duke’s daughter. He took the coin, bungled the job, then left once the girl passed on.

LAMBERT: You lie!

KARADIN: We were not to kill him. We were debt collectors. He’d spent the coin already, so we demanded his swords. When he refused, tempers flared. Vienne, positioned as sniper, lost her nerve, hit Aiden square in the eye.

Lambert looks down. Geralt glances over at him.

KARADIN (cont.): Later, she devised her own version of the story. To silence her guilt, I expect.

GERALT: I’ve heard enough.

KARADIN: What now?

OPTION ONE

GERALT: You’ve changed. You have.

KARADIN: Forgiveness. It’s my sole aim now.

LAMBERT: You’re buying this bullshit? Bastard’s lying his ass off!

OPTION TWO

GERALT: You know what, Karadin? Your remorse—it’s feigned. Completely dishonest. You put on a good show, but I just don’t believe you.

LAMBERT: Don’t even know why we bothered with this chat. We came here to kill you.

OPTION THREE

GERALT: Maybe you’ve changed, maybe not. To me and Lambert, it doesn’t matter.

LAMBERT: You killed Aiden. Fuck your new life. I don’t believe in giving second chances.

OPTION ONE

GERALT: Do what you want, Lambert. Your friend, your vengeance.

LAMBERT: Been waiting a long time for this.

KARADIN: (UNSHEATHES SWORD) And I don’t aim to die.

A fight breaks out, ending in Karadin dead.

LAMBERT: Thanks for your help, Geralt.

GERALT: You’re welcome.

LAMBERT: Wanna talk about it?

GERALT: No.

LAMBERT: See you later. Some day.

GERALT: So long, Lambert.

OPTION TWO

GERALT: Leave him. Let’s go.

LAMBERT: What? Are you fuckin’ nuts?

GERALT: Lambert, this is one of those situations where you have to realize you’re pissed as hell, rein it in, and trust your cool headed friend. Let’s go.

LAMBERT: For fuck’s sake, Geralt. Don’t know that I’ll be able to forgive you.

GERALT: I said let’s go. You can always come back.

Lambert storms off.

KARADIN: Thank you.

Geralt sighs and walks away.

EXT. KARADIN’S HOUSE

LAMBERT: Explain yourself.

GERALT: Don’t intend to. Just felt Karadin didn’t deserve to be murdered in cold blood. If you feel otherwise, you can always go back. Without me.

LAMBERT: I feel like beating the shit out of you. See you later. Some day.

GERALT: So long, Lambert.

#the witcher #the witcher 3 #aiden #lambert #lambden #following the thread #reference #contemplative writing

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graphicabyss · 3 years

Text

XVII-XVIII Century Royal Queer History

Unexpectedly to myself, I got really engaged in history of Europe of XVI-XVII centuries. I never really had much interest in kings and queens and didn't know much about them but once I began to read and learn about their personal lives, I got kinda hooked. Also, I was struck by how many of them were queer and I began to write down my findings, which inevitably turned into a freaking study. I thought I might as well post it.

I'm gonna start with King James I of England who ruled in XVII century. Now there are several tumblr posts about this queer legend. Some historians think he was weak and unremarkable but he survived several assassination attempts, kept his power over 3 countries and lived to old age, which is pretty remarkable on its own. He also kept all the religious leaders at bay and commissioned the world's most famous Bible, which is still owned by most Christians 400 years later. He was also the one who created the modern wedding ritual. You know, church, vows, rings, that stuff. He avoided wars and was a patron of the arts, even wrote some books, including one about demons, werewolves and vampires. What a nerd. He was very different from Elizabeth who preceded him, so one contemporary epigram stated "Elizabeth was King, now James is Queen". Oh, also he was very gay. Or, at least, as gay as a king can get. His relationships with his male courtiers were notorious. He had several favourites who had way too much influence over him and his court really hated it.

He needs to have a movie made about him, seriously. I found only one semi-documentary film and it was The King James Bible: The Book That Changed The World (2011). While I liked the film and King James was hot, sassy and very cool, it was disappointing he was shown as perfectly straight. They could just avoid his personal life altogether, but instead they chose to show him being a perfect husband. While it is true that he was nice to his bride, by the time he met her he had a 10-year old relationship with a man 24 years his senior (since he was 14). I'm just gonna use this screenshot from the movie instead of a painting because it's too good.

Perhaps the most notorious of his alleged lovers was George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. Starting out as a son of a minor gentleman, the 21-year old lad caught the eye of King James I and quickly became his favourite teasing him by dancing in intricate performances called masques. He made a brilliant career becoming a knight, an earl, a Marquess, and finally a duke - a title normally being reserved for members of the royal family - within just 9 years. Can you blame him though? I mean, look at that stud.

Btw, James’ pet name for Buckingham was ‘Steenie’, derived from St. Stephen who reportedly had the face of an angel.

The name Buckingham seemed oddly familiar to me but it took some time before I realized he was one of the characters in Dumas's "The Three Musketeers". Now I am someone who grew up on old pure Three Musketeers movies so when I started learning about the real historical figures involved in it it gave me a slight shock as the truth is way more weird and sinister that fiction.

The storyline I remember the most was the one where Anne of Austria, the queen of France, got in trouble with her husband Louis XIII because of her affair with Duke of Buckingham. Of course, Duke of Buckingham was never the Queen's lover, he was the King's. What's more, some historians assume Louis XIII was also queer. There is no evidence that Louis kept mistresses, but he had very intimate relationships with his favourites. He has even been described as “repelled by female contact”. There's also the issue of him struggling to have an heir. His wife had 4 pregnancies that were unsuccessful but that seemed like too few for a king who needed to secure his dynasty. After 23 years of trying, the king and queen were finally able to produce a son and another soon followed, the older son to become Louis XIV, and the younger, Philippe, to be known as Duke of Orleans.

Anne was quite the character for a dramatic story too. After Louis's death she became the Regent and made sure to clear the way for her son Louis. To ensure that Louis's younger brother will not try to usurp the power from him as it was with Louis XIII 's brother, Anne of Austria conducted an early and very wicked gender development experiment. She and her adviser, Cardinal Mazarin, set up a plan to raise the two boys very differently. Queen Anne called Philippe by such nicknames as "my little girl" and encouraged him to dress in feminine clothing, which he sometimes did even as an adult.

I'm just gonna use this quote because this shit is real: The queen and Mazarin discouraged the duc d'Anjou [Philippe] from traditional manly pursuits such as arms and politics, and encouraged him to wear dresses, makeup, and to enjoy feminine behaviour. His inclination toward homosexuality was not discouraged, with the hope of reducing any threat he may have posed to his older brother. Reportedly, Cardinal Mazarin even commanded his nephew, Philippe, to de-flower the king's younger brother.

Well, fuck. The joke's on them though, as Philippe grew up to be a fashion icon AND a fierce warrior. He participated in many battles and was immensely praised for his bravery and valour. In 1677, he led the French forces at the Battle of Cassel against William III of Orange of the Netherlands. Yes, that guy who later gently invaded England and took the throne. By the way, there are some allegations that he was also gay. Anyway, Philippe was so badass in battle that people glorified him as a hero and it made his stallion of a brother so jealous he sent him back and never allowed him on the battlefield again. Louis XIV continued his mother's effort in encouraging his brother's effeminate behaviour and putting up with his homosexual relationships, all the while waging a war of homosexuality in France. I mean, gotta preserve the traditional values, such as fucking 12 mistresses who were often married. There were even rumours Louis fucked Philippe's wife. I guess he was trying to make up for his father, brother, son, and uncle, César de Vendôme. Meanwhile, Philippe gave no fucks. He had a number of favourites and didn't even try to hide his sexuality. In fact, it is said that every time Louis pissed him off, Philippe did something extra gay and in his face. Fierce.

One guy I have to mention is Armand, the Comte de Guiche, who was said to be handsome, vain, and manipulative. Armand was Philippe’s lover, but he is widely thought to have been his wife Henrietta’s lover as well. That apparently wasn’t enough for the guy, because in 1665 he also tried to romance Louise de La Valliere, who was Louis’ chief mistress at the time. Louis exiled him in 1662 for plotting with Henrietta to break up Louis and Louise. What a glorious fucker.

But the love of Philippe's life was Chevalier de Lorraine who was basically a prince of a realm outside France. He's usually called 'Chevallier' but his name was also Philippe. He also had an older brother named Louis. Seriously, couldn't they try a little harder with the names? Anyway, when they met Philippe was 18 and Chevalier 15 and sparks flew. He was described as being “as beautiful as an angel” and was more than ready to use what his mama gave him. He was smart and very manipulative and Philippe showered him with gifts all his life, much to the chagrin of his two wives whose money and estates he often gave away.

He moved to Palais-Royal, the same palace as Philippe and his wife Henriette. Very convenient. Philippe's marriage got kinda crowded. Chevalier got so arrogant, he actually told Philippe's wife she needs his permission to sleep with him and that he could get him to divorce her. She complained to the king and he got Chevalier imprisoned and exiled. However, not for long as Philippe pleaded the king to pardon him and eventually succeeded. Henriette did not get much relief apparently as she wrote: “I see from the ashes of Monsieur’s love for the Chevalier, as from the dragon’s teeth, a whole brood of fresh favourites are likely to spring up to vex me.” Of course, Chevalier also managed to enrich himself immensely by getting Philippe and the king to give him and his family tons of perks, such as make him the titular Abbot of four abbeys, which payed handsomely.

Henriette died very suddenly claiming she was poisoned. The doctors found no evidence of that, but there were still rumours that Chevalier was to blame. Philippe had to find another wife, even if he wasn't happy about it. Chevalier stuck around. He was exiled a second time after he apparently seduced the king's son (more on that later) but was able to return again. Their relationship lasted for 40 years, until Philippe's death.

There was a recent TV show called Versailles that depicts Louis XIV’s reign and it has a fairly accurate though romanticized portrayal of Philippe and Chevalier's relationship. Too bad the show is way too violent for me to watch. They look stunning in it~

Anyway, such relationships were far from rare. In fact, apparently there were the so-called confréries (“fraternities”), which were basically gay brotherhoods whose members hung out together and set up orgies. One elite brotherhood was founded between 1680 and 1682. Apart from Chevalier, it included the king Louis XIV's cousin Prince of Conti who was once proclaimed the King of Poland, and Louis's illegitimate son, the comte de Vermandois. The latter was 15 in 1682 when at the court of his uncle Philippe, he met the Chevalier de Lorraine and his sect and apparently got very personally acquainted with Chevalier's younger brother and nephew. When the king learned about it, the group was forcibly dissolved and Vermandois was beaten before the king, exiled from court, and forced into marriage. Another such group was within the highest ranks of nobility at the court of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the son of Philippe and the regent at the time when Louis XV was young. They really didn't bother with names, huh? Anyway, they got involved in a number of scandals, in one of which that happened in 1722 a group of 17 noble men gathered in the palace gardens to fuck. The Regent didn't seem very bothered and even seemed to find it amusing.

The Regent, who did not stop smiling, was satisfied that it was necessary to give the nobles a harsh reprimand and tell them that they do not have the best taste [goût] in the world.

Dad would be proud.

There were also some (presumably) queer queens, like Queen Anne of England. Now you might have seen the movie The Favourite but it's heavily satirized and Anne wasn't really childlike and helpless. Actually, this image was created by Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, after she was expelled by Anne, and stuck. However, the rivalry between the old and new favourites was very real.

Anne met Sarah when she was just 8. Sarah was beautiful, charming and very persuasive. When Anne became the queen, she made Sarah Churchill her Mistress of the Robes (the highest office in the royal court that could be held by a woman) and gave her a bunch of other really cool titles. She also made her husband, John Churchill, a duke. Thus Sarah became the most powerful person in England after the queen and the queen always listened to her advice. However, as years went by, Sarah became increasingly pushy and insensitive, using the queen to get what she wanted.

Sarah looking fab~

Then comes Abigail Masham, Sarah's impoverished cousin. Abigail was soft, caring and considerate, exactly what the queen needed. Sarah tried to get rid of her but it only angered the queen further and she eventually dismissed Sarah and her husband and banished them with disgrace while Abigale took her place. Sarah then wrote scandalous memoirs, painting the queen as weak and instable, as well as implying that her relationship with Abigail was lesbian. In mid-1708, she helped to circulate a ballad with such lyrics as: “Her secretary she was not / Because she could not write / But had the conduct and the care / Of some dark deeds at night.”

While there is no direct evidence that she and Anne had sexual relationship, there are many letters between the women that are very romantic and intimate. Sarah even used them to blackmail the queen. And you can kinda see why. “Tis impossible for you ever to believe how much I love you except you saw my heart,” the princess wrote in one letter, as quoted in Anne Somerset’s biography of Anne. “If I writ whole volumes I could never express how well I love you,” read another.

Also, like, evidence was hardly even a thing with queer relationships, since the only solid evidence of regular affairs were illegitimate children.

Finally, I really want to talk about Frederick II, the king of Prussia. Buckle up because this is gonna be long.

Until the age of 7 Frederick was growing up with his lit mother and sister. Here they are, looking gorge. I think he's in blue but tbh I'm not 100% sure.

Anyway, as he got older he was taken to his father and that's when things got shitty. His father, Frederick William I, was the model image of toxic masculinity. He was all about power and military and expected his son to be the same. And since the boy was a lot more into music, poetry, and French stuff, his father often beat and humiliated him. He didn't allow him to learn French and Latin because, like, that's so gay. Now he was a real man. With a weird kink for tall guys. He is known for creating the Potsdam Giants, a regiment of very tall men that he didn't use for battle, just dressing them up and making them march. Ultimate straightness. It is probably redundant to say but his father also hated 'sodomy' and it was punishable by death, a law Frederick would repeal.

And the thing is, Frederick wasn't even supposed to become a king. He was the third son. It wasn't even disease. The first son died because a volley was fired close to his crib (because that’s the only way to wake up a real man - canon) and the second died at baptism because the royal crown crushed his skull. And you thought your parents were bad. Poor Frederick didn't even want to be a king, he just wanted to play the flute and do his thing. In a different age he'd be writing musicals on Broadway or something.

Anyway, there are few doubts among historians the man was gay. There's this BBC documentary that downplays it but it keeps saying he grew up in an environment where he was "leading a double life" and that he once wrote to a close friend that he felt he was a mirror that dared not be what nature made it, forced to oblige what was around it. Please.

Frederick's first presumed relationship was at 16, with Keith, the king's 17-year-old page. Unsurprisingly, Keith was soon sent to a far-off frontier. Right after that, however, Frederick got real close with an officer Hans Hermann von Katte. The dude was very woke and they both loved music and poetry but shit got very real very soon. In 1730, Katte and Frederick decided to flee to Britain to escape their despotic fathers. Sadly, they got caught and tried for treason. Although the prince was pardoned, Katte was sentenced to life imprisonment, which his sick dad changed to execution and then forced Frederick to watch it. At execution Katte and Fred shouted to each other endearments in French and before it happened, Frederick fainted. That shit really fucked him up and he got depressed but he toughened up and accepted his fate.

Aged about 20, Frederick was expected to marry. After a few failed attempts, an Austrian bride was selected, Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern. Frederick was clearly unexcited and apparently even threatened suicide. As soon as he had secured throne, he sent her away and only met with her out of necessity. They had no children. And some historians are like, "well, they just didn't get along". Well, his folks hated each other but it didn't stop them from having 14 children.

Anyway, his father finally got off his back and as a crown prince, he mostly spent his time reading, composing, watching plays and writing woke political essays. Then his dad died so playtime was over.

Now that sounds like a story of a "weak" king. A man who loved to read books and play his flute. But it's not how it was. As Fred became king, he inherited a very militarized state with a huge-ass army and he worked with what he had. He started expanding Prussia, starting with Austria, which he had old beef with. He wasn't out for world conquest, he struck swiftly and strategically to consolidate and strengthen his state.

Frederick, widely known as Frederick the Great, waged war against much bigger armies with great success and doubled Prussia's size in his reign. Which is why Hitler was obsessed with the guy smh. Would make more sense if he was into the Frederick Senior, with his militarism and his little hobby of inbreeding giants and all. He must have missed the part where he was tolerant, modest and also gay.

Frederick also had a younger brother, Prince Henry, who was also gay. He was an important general in the king's army, though their relationship was quite complicated. Henry married but like his brother, bore no children, ignored his wife and spent time with fine lads.

Look at this unapologetic legend!

When Frederick wasn't battling, he was doing lit stuff. He built a gorgeous palace in French fashion, full of Grecian sculptures and homoerotic paintings. He attracted the best intellectual minds of his time. Voltaire lived there for 3 years btw and he did not hold back to make many "wink wink" references to the king and his Grecian taste.

Speaking of which... One of his closest friends was Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf, an army private and a son of a peasant. Frederick met him as a prince and kept him by his side for the rest of his life, quite literally as he had an adjoined bedroom in his palace. He also made him a chancellor and gave him an estate, which really pissed off the elites.

Frederick is a complex character. Sure, he waged war and very successfully asserted himself as one of the top military leaders in history. But at the time Prussia was a scattered landlocked state, it couldn't just opt out of war so it's not like he could just go "peace out, bitches". But he did so much more. The guy actually believed that the king's duty was to be just and improve the lives of his people. He did some major reforms, improved education, supported art, and practiced religious tolerance, which was pretty woke at the time. He abolished torture and corporal punishment. He made governing more democratic by hiring people based on ability, not just status. Sadly, his cool legacy was utterly destroyed because the Nazi decided to appropriate him as their idol but lately it’s being reassessed. It’s hard to judge him considering how much he went through. But despite it all he became one of the best military commanders in history, one of the most woke and talented monarchs, and of course a legendary queer!

Disclaimer: I know all of these people did some terrible shit, at least by modern standards, but I'm here to have fun so I'm not going to go there now. Sources: medium.com/@LukeBoneham/the-politics-of-desire-... thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2019/02/21... www.ranker.com/list/life-of-philippe-dorleans/m... cour-de-france.fr/vie-quotidienne/sociabilite-e... aelarsen.wordpress.com/2018/07/20/versailles-th... thedrummersrevenge.wordpress.com/2007/06/22/ref... dirtysexyhistory.com/2017/09/03/a-secret-gay-br... unspeakablevice.tumblr.com/post/82525976110/lou... journals.openedition.org/crcv/14427#ftn161 Marie Antoinette's World: Intrigue, Infidelity, and Adultery in Versailles The Real Versailles - BBC Two

BBC Four - Frederick the Great and the Enigma of Prussia https://medium.com/war-is-boring/historys-greatest-gay-general-fd7d1d311464 https://www.queerportraits.com/bio/frederick https://www.spectator.com.au/2015/10/frederick-the-great-king-of-prussia-is-a-great-read/ http://gayinfluence.blogspot.com/2011/10/frederick-great-1712-1786.html https://www.history.com/news/true-story-queen-anne-sarah-abigail-the-favourite-fact-check

#King James I #Duke of Buckingham #George Villiers #Philippe Duke of Orleans #Queer History #Chevalier de Lorraine #Queen Anne of England #Frederick the Great

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luasworkshop · 3 years

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📚📚📚📚👀👀👀

Ok so... ok. Bear with me I want to ramble about Aleis and Lua's 'Route' -

Aleis and Lua's route is just... made of cannon divergences, especially as it's trying to weave together sort of the best bits of all the upright routes and has two entirely different people to keep track of. It's starts small - they don't ever refer to Asra as 'master' and don't consider themselves 'apprentices' (the nature of their relationship with him going in is a nebulous 'friend/co-worker/roommate who helped them through a crisis they don't even entirely remember/understand.) They only briefly borrow his tarot deck, and mostly communicate with the arcana through their own divination means as they each reconnect to their own magic.

Things get bigger as we go along - Morga gets involved and doesn't end up dead (a different member of the scourge does - we have a whole chance to get connected to him too don't worry), Lucio has to actually face consequences in a major way, time is spent in MOST of the relevant arcana's realms, the courtiers all end up 'human', and... I'm sure other things will come up too. The time span of the plot goes from what is canonically what is in most routes a few days to a couple weeks to something much more like the better part of a year or more.

Other divergences along the way include no fades to black (and quite a few scenes that go more hot and heavy), but it's Aleis who's much more sexually confident through the story, generally being the first of the pair to have a fling with any given character post-resurrection. Lua is more tentative and doesn't get it much until toward the end of the story when they really start coming back into their magic/themselves. Because the end of the route ends in all of the polyamory, there's... there's a lot of flings with both the LIs and side characters.

Lua, unfortunately, doesn't get the full range of their shapeshifting back until the very last few chapters of the route, which include the final conflict with the devil (an archytpical battle of wills divided among self-chosen challenges for all of the characters involved - only in the very vaguest sense resembling the end of Muriel's route with some of Nadia, Asra, and Julian's thrown in). Aleis' magic is also slow to resolve itself, but given their existing combat familiarity, they're less at odd ends when pushed into difficult situations. (Aleis is willing to spar with Morga right off the bat - which uh, leads to things, it's Lua who's more anxious about everything along with Muriel.)

Lua and Aleis' own relationship strengthens throughout the story, as we see the ways in which the two of them support each other and how their personalities work together well. They already have affections for each other at the start of their 'route' but their own affections build into actually remarrying as they figure their shit out by the end. They both get a substantial chunk of memories back, but what precisely that entails to each of them remains private. I do want to do some side-stories of their younger years, but nothing is hugely plot-relevant to all this.

Lua's re-connection with their... uh, "familiar" is a WHOLE-ASS thing - but I don't know if it makes the cut for this story.

Shit... this is gonna be a mess to write, I really gotta finish that outline.

#Thank you for asking!#WIP #Prompt #Aleis #Lua

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whitherwhence · 3 years

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Monstrous May Challenge, Day 6: The Lycanthrope

Honey Bear

A werebear comes out of hibernation, the townsfolk welcome her back. Some clumsy flirting, and a little bit of soft manhandling (bearhandling?). wlw. 1428 words, somehow.

She always came down from the mountain just before mid-spring, after taking a few weeks or so to shake her winter sleep off her bones and bulk back up a little. You couldn’t miss her as she strode through town, she was tall and broad, brawny and thick as hell, friendly with literally everyone she passed, and her laugh could be heard from a block away.

Her name was Rebecca, or maybe it was Rhiannon, something with an R — but all anyone ever called her was Bear. An unoriginal nickname for a werebear, sure, but fitting. Everything about Bear seemed big; her voice, her appetite, her arms, oh god, her arms, and she took up SPACE wherever she went. She was the only one of her kind in this part of the country, and the humans of the small town she called home for most of the year were grateful for it. It wasn’t that they didn’t like her, she was very well loved and respected in the community. It’s that werebears could be a bit territorial, or so it was generally believed.

Madeline couldn’t wait to see her. This spring, she would make her move. She would! She was definitely going to do it. Whatever ‘it’ was. Ugh. How is anyone good at this? Alright. It’s cool, be cool. She would come up with something clever to say, and Bear would laugh, and then she would ask Bear to… hang out or something? Yeah. Probably. Super good plan.

The unanimously favored queer club/tavern/bar was an absolute dive, nearly all of the bars downtown were, but it was the one everyone flocked to once winter had thawed because it had a big, comfortable patio space out back. It was also the one Bear frequented the most.

Madeline got a beer at the bar, and then made her way through the cool, dark, dingy, arcade-like interior, and through the back door to the shaded patio. Bear was on the deep bench built into the long back fence, and she was surrounded by a cluster of friends and neighbors, all chatting and laughing. It looked almost like she was holding court, if court was a group of townsfolk and a wooden table littered with half-full drinks, bar snacks, greeting cards, and small gifts — this was typical for the time of year, because everyone treated the first week of Bear’s return like it was her birthday.

“MADDIE!” a few would-be courtiers shouted out cheerfully, and someone conjured one of the well-used plastic chairs with battered metal legs for her to join them. She’d dressed carefully, it looked like everyone had, and it was so good to see them all showing off a little in the filtered afternoon sunlight.

After getting settled and saying hellos, Madeline dug her little gift out of her bag and set it on the table. “Hey, Bear,” she said, getting the woman’s attention, “I brought you something.” It was a jar of dark, rich, wildflower honey from her neighbor’s fall harvest. He always set aside a few jars for her, and this batch had been too good to keep to herself. She turned on her best wide-eyed, exaggeratedly innocent expression and aimed it at the werebear. “Bears do like honey, right?”

Thankfully, Bear laughed big and wonderful, and it sent blooming warmth from Madeline’s chest to her toes. “Well, this one does,” Bear said good-naturedly. She picked up the jar, tipped it, and watched the air bubble move down the side. She smiled at it and said, “Thanks, Maddie. Very kind of you, looks real good.” She looked back up at Madeline, and her smile softened into something really sweet. They just sat there for a moment, smiling and blinking softly at each other like a couple of goofballs. So, this was going well.

These springtime afternoons were always the nicest time to catch up with everyone. It was late enough in the day to get some good gossip, and too early for anyone to be out on the lash. The day slipped into golden early evening, Madeline switched to water, and the group filtered down to just a few friends. It got warm enough that she took off her leather jacket, and at some point Bear had rolled her sleeves up to the elbow. Those forearms. Madeline had to keep reminding herself not to sneak too many looks over at Bear, while she despaired over how to work up her courage to… what, ask her out? Seriously, why did it have to be so excruciating? But the thing was, as much as Bear caught her looking, she caught Bear looking back.

Okay, you know what? It was getting actually late now, and Madeline was starting to think maybe another day would be better. Bear had just gotten back, after all. They ran into each other all the time, no big deal. She’d just ask her all casual like, without all this build-up, yeah, that would be better, less pressure, good idea, okay, time to—

“Hey, Maddie,” Bear interrupted her spiral, thank fuck. “Help a gal out. It’s been months since I had a good look at you.” She leaned down, then grabbed one of Madeline’s chair legs and yanked, dragging it across the concrete a few feet. Suddenly they were very close, Madeline’s right knee and calf flush with Bear’s left. Bear inhaled deeply. “There, that’s better.”

“Whoa, haha,” Madeline uttered shakily. Had she just said ‘haha’ aloud? What the fuck. She blushed hard and tried harder to regain her composure. “Wait— did you just smell me?”

Bear laughed low and warm, and snuck an arm around Madeline’s shoulders. “Yeah, is that okay?” she asked, and then more seriously, “Is this okay?”

“Yeah. This is okay.” She meant it, obviously. This was amazing. Madeline was tall in her own right, or at least taller than most women she knew, but she felt tiny next to Bear. This was the closest they’d ever been to each other, and holy hell was it awesome.

“You smell nice, by the way,” Bear said, amused but sincere.

“Well, thanks? Must be my shampoo.”

Bear leaned in to get another sniff and pitched her voice down. “Mmm. Must be,” she rumbled directly into Madeline’s ear.

Because she was really going for it now, and because a hot butch woman was talking low into her ear, for fuck’s sake, Madeline shivered. But they were careening towards a cliche back and forth, and Madeline didn’t want to play. “So, this is the part where you say ‘You cold, baby? You’re trembling. How about you sit next to me here on the bench, and I’ll keep you warm.’ And I say ‘Oh thank you, Bear, you’re so big and strong’ for some reason and then I blink at you all coquettishly. Let’s skip it. Scoot over.”

There was literally no reason for Bear to scoot anywhere, as there was plenty of room next to her, but she did it anyway. “You don’t think I’m big and strong? You wound me, Maddie.”

Madeline snickered as she pressed her side into Bear’s, getting comfortable. “Of course I do, but you don’t need anyone to tell you.” Bear’s hand settled on her waist. It felt so good to be this close to her, to snuggle in her arms — well, one of her arms, rather.

“You know— oh, dammit,” Maddie faltered and looked down at her hands to gather herself. It’s cool, this is fine. It is. Time to be brave. She looked back up at Bear. “You know. You gotta know that I like you, right? Because I do.”

Bear was looking at her softly, her eyes half-lidded and dreamy. “You do, huh?” Her hand slipped down to Madeline’s hip and she started to knead the sensitive flesh there. “That’s lucky, because I like you too. Have for a long while.”

“But I’m not fast,” Madeline blurted. Bear’s hand froze on her hip. “I don’t know if I can jump in with both feet right away, Bear. You gotta give me a little time.” She took a beat to slow herself down. She could do this. “But, um. Can I take you to dinner?” She prayed to whatever deity that she had this right, that this is how people fucking talk to each other.

Bear grinned delightedly as she slid her hand back to Madeline’s waist, and squeezed her in a reassuring half-hug. “That sounds good to me, honey,” she said. “Just tell me when.”

~~~

—————

HOW LONG IS A LONG WHILE, BEAR. TELL US. Whew, this one fought me! And then it kept getting longer! Why!!! I just wanted to write a big ol’ butch wlw werebear and write another wlw who wants to snuggle with her 😭 Do you ever feel like you know where a story starts and where it ends, but the rest of it has to be fuckin’ wrestled out of your brain? I’m pretty sure I know what was going on, which is good, like, at least in the long run. Ah well, the important thing is that it’s done and I can release it to the wild. Right? Haha right, guys? Anyway. The two challenge days I’ve done so far have been heavy on the anxious, obvious long-time crush, so, I reckon something different for the next few. ANYWAY. <3

#monstrousmaychallenge #monstrous may challenge #day 6: the lycanthrope #werebear and the woman who wants to cuddle her #whence writing

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nobeliumoxygenoxygenmisc · 5 years

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Main 6 sleepover with MC (HCs)

(modern au)

Asra

Affection affection affection

Aisha and salim are so so welcoming and you feel at home immediately

But then they’re also the super embarrassing parents who show you baby pictures of asra. Cue asra blushing adorably before resigning himself to his fate and just joining in (they’re also probably the parents that give asra that Parent Grin when he introduces you as His friend if you’re not already dating)

You do loads of little miscellaneous activities like knitting snake sweaters for faust chimes and flamel and asra doing tarot readings and magic tricks for you

But movie time is the best because you get settled in together and it’s really just an excuse for you two to cuddle let’s be real

Asra pays attention to the movie like 5% and you the other 95%

Aisha and salim take a peek at you two and snap a quick pic to show you guys the next morning

asra pretends to be embarrassed when they show you guys but you can bet when his parents leave it tucked on his desk he keeps it forever and completely ignores their pointed looks (they know he’s smiling when they turn away tho)

Nadia

Get ready to be pampered, spoiled, fed, and blessed

Nadia is amazing her family is amazing and you guys have an amazing time

They probably have, like, their own outdoor spa bath and pool so (like in the game but with swimsuits on) you two have a bath together underneath the beautiful night sky until her siblings crash your little party

nadia is annoyed until she sees you laughing at the chaos (or as much chaos as the satrinava family can have) in the backyard and she has to blush because it may be dark but you’re all the light she needs when you smile like that so she forgives her siblings just this once

Lots of music and dressing up in her extensive wardrobe. even though her clothes may not fit you she finds you gorgeous in any and all of them

Some sneaky gossiping about some people in your school coughcough the courtiers and lucio

A movie before sleeping because it’s the time you two start cuddling on her four poster canopy bed and if you fall asleep first nadia’s just gonna be peacefully gazing at you before her siblings sneak in and tease her and she’s got to shush them before you wake up she does not necessarily forgive them this time

Julian

Karaoke

It’s not exactly karaoke but it kinda is

You two have to start singing early because if it’s getting too late mazelinka will stomp right in and whack julian’s music player (and probably julian himself) with her spoon until it stops. then she’ll turn right around to you and smile and say “tell me if you need anything y/n”

A lot of dramatic renditions and reenactments of famous scenes like that lion king scene

Yes, the one where simba is held in the air by the monkey (fight to see who’s simba)

If you’re lucky (or not depending on how you see the situation) julian will get portia in as well and maybe get a video or two of your reenactments

Careful though, if you’re reenacting a romantic disney scene and get too into the character julian loses composure for a few moments and starts blushing and stammering like crazy

He’ll retaliate with intensity just as good though. after five minutes of spluttering

you probably end up sleeping first though because he doesn’t sleep until 3am (“these eyebags are hard to maintain y/n” “then sleep so you dont have to maintain them” “w-wait i meant” “sleep”)

Portia

cooking!!

You two have loads of fun in the kitchen making dinner but hopefully not too much fun or else dinner’s gonna be compromised in favour of tiny food fights behind mazelinka’s back

definitely pranking julian if you’re up for it and you should be because pranking with portia is hilarious

Gossip gossip gossip galore - portia knows things about everyone and you two end up laughing until you’re crying because she knows everything

It’s a double edged sword though because it usually means she’s weaseling something out of you by the end of the night or morning if you guys are up for those Deep 3am conversations

Playing with pepi is a must!! Soft cuddles!! Pictures!!

pillow forts!!! you take over the whole living room and steal extra pillows and blankets from julian and mazelinka with the intent to return them but you two fall asleep before doing so and they don’t have the heart to wake you guys up

sleepovers with portia is everything - a good balance between laugh your heart out, wholesomeness, and deep talks

Muriel

Soft, pure but content night together

Muriel takes in stray animals and has some chickens so you two probably spend a good portion of your night doing the daily chores to care for them all and giving them the love! They! Deserve!

And be sure to give muriel the love he deserves too!

He’s flustered about having you in his home but if the animals love you he can’t deny how it’s nice to have you around

It’s illegal to move if one is sleeping on you and muriel is surprisingly obliging when you ask for something so you don’t have to move and wake them up tease him about being so Soft for his lil friends and he’ll blush

It’s practically community work because you take pictures of the animals and they’re good enough to put up as their adopt me pictures so sleepovers or just staying over in general is the most Wholesome Thing (and you sneak in some pictures of muriel with them too)

Actual sleep comes late because you both gotta tuck in all the children animals first

Lucio

blatantly shows off his house to you but he really just wants you to be impressed because he wants you to have fun tonight and is lowkey highkey nervous you won’t

Morga probably interrupts with an embarrassing one liner about lucio here and there so be prepared for the generic teenager “MUUUM!” yell

Melchior and Mercedes though? 👌 they are super cuddly and are precious precious babies and yes Lucio is jealous they end up spending a fair bit of time with you (he’s not jealous that you’re with them its the other way around of course) so be sure to invite him over to the cuddle session

You two probably do each other’s makeup and when lucio does yours he does his usual make up, then claims you should be honoured with this cute proud smirk on his face

play along and you’ll be fine, tease him about what the hell he’s done to you and he’ll mope

he tries to gossip but some of the stories he tells you is slightly... far fetched (”they say vulgora keeps worms in his pants” “lucio w h at”)

but when he tells them to you, you start laughing and he finds that oh that’s cute you’re cute - so he’s upping the exaggeration just a bit here and there before adding “but let’s be real it’s definitely not true” because he still has to save face

writing this made me wish i could go to sleepovers lmao i hope you enjoyed!!

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dreamcatcherfication · 4 years

Text

Dreamers in Fantasyland - Part 2

So this wasn’t supposed to come out today, but I didn’t have anything else to post, so here it is! Just know that things only intensify from this chapter on. You will get no break, it’s all going down. I wrote this entire four part fic at 4 AM and that’s why everything is on crack. Don’t blame me, blame my insomnia. But anyway, I hope you enjoy! Sorry for any spelling/grammatical errors, my writing teachers are on holiday and I don’t fit in a suitcase.

Writing Masterpost

If you want to send a request or a prompt, my inbox is always open! I publish a story at 8:00 AM PST everyday, so I’m always in need of new ideas. If you want to be tagged in my works, just let me know and I’ll be sure to tag you!

Prompts | More Prompts | The Trifecta of Prompts | Original Prompts

Trigger Warnings: Sword fighting, stabbing, blood, murder (nothing too graphic)

Part 1

When Anne and Anna said they would be ‘kidnapping’ Cathy and Kat, Cathy assumed they meant to some secret abandoned church where they would sit around and wait for ransom. No, turns out, that is not what they meant by kidnapping.

“So pirates huh,” Cathy commented as she rocked back and forth in the lower deck of the ship. Kat was sitting next to her, laying her head softly on Cathy’s shoulder as the boat swayed. Anna and Anne were also with them, looking through maps they had set out on a large table.

Anne hummed in confirmation without so much as glancing at Cathy. “Indeed milady. Although you don’t hear much of us in your little palace, do you?” It wasn’t that Cathy didn’t believe pirates existed, she just didn’t believe that Anne was one of them. It seemed so absurd to her.

Anna looked up from the maps and quirked an eyebrow when she noticed Kat staring at her. The girl turned her head away, refusing to make eye contact with the pirate. Cathy didn’t miss their interaction, but she chose to ignore it. “I didn’t think your kidnapping plot was so serious.”

“Oh we’re always serious,” Anna flashed a brilliantly white smile, something that shouldn’t have been possible for a girl who likely only ate pheasant and drank mead by the gallon.

This was already going horribly wrong. Cathy and Kat were being held for the ransom of the princess even though neither of them actually mattered in court. Things could only get worse if they continued to lie, and Kat knew that more than Cathy expected her to. “I’m not Princess Mary,” she blurted out, then put her hands over her mouth in surprise.

Anna and Anne froze before turning around to look at her. “What do you mean you’re not Princess Mary?” Anne spoke through gritted teeth. “Of course you are! We found you in your bedchambers wearing your royal garments,” Anne ripped off her hat and threw it against the wall. She took a few deep breaths, attempting to calm herself down. “Cleves, if you’d talk to the princess for me, I would be very grateful.”

“Sure Capt’n,” Anna tipped an imaginary hat and walked up to Cathy and Kat. Cathy put an arm around Kat, making sure Anna couldn’t get to her. Anna’s face softened at the protective act, so she glanced back at Anne before leaning in and telling Cathy, “I promise I won’t hurt her, but you gotta let me talk with her.”

Reluctantly, Cathy pulled her arm away and allowed Kat to stand up. The girl didn’t seem as nervous as she should be, but Cathy attributed it to the strange familiarity that was pungent in the room. She was sure the others must have felt it too. For some reason, with the four of them all together, everything seemed to calm down. The violent rocking of the boat had mellowed out and the presence of the swords didn’t seem to bother anyone. It was so natural for a situation that was so - well - unnatural.

Anna and Kat left the room together, and Cathy groaned into her hands. She wanted to be back with her girlfriend in the 21st century, not this swashbuckling - admittedly attractive - version of Anne Boleyn. Eyes widening, an epiphany hit Cathy. “Anne Boleyn,” she tried, seeing if it would provoke a reaction from the pirate.

Immediately, Anne’s spine straightened and she whipped around to stare at Cathy. “How do you know my name?”

“I thought you were a famous pirate,” Cathy covered up, hoping it would convince Anne.

Narrowing her eyes, Anne took a step closer to Cathy. “I may not be a courtier but I’m not an idiot. Barely five minutes ago you were surprised to hear we are pirates, and you’ve already lied once before about knowing my name. So tell me what you know before I pull out my blade.”

Cathy didn’t like seeing the girl she loved so much glare at her with such hatred. “Do you know the name Katherine Howard?”

A fond, nostalgic haze came over Anne for a second before she was jerked back into reality. “I haven’t heard that name in a long time. How do you know her?” It had only been for a second, but Cathy had seen the Anne Boleyn she knew peak out.

“That girl you think is Princess Mary? She’s my friend Katherine Howard. You’ve got the wrong girls,” Cathy explained.

Cracking her knuckles, Anne restrained herself from punching the wall. Of course it made sense that the princess seemed so familiar, of course there was a reason Anne knew something was wrong. “If you’re Anne Boleyn,” Cathy spoke up, breaking Anne away from her thoughts, “that means that girl out there,” she pointed to the door where Anna and Kat had left through, “is your cousin.”

“Yes,” Anne admitted, staring at the wall. Cathy was standing behind her, watching. “But it’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone from that family, or mine.” She turned around and faced Cathy. “I don’t know how you know who I am, but I’m going to figure it out. What’s your name.”

Staring Anne directly in the eyes, Cathy hoped against all reality that her name would mean something to Anne. “Catherine Parr.”

Anna led Kat to a room beside where Cathy and Anne were staying. It wasn’t much worse than the other room, but it was clearly less spacious and well kept. “So, Miss Not-Princess-Mary,” Anna started, leaning against the wall, “Who are you really?”

Kat was unable to look in Anna’s eyes. She didn’t know what caused her to act the way she did, but seeing those eyes made her chest feel strange in a way it never had before. “If I tell you, will you promise not to kill me?”

The blunt laughter that came from Anna’s mouth made Kat feel embarrassed at her comment. “No, here we aren’t ruthless. You won’t see us killing unless we have to, and we tend to treat even our prisoners as humanly as possible. You’ll be safe here.”

Letting out a small sigh of relief, Kat started to wring her hands together. “I’m Katherine Howard, but everyone I know calls me Kat.”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl,” Anna continued to flirt. There was something about Kat that Anna couldn’t place. It was right on the tip of her tongue but no matter how hard she tried to figure it out, she never could. So instead, Anna let the feeling pass and continued to ‘interrogate’ Kat. “And why were you in the Princess’s chambers if you’re not her?”

Guiltily hiding behind her hair, Kat coughed lightly. “I was bringing her a gift for her return to court. Me and Cathy - the other girl with me -” she clarified, “brought it directly to her bedchambers.” Kat’s cheeks grew red as she admitted, “I wanted to try on her clothes, only to see what they would feel like. We thought one of the guards was knocking on the door, so I pretended to be Princess Mary.”

“But you’re not?”

“I’m not,” Kat shook her head, staring at her feet. “I imagine I’d be much more composed if I was,” she muttered.

Scoffing, Anna put her fingers on the top of her sword handle. “I don’t think I would’ve liked to have some stuck up princess here with me. You’re much better company, Kat.”

“Thank you, Miss Cleves,” Kat said as she tucked a fly away hair behind her ear.

Blanching at the name, Anna shook her head. “No, call me Anna. Or Cleves. No Miss here. We show respect to the captain, but the rest of us are equal. Besides, I can’t be much older than you anyway.”

“Well okay,” Kat tested out the name, “Anna. Thank you for not holding me at sword point.”

Shrugging, Anna crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s the least I could do for a guest.”

“Don’t you mean prisoner?”

“Well seeing as we have no reason to ransom you and your friend, I don’t see why there’s any need for that. You’re an… unwitting traveler,” Anna supplied.

Before Kat could reply, the ship was rocked by a giant force that caused Kat to go running into the wall and books to fly off the center table. “What was that?” Kat gasped. Another rock to the boat, and this time they could make out the faint sound of battle cries.

Anna’s eyes widened with horror. “We’re being attacked.”

“What?” Kat yelled.

Rushing out of the room, Anna made her way to where Anne and Cathy were, Kat trailing behind her. Anne was already out the door, her sword drawn with Cathy standing behind her. “Do you know who’s attacking?” Anne asked, her accent thicker.

“I think you know who it is,” Anna replied.

Turning around, Anne put a hand on Cathy’s shoulder and another on Kat’s. Cathy would’ve appreciated the gesture if it didn’t mean a sword was being held inches from her face. “Listen, they’re here for you two. He’s been chasing us for a while, knowing about our plan to kidnap the princess. He’s going to try and take you onto his ship so he can have you as his prize.”

“But we just got here!” Kat yelled in distress.

Holding up a hand, Cathy asked, “Who’s he?”

By the hard set faces she was greeted with, Cathy was afraid she already knew the answer. “Henry.”

The sea deck was an absolute battle zone. Anne’s crew was practically indistinguishable from Henry’s, their sailors stabbing at anything that dared come within slashing distance of their swords. “This isn’t good,” Anne muttered in a panic.

“Here!” Anna called over the chaos, tossing two swords to Cathy and Kat.

Looking down at the blade in her hand, Cathy shouted, “We’re fighting?”

“We need every man we can get!” Anna replied before diving into the thick of it.

She and Anne were already fighting as many rival pirates as they could, tossing their bodies to the floor as they passed. Cathy turned around and grabbed Kat’s hand. “You stay here and try to fend off anyone who tries to come for you. Scream if you need me.”

“I can do this, Cathy,” Kat stated resolutely, gripping the sword tightly.

Nodding at Kat, Cathy ran across the boat, dodging swords and bodies in order to get to Anne’s side. Anna had disappeared, lost in a swarm of bodies, but Anne was still visible with her signature green hat. A man came up behind Anne and raised his sword high, but Cathy stabbed him through the back before he could harm Anne. Spinning around, Anne managed to witness the pirate falling to the ground, dead. “Nice save,” Anne called, an informal thanks.

Putting her back to Anne’s, Cathy held her sword up with both hands and started blocking incoming attacks. “Someone has to watch your back.”

“Yes, well this is certainly unprecedented,” Anne grunted as she shoved a pirate away from her before running him through.

Slashing at a passing enemy, Cathy responded, “This was not the way I was expecting things to GO!” She screamed the last word, ducking under the blade of a pirate. He narrowly chopped her head off with his swing, but only succeeded in getting her off balance.

“Anne Boleyn!” came a booming voice from among the pirates. The fighting didn’t cease, but Anne turned her attention to the man who was calling her out.

“Henry Tudor, Bastard Sailor,” she answered him, grabbing one of his men by the hair and stabbing him straight through the chest. She swung the blade to the side, causing blood to go flying on the wood of the ship.

Henry’s beard had grown since the last time Anne saw him. Not to mention he had grown fatter, but that was to be expected from him. Cathy tried her best to ward off attacking pirates as Anne diverted her attention to the rival captain. “You’ve come for the girls on my ship?” Anne yelled at him, “Then you’ve come for me.”

Brandishing his sword, Henry revealed his yellowing teeth. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” And with that, their blades clashed, the sounds echoing louder than any of the other fights around them. Cathy could only watch helplessly out of the corner of her eye as Anne battled the powerful captain.

Anne took the offensive, swinging quickly at Henry from different angles. It was impossible for Henry to keep up with Anne’s blows, and he only managed to parry the first few. When nicks and cuts started appearing over his body, Henry shifted the game and batted Anne’s sword away the next time it came at him. He shoved her back, putting her off balance and creating an open window for himself. Henry took the butt of his sword and hit Anne over the head, causing her to go tumbling to the ground. He stabbed downwards, attempting to impale Anne, but she rolled out of the way at the last moment.

Kicking the back of Henry’s knee, Anne watched the man’s leg give out and send him to the floor. As Anne moved to give Henry a killing blow, Henry spun around and grabbed Anne’s sword with his hand. He was wearing leather gloves, something Anne hadn’t noticed, so the blade didn’t cut into his skin. Bringing the sword up, he and Anne were in a battle of strength as to who would be able to control the sword.

Before either of them could discover the winner, the sword snapped in half. The weapon clattered uselessly to the ground, leaving Anne defenseless. “Shit,” Anne growled, looking for anything she could use to defend herself. But it was too late. Henry slammed his sword down against Anne’s skull, knocking her to the ground. While she wasn’t completely unconscious, Anne’s head was spinning and she couldn’t see clearly.

“Anne!” Cathy yelled to the captain, rushing through men to try and reach her. When Cathy was halfway to Anne, a scream stopped her in her tracks.

As she spun around, Cathy saw Kat on the other side of the boat being manhandled by some of Henry’s pirates. Her sword was lying on the ground next to a body, but the men had managed to restrain Kat and were pulling her away. “Cathy!” Kat screamed, kicking at the men who had their grasp on her.

Stuck with an impossible decision, Cathy didn’t know which way to go. She could save the girl that was supposed to be her girlfriend, the pirate who - despite kidnapping and threatening her - still had a piece of her heart. Or she could save the friend she cherished so deeply, the girl that had been helping her since she woke up in this strange reality. Right as Cathy made her decision, two arms grabbed her by the shoulder’s and hauled her backwards. “Let me go!” Cathy screamed, but she was stopped by Anna who wrapped a hand around her mouth.

“They’re leaving, we have to let them go or they will kill us all,” Anna ordered Cathy, pulling her away from the bloody scene. There were still battles going on, but most of Henry’s pirates were retreating back to their ship now that they had their prize.

Henry had Anne in his grip, and his men were carrying Kat to the other boat already. “You’re just going to let him take them?” Cathy was gobsmacked. “You’ll let him take your captain and an innocent girl?”

“What choice do I have?” Anna shouted, stabbing her sword into the wood floor of the boat. Grabbing her own wrist to hide the shaking of her hands, Anna sighed. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to yell.” Taking in a deep breath, Anna exhaled and attempted to regain what was left of her composure. “We try to stop Henry and our entire crew dies. We let him leave with his prizes, and maybe we stand a fighting chance of saving them.”

Gritting her teeth, Cathy kicked the side of the boat. “I don’t like this Cleves.”

“Neither do I.” The two girls watched as Henry’s boat started to sail away from theirs, heading for the nearest harbor. “But we’ll get them back. I promise we will.”

------------------------------------------

Tag List:

@theatergirl06@radcowboyalmondtree@boleynhowards@annabanana2401@babeebobo@dont-lose-your-queerhead@everything-insanity@mindless-pidgeon@i-wanna-dance-and-sing-six@thedemidisaster@its-totes-gods-will

#six the musical fanfiction #six the musical fanfic #six the musical fic #six fanfiction #six fanfic #sixfic #dreamers in fantasyland #pirate au #i can't even believe i wrote this #if you think this is wild #just wait for the next two chapters #i keep forgetting to tag #parrlyn #or is it supposed to be #parrleyn #katanna

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arcanoodles · 5 years

Note

Okay so hear me out- Double proposals. Their going to propose to their preppy, Tall, girly fem (sorry i just always gotta add personality for some reason) SO when they find out she had the same thing in mind, like they both get on one knee and Both end up whipping out rings? What's their reaction? Thanks again, have a lovely day! ^^

Love Interests Reacting to Double Prpposals

Asra

Legitimately breaks out in laughter

Faust says "Rings?"( In the little voice she used to say "gOAT?" in)

You both go along with it anyways and pretend it wasn't a double proposal and let the other propose

Julian

He thought you were going to say no and he got so wORRIED WHY DID YOU DO THIS

Lucio said "you're getting married? Wow, let me c u t o f f y o u r a r m. YOU DID IT TO ME WHEN I GOT MARRIED IT'S YOUR TURN"

Julian immediately told everyone he knows because he was so damn happy so literally all of Vesuvia knows you're getting married

Nadia

Let's pretend she didn't propose in her route because I want to write something without having to think abt that

It's probably after a party Lucio decided it was a GREAT TIME TO THROW

Everything died down, she asks you to come to have some wine with her on the balcony. She has Portia bring over a ring on a fancy ass pillow and asks you like that. You wHIP OUT your ring immediately and you both just start laughing but unlike with Asra you just quietly joke about it and end up going to pick out different rings together.

Muriel

It took him so much psyching himself up to even tHINK of proposing so the fact you did it at the same time legitimately made him cry

Asra is like the only one who is even told at all about it. I also have it set in my mind he and Portia are friends. You can tear this away from my cold dead hands Portia and Muriel are friends.

(meanwhile, in a route where khamgalai didn't die: she comes to your wedding and gives you away.)

Portia

She asked for advice from Nadia, because she had no idea what to do

She eventually decided on hiding the ring box in the garden for when you were both gardening as a little game

You found it but then you burst out laughing, running into the cottage, back out, and get on one knee with your own box

Portia just laughs like Asra does, she finds it hilarious.

Lucio

Oh god this man made a huge ass deal about it. He had to make up an excuse to throw a party, but none of the courtiers were at all helpful so he ended up waiting until the masquerade.

He asks you to dance with him, even though he never was good at dancing, nor ever offered to dance with you before. When you get to the middle of the floor everything catches on the two of you. The music fades into something fitting. He pulls out the ring.

You blink and pull out a matching ring. You knew he'd want something flashy but you didn't expect the two of you to think of the exact same rings.

We're alive! We are alive!

Unrelated, but a reminder that matchups are closed!

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camillemontespan · 4 years

Text

intoxicated thoughts [drake x camille] [one shot]

LAST FIC OF THE WEEKEND!

I got caught up writing Drake and Camille angst. I felt inspired. This is so angsty. I hope it has some humour? And I hope I captured Drake’s POV. This follows similar fics I’ve done in relation to his dreams, you can find them on my master list.

Warnings: Just a lot of swearing because it’s Drunk Drake.

@moonlightgem7 @burnsoslow @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore @ibldw-main @emichelle @rainbowsinthestorm

@jovialyouthmusic @saivilo @loveellamae @mskaneko @katedrakeohd @sirbeepsalot @dcbbw @gardeningourmet @pug-bitch @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @drakesensworld @walkerswhiskeygirl ***********************************************************************

You woke me up again.

That’s the fifth night in a row now. This is getting ridiculous.

The fifth night in a row where I wake up in a tangle of sheets soaked with my sweat, my heart pounding and the other side of the bed empty. I wake up alone, as always. But the image of you is clear in my mind’s eye.

What happened this time? Ah yeah. We were in this garden that had cherry blossom trees growing and the sun was shining. I was sat down on a deckchair with a bottle of beer in my hand and I was watching you play with this little girl on the grass.

The little girl’s face wasn’t clear; hell, she could have been pixelated. I don’t remember what she looked like. But I remember you perfectly. You were wearing a red sundress with spaghetti straps. Your skin glimmered in the sunlight. You were laughing and twirling the little girl around.

You turned to where I was sitting and asked the little girl, ‘Shall we ask daddy to play with us?’

That was when I woke up.

That’s how this works, you see. Every night, I go to bed and fall asleep. You appear in my dreams, we do cute things like get married, have kids, typical cutesy things, and that’s when I bolt up from my slumber. Every night, I wake and every night I clamber out of bed to pour myself a glass of whiskey.

Whiskey helps. Whiskey clouds my thoughts and soon makes me sleepy again. My head hits the pillow and I surrender to a dreamless state, one devoid of thoughts of you.

That’s how this works.

So, I’m pouring myself whiskey now. A good double measure, that will help. I swear to God, my alcohol intake has quadrupled since I met you.

*********************************************************************

I work hard to not think of you during the day and I gotta admit, I’ve become pretty good at it. It’s easy after a while. As soon as I think of you, I pinch myself hard and that reminds me to think of something else. It’s at night time that my mind betrays me and the image of you runs rampant.

Whenever I see you in the day, I’m.. indifferent. I act like I tolerate your company, which is for your own good. Really, it is. But sometimes, you make me laugh. And smile. And you make me more talkative which is fucking annoying because I hate talking.

You always seem to want me around which doesn’t make sense. Why would you want me around you? I’m Drake Walker. I’m nobody. The only friend I have is Liam while the other courtiers act like I don’t exist. When people start acting like you barely make an impact, you start to believe it.

But you make an effort to talk to me. You ask me to sit beside you at dinner, when you could just sit with Liam or Maxwell. Maybe it’s because you know I’ll be sat near the end of the table, talking to no one, while trying to work out which fork is the correct one to use. You pity me, that’s it.

Question: why are there so many forks?!

This whiskey tastes good. You know my dad always drank whiskey? That’s why I drink it. I guess it makes me feel sorta close to him if I drink his favourite tipple. Is that tragic? Whatever, I don’t care..

I’m thinking about you again, acting like you’re here. Why do I do this to myself? Why prolong the angsty torture?

Sometimes, I think I should just fuck a random girl and that’ll put aside any feelings I have for you. Kiara always seems keen, she flirts a lot, but I couldn’t bear the idea of leading her on. I may not have a lot of emotion but I’m not an asshole. I was raised right by my mom and I have a sister. I treat women with respect.

The thing is, no other woman really compares to you. You shine. You bring a little sparkle with you wherever you go and you just get on with it. You haven’t let this suitor competition intimidate you. Never played polo before? Fuck it, you’ll learn how. Never danced the Cordonian Waltz? Fuck it, you’ll constantly rehearse the steps until you get it right.

Which brings me to my next thing.

You’re trying so hard to be good at this competition which means you want to win. You want to win so you will marry Liam.

That’s the harsh reality I have to drill into my thick skull.

Fuck, I need another whiskey. There we go. Double measure, nice, nice, nice.

But we’ve shared moments together! We shared fucking whiskey in Olivia’s cellar. Now that was good fucking whiskey. We drank and talked and joked. For one time, my walls were down and you saw the real Drake Walker. You seemed to like me.

Then another other time, we went out for dinner! To an Italian restaurant! Like a date! Whyyyy? Why did I invite you out? It was like Lady and the Tramp. Except we’re not dogs and there was no accordion playing waiter or singing and we didn’t have the last string of spaghetti and I didn’t give you a meatball, but still, it was close. It was weirdly intimate.

Have you ever seen Lady and the Tramp? Those Siamese cats are fucking terrifying. Anyway… more whiskey please. It doesn’t seem to be working right now, why are you still in my fucking head? Get out of my head. Just once, I want you out of my head so I can get some sleep.

*************************************************

The whiskey is not working. I tried to sleep again but no, you keep running around in my head. All I see is you. Your smile. Your brown eyes with gold flecks. Your ass when you wear those jeans that shape you perfectly.

Damn, your ass.

I’m reaching for that whiskey bottle again. Another measure will do it; it’ll help me sleep. It burns my throat as I swallow, fiery medicine. The room is spinning a little which is a good sign because it means I’ll soon be close to blacking out. Every little helps.

Do you know I like you? I don’t think you do. I think I confuse you. One minute, I’m sarcastic and the next, I’m making a joke. Fucks sake, I call you by your last name all the time which you will definitely see as a slight. I don’t mean it; it’s the only way to keep you at arms length. If I say your name to your face, it means I’ve let you in. But I got no issue with saying your name right now.

Camille. Camille. Camille.

It sounds delicious on my tongue.

Drake and Camille.

No, stop it. This is the equivalent of writing your name paired with my last name on the back of a notebook like a school girl. And I, Drake Jackson Walker, am not a school girl. I am a 28 year old grown ass man with a potential drinking problem.

Camille Walker.

Jesus, I need more whiskey.

*************************************************************

Okay, so I’ll tell you about the dream I had last night. We were in bed together - no, not having sex - just in bed. Innocent. You were snuggled up into the crook of my arm and reading aloud from your book to me. I think it was a book of love poems. I can’t remember which poem it was, though I don’t actually know any poems so why am I wasting time trying to work out which poem you read out for me?

It was a cosy dream. It was a boring dream, yes, but it showed a snapshot of a life I guess I wouldn’t mind having? That make sense? That’s what I think these dreams are - they’re my subconscious showing me things I actually want but will never have.

So I guess you could call them nightmares.

***********************************************************

The whiskey is finally working. My eyes are struggling to stay open and my body feels heavy. I’m definitely gonna be hungover tomorrow. Fuck, what excruciating event has the palace planned for tomorrow?

Applewood.

Fuck, we’re visiting Applewood tomorrow. Fuck.

The mere thought of that makes me want to drink more. I hate having to travel to fancy manor houses with the rest of court. There’s rarely time to steal for yourself. You have to be social. You can’t hide. You have to engage in small talk and ignore every barbed comment, every tiny dig and act like nothing bothers you.

You’ve defended me to Olivia. I’ll never forget that. It was at Lythikos and Olivia was in a particularly bitchy mood. She brought up my sister and I walked out into the snow, not caring that it was rude. She went too far.

I heard you tell her that if she didn’t wipe the smirk off her face then you would smack it off for her. You then followed me out, bundled up in a scarf and coat. For thirty minutes, we talked. We lay on our backs in the snow, looking up at the meteor shower, and talked.

It would have been seen as a romantic moment for anyone. It was romantic. That was the beginning of my feelings you see; that was when I began to think that maybe, somehow, you cared for me. You even took my hand when we walked back to the lodge, saying it was for ‘safety.’

So why are you tryin’ so hard to win this contest? I can’t work you out.

All I want is to tell you that I like you. Like really like you. But I can’t afford to be vulnerable because no doubt you will be chosen by Liam and you will marry him. You don’t need to know my feelings. I wouldn’t burden you with them.

Fuck I’m not usually this angsty.

This is why I don’t talk to people or open up. Opening up is like opening Pandora’s box. I’d rather keep to myself, have no ties, no disappointment. Because, Camille, in the end, you will marry my best friend and I will have to deal with that. I’ll probably be best man at your wedding. I’ll have to say a speech about how good it is to see Liam in love. I’ll have to give some ‘funny’ anecdotes and then comment on how you’re too good for him but then I’ll laugh and say I’m kidding when really I fucking mean it.

Nah, I don’t mean that.

Fuck it, I do.

Whiskey. One more measure.

****************************************************************

If we got married, it would be in Texas. I’d take you back to the ranch and we would exchange vows on the jetty by the lake. It would be a small affair; like, thirty people maximum? We would have guests choose from whiskey or wine - no champagne, I hate the fucking stuff - and we’d play rock and roll music. I can totally see you getting down to Elvis.

We can’t go on together with suspicious minds and we can't build our dreams on suspicious minds…

My mom loves Polk Salad Annie. You could dance with her to that song and sing along. Then everyone would leave and it would just be us, dancing slowly by the lake. I dunno what our song would be. Maybe we would dance without music? Just listen to the sound of the crickets. Maybe I’d sing for you?

Fuck, I’m drunk. I never sing.

But then we would kiss and the kiss would turn into something more. I would help you out of your wedding dress, careful not to rip it, and I would take you in my arms and I’d make love to you right there by the water.

Jesus, that thought’s got me really hard.

***********************************************************

I needed that release.

It’s 3am now. I need to sleep. I need to just stop thinking about you. I need to stop drinking whiskey. I need to stop jerking myself off as I imagine you naked under me. Right, bed time. I’m gonna just close my eyes, count some sheep and I’ll be asleep before I know it.

*********************************************************

Can’t sleep. What a shocker.

Another measure of whiskey. Just keep em’ comin’ invisible bartender.

You know, your room is just down the hall. I could just go to your door, knock and tell you how I feel.

Yeah! Let’s fucking do it. Let’s tell you how I feel! Then I can come back here and get to sleep. And if you don’t feel the same, it’s cool because I can just say I was hammered (which I am FYI) and laugh it off.

Yeah, I’m going to your room. We gotta talk.

***********************************************************

Camille woke up to slow knocking on her door. Groaning, she rubbed her bleary eyes and checked the alarm clock on the bedside table.

3.30am. Who was at her door at this time? If it was Maxwell again coming to tell her his new book idea, he would have another thing coming.

She stumbled through the dark and unlocked her door to find Drake standing at the threshold.

Standing being a loose term. ‘Swaying’ seemed more apt. His eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed. His hair was ruffled and he was wearing a white t-shirt with check pyjama bottoms. He looked like he hadn’t had much sleep. He stank of whiskey.

‘Drake?’

He pushed past her and practically fell into the room. He nearly knocked over the bedside lamp and cursed as he managed to catch it. ‘Fuck, sorry..’

His voice was slurred. He turned to face her and Camille waited to see what he was going to say. Like, why was he here?

‘We gotta talk,’ he said, his voice thick. ‘Bout ‘portant stuff.’

Camille frowned. ‘Important stuff?’

Drake nodded furiously. ‘Very important stuff.’

Camille wrung her hands together. ‘You’ve been drinking,’ she said softly. ‘Maybe go to sleep? We can talk in the morning-’

‘NO WE TALK NOW!’ Drake hollered, exasperation flooding his voice. ‘Now! It’s important.’

Camille sighed. ‘Okay. What do you want to talk about?’

Drake looked like he was bracing himself. He raised a finger in the air, swaying like a palm tree in the breeze, and was about to speak when his face suddenly turned green and he dry heaved.

Camille was alert instantly. ‘Drake? You okay?’

Drake shook his head, clapping his hand to his mouth. ‘Gonna be sick..’

Camille opened the door to the en-suite and pulled Drake inside. He fell to his knees and positioned himself over the toilet bowl, emptying the contents of his stomach. His fingers clenched the toilet rim as he threw up.

Camille grabbed a flannel and poured it under the cold tap. Gently, she crouched down beside him and placed the flannel on his forehead that was beaded with sweat. ‘Shh Drake, it’s okay,’ she whispered, rubbing his back. She could feel his muscles tense as he heaved.

‘Oh god, this is embarrassing,’ Drake groaned, before vomiting again. Camille smiled despite herself and continued to rub his back.

‘We’ve all been there, Walker,’ she told him. ‘You’re human like the rest of us.’

Drake responded by throwing up again.

As she watched him, she felt that familiar sense of protectiveness for him. This was the Drake nobody else but her got to see. Granted, he was vomiting right now, but he was vulnerable. Why had he drank so much tonight? Why had he turned up at her door? What did he want to talk about?

Was it about their friendship, to give it a loose name?

Or did he know she liked him? Like, really liked him?

Did he know she thought about him all the time and wanted to quit the competition?

Or maybe he had just found a really good bottle of whiskey and had wanted to tell her.

Drake stopped throwing up and wiped his mouth with the flannel.

‘Sorry..’ he muttered.

‘It’s okay. Can you stand?’

Drake nodded and pulled himself up. He promptly fell against the sink, making Camille reach out to grab him.

‘Let’s get you to bed,’ she said, taking him by the arm. He leaned on her as she led him to her bed.

‘No no, not your bed!’ he protested. ‘No-’

‘I’m not sending you back to your room where you may vomit in your sleep,’ Camille interrupted. ‘You’re staying with me tonight and that’s final.’

Drake wrinkled his nose. ‘Jesus, Montespan, you’re bossy.’

*************************************************************************

Camille curled up on her side and closed her eyes. She felt Drake roll over and his arm went around her body, pulling her in close. The gesture was intimate and very un-Drakelike. Confused, Camille turned to ask him if he was feeling alright.

But he was asleep.

He looked content and untroubled and for that reason, Camille didn’t wake him. She rolled back over and let him spoon her, eventually falling asleep herself.

#drake walker #drake walker x mc #trr fanfic #the royal romance

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becksfm · 4 years

Text

hey CASEY “BECK” BECKHAM , welcome to dillon university . has anyone ever told you you’re GAVIN LEATHERWOOD’s twin ? no ? well okay , i heard you are TWENTY - TWO & a JUNIOR at the university . we hope BIOCHEMISTRY isn’t kicking your ass too much , especially since you’re a STUDENT PHYSICAL TRAINER . see you at the next game, BECK & character’s cismale + he/him .

it’s me & i’m here for round fuckin’ two , friends . this time i bring you resident GOLDEN BOY . . . a whole 6′1 of soft boy energy . . . floppy overgrown curls . . . king of talking - your - way - out - of - everything . . . retired hockey player . . . a man of Many Talents , of which the most astounding is his ability to look like he’s got it all together when , in fact , he does not ! under the cut , you’ll find a lil more about him . . . & if you wanna plot hmu @ 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣#9956 on discord or pop into my ims here !!

𝑩 𝑨 𝑪 𝑲 𝑮 𝑹 𝑶 𝑼 𝑵 𝑫 .

dillon , texas born & raised . on the outskirts of town is a ranch that is enough to house the beckham family: mom, dad, and all eight beckham children . beck is the second oldest , with one older sister , four younger sisters , and two younger brothers . . . not necessarily in that order .

mother , sophia mattheson - beckham is a lawyer based in austin working with the ACLU , and father , michael beckham has a small private practice in dillon working as a pediatrician . they weren’t home often , but when they were , they spent as much time with the kiddos as possible . it’s just . . . they were so rarely home that it really didn’t matter.

with the beckham name, though, comes the pressure to be SOMETHING GREAT , and that’s something that’s been a part of beck’s life since . . . he can remember . little league & kindergarten grades were always taken a little too seriously , and it didn’t help that his older sister was a shining example of perfection .

growing up it was hard not to like him. he was quiet for the most part , but goofy when he wasn’t . there was a little extra charm about him that just gave him an all around magnetic pull . kids wanted to be his friend and he wanted to be theirs . he fit in , but around home , he was the odd man out . beck was always a little more interested in sports rather than math or music rather than reading . it wasn’t to say he wasn’t smart , it just kind of –– bored him?? where his family was v

there was give and take with beck–– the golden boy of dillon but the black sheep of the family . he could play hockey if he kept his grades up. he could take guitar if he was also on student government and model u.n.. his parents would applaud him on his grades but never cared to hear him play; they’d show up for debates but rarely ever saw a hockey game. it was touch and go, his relationship with them, and it still is.

DESPITE IT ALL though, you wouldn’t catch him complaining. he bore the crown of homecoming king his senior year and never went to a dance without a date. teachers loved him, so did his coaches. he found a best friend in one cameron sloane –– ( because of course he did ) –– when the sloanes moved to dillon , and they were an unstoppable kind’a duo on and off the ice.

when it came time to pick a college, he really . . . had his pick of the lot. coulda gone anywhere, but there were roughly six reasons , all with the same last name , that kept him close to home. his parents even agreed that if he went in as pre-med, they would pay for the whole thing . . . and even make time to watch him play hockey.

things were good for a long while, until they weren’t. you can usually see the stars on the outskirts of dillon, but one night, his sophomore year, you couldn’t. storm clouds covered ‘em up, and he tried his damndest to get cameron to stick around a celebratory party until it passed, but sloanes are stubborn and there was no changing his mind.

cam passing away was like losing a brother, and he spent countless hours pacing in a hospital waiting room . . . hoping for good news and never getting it. beck had never known loss like that, and it knocked him into a bit of a tailspin . he quit hockey and didn’t register for school the next year . he spent a lot of time at a family residence in austin and even more time drinking . for the most part . . . he kind of DISAPPEARED , losing himself in the process for a good nine months.

they say it takes a village to raise a kid, and it took a village to drag this one out of a spiral. his parents. his siblings. his friends. and eventually . . . dillon’s football coaching staff. a loud knock on the door from coach buchanan and a swift kick in the ass from coach sloane, a man who knew the kid almost as well as he’d known his own son. come work for us, they told him . . . and it was a way to get him back on track under a watchful eye that. wasn’t quite as critical as his parents

so that’s where we are now . . . back at dillon, a year behind, and working with both the football and cheerleading team as a physical trainer, playing a heavy hand in making sure both teams are the best conditioned in the state of texas. his grades are looking up, and he’s still on the fast track for med school, much to his –– and his parents’s –– surprise.

the beckhams don’t talk about his little stint of a spiral. no one in dillon does . . . unless in tones of hushed whispers alongside judgmental looks. beck doesn’t mind it too much ,though . . . even takes it as a challenge

𝑷 𝑬 𝑹 𝑺 𝑶 𝑵 𝑨 𝑳 𝑰 𝑻 𝒀 . ( i’m getting tired so this gon be ugly )

you want inspo?? i’ll give ya inspo!! richard campbell gansey the third ( dick 3 babiiiie ) is my main inspo for beck. you’ll also find a lil bit of jim halpert, a lil bit of rob maclanahan from miracle ( even tho he w as a real person too shhh ), and *insert big eyed emoji here* grizz from the society

ever since he can remember, there’s been pressure on this kid to be something great . . . so he feels like if he has the capability to do something, he has to do it. . . there’s no choice in the matter. a lot of this stems. from his parents, but he’s also really just . . . overly critical of himself sometimes

boy is a fucking PARADOX okay bc sometimes . . . . with the way he talks. . . . he accidentally puts his damn foot in his mouth . he’s smart so occasionally comes off as condescending , but he’s . . . incredible in conversation with people he needs to impress because he’s hella charming

that said... this quote is REALLY important and REALLY summative of beck: “Gansey had always felt as if there were two of him: the Gansey who was in control, able to handle any situation, able to talk to anyone, and then, the other, more fragile Gansey, strung out and unsure, embarrassingly earnest, driven by naive longing.” –– let’s dive into that!! when he feels like he’s got a sense of control of the things around him, when he’s in his element or in his comfort zone, when he’s feeling confident , the boy is a force. he can talk you and anyone else out of any situation, and he has. he can make friends with anyone put in front of him, and he has. when beck is ON . . . he is on . . . but it’s a bit surface level because when he’s not wearing the crown of GOLDEN BOY and he’s . . . vulnerable . . . or unsure . . . or stressed . . . he tends to put that foot of his in his mouth and spit. out whatever it is he’s thinking. he’s honest to a fault in this sense, and he’s hopeful beyond compare.

an introvert. . . . can CHARM u but doesn’t want to because honestly that is so draining and he’d much rather be at home. the popular type but only has a few friends that are really really close to him

loyal to a fault . . . will give you 392847 chances that you don’t deserve .. fool me once shame on you ! fool me twice shame on me! fool me three time what the fuck bro now ur just taking advantage of me

very . .. calm and even tempered. he’s a mediating type and like . . would rather find a conflict resolution than sWING u feel me

he’s cute. .. . and. people love him but . . . despite it all, he really doesn’t let that go to his head?? the boy was raised to believe you had to earn things and he’s just. idk . . .. humble king

eloquent as fuck ( lol good luck @ me writing that shit )

quick witted and very sharp

probably a lawful good type ngl :\

Does Not Do Well.With Change. when his older sister left dillon to go to notre dame??? boy damn near blew a gasket how dARE SHE go that far away!!!

v close with his sibs . .. . activate Dad Mode. he loves all of them equally and definitely does not at all favor the 10 y/o baby brother of the family or his sister closest in age, who is also a student at dillon. doesn’t favor them ONE BIT

u want a vibe for the beckhams??? “ the beckhams were courtiers and kings . when there was no castle to invite them, they built one” ( we stan ONE weird author lady named maggie)

insomnia!! the boy nEVER SLEEPS1! always thinking. always planning what’s next. gotta go gotta go gotta go.

kind of .. . a hopeless romantic :\ dated the same girl for most of high school but when she fucked off to ole miss she broke up with him in a text. so that .. . . . .. went well for him ..... still a dumb bitch tho and would love to hold ur hand

wire rimmed glasses, wool sweaters, light colored hoodies, distressed denim, cuffed pants, :\ chelsea boots :\

phobia of bees. there’s literally no reason for this other than my own, personal, geeked out pleasure

prank king

Smart Jock Type

plays guitar to relieve stress and you bet baby’s got some pipes here u go

literally nothing like nicholas scratch DO NOT call him daddy

tall and doesn’t know what to do with all the extra limb like . . . . . the fuck

will push you to your personal best in any conditioning circumstance

okay I THINK THAT’S ALL . . .. i’m a big fan of basic plots that kinda ebb and flow with chemistry BUT!! gimme the basics man . . . a roommate . . . a past hookup or two . . . some spicy friendships or . . . fRENEMIES even u know the drill

ok that’s all i hope u love him bc i am v nervous about playing A Man buT IT IS WHAT IT IS U KNOW

#if this doesn't scream chaotic idk what does #friday:intro

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primeval-scion-of-the-mists · 4 years

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🖊🖊🖊 for whoever you want!

Thank you so much for the ask! Not sure if the three pens is just for fun or actually means three questions, so I’m gonna take it as three questions because I’m always looking for an excuse to ramble about my OCs hehe. This ended up being longer than I meant it to be but I hope you all enjoy! I certainly enjoyed writing it :D

Fact #1: In light of my sylvari headcanon post, I’ll talk about Noire’s thorns! In my headcanon post I mentioned thorns as something an angry sylvari can get, but that’s not quite the case for Noire. Noire’s thorns are more of a defensive thing. He was “raised” in the Nightmare Court, so he learned that he always has to be on the defensive to survive. His body translated this need to always feel like he’s prepared for danger into protective thorns. While he’s no longer in the Court and is much happier, he still has thorns since traumatic lessons like those don’t go away easily. His lifestyle doesn’t exactly help either since he often gets into danger.

Fact #2: For this one, I’ll talk about Arianr and Arawn’s color change! Originally, Arianr was more of a blue color and Arawn was red. That changed however after they died and came back (still working on the details of that, but basically it’s gotta do with the White Mantle, Margonites, and Dragon Scions). While in the Mists, Arianr encountered a mysterious dragon scion who referred to themselves simply as “The Voice of The Mists”. The Voice told Arianr her story does not end here and that they wish to help her on her Wyld Hunt (which is to stop a powerful evil sylvari, aka corrupted!Arawn but at this point she doesn’t know that’s who that is). It takes a bit of convincing until Arianr accepts since she believes her dearheart Arawn is dead and doesn’t want to live without him, but she finally does when she realizes it is her duty to see her Wyld Hunt through. The Voice then guides Arianr through the trials to resurrection. At the end when they finally reach the portal back to Tyria, the Voice blesses Arianr with their powers and forms a connection with her. It... wasn’t a fun process though. The Voice engulfed Arianr in a wave of magical water. Boiling magical water. This process is what stripped Arianr of most of her color as the water “boiled away her impurities”, as the Voice put it. When it was all over and the Voice’s power flowed through her, her glow color became a bright light blue and so did her eyes.

As for Arawn, his color comes from the corruption of the bloodstone and his own resurrection. When he died, he met a margonite named Azaroth who desired to become his Patron(what I call the legendary figures that the revenants summon). Like Arianr, Arawn refused since he didn’t want to live without his dearheart. Unfortunately, Azaroth wasn’t giving him a say in the matter. In the physical realm, the margonite’s White Mantle minions were busy imbuing Arawn’s body with bloodstone and readying a resurrection ritual. The combination of the bloodstone and the ritual turned his color to a dark purplish red akin to a rotting apple and changed his glow and eye colors to a bright red as the bloodstone’s power flowed through him.

Fact #3: Last fact! This time I’ll talk a bit about Morag’s past! People often think she will one day fall to the Nightmare because of her personality, but another big part of that is because she use to be very close with a couple of sylvari who ended up joining the Court. These sylvari were Eimear, Aoife, and Scathach. They were essentially a group of bullies who roamed around the Grove harassing people. At this time, Morag was still a sapling and Aoife(the ringleader) had been around longer than she had(not by much though) so she looked up to her and eagerly copied what she did to get her and her little gang’s approval. Over time, Morag ended up growing closer to Scathach rather than Aoife and began thinking of her as an older sister. One night, the two were hanging out when Scathach mentioned she had signed up to join the Order of Whispers and said she wanted Morag to join too. Scathach then confessed she hates Aoife and Eimear and only follows them around because Aoife is her twin and that she wishes better for Morag. At first Morag is hesitant to agree to join because she’s afraid of what Aoife and Eimear will do to her, but eventually she agrees and together the two become Order of Whispers initiates. Things go well until one day Aoife and Eimear show up and declare they’re going to join the Nightmare Court and they want Morag and Scathach to join too. To Morag’s horror, Scathach agrees and joins them. Outnumbered 3 to 1, Morag is about to give in when Scathach gives her a small shake of her head, silently telling her “don’t give in.” It’s around that same time when two other Whispers initiates come over to offer help, having noticed the distressed look on Morag’s face. Aoife tells them to buzz off, but they don’t and stand beside Morag, ready to defend her if necessary. Feeling braver, Morag declares she will not join them. Aoife is furious and is about ready to knock some “sense” into her, but Eimear cuts in and says not to waste her time on Morag, making Aoife reluctantly back off. The three courtiers-to-be leave, and as they do so, Scathach subtly looks back at Morag and gives her an apologetic look. When they’re gone, the two Initiates who stood up for Morag introduce themselves as Sila and Lorraine and invite her to hang out with them. Morag hesitates at first before accepting and the three become friends.

(For those curious about Scathach, it’s later revealed she joined the Nightmare Court to serve as an undercover agent for the Order of Whispers to help take down one of their larger camps)

#ask #primeval scion rambles #gw2 oc #sylvari oc #morag #noire #arianr #arawn #scathach #eimear #aoife

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