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rosieofcorona · 5 months

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A Summoning

ANGELS, I've returned to serve you domestic fluff with a side of holiday mischief. Professor! Gale and Dad! Gale are everything to me so I have wrapped them both up in this story with a little bow on top. Also on AO3 if you prefer. As always, thank you for reading. 💕

Winter brings many things to Waterdeep– the sort of darkness that seeps into every corner of the city, the sort of snow that falls as heavy as a shroud. It brings a season’s worth of holidays, and with them, all their customs, all their visitors called home from every region of Faerun. It bring gifts and songs and lanterns, lit and hung in every window, their light shining off the snow like grounded stars.

Best of all, winter brings them Arabella.

In the girl’s first year at Blackstaff, Tav insisted Gale invite her home at Midwinter break. After all, she'd pointed out, Gale knew firsthand what it was like to be alone in the dormitories when the other students had gone home. It would be better, they’d decided, to have her stay with them in the tower, where they could spoil her and cook for her and help her with her schoolwork.

And so it was.

That first Midwinter came and went, and so did Fey Day and Fleetswake and Midsummer, Stoneshar and Last Sheaf and Feast of the Moon. Every holiday they invited her, and every holiday she came.

By the time Midwinter arrived again, there was no discussion at all. Arabella simply appeared at their door on the last day of school, and was welcomed in just before dinner.

For the most part, her visits brim over with happiness. Gale teaches her the rules of lanceboard and all his favorite recipes, and Tav reads to her and shows her how to pluck out a tune on a lyre. When Tara and Morena come for tea, they tell her stories about Gale’s childhood that turn him varying shades of red, depending on how often he has scolded Arabella for similar behaviors. There is no shortage of laughter or mischief or very late nights, which means also no shortage of noise.

In the mornings, Gale rises ahead of the girls, gathers all his students’ papers and heads to the library to work in uninterrupted silence. If he is lucky, he can get through a good deal of marking before he starts to miss the tower, all its chaos and its company.

No luck today.

He’s only been there for an hour when a family passes by the nearest window, a flock of children shepherded by their parents. They all take turns at catching snowflakes, huge and fluffy, on their tongues, and fall apart in fits of laughter when they miss.

They grin and wave at Gale when they see him, their cheeks flushed and bright with cold, and he waves back, and packs his things, and goes home early.

*********

The tower seems, at first, exactly as he’d left it– silent, sleeping– But they must be up by now, he thinks. It’s late enough.

He might expect them in the solar or the kitchen or the parlor, warming up before the fireplace or hovering over a lanceboard, but there’s no seems to be no sign of them, no sound of them at all.

It is too quiet.

Gale takes the stairs two at a time and makes a beeline down the corridor to their chambers, worry rising in his chest. He nearly rushes past his study when a faint exchange of words drifts through the door, followed by a commotion– a flutter of paper, a rush of footsteps, something dragged across the floor.

He’s almost startled when he reaches for the handle and it opens. Tav is standing at the threshold, bright as ever, smiling wide.

Gale catches sight of Arabella in the background closing a book, setting it back down on his desk with a little thump . Its cover– or what he glimpses– looks familiar somehow, like something he’d studied long ago and has since forgotten. The memory hasn’t fully formed when Tav interrupts it, her lips pressed to his in her usual greeting. She tastes like holiday sweets, like honey cake and mint, like tradition and family and home.

“Hello, darling,” she says. “You’re home early.”

“Hello, you.”

The lingering taste of her is nearly enough to distract from his growing suspicion, but there’s something off about the room that he can’t quite place, something mischievous in the way she’s leaning against the doorframe, shifting her body, tilting her head to obscure his view.

“Am I interrupting?”

“Of course not,” she assures him, in a tone so light and easy it’s almost convincing. “Arabella and I have just been reviewing some of her lessons, isn’t that right?”

“Yep!” Arabella agrees, too enthusiastically for schoolwork. The girl comes to stand next to Tav in the doorway, her hands clasped politely before her. The picture of a well-behaved child.

He is certain they are up to something now.

“And which lessons might those be?”

They stumble over their answers, the words colliding, knocking heads.

“Evocation,” answers Tav, while Arabella says, “Illusion.”

A guilty look, quick as a hummingbird, flits between them and disappears.

Gale raises an eyebrow. “Care to try again?”

“Well,” Arabella swallows, “I was saying you’ve been teaching our class about familiars, and how you got Tara, and–”

“Hang on,” Gale interrupts, a realization creeping over him. He points past them to the desk, to the text that she had dropped when Tav opened the door. “Is that my book?”

“I think you’ll find they’re all your books, darling,” Tav says quickly. “Don’t worry, we’ll put them back–”

But it’s too late.

With a flick of his hand, Gale passes through them like mist and reappears in the room beside his desk. He flips open the front cover– Advanced Summoning, stamped in gilded letters– and turns to a bookmarked page of detailed instruction, his own notes scribbled in the margins in a child’s hand.

“You certainly will put this back,” he says firmly, facing Arabella. “This is magic beyond your years.”

“But you were younger than me when you summoned Tara!”

“‘Younger than I,’ and–��nevermind – you're right, but that was very different.”

Arabella wrinkles her nose indignantly. “How?”

“Well first of all, I didn’t need someone else’s private notes to do it. Now, if you’d like a book on familiars, I have a more appropriate one you can borrow–”He is moving in long strides toward the bookshelves on the opposite wall, crossing over the rug that’s been moved– It’s been moved? – to half-cover the summoning circle and–

Wait .

“Have–” he sputters, lifting his shoe off the chalky runes drawn on the hardwood. “Have you made a summoning circle ? In my study?”

“Well, not just me,” the girl protests. “Tav helped!”

“I did,” she cringes lightly, when Gale whips around to look at her. “I couldn’t let her do it on her own.”

“My love, she shouldn’t be doing it at all. This,” he says, turning back to Arabella, “Is complex and dangerous magic. One mistake and you might summon a pit fiend rather than a tressym.” “A very small pit fiend,” says Tav under her breath, but on seeing Gale’s scowl, adds, “Sorry.”

“ Gods,” he groans, dropping his face into his hands. “What am I going to do with the two of you?”

“Help us!” Arabella grins. “We were nearly done anyway.”

“We could use your expertise,” Tav murmurs, drawing close. “You’re the only one who’s done this before.”

He feels her soft hands on his, prying them from his eyes so gently that he almost forgives them right then and there.

“Pleeeease?” Arabella draws out the word like a sustained note. “I won’t ask for anything else all Midwinter.”

“Where on earth are you going to keep it, Arabella? They’ll never allow it in the dormitories, believe me.” The girls look first at each other, then back to Gale. “No,” he says firmly. “Absolutely not. It cannot live here.” “But I’m here all the time anyway!” Arabella protests. “I promise I’ll take good care of it. Besides, you’re always telling me I need to be more responsible.”

Gale sighs until it feels like all the air has left his body.

“And summoning a familiar is going to make you more responsible?” The child shrugs. “It might.”

It is all he can do not to laugh at that, at all of it, at the great karmic joke playing out in front of him. This must be what his mother felt like, all those many years ago. He thinks of writing her his most sincere apology.

After a great deal more sighing and shaking his head, Gale bends and tugs the rug away to reveal the extent of their work. He examines it deliberately, walking around and around, head bent, arms crossed, brow furrowed.

“Your runes are wrong,” he says at last. “Here,” he points, “and here. Let me show you.”

Arabella listens closely as he guides her through the process, far more closely than she listens in his class. She draws new runes in a steady hand, pausing each time for affirmation, and when she finishes Gale’s eyes are full of pride.

“The incantation now,” he nods, and stands and brushes the chalk from his knees.

He moves out of the circle entirely as Arabella takes the center, her command of the words unwavering and true. But for a long and silent moment, nothing happens. She looks from the circle to the book to Gale and back, her disappointment only tempered by confusion.

Then comes a sound like distant lightning, and a sizzling, crackling energy that makes the hair on all their arms stand up on end. A sphere of light appears above them, tears like parchment down the middle, and something tiny, something living tumbles straight into her arms. She nearly drops the book to catch it– a ball of fur with fledgling wings– and when she turns her eyes are bright with tears, a joy Gale still remembers.

#gale x tav #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #gale x fem! tav #professor dekarios #arabella bg3 #gale fluff #holiday fluff #domestic fluff #arabella being a regular in gale & tav's home is everything to me #my fic

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sky-scribbles · 7 months

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The Karlach/Gideon Nav comparisons have sunk deep into my brain at this point, so I think it's about time I laid out my Locked Tomb AU thoughts. Because there are some very fun necro & cavaliar pairings to find among the tadfools and their supporting cast:

For the Second House, we have an obvious cavalier: Lae'zel, trained for the frontlines since hatching, ready to march to war for her Emperor god-queen even if she doesn't know why. Her necromancer is harder to pin down - it could be Shadowheart for the Harrow and Gideon vibes, but I want to use Shadowheart elsewhere. Ghustil Sturnugoss could work, perhaps - until Lae'zel starts to see through the lies she's been raised on...

The Third House smacks of nobility and charm, so my gut says Wyll is our cavalier - yes, he's a spellcaster, but he's the Blade of Frontiers. He wields a rapier; he's Wyll, the protecor. He's asking to be a cavalier. As for his necromancer, the person he's bound to serve, to die for... well, I guess it has to be Mizora, who has plenty of Third charisma herself. Not all cavaliers serve willingly.

We have a much more stable duo for the Fourth: Isobel and Aylin! Isobel is a cleric, made for warding and guarding just like Isaac, and Aylin has a very Fourth House-esque tendency to, as Gideon put it 'charge in headfirst and get all crazy'.

The Fifth house are tricky. They're spirit-speakers, so Withers is the obvious choice, but who's his cavalier? An aged-up Arabella? But she feels more like a necromancer to me, so I landed on an alternative: put an actual spirit into the necromancer role, and make it Thaniel. And have his protector be Halsin, who could fill Magnus's surrogate dad role quite nicely. (Rumour has it that not only does Halsin the Fifth wield knuckle-knives, he carried two knuckles and has a tendency to chuck his rapier away and just slash at you like a bear.)

Gale 'which way to the nearest library?' Dekarios is just begging to be the necromancer of the Sixth House - he even has a House-esque surname, though we'd have to change it so he doesn't sound like he comes from some nonexistent Tenth House (Hekarios? Sextarios?) And if his cavalier is someone who'll remain at his side through thick and thin, protect him from the world and from himself... I guess I have no choice but to make Tara a tabaxi and give her a sword. She deserves it.

I confess to drawing a blank for a really fitting match for the Seventh, so for lack of a better place to put them, let's make it Jaheira and Minsc, since Minsc pretty much sees himself as her cavalier in canon anyway. I suppose if you spec Jaheira as a Spores druid, she does at least have the 'walking corpse' thing down.

The cavalier of the Eighth House is another forced into service: Astarion, serving his necromancer Cazador. He's been trained to be his necro's resource, not his equal; he exists for Cazador to draw on and suck dry. He owns nothing but his sword (and unlike Colum, he doesn't even have his honour; it was tortured out of him long ago.)

And finally, Shadowheart as the Ninth House necromancer - a young acolyte raised in an underground cloister among those who worship silence, darkness and loss; her own memory betraying her, loving her order despite the fact that it has broken her again and again. With her cavalier, Karlach, who just wants to get out of her indentured service already and to be given back her fucking longsword.

#bg3 #the locked tomb #tlt #tlt au #bg3 spoilers #this is very self-indulgent and i don't regret it #i doubt i'll ever write anything for this au but it's fun to kick around in my head

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ode-to-fury · 4 months

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Pure Gale Fluff

Gale/Tav

Ignore the layout of the tower mentioned here I tried to be as vague as possible but it doesnt make any sense🤷‍♀️. Also wizard magic=science rules right? That makes sense?? Does to me so there you go. I headcanon that Arabella Shadowheart and Astarion stay in Waterdeep for at least a few weeks before moving on to wherever they go next

I’m literally on a roll with these lol

The tower was warm against the chill outside when Gale got back from his errands in the city. It smelled of snow outside, and he smiled, happy to be home, at least before the flakes started falling.

Darkness was falling behind the clouds, and Tav had started a fire while he was gone, though she hadn’t closed the curtains, and soft light still filtered in through the windows, illuminating Tara’s curled up form in front of the fireplace, where she was snoring gently.

Tav herself was asleep on the couch in front of that same fire. She had taken it upon herself to slightly rearrange his library room, to make it more “homey” she said. He’d grumbled about it good naturedly, but in that moment he realised he’d let her rearrange anything she wanted if it meant he could come home to her, asleep in front of a fire like she was just then.

It had been… an adjustment, coming back to his tower. What he had thought would be a refuge against the world had turned out to be filled with less than pleasant memories of the time before their adventure.

Then we’ll make new memories, she’d said. New memories like coming home to her sleeping form after a cold day outside.

Golden brown hair spilled over an armrest, and a heavy leather tome was propped against her knees, arms crossed over her chest.

He walked over to her after depositing his packages, and almost reverantly bent down next to the couch. His fingers tangled in that silky golden hair even as he kissed her cheek softly.

She was awake immediately, he knew, because she was the lightest sleeper in the realms, but she kept her eyes closed stubbornly.

He grinned, and this time he kissed those wonderfull lips of hers. She grinned into it, and when he pulled away, stretched awake, almost catlike in her movements.

“Sorry,” she said quietly. “I was reading this horrible dissertation. Can you believe this man thinks that Melf’s third law of evocation is as he put it “a loosely connected string of words with no real meaning behind them”?”

Gale grinned.

“You don’t agree?”

“The third law is the only one that makes any sense to me, if I’m being completely honest.”

She smiled, her wonderful eyes twinkling with delight. Her hand cupped his cheek, callouses scraping over his beard in the most wonderful way.

“A few weeks ago you didn’t know Melf had any laws,” he murmured, grinning as he kissed her again.

“Well, now I do,” she said matter of factly. “And I’ve formed an opinion, based on my sorcerous expertise.”

“Ah,” he said, “of course. Though many powerful mages would agree that your opinion is wrong.”

Her fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, and she pulled him forward for another kiss.

“I don’t think you know what the word ‘opinion’ means, Gale Dekarios.”

He laughed, and her eyes twinkled in response, and for a moment the breath was knocked out of him. So much so that he had to sit back, away from her.

She frowned, sitting up, all traces of sleep gone from her eyes and demeanor, replaced by a worried frown, a tension that meant she was ready for a fight.

“Gale?” She asked, “What is it?”

What is it?

How could he explain it? How could he explain the feeling of coming home to a tower where a fire was already roaring against the chill outside? How could he explain the sight of his tressym companion curled up asleep without a worry in front of that fire? How could he explain the sight of her, asleep in front of that same fire, the feeling in his chest when he was allowed to kiss her into wakefulness and she did not jump up, scared, because she knew, finally, that she was safe with him? How could he explain the way he had someone to discuss Melf with, after years of just Tara? Someone who would argue back as an equal? How could he ever explain how her laughter felt like a balm to his heart? How could he ever explain exactly what she meant to him? Him, who could normally find words for anything.

“I- uhm,” he grinned slightly, “I don’t know if I could ever verbalise how much it means to have you here. With me.”

Her eyes softened, and she lay her head down on the couch again.

“You’ll find a way, I’m sure,” she said softly, her starlit eyes twinkling.

There was a yawn from the direction of the fireplace, and Tara stretched herself into wakefulness not unlike Tav had done only a few minutes before.

“Ah!” The tressym said, “Mr. Dekarios, thank goodness you’re back! I trust you brought me back some of those wonderful fishes from the market for dinner? I would have gone out earlier to hunt pidgeons, but I’m afraid the fire was much too comfortable.”

He reluctantly broke free of Tav’s soft gaze to turn to his tressym companion.

“Why of course, Tara my dear,” he said, getting up with a groan. His knees really did not agree with the cold.

“Would you like your share now, or would you like to wait while I cook for all three of us?”

“Just the three of us?” Tav asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“Yes, unfortunately,” he replied, walking down to the kitchen.

“Astarion and Arabella are still at the Yawning Portal, Arabella said she would keep him company until sundown. Shadowheart was ‘much too busy with Shieldmeet preparations to have dinner tonight’. So, just the three of us.”

He started charming spices and sauces from various shelves as Tara twisted herself between his legs in her age old ritual of welcome.

“I can’t decide,” Tav’s voice drifted down to him from the library. “Whether Astarion or Arabella is the worse influence.”

She appeared in the doorway, somehow managing to look put together with slightly mussed hair and dressed in one of his old sleep shirts.

“Now that is a question, isn’t it?”

She came up and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, her cheek resting against his back, and again he had to take a moment and compose himself.

“Personally I think they both bring out the worst in each other, although at least the vampire treats me with dignity when he is here,” Tara spoke up, hopping up onto the counter in front of him.

“Arabella’s still learning, Tara,” Tav said.

“Hmpf. Well. She’ll learn quickly enough why no one else yanks a tressym’s tail if she ever does it again.”

“So, Tara,” Gale said quickly, aware his companion’s temper could flare sometimes. “Fish now, or fish later?”

“I shall wait, Mr. Dekarios. I have manners. Besides, if I eat now I shall most certainly fall asleep, and then how will the two of you entertain yourselves?”

He could picture Tav’s mischievous smile as she said, “Oh, I can think of a few ways.”

He blushed slightly as she kissed the back of his neck, but thankfully, Tara had turned away to inspect the quality of the fish he had bought.

#bg3 #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #baldur’s gate 3 #gale bg3 #gale x tav #gale/tav #wildweave

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moriartyluver · 11 months

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FALSE LOVERS CHAPTER X

"I MUST ADMIT, my lady, you are possibly the calmest bride I have ever worked with," said the wedding stylist as she styled (name)'s hair. "Most brides would be panicking about..well..everything I suppose. It seems love really does conquer all, that is why you're so well composed, is it not?"

The day for the wedding had finally arrived and although (name) was very good at concealing her feelings, as usual, she was still incredibly nervous. The wedding of Lady (name) (last name) to Lord William James Moriarty was the most spoken one of the season. Most members of the ton could all agree that the couple seemed to not only look good together but also were incredibly in love. As soon as the engagement was announced, those who had known William and (name) during their university days had spoken of their apparently 'flirtatious' relationship in their youth and one of (name)'s university friends had even said they had a bet of £90 that the two would eventually be married.

The first half of the ceremony would take place first and then the reception would be held in the Grand Duke's large celebration hall. From what (name) had seen on the guest list, there were at least 500 people apart from the family attending the wedding. She had told Albert and William that she didn't wish for a large ceremony but it appeared that her parents had other plans. Many of the upper class members of (home country) had come to visit England just for the wedding and there was even going to be British royalty at the wedding.

"Indeed, although the butterflies in my stomach are certainly there, but thanks to my family and dear William, I have no reason to worry." (Name) smiled as she looked into her reflection. She was all dolled up in a grand wedding dress, one that could put even Queen Victorias wedding dress to shame. The dress was white but cultural aspects from (home country) were incorporated into the design. Once more, only the best for (name) (last name).

A woman with dirty blond hair and green eyes behind (name) let out a girlish squeal. "Is this not so incredibly exciting, (nickname)?" She placed her gloved hand to her cheek "how I wish to find love!"

"I'm sure you'll find someone by next season, Lady Arabella," said one of the bridesmaids to the head bridesmaid.

Arabella Sinclair was a fairly close friend of (name). They had met in university but Arabella had left university only a year in to study abroad in France. She was two years older than (name) but acted a lot more energetic than her and had quite the bubbly personality.

Of course they weren't as close as (name) and her close allies such as Josephine or William but she had the role of (name)'s closest friend in the nobility and was always there for good conversation when (name) needed it. She had requested that lady Sinclair become one of her bridesmaid and her head one at that. She was a trustworthy girl and although she hadn't known anything regarding (name)'s criminal double life, her family, lead by Viscount Sinclair, was one of those families that had received the remaining Ashfordshire maids.

"Miss Winchester is right," (name) said as she turned to face her bridesmaids, all dressed in (favourite colour) dresses. "I'm sure many men will come calling for you soon, bella!"

Once her hair was done, the stylist clasped a necklace around (name)'s neck. A (last name) family heirloom. Her mother and her grandmother and her great grandmother and their mothers had all worn this beautiful necklace at their weddings so it was only normal that (name) carry on the tradition. It was a strange reminder to her that she was no longer the young girl who would 'accidentally' lock herself in her family library for hours on end to isolate herself or spar with her father or take etiquette classes with her mother which usually ended with the two of them in tears of laughter. She was now a woman with greater responsibility, and that was indeed scary.

"Oh (name)? you're not worried about the wedding night, are you?" Asked a Lady Beatrice Harrington, the only married woman out of all three bridesmaids. "I promise you, dear, it's not as scary as our mamas make it out to be."

(Name) could instantly feel her face heat up. Her throat grew dry and she could see Josephine, who was wearing a maid uniform with a (favourite colour) flower in her hair, giggling in the corner at her lady's now cracking facade. She was a lot more concerned about having to kiss William in front of everyone and would have at least appreciated a chance to practice before hand.

"You do know what happens on the wedding night, do you not?" The noir-ette asked with concern. It wouldn't be much of a surprise considering almost everything was taboo in such an era but a woman like (name) surely would have had some knowledge on the subject.

(Name) nodded furiously as the stylist attempted to reapply rouge onto her face although it seemed she didn't recall toy need it. "Of course I do! I have read enough fiction books to—"

"(Name), dear?" Her mother called out to her as she opened the door. The stylist had finally finished with (name)'s makeup and she was ready to leave to become 'lady Moriarty' soon. "your due to walk down the aisle any minute now."

"Ladies, please slow me some privacy whilst we speak," (name) said as everyone left.

(Mothers name) approached her daughter and rested her hand on her shoulder. "Being nervous is completely normal, (name). I did tell your father not to invite so many people but he insisted on showing off his precious daughter to as many people as possible..." she trailed off, and expression of concern evident on her elegant face. "Remember, as much as I approve of Lord William, as does your father, if he attempts to do anything you wish not to..well we didn't train you in various forms of combat for nothing, dearest."

"I'll be fine, mother...I just.." she struggled to find the words. "I'm afraid of..well..being regretful I suppose.."

The grand duchess looked at her daughter skeptically. "If you really love him, you won't regret anything. After our little meeting with the boy and you went aside, I could clearly see how you loved each other in your own way. Please don't feel like you have to pretended to be a certain way just for our sake, (name)." The older woman kneeled down to face her daughter "I was once like you, a girl who never thought I could love. It seemed impossible but once I had met your father..things changed. One thing you can count on is that hearts can change, and there is no shame in having your heart change." She said as she pointed to (name)'s chest where her heart would be. "Of course you dislike the feeling at first, and you try to excuse that feeling of love as hatred. But the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference..You seem to have struggled with emotional vulnerability since your brother —"

The grand duchess paused as if she felt she had said something wrong, noticing her daughter momentarily freeze up "I'll make you late to your own wedding. Come along so your father can walk you down the aisle."

"Yes mother," (name) smiled as she leaned forwards to hug (mothers name) briefly "thank you"

As The Grand Duke took his daughter on his arm and walked her down the aisle with her bridesmaids trailing behind her, he seemed to be tearing up. Her father was possibly the most emotional out of herself and the grand duke and duchess. Her mother had a rare but completely genuine smile on her face as she sat by the side. William was stood by the alter with Albert stood behind him as his best man and Louis stood beside the brunette.

"Do you, (name) (last name), take William James Moriarty as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do..?" (Name) said, although it sounded slightly unsure as she slid William's wedding ring onto his finger.

William smiled as he watched (name) avert her gaze. She had looked completely beautiful as she walked down the aisle. Indeed the dress was gorgeous but the woman wearing it had incomparable beauty, superior to that of angels. Not only did her countenance exude an air of absolute elegance, but she had seemed, although nervous, genuinely content even though the marriage was certainly not one done out of the love they had pretended to have.

"William James Moriarty, do you take (name) (last name) to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

He slid the wedding ring onto (name)'s finger "I do." William answered with a smile, lifting up the veil over (name)'s face slowly which was the only shield to hide her flushed face and now was gone, leaving her feeling vulnerable.

(Name) turned her head slightly to see her parents who were smiling at her, and her father seemed to crying out of joy, blowing his nose as her mother consoled him.

"You may now kiss the bride"

And with that, William gently lifted up (name)'s chin so she was now facing him, multiple nervous trains of thought running through her mind. This was not her first kiss, but all the others were meaningless methods of seduction as were all her previous intimate interactions with men, however this kiss was with William, and that instantly created an attached meaning to it that (name) would rather not face.

"Keep calm, my love, follow my lead.." William whispered against (name)'s lips before pressing them together and shutting his eyes, cupping her cheek softly and shielding the sight with his hand as the crowd of nobles cheered.

(Name) felt her entire body freeze up and then melt under her now husband's gentle touch, closing her eyes with him. Just as their lips were about to part and only rested against each other, william leaned in once more with parted lips to kiss (name) again, this time a lot more passionately than the first.

Eventually, william pulled away, took (name)'s hand in his own and raised it up to his lips to kiss before taking it in his and walked back down the aisle with his newly wedded bride into the carriage to take them to the reception.

The reception was very typical for one of the era. There was a banquet and the wedding cake, which was quite tall and the details were very intricate and once the ceremony was over and (name) had thrown the bouquet, which had coincidentally landed in the arms of a certain Lady Arabella Sinclair. (Name) had acted as ladylike as possible, speaking to guests from both the country she currently resided aswell as the one she was raised in, although the greetings seemed to have been prolonged and it seemed the noble lady was attempting to make the reception last longer than it should have been as if she wished for the day to never end.

(Name) had danced with her father, who was in complete tears after the wedding, sobbing about how much his little girl had grown and how proud he was of her. It was strange to think that this same man was renowned for his strength in battles and his ruthless strategic capabilities.

"I know I've said this already, (name), but I really cannot believe how much you've grown and matured so well in my absence" Her father said to her after wiping his tears away

(Name) chuckled as the grand duke had spun her around "do you remember when you were teaching me to dance when I was but a little girl? you would twirl me around like a whirlwind."

"Ah, my dear (name), those were the days..!" (Father's name) smiled as he moved in sync with his daughter "You had the grace of a swan even then, and I tried my best to keep up with your boundless energy, so much so that your mother had to act as my second whenever I would feel too tired to continue."

A melancholic smile made its way onto (name)'s face as she remembered her fond childhood memories. "I recall the time we attempted the quadrille and ended up a tangled mess of feet. We laughed so hard, we had tears streaming down our faces. Poor mother had to help us regain our composure."

"We were a sight to behold, sweet (name)! No dancer could ever match our expertise!" The grand duke laughed as the orchestral music slowly came to a halt. The two paused and bowed there head to one another. "Promise to visit often?"

"I have never broken a promise, Father." (Name) said as he painted a kiss on her forehead as the melancholic melody of a piano slowly stopped echoing throughout the opulent ballroom.

The newly weds had ended the night with a dance and a short speech from Albert, which wasn't actually as fabricated as (name) had initially assumed it would have been. He had spoken of his observations of the two and although he lied about them seeming like a match made in heaven, it was still fairly accurate.

Eventually the time had come for (name) and William to enter their horse drawn white wedding carriage to take them on a short journey away from the (last name) ballroom, which was unattached to their large family manor in England, to sleep in their designated room.

Once they had entered, (name) had noticed the door had been locked after them and looked at william, who was about to enter the dressing room attached.

(Name) coughed, trying to appear less awkward than she really felt as she watched William pause. "Ahem..are we not meant to.." she looked away, clearly embarrassed "nevermind —"

"There wasn't anything in the contract about consummating the marriage," the blonde said as her approached (name), leaning against the wall beside her, holding her face in his hands "but of course, if you wish to do so, I wouldn't object. As long as you are the one to initiate such intimate activities..~"

The flushed bride moved away out of reflex and stuttered out a "Ha- No way..!!"

William replied with a gentle smile and left to get changed into his pyjamas while (name) attempted to remove her many accessories and put them away. Once it was her turn to get dressed, she had faced a terrible struggle.

The zipper on her dress wasn't working.

(Name) kept tugging at it, but suddenly tripped on the trail of her wedding dress and tripped over, falling to the ground.

Thud

A knock came from the other side of the door "(Name)? Are you alright? I heard a thud-"

"Get this damn dress off of me." William heard his wife grumble from the other side of the door.

A pale hand reached down to the doorknob and opened the door slowly, covering his eyes with hand as he walked into the room.

"You can take you hand off your face, I'm fully clothed." (Name) said. William did as she said and saw her lying on the floor, her hair disheveled and in quite the tangle, as if she were trying to fight the dress whilst it was still on her.

Once she was helped up and untangled by her husband, William unzipped the dress and undid (name)'s corset. Her heart was thumping so loud and her face felt so warm she had hoped he wouldn't notice. Of course, the blond has seen through her instantly and instead of acting how a gentleman should have, he found it would be amusing to rile her up even more, causing him to place a kiss to her nape.

Chu

(Name) twisted around to face him, clutching her dress to her chest dearly. "What the-" she glared "what in God's name was that for?!" William laughed softly.

"My apologies, dearest," he said as he ran his fingers through her disheveled hair "where did you place your nightgown?"

"You don't need to help me get dressed, I'm perfectly fine now, you may leave." She said as she glanced at the little garment bag hanging by the side.

William nodded and left to sleep. The two were only to sleep here for the night, as the first night of the honeymoon, and then board a ship to (home country) to leave with (name)'s parents to stay for a week before returning to London where (name) would move into the Moriarty Manor and live with William and his brothers, louis and Albert (along with Josephine who (name) couldn't dream of leaving behind to stay working for the Marquis)

They had chosen to have the wedding in summer, which had now proven to be not the best idea considering britain had all of a sudden chosen to have correctly corresponding weather to the season but at least the room had good ventilation.

"This nightgown is incredibly thin..although I suppose it is suitable for the climate I can't help but feel.."(name) trailed off as she walked towards the 4 poster bed "It's rather revealing isn't it, william?"

Red eyes looked up and down her figure. She was right. It was rather revealing, after all, it was 'wedding night attire' although not so revealing it would cause (name) to feel too uncomfortable in wearing it around her 'husband'. The gown was made of a silky like material and somewhat translucent although nothing indecent was exposed. It was also quite short so that it the gown had ended at her thigh and the top half was certainly..something. He had to admit, it looked just as beautiful as her wedding dress did on her.

"Is this your attempt at seducing me?" William asked, his voice low and sultry, (name) could have easily accused him of the same thing.

(Name)'s face flushed as she wrapped her arms around her chest "No..! I swear I didn't have any u-ulterior motives!"

William let out a soft chuckle which soon erupted into hushed laughter. His wife repeatedly asked him what he was laughing at and he finally replied as he wiped a tear away from his eye from laughing so hard " Ah, I’m sorry, darling. Were there no other nightgowns available?"

"This is a guest room so it holds none of my personal belongings, and the other options were a lot more..." she explained, her implications as clear as she could make them. "Now that you mention it though, I could always wear a robe or something of the sort over it.."

William watched as his wife climbed into the large bed with him. (Name) had specifically requested it to be so that her then husband to be would be comfortable sleeping beside her. "Nonsense, it's much too warm for that.”

“You only say that because the only country you’ve ever been is England and you have yet to face the heat that many of the countries I have visited,” (name) retorted “I’ll be perfectly fine.”

(Name) was about to get up and find a bathrobe to wear over her ‘nightgown’ only to feel william’s hand wrapping around her wrist and pulling her down onto the bed. He let go and unbuttoned his shirt as (eye colour) eyes widened in surprise.

“H-Hey I thought you said I had to initiate it..?” (Name) said as she averted her gaze, trying not to let her eyes wander.

Instead of pinning her down to the bed or kissing her like (name) had read a man would likely do, William handed her his nightshirt and as expected for the weather, was not wearing anything beneath it.

“You can wear this over it.” He said as (name) looked at him hesitantly, attempting to maintain eye contact.

She nodded and slipped the shirt on, laying back on the bed then propping herself up with her elbows. She took three of the many pillows on the bed as William tried to lie beside her and put them as a barrier between the two. “That’s your side and this is my side. If you cross the barrier I’ve set between us..I’ll…I’ll bite you..!”

“Depending on where you bite me, I wouldn’t mind” (name) instantly threw a pillow at his smug face.

After laying in bed for what had seemed like hours, (name) eventually got up to get some fresh air. The summer air had certainly gotten to her and the pillow barrier she had set up had long fallen apart. She looked over to see William to see if he was still awake or not.

“Fast asleep..lucky man..” she whispered as she brushed a strand of hair away from his face.

She turned to face the balcony doors, which were shut but the curtains surrounding them had not been drawn, allowing (name) to see the ethereal moon casting its silvery glow upon the tranquil countryside that the family manor was in.

As she was about to open the door to enter it, she felt a hand grasp at her nightgown. The (hair colour)-ette turned around to see her tired husband rubbing his eyes.

“(Name)…where are you going..?” He said in a groggy, tired voice “..stay..stay with me..”

The woman in question pried his hand off of her and smiled. “I’m just going to get some fresh air out on the balcony. I’m not leaving this room, don’t fret.”

“I’m coming with you,” he said, his voice now sounding a little less like a whining plea as he sat up and then stood up beside (name), who looked away once more.

Once they had sat at the balcony, (name) took the shirt and handed it to William again. “What's this for?" He asked, still evidently tired

(Name) thrust the crumpled shirt at him "Wear it."

"But I gave it to you"

"And now I'm giving it back." She said, glad the darkness of the night prevented William from seeing how truly embarrassed she felt. "Besides, I can't talk to you properly when you're topless. Is this your strange attempt at showing your muscles off to me?"

William let out a chuckle and gestured to his torso "Believe me ,dear (name), there isn't much muscle to show off"

"There's nothing wrong with that. In fact I would much prefer lean and slim to muscular and large." (Name) said looking him up and down. He was more slim than muscular but I here was a slight outline of abs on his stomach , although she hadn't realised what she had said until afterwards when William let out another teasing remark

"So you're saying that you find me attractive...?~"

She didn't say anything.

"Why couldn't you sleep?"

(Name) sighed and looked up at the stars, watching for any constellations. She pointed up at the sky "look, it's Cepheus.."

William looked up too, spotting another constellation besides it "and so is Cassiopeia.."

(Name) finally spoke up and answered William's question. "I was just overthinking, nothing new to me..I struggle with sleeping quite a bit anyways..it must have been too warm."

"I understand. I have a strange habit of falling asleep at various times during the day due to overexertion." William said, fidgeting with the crumpled shirt.

"You do? So do I..!" (Name) exclaimed with a smile "I suppose we have something in common then."

"Indeed we do.." William continued watching the sky then turned to look at (name) for a minute or two before speaking once more, ending the comfortable silence "the moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?"

"It's covered by clouds..and it's not that clear as it was earlier when you were still asleep, but in theory, you're right.." (name) said as she looked up, unaware of William watching her with a soft gaze.

The two continued to watch the sky in silence, until (name) yawned. She laughed slightly as she whispered a 'pardon me'.

"Are you finally feeling tired, love?" Her husband asked with a teasing grin

(Name) nodded "Don't call me-" she yawned again. "I was beginning to feel as though I would be awake forever. The fresh air really did seem to have helped."

William held his hand out to her which she took with ease as he guided them back to their shared bed. Once they had got back under the bedsheets, the blond had noticed (name) was clutching a pillow as she shit her eyes whilst she tried to drift to sleep.

"Why are you holding that pillow as if it were a real person?" He asked, turning over on his side to face her back.

(Name) turned around so they were now looking at one another. "It's cold, and holding something always helps me sleep."

"You can hold me." William said, trying to appear as confident as possible despite his heart thumping against his chest. He reached over for the pillow in her arms and tossed it aside. (Name) rolled her eyes and glared at him

"You're getting bold." She said, awkwardly wrapping her arms around his torso and resting her head against his chest, keeping her eyes shut as if she were trying to avoid temptation.

A pale hand snaked around her waist as they embraced one another. Within seconds, William could see (name) now sleeping soundly in his arms, right before he did the same and shut his eyes to sleep.

“Good night, my love.”

A/N: Hey fl what were those books you were reading???🤨🤨Also can someone get the astronomy and moon reference (including the cloud bit) please and thank you. Finally got the long-awaited wedding chapter. Also little insight to fl backstory in her mothers monologue. Fl be like “I hate William 😡” and then cuddles with him while he’s shirtless. We're gonna have a little time skip next chapter and then move onto the main plot. With that, Act I is over! Thank you all for your support, it's very much appreciated. Bye byeee

#—false lovers 💋#Moriarty the patriot #William James Moriarty #William moriarty #William moriarty x reader #William James Moriarty x reader #mtp #mtp William #ynm #yuumori #yuukokunomoriarty #Moriarty the patriot x reader #mtp x reader #yuumori x reader #yuukoku no moriarty x reader #yuukoku no moriarty #liam moriarty

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ofliterarynature · 4 months

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#books #booklr #polls #bec posts #honestly I’m leaning renegades simply bc I have all three and they’re massive and I want them off my shelf lol #I’ll probably do a kids series not listed after this

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fictionadventurer · 10 months

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Reasons to read The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower

They're written in the style of the great light classic novels. The promo material says people have compared them to Austen, L.M. Montgomery and Jean Webster, and they're right, though the strongest comparisons I see are Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and Georgette Heyer.

They're (as the title indicates) presented as a series of journals by Emma M. Lion, a twenty(?) year old orphan who has recently come to live at Lapis Lazuli House in the quirky London neighborhood of St. Crispian's where she meets all kinds of colorful characters and gets into wild scrapes.

So far, there are six books in the series, with a seventh on the way, and a plan to have lots and lots more. Each book covers two months and kind of reads like episodes of a television show or an ongoing serial.

And that's basically all I knew before starting, and part of the joy of this series is uncovering the surprises along the way, so if you don't want to read any further, that's okay, but I'm still going to talk about more details under the cut.

More Plot Details

Lapis Lazuli House is technically Emma's, because it's been willed to her, along with a living that should allow her to live at a modest but respectable level of comfort. Unfortunately, she hasn't reached her majority yet, and for now, the house comes with a horrid Cousin Archibald who resents Emma after the incident that gave him The Scar, so he forces her to live in a garret bedroom and refuses to provide her allowance. Emma's money troubles have a lot of twists and turns that lead to lots of different adventures that I won't spoil here.

Emma has an ongoing quest to build up her personal library. She had to sell off her father's books to pay for her education, and she can't use libraries because she wants to scribble in her books, so getting books is VERY important. (As all the best people understand). She's constantly engaging with different books, and adding books to her library provides some of the best moments of the series. (Each volume ends with a list of the books Emma now owns).

Those are the biggest (and least spoilery) overarching plot points of the series, but the true draw is Emma's interaction with

The Characters

Emma interacts with a sprawling cast of oddballs, including:

Cousin Archibald, previously mentioned Horrid Person, obsessed with clothes and with assuming Emma is the Personification of All Evil

Arabella, her beautiful, wealthy cousin who is expected to make a good match in The Season

Aunt Eugenia, her wealthy aunt who talks exactly like Wilde's Lady Bracknell, and who recruits Emma to attend high society social events as The Foil to make Arabella look good in comparison

Mary, a School Chum who makes a living as a typist

Jack, the con man Mary has hired to pretend to be her cousin so she can get free time away from her strict "respectable" boarding house

Young Hawkes, the handsome, fashionable, mysterious vicar who spends half his sermons reading poetry

The Redoubtable Ten, a group of Hawkes' rowdy Cambridge buddies (Hawkes is technically the tenth) who heckle him during most of his sermons and admire Emma for getting into scrapes even wilder than their own

The Tenant, also known as Niall Pierce, who rents the garret on the other side of Emma's bedroom wall. They pass notes through a crack in the wall and share a cat. He has a mysterious past, which includes years living in America even though he is Not An American.

The Duke of Islington, St. Crispian's only resident nobleman, who is Very Proper and Disapproves of Emma's wilder scrapes, but who secretly has a very poetic soul

Roland Sutherland, Emma's childhood nemesis who has grown up into a handsome, charming, and wealthy Sun God

Saffronia March, a thirty-something spinster artist who knew Emma's parents and brings Emma in contact with the art world

Mrs. Penury, the wife of Emma's banker, who hasn't spoken for ten years because she decided she had said everything she wanted to say

The other draw of the series is

St. Crispian's

A quirky London neighborhood with many oddball traditions and magical-realism happenings.

There's an ancient Roman ghost that the inhabitants are very fond of.

A yearly tradition of a highly-competitive scavenger hunt to score tickets to the local production of Julius Caesar.

A phenomenon where items go "wandering" from houses, only to be found in random places in the neighborhood (and a local cafe where people can bring found items to be picked up).

Among many others

All these oddities are presented as a normal part of life, no matter how strange outsiders might find them. Though, be warned, St. Crispian's is very fond of its traditions, and its odd rules can cause problems.

Other Thoughts

This series strings you along with book after book of Witty Banter and Silly Misadventures, until suddenly it sucker-punches you with moments of Sadness and Deep Emotions

These characters, even when they're comic archetypes, have deeper layers of complexity and history.

Emma's friendships, especially with the men of her neighborhood, develop into really strong bonds.

There are threads of romance, but they're overshadowed by the platonic relationships.

They take place in what's supposed to be 1883, and take advantage of some actual historical events, but it mostly feels like a light history-flavored fantasy because people don't really act much like historical people. Like, the amount of time that Emma spends alone in the company of unmarried men late at night is scandalous. But it's okay, because you don't expect realism here any more than you expect realism from P.G. Wodehouse.

Aside from some mild cursing from one character (and the stuff in the next bullet point) there's literally no objectionable content in this series.

The series has a really weird relationship with spirituality. Characters are technically Christian, but they take it casually and don't seem to know much about their faith. Hawkes is the Worst Vicar Ever who doesn't give any actual Christian advice (I'm still waiting for a reveal that he's not a real vicar). The magical realism parts are taken more seriously than actual religion. Yet there are some parts that do interact with actual Christian ideas. I'm not crazy about it, which you'd think would be a reason not to recommend it, but I don't think it overrides the good parts of the series, and I need to discuss it with someone, because it's an issue with a lot to explore.

These are some of my favorite books I've read this year, with several of my favorite characters and moments, and I need to have someone to talk to about them.

#books #the unselected journals of emma m. lion

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weemsfreak · 1 year

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The Board Pt 3: Trivia

Tw: smoking cigarettes? Alcohol consumption

Note: Apologies if any language is wrong, I only speak english :( ~3000 words

Pt 2: The Woman

Thursday, a pleasant September day. You loved this month and the next, you loved the fall. You woke up rather late, though it didn't matter much as everyone would already be in Jericho. You were kind of excited to explore Nevermore with nobody else around, no interruptions. Playing Arabella by Arctic Monkeys and throwing on a black tight fitting dress with a corset, you were feeling rather feminine today, as opposed to how you felt yesterday. You found yourself in the library, wanting to read every single book on the shelves. You did that at your old school in Italy, but the library there was maybe half the size of this one. Making your way to the Botany classroom, Sciences, English, History, Math, Fencing, and electives within the school, you found everything up to standard and nothing that the school could be written up for. Heading down to the main entrance, you realized there were many ways to get outside. Taking a minute to remember the school map in your head, you went outside into the quad. A large statue of Edgar Allan Poe was found down a somewhat lit alleyway. "Hm, fitting" you said to yourself. Looking it over, you read the book held in the statues hand. "The opposite of moon, a world between ours, two months before June, what kind of poem is this Edgar?" You kept reading and realized that it must be a riddle. Writing the answers down in your phone, you stared at the words. Your stomach growled, and you figured you would make your way to meal hall.

Sitting down with a salad and cookie, you kept thinking about the riddle, if it even was one. After eating, you looked around, trying to find something else to do for the day. Just then you thought, acrostic. You looked to the words in your phone and realized as an acrostic poem, it would spell 'snap twice'. Finding your way back to the statue you stood in front of it. Was this just a poem? What if you snapped and nothing happened? Remembering nobody was around, you picked up your hand and snapped twice, loudly. The statue opened slowly, and you walked down some creepy stairs. The room that you thought would be a dirty old cellar was filled with more books and old photos. There was an old fencing photograph, and a photograph of Morticia Frump and Gomez Addams, whoever they were. A photo of Cousin It was on the wall too, you knew who that was. You opened a few books, observing the same symbol on each. After looking through most of the room, you concluded that there was a group called the 'Nightshades'. Was this group still a thing, or was it old? The board couldn't already know about this, or you would've been instructed to check it out. It also wasn't on the school map. Taking a few photos with your phone, you went back upstairs and into the main part of the school. You were happy that Larissa was so on top of everything around here, and that you found nothing that the school could be written up for, until this.

You stepped out of the front doors, nobody was around. You pulled a pack of cigarettes from your bag, another bad habit. Well, I guess you can't quit them all at once. Lighting it, you walked along the main entrance grass and found yourself standing among some interesting flowers. Sitting down, you observed the types of flowers that you haven't seen before. You took in the slightly chilly atmosphere. You didn't like it when it was hot and sunny anyway, so you were content for awhile. As you pulled out and lit another cigarette, you heard a door behind you slam and you turned around quickly, till sitting down. Principal Weems, what was she doing back? She caught you in the flowers and started towards you. You felt like the student now, doing something you weren't supposed to be doing. Panicking, you went to throw your cigarette away, but remembered you were in a garden, so you held onto it. "Good afternoon Mx. Ricci, smoking in the flowers I see" she said with a grin and tilt of her head. Your mind was somewhere else, busy thinking about the way she walked, like a model would. How she wore heels even though she was always on the go, and even though she was already so tall. How the scarf she wore around her done up hair today looked so good on her, even though in general you hated that style. Standing up you carefully walked out of the flowers to her. "Yes, a bad coping mechanism I wish to quit actually" you spoke with fake confidence. "What, admiring the pretty flowers?" she laughed which in turn made you laugh louder. Most people wouldn't normally find this funny, but you loved the middle age woman's sense of humor. "Oh yes, my bad habit of admiring flowers always gets the best of me. How is Jericho treating the students today?" She started walking toward the school, so you followed. "Very good actually, I am pleased as they seem interested and eager. Perhaps they don’t get out much" she turns and smiles at you. "I am grabbing something from my office, then going back to round them up for dinner. Would you like to come for the drive?" Pondering, you remembered the nightshades library. You weren't sure you wanted to bring that up honestly, but you had to have an answer for anything questionable for the board. "Yes, I would love to accompany you."

On the drive to Jericho, Larissa asked you about yourself. She asked about where you lived, if you had a partner, and if your first name meant anything. "Yes actually, Anura means a few things in Sanskrit origin, but mainly it means 'knowledge'." She looked at you, pleased with your response. "So, are you knowledgeable?" she questioned. You smiled, knowing she would have figured out your ability sooner or later. "Extremely. Actually, I'm the most knowledgeable person I know, and I don't care if that makes me sound cocky. Try me" you quipped, proud of your ability. She laughed and thought for a moment. "Well, tonight the staff from Nevermore are going to Trivia in Jericho, would you like to come? If you do though, you must be on my team, it's the rules." You got excited, trivia was your favorite because you ALWAYS won. "Bet, can't wait" you said, turning toward the window as she pulled into the town.

You found yourself in the Weathervane again while waiting for Larissa to round up the kids. You were thinking about ordering a tea when a short red head walked in and up to the counter. "Good afternoon, can I have a matcha latte please" she said with a bubbly smile, then paid and turned to wait. She saw you looking at her, she didn't recognize you and wasn't aware of what you thought about outcasts. Not that she was one, but she worked at the school. Walking over to her you introduced yourself and held out your hand. "Hi, I'm Anura Ricci, from the outcast school board." She took it and smiled, "Marilyn Thornhill, botany teacher at Nevermore." Just as her drink was served to her, Larissa walked in and over to you both. "Ah Mx. Ricci, I see you have met Ms. Thornhill" you shook your head yes and Marilyn turned to look at Larissa. "I didn't know we were getting a visit from the board so soon" she said worriedly. Why is everyone so worried around here, you weren't mean, you didn't think. "Don’t worry Marilyn, Anura is very friendly. I asked her to join us at trivia tonight, hopefully we will get to know her a bit better!" she looked excited for tonight. You smiled, happy that she seemed happy, but caught something. "I'm excited for tonight! Um- I thought I would let you both know, if you're okay with it, I like to use they/them pronouns." You looked at Larissa as her smile dropped. Shit, they weren't woke you guessed. Her face changed to worry as she hurried and said "Oh Anura I'm so sorry, I didn’t even think to ask. Of course darling, that's perfect with us." Marilyn then left to go back to the school with the students. Turning to you, Larissa asked if you want to sit for a bit. "Yes, I actually wanted to talk to you about something" you said as you saw her real smile convert to her fake one. "Yes of course dear. You should try the hot chocolate, it's really good."

Telling Larissa you didn't like hot chocolate probably wasn't the best idea before bringing this up. She quite obviously loved it, considering the faces she made when she sipped on it. "So Principal Weems, there are a couple things that I didn't want to bring up, but feel that I should." She looked at you like she was ready to defend the school with her life, even if that meant to lie. "I don't want to be a snitch, but I also don't want to start our relationship off with any lies. When I said that Sydney and Bella were showing me to your office, that was a lie. I found them here at the Weathervane during lunch and drove them back to the school." She looked relieved when you said this, then you could see a bit of anger creep up. "Oh dear, they do sneak off every once in awhile. Thank you for bringing them back, I will have to talk to them." "Don't tell them I told you" you said with a wink. "Secondly, I would like to know what the 'Nightshades' are." When you asked her this her smile dropped and she looked like she was trying to form a response. Nobody from the board had found out about the Nightshades before. "Mx. Ricci, I don't want to start our relationship out with any lies either. The Nightshades were a secret society years ago. It was disbanded due to the death of a boy, a normie, back when I attended Nevermore as a student. I do believe that the Nightshades are no longer a society, but we haven't done anything with the room." "So, why does the room look like it's been used and kept clean?" you asked. "Honestly, I haven't been down there in years, but I assure you, it’s not being used." Feeling like this wasn't honest, you figured her reasoning was good enough for you to report to the board. "Thank you for being honest with me Principal Weems. Well, otherwise I've found nothing at your school of any concern and nothing worth writing you up about." Smiling big at her, you took a drink of your tea. "That is wonderful news!" she looked relieved, and that made you extremely glad. As she took a big drink of her hot chocolate, you focused on her features. She had big eyes, the color of Lapis lazuli. Her hair light, like silk made in Italy. Being tan yourself, you took in her skin; pale, soft, a blank canvas you wanted to draw on with your fingers. White teeth, almost as white as her eyes. You found interest in her chunky gold jewelry and wondered if it meant anything. The lip brooch on her jacket was really interesting, kind of fruity you thought. Just joking, unless? Grabbing your attention with her soothing British accent, "Are you ready to get back to the school? We have to get ready for trivia soon!"

Lost in your Latin papers, you took a drink of your mixed rum and coke. If you were drunk at trivia you thought, others would have a better chance at winning. Not a very good chance, but a better one. You chuckled, excited to show Larissa and the others what you had. You made your way to Larissa's office and knocked. She opened the door, glass of wine in hand. "Hello you, come in for a glass?" Sitting down on the couch beside her, you took in the warmth from the fire. It was rather chilly out now, perhaps you should've put on a jacket. Passing you some wine, Larissa stated, "Mx. Ricci, I do apologize for earlier. I should've thought to ask you your pronouns. I thought I was getting better at being more open and accepting lately." Looking over at her, there was disappointment on her face. You felt bad, you could tell she was a sweet woman. "Oh Principal Weems, no worries at all! It's hard to keep up with change sometimes, I know you have a lot on your mind. I appreciate you trying." She smiled with her teeth and took a sip of her wine. "I appreciate your confidence, and your kindness. I was super stressed about this board visit, but I'm so glad that you're here. And please, call me Larissa." You smirked and blush crept up to your cheeks, you looked to the fire to try and hide it. "Thanks Larissa. You can call me Anura, I like the way it sounds when you say it."

Sitting down at Trivia, you were on a team with Larissa, Marilyn, Coach Vlad, and the Math teacher. There were two other teams consisting of Nevermore staff who were having a fun duel with each other. "We got the full shebang on our team. The Sciences, English, History, and Potions. You're going down Principal Weems" the history teacher yelled across the room. When you heard this you laugh snorted by accident. You turned to Larissa, who was pulling you close to her to whisper in your ear. "Help us win and I'll buy you as many drinks as you want" she grinned and winked at you. Hell, she didn't know what was coming. You were the whole package, all the subjects in one. On top of that, you knew many different languages. A bit unfortunately, this was the type of trivia where you didn't write the answers down and total them up, but where whoever screamed the answer first got the point. Unfortunate, you thought, for everyone else. The first few questions were easy, as they always are. Some people from your table hollered them out as people from other tables screamed them too. It was fun to see stupid fights break out. Laughing at their eagerness, you didn't want to answer anything yet. It was always annoying when one person answered every single question. Larissa got a couple right, and the other tables got a few right. They called a small break and you went to grab a drink. When you got back to the table, Larissa was giving you a look. "Anura, I thought you said you were good at trivia, you haven't answered anything yet" Larissa was faking being mad. "Oh Rissa, I'm just waiting for the questions that you can't answer" you quipped at her, fake pouting. You looked her up and down, she looked less like Principal Weems tonight and more like Larissa. You could see how long her legs really were in her light green satin blouse and grey dress pants.

This was general trivia, questions of all levels were asked about a variety of subjects, so it really wasn't hard. You answered a few times, figuring you better step in to keep your teams points up. The last two subjects came up, languages and chemistry, two random subjects you thought. "What is a subatomic particle that is similar to an electron, but has no electrical charge and a very small mass, which might even be zero?" Looking around you figured someone would get this. "A neutron?" the English teacher guessed. Smiling, you knew that was wrong. You were surprised when nobody else guessed, so you said "a neutrino." Ding, ding, a point for your table. "What is the English translation for the Italian saying 'Occhio non vede, cuore non duole'?" You waited for an answer. Nobody spoke Italian, cool. "Eye does not see, heart does not hurt" you said quickly. Marilyn turned to you and gave you a "good job." Larissa looked to you with a sly smile on her face, but didn't say anything. Perhaps she knew she would owe you multiple drinks by the end of the night. "On the periodic table, the names of which two elements, besides iodine, begin with two vowels?" You thought for a few seconds, going through the periodic table in your mind. When nobody else guessed it, you leaned to Marilyn and whispered, "europium and einsteinium." "OUU europium and einsteinium!" she shouted. Everyone at your table laughed at her eagerness. "Aaaand another point for Einstein's table" screamed the trivia host. "Last question, what does the Latin phrase 'Responsum non habemus' translate to in English?" Oh my god, you were just learning Latin. Responsum must mean response, non habemus? You were stumped. Larissa turned to you, mouth dropping open at your lack of answer. You laughed embarrassed, you didn’t want to be all talk. She leaned close to you and said "I guess I won't be buying you any drinks then" and you acted disgusted with her. Just then, you thought of something. As if your brain wouldn't let you be embarrassed in front of the statuesque beauty sitting next to you offering you drinks, let alone her time of day, you had the answer. The answer was going to sound stupid, but you thought that it was right. Excitedly, you grabbed Larissa's face and leaned close to her. You did have to be professional, but you were a higher up and you moved around a lot, so you knew you could be pretty flirty sometimes. You whispered loudly in Larissa's ear "We do not have an answer!" She looked you in the eye and said "Yes, I know, we don’t know Latin." You let out a loud laugh and hid your face, did they ask this question to make us sound stupid? "No Larissa, that's the translation. Yell out 'We do not have an answer'." She yelled it out and the other tables laughed at her. "No shit, nobody here knows Latin" said the history teacher. "We have a winner!!" exclaimed the trivia host. Everybody else looked super confused, but your table was ecstatic. You hugged Larissa and whispered "You owe me a rum and coke, and make it strong."

Link to Pt 4

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