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daryldamnson · 2 years

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Corroded coffin makes it big, like sabbath big, and (after making sure that Wayne has been taken care of) Eddie starts spoiling you, buying you mountainsnof luxuries that he could only wish to give you when you first started dating. You have to remind Eddie that you fell in love with him and the small moments together, the money has never been an issue, you're favourite memories are the ones lying on top of Eddie's trailer stargazing and talking about nothing and everything

god he's so soft i want to kiss all of his insecurities away, thanks for requesting!

tw for one mention of alcoholism and abuse (in reference to eddie's parents), insecure!eddie, fem!reader coded but only in terms of dress/skirt wearing, 0.7k

title from primadonna by marina and the diamonds

“Baby, I don’t need this, you know that, right?”

It’s the dress you’d barely eyed up in the store window you’d walked past last week. A while ago, back when touring meant bars with cheap beers and busking in city centres, you’d have paid it a little more attention - yearned over it a little more.

Nowadays, a pretty dress was just a pretty dress. You had plenty of pretty dresses, and cute skirts, and tight tops, and fashionably ripped jeans. That’s not to mention the veritable rainbow of shoes and matching handbags that had their own closet at the home Eddie had proudly presented to you after his first album had skyrocketed the charts.

“I can afford to give you anything you want now,” Eddie’s careful to make the distinction, ringed hand reaching out to land gently over yours. “I just… I want you to have everything you want.”

His voice is all too earnest in a way that makes your heart break.

“The dress is nice, Eddie,” you concede, smiling softly at him. “It’s lovely, even. But you know what I really want?”

You’ve known him long enough to know what that look in his eyes means.

Despite the confident façade he’d kept up since he’d first started high school, only exacerbated by crowds of fans and hit songs, Eddie could be a pretty insecure guy.

Most of it seemed to stem from his parents; disinterested at best - his mother had been more captivated by the bottle than her child, abusive at worst - his father had a similar predilection for alcohol that led to screamed insults and thrown fists. Eddie had found a home - and a real father - in Wayne, but the damage had already been done.

He struggled to believe anybody could truly know him and love him anyway. Love him because of that. And even once he’d accepted that perhaps they did, he found it was all too easy to imagine them walking away, deciding he wasn’t worth the hassle or the effort.

So he bought things.

Years ago, in the times of garage band practices and one-bedroom trailers, he’d channelled this anxiety into mixtapes, and plucked wildflowers, and too many blankets, and always having your favourite drinks stocked.

You think of stargazing, and cheap beer, and horror movies smuggled from Family Video by Steve. You think of the collection of ‘cool’ rocks in your jewellery box, and the annotations he’d made in between the lines so you’d think about him when you read your favourite book. You think of personalised mixtapes with almost too much Sabbath, and him excitedly telling you about his plans for a new campaign, and the way his lips twitch when he sleeps. You think of his uncontrollable hair, and his tattoos, and his heart.

“Anything,” he promises, wide brown eyes looking back at you almost desperately, and you know he means it.

“You.” There’s a beat of silence as you bring up a hand to cup his cheek, leaning forward a little to hold his gaze. “I just want you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

It seems to take him by surprise despite how often you tell him this. You watch his throat bob as he swallows, lips parting slightly. “I…” he starts, voice cracking a little on the single syllable. “You have me. Always.”

You steadfastly do not mention the glassy shine that has taken over his eyes, but you feel your own mist up in response anyway.

“Then I’m good. I’m happy. I don’t need anything else.”

You say it like there’s nothing more obvious in the world. Probably because to you there isn’t.

He lets out a pleased laugh, more a breath of air than anything else, as he rests his forehead against yours and closes his eyes.

“Well,” you begin, a teasing lilt to your voice, “actually, I could do with a kiss as well.”

You pout your lips a little and look at him with the most pitiful gaze you can muster without breaking into a smile.

Eddie has no such qualms and his lips part into one of those grins where his dimples show, and his eyes crease, and you just feel warm.

“I think I can swing for that,” he murmurs, already moving in to press his lips against yours.

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dobbiamo-capire · 7 months

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Since people asked for it, I’ll translate THIS beautiful article that I wish more italian media will agree with (I unfortunately know it won’t be)

Toy Story 2.

Andy trows Woody in the trash while saying “I don’t want to play with you anymore”.

A scene that became a meme, but also represents best what’s happening now with Charles Leclerc.

Like two years ago, lots and lots of Ferrari fans or so called Ferrari fans are getting down his train to jump on the one, overbooked, of his teammate, the hero of the day thanks to a masterclass made of intelligence, tactics and heart.

Even the media, unfortunately, are doing the same thing from a while, though a particular narrative (in total contrast with what we saw at the end of last season) almost leading to the path of downgrading the immense talent of this guy, unfortunately clouded by a car that, like Carlos Sainz Senior anticipated at November 2022, was set principally on the characteristics of the colleague.

Let it be clear: Sainz today proved to have everything (and let’s say it again: everything) to win the title and be the number one driver in conditions like these.

We don’t want to denigrate what wonderful stuff Carlitos did in Marina May, but underlining how the judgments change fast as the wind goes.

Leclerc lost pole in Monza for 68 milliseconds, in Marina Bay for 79.

United those are almost 10 centimeters, that today they meant not even thinking or dreaming about a win.

He was asked to slow down the group, to move away from Sainz first for 3 seconds, than 5, with insistence.

He did it without saying a word: he accepted to free the pitlane for Carlos, to lose 5 seconds and 4 positions in the pits, to be dressed as a sacrificial lamb and to say, at the end, in Mara’s microphone, sweet words to that strategy approved by the team and to the teammate, that today was able to shine the Singapore streets with a magnificent performance.

A man for the team, Charles, perfect material representation of the mantra #essereFerrari , now thrown away like an used game that after four years of passion it’s ok to get rid of.

But the time is a gentleman, and the time will come from who didn’t get down this train to have the pleasure to remind the world what happened in this day of mid September.

#charles leclerc #f1 #ferrari #italian press

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canirove · 2 months

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In The Name of Love | Chapter 25

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Masterlist

"You know, instead of just laying there looking pretty, you could help me with all these clothes."

"Being this pretty is a really hard job, Val. And if I helped you, you would definitely end up telling me that I'm doing everything wrong and doing it all by yourself" Pedri shrugs.

"Idiot."

"Hey! I am injured, remember? There is no need to be violent. Poor Minnie" he says, cuddling the stuffed toy I've thrown at him.

"Yes, you are injured in the head."

"Love you too, Val" he says with a stupid smile. "Why do you still have these around your room, tho? Aren't they for kids?" he smirks.

"I work with kids and I'm dating one. I need them to understand you better" I reply, sticking out my tongue.

"This Minnie has seen better days. How old is she?"

"My aunt bought it for me when I was born."

"Really? She looks like… 50. And you know you aren't older than 25."

"You are such an idiot" I say, rolling my eyes. "If Minnie looks old that's because she never left my side. I slept with her, played with her…"

"Attacked people with her…"

"She was my favourite toy as a kid and has great sentimental value."

"Val, hey. Are you ok?" Pedri says, getting up from the bed. "What is it?"

"Nothing" I say, looking away.

"Then why are you crying? Val" he says, cupping my face and making me look at him. "What is it?"

"Nothing, I just… Talking about Minnie reminded me of my aunt, the one who got her for me as a baby. She… She passed away a few years ago."

"And here I was making stupid jokes. I'm so sorry, Val. You aren't wrong when you call me an idiot."

"You didn't know" I shrug. "And they aren't sad tears. At least not all of them. You've also reminded me of good times, like when she would play with me and mimic Minnie's voice. She was really good at it."

"Was she?"

"Yeah. Or that's the memory I have" I smile. "She was Marina's age when I was born, so she saw me as a little sister more than as a niece. She got me that Minnie because she always wanted to go to Disneyland Paris but never could because her siblings told her they were too old for it, and with me she had an excuse to do it."

"Did you go?" Pedri asks, wiping away one of my tears.

"No, we didn't manage to. When I was old enough to understand what was going on she was at uni and then she moved abroad. She would only come back for Christmas and the summer holidays, which aren't the best moments to go to a place like Disney. Then I got busy with my own life, she got sick, and… well" I shrug.

"Do you still want to go?"

"I would love to, but no one wants to go with me. Marc said it was just for kids" I scoff.

"Well, lucky you, you are dating a kid who has never been to Disneyland."

"Really?"

"We didn't have the money when I was younger. And now that I have it, no one cares anymore" Pedri shrugs.

"But a place like Disney… People may recognise you."

"I'll wear a wig if necessary. Anything to make you smile again" he says, caressing my cheek.

"You seriously are the cutest human being I've ever met."

"I know" he smirks. "And because I am the cutest, I'm gonna stop distracting you with my beauty and go make us a snack."

"Thank you, Pedri."

"What for? The snack? Being pretty?"

"Idiot" I say, hitting his arm. "Just thank you."

"You're welcome, Val" he says, kissing my forehead and leaving my room while I just stare at him smiling like... an idiot. Turns out that I also am one. One madly in love.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

When do the kids go on holidays?

Why?

Just answer me, Val 🙄

Friday

Until?

We have the next week off

Perfect then

Perfect for what?

Going somewhere just you and I ☺️

What? And the international break?

I'm not going.

They called me today and said they don't want to risk it because of my injury.

I'm sorry

It's just some friendlies, don't worry

But now I am free to take my girlfriend on holidays ☺️

Tenerife?

Cold

Are we going somewhere cold or I got it completely wrong?

Both

You aren't helping, Pedro 🙄

🇫🇷🗼🐁🎡🎢🎠🐁

The mouse isn't because of Ratatouille 😉

Wait… wait wait wait WAIT DISNEYLAND?

Are you in?

OF COURSE I AM IN!!!!!!

Did you scream? Are you jumping?

Yes and yes 😂

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I am finally here. Can you believe it?"

"What I can't believe is your face right now" Pedri chuckles, closing the door of our hotel room behind him.

"What?"

"I think I have never seen you smile like that, Val. I love it."

"And I love you" I say, walking towards him and wrapping my arms around his neck. "I love you very much. Thank you for this."

"Anything for you" he smiles.

"But you know… I think I should show you how much I love you and how thankful I am."

"What?"

"Yeah…" I say as I slowly move my hands from his neck to his chest.

"Val…"

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?" Pedri asks, his body tensing under my touch.

"Showing you how thankful I am" I reply with a teasing smile, my hands now moving under his clothes.

"Aren't you tired after all that traveling?"

"Nope. Are you?"

"A bit."

"Then let me do all the work. Arms up."

"What?" he laughs.

"I can't show you how thankful I am and how much I love you with all these clothes on. So arms up."

"Yes, ma'am" he chuckles.

"Good boy" I smile, getting rid of his sweatshirt and t-shirt all in one go. "Now shoes off, I'll take care of this" I say, untying his joggers.

"Done."

"Lay down on the bed."

"Ok" Pedri smirks while doing as I've told him. "You should be this bossy more often, Val. I like it. Now what?"

"Now get yourself comfortable and enjoy" I say before starting to take off my clothes.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I can't believe we just had sex on a Mickey Mouse bed" Pedri laughs.

"You chose the room, I didn't."

"I did" he laughs again. "It was really good sex, by the way. Some of the best we've had. You definitely showed me how much you love me."

"Glad to hear that."

"And you need to be in charge more often, Val. That was so hot."

"Yeah, umm… Should we order some room service or go out? I'm starving" I say, trying to change the topic of conversation and ignore the way my face is burning. I still don't know where everything I just did to him came from.

"Of course you are" he chuckles. "I could do with some fresh air, to be honest."

"Oh, great! We can wear the hats I got us."

"You what?"

"Yeah, look" I say, leaving the bed and opening my suitcase. "I got a cap with Mickey ears for you and one with Minnie ears for me. We can match, and this way you will be able to hide your face a bit better. Though you won't be able to put on your hood with the ears. I think."

"It's ok, don't worry. But are we a matching couple now? That's very cheesy, Val" Pedri says with a teasing smile.

"We are in Disneyland for the first time. We are gonna be cheesy and proper tourists."

"Ok" he laughs. "Should we try on the caps? Maybe take a picture? I want to remember this moment."

"Just be careful with the angle."

"I'm a pro, Val. There won't be any nipples involved."

"It better not" I warn him, getting in bed next to him. "Let me… there" I say, putting the cap on his head.

"How do I look?"

"Gorgeous."

"Liar. I always look gorgeous" he smirks.

"I beg to differ" I say, putting on mine. "Now let's take that photo so we can go grab something to eat."

"I think I don't like bossy Val anymore."

"What?" I laugh.

"If she isn't going to ride me until I forget my name, I don't like her."

"Shut up and take that photo, Pedro.”

"Yeah… I don't like her. And I'm taking the photo, relax. Don't need to look at me as if you were going to rip off my head."

"I'm too hungry for that."

"Lucky me" he laughs. "Say Disney!"

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Pedri, we are gonna be late for breakfast!"

"Just a minute!" he says from the bathroom.

"If when we go downstairs they've run out of everything I like, I'm murdering you. What are you doing?"

"These eyebrows don't look this perfect on their own, Valeria" he says while pointing at them and finally joining me in the room. "There is work behind them."

"All the work I don't put on mine" I chuckle. "Anyway, are you ready?"

"One last thing."

"Pedri!" I groan.

"We can't leave without her."

"Her? Who?"

"Her" he smiles, showing me what he was hiding in his suitcase.

"Is that… Is that my Minnie?"

"Her twin sister. If you had come with your aunt you would have brought her with you, right?"

"I would have, yes."

"Well, I thought that we should do the same. But then I worried you may lose her or get her dirty, and if anything happened to her you would be gutted and I could not bear seeing you like that. So I bought you another Minnie for you to carry around the same way you would have done as a kid, but without having to worry about what happens to her. Though if she survives, it would be a cute memory."

"No."

"What?" Pedri says with a confused look.

"It would not be a cute memory. It would be one of the best memories of my life. And you are the one who is cute. The cutest human being ever" I say before throwing myself at him and hugging him while crying like a baby.

"Aww, Val" he says while hugging me back, one of his hands moving up and down my back, trying to comfort me. But that gesture only makes me cry harder. Why is he so cute?

"I love you, Pedri" I manage to say.

"I love you too" he replies.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"That was the best thing ever! So so so good! I kind of want to do it again."

"What?" Pedri says, looking at me as if I've grown another head.

"I was joking, don't worry" I laugh. "But it was so good! Much better than what I had seen online and… Pedri. Pedri, hey. Are you ok?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

"You are so pale… Let's sit down" I say, grabbing his arm and walking him towards a bench.

"Yes, let's sit down while my stomach goes back to its usual place."

"Pedri, you should have told me you were scared of the Tower of Terror before we went in. Look at you, you are so white you could pass for a Real Madrid shirt."

"I'm not in the mood for jokes, Valeria" he says, giving me a murderous look. "And if I didn't say anything it was because I didn't know I was scared of it. I thought it would be one of those houses where people show up out of nowhere and scare you, not one where you are dropped into the void."

"Sorry" I say, moving my hand up and down his arm, trying to comfort him like he had done for me a few hours ago. "There actually is a place like that, we can go later."

"I'll think about it."

"Ok" I chuckle. "But I guess this means we aren't checking the Star Wars ride."

"Do they drop you somewhere?"

"It is a rollercoaster."

"I'll think about that too" Pedri says, closing his eyes and leaning back on the bench.

"Is your stomach still on your throat?"

"I don't know where it is anymore, Val. I don't know if I have a stomach anymore, to be honest."

"Aww, Pedri. Will a cuddle make you feel better?"

"We can try" he says, trying really hard not to smile.

"Look at you. Even while dying you still are a cheeky little thing" I giggle.

"Always, my dear" he replies. "Always."

#pedri #pedri gonzalez #pedri fanfic #pedri gonzalez fanfic #pedri imagine #pedri gonzalez imagine #football fanfic #football imagine

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jiminjamms · 2 years

Text

sex therapy :: 14. sucker for pain

chapter tags/warnings: misogynistic! naoya. pet names ("bimbo"). dirty talking. nonconsenual undertones. infidelity/adultery. strong language. humiliation. classism.

word count: 3.8k

notes: i published this story for the first time in october 2021 on wattpad, and i'm so thankful for and overwhelmed by the support and love that sex therapy has received over the past year. thank you for watching me and my story grow. xoxo

fic masterlist | 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.

Eat. Sleep. Fuck. Repeat.

This would be the mantra Naoya would live by tonight.

The little date he was taking you on was merely a prequel to the chain of bedroom events he had schemed for the evening. Because warming up first was important, no?

As a wonderful husband, Naoya took his precious wife out to dinner at Shibuya’s Cé La Vi, a top-floor restaurant that may not be as vertigo-inducing as its famous Marina Bay Sands counterpart in Singapore, but offered a menu and skyline views second to none.

He had even requested an outdoor table under the fairy lights for the romantic atmosphere, where both the amber hues and soft jazz washed the vicinity with warmth and peace. Exactly what Naoya also needed after his last twenty hours filled with hurried negotiations with publishers, a long flight back to Tokyo, and many private lectures from his outraged father.

At least that was all done now.

Sighing, Naoya gestured at a nearby waiter, who disappeared and returned with a glass of expensive tequila several minutes later. Eight in the evening might be far too early for Naoya to down his third shot of Don Julio, but he needed to reward himself for completing a hectic itinerary without a wink of shuteye in between.

With the drink, he quietly soaked in the low hum of chatter that mingled with the gentle clinking of cutlery. The ambiance was so miraculous that Naoya didn’t know why he hadn’t taken you here earlier.

Now that he thought about it, when was the last time he had taken you out on a proper date anyway?

Oh, when he took you out two weeks ago to skydive in…

No, wait that was with Mari.

He was only two and a half glasses in, but the liquor was already messing with his memory.

So when…?

“We haven’t done anything like this in a long, long while,” you commented when you must have noted his extended silence at the dinner table, although Naoya found it quite funny that you seemingly read his thoughts instead.

He swirled the liquor in his glass but decided against another sip. “You think so?” he asked as harmlessly as possible. “When was the last time?”

Cutting into a scallop on your plate, you bit your inner cheek. “Our…honeymoon.”

Holy crap, that Caribbean trip was months ago. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” you deadpanned.

Oh.

Okay, he might have thought a lot more about spending time with his mistress, and he hadn’t exactly been keeping track of every single date he went on with you, but he certainly did not expect to have such an abysmal track record with his own wife.

Not that he felt guilty about his absence in your life.

Besides, you had the money to entertain yourself as you wished. Whether because you were blinded by sheer stupidity or his bank account, you thankfully didn’t complain much either. All Naoya had to do was to keep you happy and ignorant because—to paraphrase his father’s own words—if Naoya flopped this marriage with the COO's daughter, he would not be welcomed in the Zenin household again.

The difficult part, however, was that you were hard to please.

That was what happened to little girls who grew up spoiled by daddy’s money, Naoya supposed. Mari, on the other hand, would have absolutely been overjoyed in your position. Hell, even Naoya himself—who merely grew up as a spare heir—would have shown some gratitude.

“Sorry that I’ve been so occupied.” The Zenin CEO had to inject whatever sympathy and sincerity he had into his apology before sampling his risotto. “I’ve been buried in work ever since I joined the executive suite earlier this year. I’ve had a lot to catch up on.”

“I know,” you responded very matter-of-factly. “And I understand. You’ve been busy with meetings.”

Right. Meetings with his board in addition to his, well, other more discreet ‘meetings’ where he pounded his paramour into oblivion (but let’s not talk about that, shall we?).

As he pushed the thought away, he placed his fork down in exchange for his drink. “That’s why I invited you for dinner—to spend extra time with you. I’ll make things up to you even more later.”

You glanced up from your meal, blinking rapidly but the ambivalence apparent in your gaze. “Really? Like how?”

Sex, you motherfucking dimwit.

How much more obvious did he have to be?

Of course, he instead replied with, “You’ll see.”

He hadn’t told you his idea to rail your brains out because he didn’t feel obligated to, but if he wanted to a) get his father off his ass and b) be a baby daddy by morning, he had quite the mission to accomplish. Besides, if he calculated the numbers correctly in his head, today was still within your fertility window. A later day in the schedule, but still a fertile time for his wife, nonetheless. This was the perfect time to focus on you, particularly since he wouldn’t be distracted by Mari for some time. Perhaps arriving early from Mexico wasn’t too much of a bad thing.

Tonight, the deed didn’t seem too difficult to do either, thanks to how provocatively you dressed. Since when did you wear off-the-shoulder mini dresses? Was this from your New York fashion haul three months back?

“It’d be nice if you could apologize to me first.”

Naoya froze with his glass by his mouth at your unanticipated comment. What were you even going on about? “Didn’t I already say sorry for not spending time with you?” This was what he meant by how ungrateful you were.

Curling your lips inward, you inhaled sharply. “That wasn’t what I was—”

When the conversation was unexpectedly interrupted by a buzzing at the table, Naoya reached for his phone only to be greeted with a blank screen. Rather, he looked up to see you wiping your hands and staring at your device, mirroring Naoya’s own confusion as your brows creased at an unsaved number.

“Spam,” you concluded and pushed the device away once the caller eventually reached voicemail. “What I was saying,” you began even as your face contorted momentarily with reluctance, “was that you never told me you were away from Japan. I didn’t even know where you were or when you would be back had I not called your secretary.”

Wow, that was what you wanted an apology for?

What an entitled brat.

Admittedly, Naoya should have texted you before he vanished into thin air, but a homemaker like you certainly had no business in his personal schedule. Had he truly had an investor conference to attend, Naoya was certain you would have been just as meddlesome, which was why he found the situation even more sardonic when you confirmed his suspicions by adding, “Sending me a text isn’t too difficult, you know.”

Just who the hell did you think you were?

Don’t think he had not noticed how confrontational you had been as of late, criticizing his actions and then dishing out instructions as though you were anywhere near the place to do so. This change from your typically submissive nature was uninvited, to say the least. Like, at the bare minimum, you could look at your own husband as you spoke, and Naoya wondered if your actions were simply a phase in the relationship or a reveal of the real you. Whatever the reason, he wanted his good and obedient wife back.

“Well then, my apologies." His eye twitched as he spoke, and nothing now could hide the contempt rising in his tone. “Next time, I’ll make sure my assistants send you my entire itinerary from when I sleep to when I use the restroom to—"

Naoya couldn’t even think through his annoyance because, at this point, your phone was ringing for what must be the third time and that irked him even further.

“Please!” he scoffed, his vexation bursting through his voice. “Just excuse yourself and pick that shit up, good lord!”

At least that much you listened to. You pardoned yourself, stepping away just as Naoya pinched the bridge of his nose. On the one date he finally organized with his wife, you just had to ruin his mood with your shit attitude and table manners. Fantastic.

After one long huff, Naoya swung around in his seat and caught the attention of a nearby waiter.

The fuming executive then pointed at his glass.

“Another shot, ASAP."

As much as you were guilty of self-deprecation, you were not masochistic enough to simply swallow your husband’s insults over dinner.

‘Sex, you motherfucking dimwit.’

Simply thinking back to that line sent tiny pricks to your chest.

Did Naoya really think that, just because he mumbled that to himself under his breath, you wouldn’t hear him? What made you even more upset was that, when you asked for an apology, he could not even recognize his wrongs. There was more that you hoped to confront him about, too—particularly about the rumors of his extramarital affairs—but you had half the mind to shut up given his splenetic fury.

Whoever called you, however, thankfully provided you with a reason for reprieve.

You rushed out of the main restaurant venue as you curiously stared at your phone, noticing the missed calls from an unknown number. When the same contact information appeared on your screen in its fourth ring, you pressed the ‘Accept’ button only for the other line to greet you first.

“I still have your dress, kiddo.”

Kiddo.

Only one person called you that.

“Choso?” you nearly shouted in disbelief, unintentionally garnering the attention of some bystanders.

“That’s me alright,” the therapist answered, his reply cool and composed as though he never questioned the fact that his hands landed on your phone number. “I was just about to give up on reaching you.”

Overwhelmed, you sighed. “Sorry, I’m rather busy at the moment.”

“Right, right,” he mulled, a faint rumble sneaking in his tone. Choso then clicked his tongue against his teeth, and you could almost picture the blasé manner in which he would recline in a seat as some shuffling echoed over the line, which would have normally been irrelevant until he added, “Well, I’m downstairs.”

“What?!” was your first reaction. Now, you were certainly getting weird stares. Downstairs, as in, where? “Are you in—”

“Yes, Shibuya. You’re at Cé La Vi right now, aren’t you? Take the elevator down to the first floor. My car’s parked right outside the building’s main doors. That Dolce & Gabbana outfit I made you change out of before the club, I didn’t have a chance to return that since you stormed out of the meeting last night.”

You shut your dropped jaw. “The dress I remember but,” your gaze then narrowed, “how do you know where I am?”

The call suddenly grew quiet, the lull stretching for what must be an hour as Choso carefully contemplated his next words. “When you’re in the right business,” he hinted darkly, no doubt making a reference to his underbelly occupation, “information isn’t hard to come by once you know the right people.”

An assassin with eyes all over the city, huh?

Well, that explained how he got your number as well, albeit you would not be surprised if he had dug through the therapist office’s database for that instead. Sometimes, you had to wonder how an upper-class lady like you got entangled with a man like him, but a five-minute round trip to the first floor could not possibly hurt, right?

“I’ll meet you, then,” you eventually replied and ended the call.

Catching the first elevator car down, you had no trouble spotting the iconic blue Corvette convertible that stood outside the building’s entrance. Upon your approach, Choso rolled down his window and stuck his head out. This evening, his jet-black strands were pulled back into one low ponytail rather than two, his prominent jawline appearing even sharper against the nighttime backdrop.

No wonder this man had a whole harem in the club.

“Hey,” he hummed as his inky eyes ran down your figure, his gaze lingering a little longer on your exposed collarbone before traveling down to your legs. “I like your style.”

At the compliment, you looked away, feeling a bizarre prickle in your stomach. “I’m on a dinner date.”

“With Naoya?” Given how the therapists have recently revealed their disdain for your husband, you were not surprised to see Choso grimace. “Why…would you do that to yourself?”

Great question. “He’s paying, so I can’t complain.”

Choso pressed his lips outward, nodding when he could not argue against that. “I see.”

During the silence that ensued, you clicked your heels together, too busy floundering in the burning presence of your companion that you almost forgot the reason you were here in the first place. “Do…you have my dress?”

Nonchalantly, the man pointed to the back with his thumb. “In the trunk. What? You’re in a rush or something?”

You nodded slowly. “Naoya doesn’t know I’m down here," you explained but, given the psychological pain that your husband had inflicted on you, there was no good reason for guilt to be tugging at your lungs.

Even Choso narrowed his eyes. “You’re going back to that asshole?”

Another great question.

Without saying much, Naoya already made clear that his intention with you tonight was grounded only in sexual gratification, that he viewed you as nothing beyond—as he had put it—‘a motherfucking dimwit.’ Despite the pain, you never failed to find a reason to crawl back to the husband that lashed at your heart.

“Naoya is already angry at me,” you eventually remarked, twirling the edges of your dress. “If I don’t get back...”

“Then what? Even more of a reason to ditch him, to be honest. Maybe that will teach him a lesson for all the times he left you.” Choso was not the type to talk much, but he inevitably had the uncanny ability to leave you dumbstruck once he did. Oblivious to your state (or not), he then casually adjusted the braided bracelet at his wrist. “Better things to do with your time than stay with him.”

Funny that your first instinct was to defend Naoya again. However, even if you were to dutifully return to your husband, he would internally welcome you with apathy, his only goal to leave you smitten as a kitten just so he would have a pussy to play with.

Abandoning Naoya also came with one other problem, though. “There isn’t much else for me to do.”

How pitiful was that?

Sure, you had a stack of invitations to various charity dinners and networking parties, but—even with all the riches and respect in the world—you found those events pretentious, repetitive, and dull.

You half-expected Choso to mock you. (Because, really, who were you to complain about first-world problems?) However, the man just paused slightly, a dash of sympathy running over his expression as he then motioned to the empty shotgun seat.

“I could take you out for a ride.”

Your brows shot up. Tempting. “Where to?”

“Since I’m free tonight, I was going to take myself somewhere by Tokyo Bay—one of my favorite spots around,” Choso explained as he ran both his hands through his hair. “Although, if you’re interested, I could show you the area, too.”

At the proposal, you tried not to smile too obviously. Who knew that a hardened part-time hitman actually had such a soft spot?

“Then I’d love to.”

Choso drove off the second you jumped into the Corvette, the convertible greeting you with its familiar ashy honeysuckle scents and a The Neighbourhood tune. With a long exhale, you sank into the red leather seat and stared out the window, watching the nearby scenery transform from skyscrapers to highway signs.

Quietly, you relished the soothing silence in the car that was a refuge from the charged cacophony over dinner, reflecting on the steps that brought you to this moment. What a twist of fate, how the man who had detested you weeks ago was now a warm beacon that offered light in the merciless sea, providing you more comfort than you'd like to admit.

When you unconsciously turned in his direction, you tried to not stare too obviously at the metal on his ears, the piercings gleaming as they caught beams from bypassing streetlamps. You might have had a rough start with Choso Kamo, but you still found him ridiculously attractive with his oversized white sweater and black jeans, hiding his athletic physique underneath.

“Need me to pull up Google Maps?” you asked upon realizing your extended ogling.

“No,” he shot back. “I know this city like the back of my hand.”

And Choso sure seemed like he did.

He was focused solely on driving, his palms clasped around the steering wheel as his fingers drummed to the bass of ‘Sweater Weather.’

This close to him, you noticed how his hands were rough and calloused—almost definitive sign of working out. Right where he rolled up his sleeves, veins also weaved beneath his forearm tattoos, the inked vines something you never had the chance to examine extensively either.

This time, you weren’t too discreet given that he caught your gaze. “What?”

Oops. “Nothing.”

You turned away to look ahead, trying to calm your frenzied heart by observing some uninteresting cars on the expressway. A proper lady like you knew better than to gawk at someone for a prolonged time, yet you still got caught red-handed. How embarrassing.

Slumping further into your seat, you pouted as your weird way in mitigating the internal humiliation. “Just…keep your eyes on the road.”

While Choso did as he was told, he held back a low chuckle. “And you could keep your eyes on me.”

“But I wasn’t—!" A complete lie, but you still shouted with flailing arms, defenses hopeless.

Yet, what really disarmed you was Choso’s faint smirk.

One minute, you were frustrated and flustered; the next, you were simply stunned at the amused tilt in his lips, all because his smile was so rare. There was something enchanting about the cocky way Choso grinned as he stepped on the accelerator, the maniacal gleam in his eyes as he stared ahead, the bright colors of the Tokyo evening that glittered behind him.

“Jesus, take the fucking wheel,” you muttered like a starstruck teenager.

“What’s wrong?” he asked harmlessly because this man definitely heard you over the music. He threw you a quick glance even as the smile on his lips stayed. “I mean, you could keep staring if you want to, bimbo. I won’t judge.”

Mouth opened to back talk, your ambitions immediately got cut short as Choso moved a hand from the steering wheel to your inner thigh. While you hid your gasp at the unexpected contact, you only hoped that he did not notice the way you tensed under his searing touch.

But Choso noticed, alright.

“Hm, why are you so quiet all of a sudden?” Choso pressed again, his focus still on the lane as though he was not caressing you, massaging you, his thumb running in hypnotic circles centimeters away from the dull throb between your legs,

How he managed to maintain his composure in such a situation was a mystery given that you, unlike him, gripped hard at the side of your seat.

“Because…” you hissed after mustering all effort.

Then, you stopped.

How could you respond while completely distracted by the tightening in your stomach, practically holding your breath as his hand crept up higher? It was not helping that his fingers were so thick, that he had a small dagger printed by a knuckle, that his scent was reminiscent of burning maple leaves during a New England fall.

“‘Because…?’ Because what?” Choso asked, knocking your thoughts loose momentarily because he—on the other hand—did not miss your incomplete answer. His nails dug into your skin, nearly making you yelp at the incredible burn. “What’s the issue? I don’t remember you being this shy with the other therapists around.”

The steeliness that underlined his tone…

Was Choso still hung up about your frisky flings with Toji and Sukuna? Even though you should have never gotten sexually involved with them in the first place, you never would have thought that Choso would hold such a grudge.

In response, you cautiously observed his side profile. “Are…you jealous?”

He closed his eyes momentarily at the question, indescribable salaciousness etched on his lovely face, and he shuddered slightly. His eyes opened back as a sharpened glare, Adam’s apple bobbing as the result of a drawn-out swallow.

“Oh, baby,” he growled, and it was the backward tilt of his head that left your mind spinning, “you have no idea.”

Traveling beneath your dress, his hand roamed a little higher, then higher again, his pinky finger brushing at your panties’ seam such that if he decided to travel up any further, he might just feel how miserable and soaked you were.

Just hurt me, you begged silently, legs squeezing together subconsciously as you feel a delicious heat churning through your body, biting back a moan when Choso gripped hard at your thigh before smacking at the flesh.

“Harder,” you accidentally pleaded out loud, immediately clamping your hands over your mouth.

Unsurprisingly, your insanely handsome driver turned to you. When you met his gaze, you only wished that you hadn’t because Choso had a gaze that left you weak in the knees, the murky pool in his eyes enough to leave you whittled to a frantic and blubbering mess.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to—"

“Well, I'm curious what your husband would say,” he interjected, debauchery bleeding in his tone, “when I send you home my handprints on your ass cheeks?”

Wow, that really took you aback.

“‘When?’” you bleated. Not ‘if?’

“Yes, ‘when,’” he confirmed with a hoarse thrum. His overflowing confidence clouded your head with something heady, something intoxicating. As much as you think you should tell Choso to stop, words were lodged in your throat once he forced your legs apart with one firm pull, and while you found pleasure in the pain, it was his next suggestion that sent sweet vibrations straight down your spine: “Because I wonder what would happen once I spread you over the car hood and took you right there.”

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lulu2992 · 3 months

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Uncovering the unreleased Far Cry 5 in-game Encyclopedia

The almost complete but unused in-game encyclopedia, reconstructed thanks to the oasisstrings file.

Please note that it’s still cut content, so some information might not be relevant anymore.

You can read the oasisstrings file here. Pictures from this encyclopedia were also extracted and posted by @xbaebsae here.

Part 4: Locations - Henbane River

Tanami Residence

Some idiot drove a dredge into Roy Tanami's property, damaging his bunker beyond repair. Out of options, Tanami swallowed his pride and joined the Whitetail Militia up north.

Vasquez Residence

Home of Mr. Vasquez, former employee of Nolan's Fly Shop.

Hollyhock Saloon

One of the first businesses to fall to Eden’s Gate when they banned alcohol in the county. No one knows if the owners moved or were taken.

Can of Worms Fishing Store

Rods and tackle a-plenty. Owned by Sherri Woodhouse, who does salvage runs for sunken treasure in her spare time.

Deep North Water Treatment Plant

Built in 2002 to treat the toxic water from decades of mining practices. Today, Eden’s Gate uses it to disperse Bliss into the water.

Misty River Gas

A local gas station by the water, owned by Mr. McDevitt.

McCoy Cabin

Home of Darby McCoy who joined the cult against his will. This cabin is both close to the water and the Misty River Gas, an ideal spot for the cult to run operations.

Peaches Taxidermy

Mable's a rough-edged taxidermist. She lives here with her pet cougar.

Barlow Residence

Residence of Dr. Phil Barlow. He was a pharmacist who joined Eden’s Gate.

McClean Residence

Residence of Travis McClean. He was a former Air Force veteran turned prepper. Like so many others, he and his husband are on the run from Eden's Gate.

Eden’s Gate Outreach Center

This was once a place to learn more about Eden’s Gate and the Father’s message. Nothing out of the ordinary, until it became what it is today.

The Pillars of Eden

An outdoor amphitheater and a place of worship for Eden's Gate.

Drubman Marina

The Drubman Marina began in 1992 as an oil sands prospecting venture. Hurk Drubman Sr. became rich, but ost the property in a divorce to his wife Adelaide. She has big dreams for the place.

Silver Lake Campgrounds

A place to camp with a nice view of the mountains, the water, and the Whitetail Mountain Rail Bridge.

Silver Lake Summer Camp

An old summer camp. It was forced out of business by Eden’s Gate about 8 years ago. The cult used this place to stockpile their goods while their bunkers were being built.

Howling Cave

A well-known wolf habitat. The cult frequently takes animals from here and sends them north to Jacob.

Taft Lookout Tower

An old firewatch tower built in 1945. The cult uses it as a checkpoint and surveillance location. As expected, it is heavily guarded at all times.

Raptor Peak

A mountain peak that's a favorite nesting spot for birds of prey.

Camp Cougars

The Resistance has set up a camp to use as a base of operations for attacks against the cult and rescue missions for those on the pilgrimage path.

Dire Wolf Basin

A smoking basin that Eden's Gate has claimed as their own. Also a place of worship for the cult.

Sabre-Tooth Springs

These hot springs and the nearby cave used to be a tourist destination. It's right next to a road, meaning this location spent little in advertising. Today, it only attracts the cult.

Eden’s Convent

The very first building set up by the Project at Eden’s Gate in Hope County. People came here for spiritual retreats and to learn the Word of Joseph. When they left, if they did, it was with a permanent smile on their faces.

Sacred Skies Youth Camp

Formerly a Christian youth camp that was shut down fifteen years ago when the population dwindled. Eden’s Gate quietly bought it ten years ago. They use the land for growing Bliss flowers while living on-site.

Joseph’s Word

A statue of Joseph Seed that was constructed almost overnight. It commemorates the Father bringing his Word to the world. It also houses a rare, one-of-a-kind manuscript that is sacred to Eden's Gate.

Purpletop Antenna

Eden's Gate controls the radio towers. There's no signal but Joseph's Word out here.

Dead Man’s Mill

A water mill left over from the gold rush heyday. Everyone in Hope County has a different version of how it got its name, but the most popular story is a man's suicide after the closure of the mines.

Mastodon Geothermal Park

A tourist attraction established in 1836. People used to come here to admire the unique geological landscape. Now Eden's Gate uses it as an execution site.

Chan Residence

Back in the day, the owner of the Sacred Skies Youth Camp lived here. The cabin now belongs to Jasmine Chan, a big game hunter who was recruited into Eden's Gate against her will.

Counselor’s Cabin

This used to be the counselor's cabin when the Sacred Skies Youth Camp was in operation.

Nature Cabin

It once belonged to the Sacred Skies Youth Camp. Kids would come here to learn about animals, or rest after hurting themselves on the nearby zip line.

Throne of Mercy Church

A gold rush era church run by Jerrod Wilson, a preacher and rival of Emmet Reaves in the late 1800s. The church survived until about ten years ago when the cult closed it down.

Administrator’s Cabin

This used to be the administrator's cabin when the Sacred Skies Youth Camp was in operation.

Boshaw Manor

The humble dwelling of Charlemagne Victor Boshaw IV, gentleman fire enthusiast.

King’s Hot Springs Hotel

Once a spot for the posh to "take the waters," a landslide triggered by an earthquake in 1917 closed it temporarily and made it a ghost hunter's gem. It reopened, only to close again in 1994. Eden's Gate has put it to good use.

Moonflower Trailer Park

Once the fanciest trailer park in Montana run by the Boshaws. When the economy dried up and the Boshaws did nothing to retain their tenants, people relocated to the Silver Lake trailer park in the Holland Valley.

Sinclair Residence

Frankie Sinclair dreamed of being a world class French chef. Only problem? He couldn't speak a lick of French. He worked at the King's Hot Springs Hotel until it closed in 1994.

Horned Serpent Cave

A sulfur cave that's part of the volcanically active landscape of the region. It was once an industrial site, but the cult has turned it into a mass grave for Angels who can serve the project no more.

Henbane River Station

Copperhead Rail was created in the late 1800s by Emmet Reaves. It was shut down in the early 70s after the last of the local mining industries dried up. This station has been abandoned ever since.

Grimalkin Radon Mine

Once a part of a radon spa chain, it shut down in the 60s. Guy Marvel fell in love with the aesthetic and figured it’d be the perfect place for his next movie masterpiece.

Lydia’s Cave

In 1912, some loggers saw a girl eating a goat with wolves. She was captured in this cave and brought to a doctor who named her Lydia. She escaped and was last seen deep in the wilds suckling two wolf cubs.

Whistling Beaver Brewery

This brewery and pub opened in the late 1880s. It closed in 1916-1918 for Prohibition and reopened in the 30s. Pushed out of the national market by artisanal beer, the brewery was struggling and quietly sold to Eden's Gate.

The Misery

A dredge that belonged to the Catamount Mining Company. When the mines dried up, they tried to get gold from the riverbeds, but failed and abandoned it. The Resistance tells horror stories about what goes on there now.

Faith’s Gate

A bunker under Faith's guardianship. It is shrouded in Bliss, ensuring that those who are sheltered here will not be frightened when the Collapse comes.

Feeney Residence

Home of Dwight Feeney, a prepper and chemistry aficionado who joined Eden’s Gate when they promised him an important role in the creation of Bliss.

Eden’s Altar

A place of worship for Eden’s Gate. The faithful gather to hear sermons about Joseph’s visions and plans.

Gethsemane Greenhouse

A building used to precisely control the growing conditions of plants. Whatever these plants were before, they are now Bliss flowers.

Lorna’s Truck Stop

Lorna Rawlings used her BINGO winnings to create the best place for hard-working truckers like her husband to refresh and refuel. The cult came to take the place. She said no. She hasn’t been seen since.

Henbane River Chalets

A tourist trap that was shut down by the cult. The lake view was also sought after as a filming location.

Aubrey’s Diner

One of the first places to close when the cult took over. Their grilled cheese was no good.

O’Hara’s Haunted House

A professional clown named Edward O'Hara bought a barn and turned it into a haunted house that was a Halloween tradition in Hope County. Edward himself disappeared, and people disagree on whether or not the cult got him.

Ghost Cat Mine

The old mine has been closed for decades but the headframe warehouse is still there, used by the cult to store their containers of Bliss.

The Last Best Resting Place

An old, overgrown graveyard left from the gold rush era.

Jones Residence

Home of Kanti Jones, a Blackfoot woman and ranger who used to work in Whitetail Park. She was forced into retirement when the park closed. She fought against Eden’s Gate, dying in a shootout in her home.

Nelson Residence

Home of Coyote Nelson. He tried to lay low and enjoy fishing and painting but his peaceful pastimes didn't save him.

8-Bit Pizza Bar

The presence of pizza and an arcade made this the most exciting spot for teens within a hundred miles.

Pepper Residence

Holly Pepper and her girlfriend Charlie were among the first locals to join Eden's Gate. They abandoned this house and were never heard from again. The cult turned the property into a grow op.

Hope County Jail

20 years ago, a riot caused a jail break and a bus full of escaped prisoners ran off the road somewhere in Holland Valley. Later on, the prison closed due to budget cuts. Today, the Cougar resistance takes shelter here.

Nolan’s Fly Shop

Nolan Pettis ran his fly shop and gave fishing tours happily for years, although he was never a famous outdoorsman like local celebrity Skylar Kohrs. The money for his shop dried up and he joined Eden’s Gate.

Johnson Residence

Bob and Penny Johnson struck it rich in cattle futures, then they lost everything. After such a fall from grace, Joseph’s cult seemed welcoming. They handed everything over. No one knows where they are now.

Bright Warden Radon Spa

A health spa shut down in the 60s. Eden’s Gate has been spotted going in and out of this mine, using it as a storage facility.

Prosperity

Founded by rail and lumber baron Emmett Reaves. As the industry dried up, the town died and people moved west to Fall’s End. What remains of the ghost town is now used by junkies and the homeless.

Abercrombie Residence

Home of Melvin Adams Abercrombie. He robbed a bank in the 1940s and got away with it. He used his money to build this property and to prepare for the total collapse of the global financial system.

McCallough’s Garage

Once owned by Steve McCallough. He tried to warn everyone about Eden’s Gate, and even had a getaway car and some supplies ready. One day, his shop got boarded up and Steve was nowhere to be found.

Jessop Conservatory

Dr. Rachel Jessop created this place to protect and research at-risk flora and fauna. After budget cuts gutted her funding, Eden's Gate bought her out and devoted the facilities to developing potent strains of Bliss flowers.

Harrison Lookout Tower

One of the towers built in the 1940s to spot forest fires. It was abandoned ten years ago when funding ran out and the cult bought the property. It overlooks the site of one of Clutch Nixon's legendary stunts.

Seeley’s Cabin

Residence of Dwight Seeley. He worked in the local mines and then got kicked out of his place when the cult took over.

Deer Tiger Mine

Established in 1912, this mine was closed down in the 70s. Eden’s Gate appears to use it for storage.

Puma Mine

Another relic of a bygone gold rush, the Puma Mine has been abandoned for decades.

Ancient Bison Tunnel

A closed-off tunnel. No one gets in. No one gets out.

#far cry 5 #hope county #henbane river #sherri woodhouse #wilhelmina mable #miss mable #peaches #adelaide drubman #joseph seed #sharky boshaw #guy marvel #faith seed

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sea-owl · 2 months

Text

So I made a part two to this. Hope you all like it!

AO3: Link

Felicity leaned into her sister, purposely laying her head on her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed on the oblivious Marquess Odysseus Rose of Winchester, who sat across from them. The interloper first came two weeks ago and has been here every other day since! Felicity was sick of him. What kind of cad courts a woman who is spoken for? Does he not know or care that Penelope has . . .what was that word that countess used? An understanding? An agreement? Does not matter. What matters is that the interloper is trying to ruin it!

"Have you noticed the similarities between the myth of Eros and Psyche and the story of the Beauty and the Beast?" Penelope asked the interloper as she flipped through the book her true intended gave her.

The interloper's face lit up. "Yes!" Quickly, he flipped through his own book, fairytales collected and published in 1812 by two men who call themselves the Brothers Grimm. Penelope had gushed when the interloper brought it with him today. "So many elements are the same! A beautiful woman whisked off to a magical castle where she learned she would be living with or had been married to a monster. The very same monster they later fell in love with!"

Penelope giggles and Felicity frowns. That interloper better not be getting any ideas. Being kidnapped is not romantic!

"Though I would not want to be Psyche," Penelope winced. "To be with child during those labors. . ."

Felicity looked up. "I agree! Penelope, never be like Psyche, please!"

The interloper chuckeled. "Though it does show great bravery," he added.

Felicity whipped her head around. Is this interloper plan to leave Penelope with child and have do some sort of test?! Will he leave like that George cad did to cousin Marina?!

Felicity stands, ready to throw all of her ten year old weight against the interloper when-

"Felicity!"

Felicity pouted. Drat, she gained the attention of their mama.

"Felicity why don't we give Penelope and Lord Winchester some space," Portia suggested. Though it felt more like an order.

Felicity does not want to give them space. That would only invite ungentlemanly behavior from the interloper.

"Felicity."

The youngest Featherington found her reluctantly walking towards hwr mother.

"We must not interfere less the marquess change his mind and leave your sister with no options," Portia whispered to her youngest.

Felicity's jaw dropped. No options?! Penelope has another option! All the mamas talk about how they don't take Colin Bridgerton seriously as a potential suitor due to his. . .his. . .oh, what was the word several of the mamas used again? Understanding? Yes, understanding! No matchmaking mama saw Colin Bridgerton as a potential suitor due to his understanding with Penelope!

Portia waves Felicity off, her scheming face now in place. Felicity turns towards her father, hoping he would come to defend Felicity's favorite sister and future brother, but of course, Lord Featherington still hides behind his newspaper.

Felicity has to stop herself from stomping to the window, lest her mama acolds her again. Hopefully, her future brother will be here soon. He was almost over as much as the interloper.

Felicity crawled into the window seat and huffed when she saw no sight of her future brother. Was he that secure with his understanding with Penelope that he had no fear of the interloper? Well, Felicity will have to change that.

Thank all that was holy that marquess did not stay long after. But did he have to kiss her sister’s hand?! Felicity felt her hackels raise. No, this man WILL NOT break up her sister and Felicity's favorite future brother! As soon as she watched Marquess Rose drive off in his carriage, Felicity took off sprinting across the street with a quick word she was visiting Hyacinth.

The Bridgerton butler, Humboldt, open the door. "Miss Featherington, Miss Hyacinth isn't here at the moment but I can-"

"I'm here to see Colin!" Felicity blurted out, trying to catch her breath.

Humboldt stared at the ten year old girl for one moment then two.

"Please its important."

Just as she was afraid he was going to deny her the butler let her in and had her wait in one of the drawing rooms.

Felicity found herself pacing. Colin needed to hurry up that marquess could be thinking up ways to ruin her sister at this very moment! Colin needs to go court Penelope more than he ever has before! Should they get flowers? Yes, flowers are always nice!

"Felicity what's wrong-"

"We must make haste to the florist!" Felicity declared, trying to push Colin out the door he just came in.

"Felicity!"

"We must get something beautiful! But no yellow!" Felicity pauses. "AND NO ROSES!" Can't have Penelope associating the flowers with that stupid marquess.

Colin turned around, grabbing hold of Felicity's shoulders he kneeled down so they were eye level. "Felicity what is going on? Why do we need to go to a florist?"

Felicity huffed. Could he not ask on their way to the florist? "Marquess Odysseus Rose," Felicity spat the name, "has called upon Penelope yet again! He will not leave us alone and he is trying to take my sister away! Mama has hinted marriage between him and Penelope and we can not allow that to happen!"

Colin froze before Felicity finished her sentence. "Marquess Rose was at your house today?"

"Yes!" Felicity cried frustrated. "We can not allow him to out court you for Penelope's hand! Now we must make haste to the florist!"

Colin stiffly stood. "Yes, let's. Perhaps we'll also stop at the bookstore and maybe get Penelope a new handkerchief as well."

"Oh yes!" Felicity agreed, taking Colin's offered arm like she would do with one of her sisters. "Something with a pretty lace border! Also may I suggest the Brothers Grimm?"

There is no need for the interloper to bring the book over anymore if Penelope has her own copy, courtesy of her true suitor.

#bridgerton #polin #felicity featherington #odysseus rose #colin bridgerton #penelope featherington

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ao719 · 1 year

Text

The Pact (Part 10)

This is a submission for @choicesflashfics, using prompt #1, “You’re an ass!” -> “But you love me.”

Song inspo: Hopeful Heart - Jason Walker

A/N: This is an au mini series to my Hopeless Hearts story. Thank you to @burnsoslow for prereading! Please excuse any errors.

Book/Pairing: TRR; Liam x OC (Aria)

Rating: M • Warnings: None but some mild language and innuendos.

Word count: 2197

Catch up here

Staring out the window, Liam watched the island of Delphios come into view as the jet broke through the clouds; his fingers drummed against his thighs with both anticipation and nerves as they began their descent to the ground.

The others had stayed behind in Mykonos; Rashad had called for his jet to take them back to Cordonia while Liam left to go to Aria.

“She’s in love with you.” Lea’s words had played on repeat in Liam’s mind since he left. “That night we all went out to the beer garden after you got back from training, she was planning on telling you how she felt …” Aria’s behavior that night — her awkwardness with him at the bar, her silence around the fire, her spilling their three-year long secret to the group — made a whole lot more sense now. And her avoidance of him after that night did too.

They had spent three years sabotaging one another’s relationships, but Liam never thought that Aria’s reasoning for doing so would be the same as his.

They started out despising one another, being the two foes among their group of friends, using one another to scratch an itch while affirming their detestment of each other and vowing it would always stay that way … but along the way, things changed.

Moments they shared shifted into more intimate and passionate, and vulnerability started to peek through the cracks of their facade.

Both their stubbornness and pride got in the way, however.

Not anymore.

Once the jet landed, Liam instructed Bastien to stay behind as he slipped into the SUV that was waiting on the tarmac by himself and drove off, heading for Aria’s townhouse.

When he pulled up out front, Liam jumped out and ran up the stairs to the door, frantically knocking. He stepped back, leaning to peer into the windows. “Aria!” he called out as he tapped the windows before knocking on the door again. There was no answer. A growl escaped him as he walked down the stairs, his mind churning. He hurried back to the vehicle and slid inside, thinking of one other place she could be.

A short drive later, Liam pulled up outside of Javier and Mariana’s house; he’d spent plenty of nights inside the pool house with Aria before she got her own place. He ran to the front door and knocked.

A moment later, the door opened, and Javier greeted him with a curious smile. “Prince Liam,” he bowed.

“Hello,” Liam panted, slightly out of breath, as he nodded in acknowledgment. “I’m, uh … I was looking for Aria.”

“She’s not here,” Javier shook his head, and Liam couldn’t hide his disappointment; he threw his head back with a frustrated growl. “She stopped by about an hour ago to get the keys to the villa; your father requested to have the main floor repainted and redecorated, so I asked for her help and expertise.”

“So she’s at the villa now?” Liam asked eagerly.

“Yes, sir,” Javier nodded.

Liam turned, running toward the SUV as he threw his hand up in a wave. “Thank you, Javier!” he shouted without looking back.

****

Standing in the cockpit of the speedboat, Liam gripped the helm when the vessel slightly lifted off the water after hitting a small wave as he made his way from the marina to the royal family’s private island. When the beach came into view, he upped his speed, bypassing the dock before making a hard turn and swinging the boat back around. He shut off the motor, letting it glide toward the platform as he grabbed the rope; before it came to a stop, he jumped out, quickly tying it into place before turning toward the villa.

After making his way up the beach to the terrace, Liam came to a stop when he spotted Aria through the open door; she was inside, holding up color swatches against the wall. “I don’t think I’m too keen on that color blue.”

At the sound of his voice, Aria whirled around to meet his gaze. “Liam?”

“Hi …”

Aria stared at him for a moment. “What are you doing here?”

“I mean, it is my family’s villa,” Liam teased.

With a scoff, Aria stepped onto the terrace to where her book of color swatches was on the table. “Your opinion on color schemes isn’t needed or wanted.”

“Oh, you know I’m always happy to help,” Liam jested.

Aria sighed. “I didn’t realize you were making a pit stop here on your way back. I wouldn’t have come today had I known.”

“It was a special pit stop … so I could talk to you,” Liam said. She looked up at him, furrowing her brows. “I, um … I wanted to apologize about last night. I know you were telling me the truth about what you saw.”

“And you came all the way here just to apologize to me?” Aria questioned.

“Yeah,” Liam nodded. “I would have done so back in Mykonos, but ya know, you left,” he quipped.

“Well … apology accepted,” Aria said casually. “So … what made you change your mind?”

“It wasn’t so much about changing my mind. I knew you were telling the truth, I just … didn’t really want to believe my brother would do that to me … which, he kind of didn’t … even though he did …”

Aria gave him a look. “What?”

“Long story short, he didn’t have all the information. But none of that matters either way. I, uh … I ended things … with Jacqueline.”

Aria subtly stiffened at his words before she shook off the surprise. “That’s good … good for you, I mean,” she nodded as nonchalantly as she could while flipping through her book. “At least you seem … ok with it ending.”

Liam shook his head with a smile at her pretending not to care. “I am ok with it,” he nodded. “So, tell me … why did you leave early?”

Aria knitted her brows. “Why would I want to stay and endure a plane ride with you after our little argument?”

“Please, Aria. We’ve been arguing for over three years,” Liam retorted. “That’s never made you leave any other time. In fact, our arguments usually ended up the opposite,” he smirked.

Aria ignored the latter part of his comment. “I just … didn’t want to stay.”

“Why?” Liam pressed.

“Because I didn’t,” Aria chided. “And why do you even care?”

“I just find it odd …”

“Find what odd?”

Liam rubbed the stubble on his chin as he feigned thinking. “I mean … you tell me what you saw … and you got so upset that I accused you of sabotaging — which, for the record,” he looked at her, “despite our truce, wasn’t some far-fetched assumption I made considering our history — but you got upset enough about it that you left. Call me crazy, but it just feels like there was something more to it …”

“No,” Aria scoffed. “I thought — I just — you’re crazy. There wasn’t more to it.”

“Mmhmm,” Liam hummed with a smirk; she was getting flustered, so he knew he was headed in the right direction. He just needed to poke a little more. “Can I ask you something?” She studied him for a moment before nodding. “What did you mean when you asked me why I thought you stopped coming around?”

Again, Aria subtly stiffened as she looked away. “I … didn’t mean anything,” she lied.

“What did you mean?” Liam repeated; he knew what she meant, but he wanted to hear her say it.

Aria shook her head, staring down at her book. “It doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t believe that. If that were the case, you wouldn’t have said it at all.”

“You’re reading too much into it,” Aria countered.

Liam shook his head. “I don’t think that I am.”

Aria shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure what you’re looking for me to say here, Liam.”

“I want you to cut the shit and tell me the truth,” Liam replied. “What did you mean?”

Aria looked at him again. “It was nothing.”

“You’re lying,” Liam sing-songed.

“Why would I lie?”

“I don’t know. You tell me,” Liam continued to prod. “Again, you wouldn’t have said it if there wasn’t some meaning behind it.” He watched her tense her jaw. “Tell me what you meant.”

“What the hell do you want to hear, Liam?” Aria spat as she looked at him again. “That while you were away for your training I actually missed you? That I was pissed at myself because when I finally got my shit together and acknowledged the feelings that I had for you and wanted to talk to you about it, I was too late because you had someone else? That I stopped coming around because it was too damn hard for me to see you and Jacqueline together? Is that what you want to hear?”

Liam licked his lips as they began to quirk up in a smile. “I mean, it’s a start.” She shot him a look. “So, tell me … what exactly are you saying, Aria?”

“That I’m in love with you, you idiot!” Aria blurted out.

Liam chuckled as her eyes widened at her confession and she covered her mouth with her hand. “I know you are,” he chirped.

Dropping her hand away from her mouth, Aria narrowed her eyes. “Do not presume you know how I feel about you! I mean, yes, I just said it … but you didn’t know before!”

Liam snorted. “I mean, I kind of did. Lea told me.”

Aria let out an exasperated breath. “God, you’re an ass!”

“But you love me,” Liam grinned.

Aria let out a grumble as she stared up at him. “So, you came all the way here just to taunt me about it, then?” Liam didn’t respond as he started walking towards her. “You’re going to try and use this against me now? Hold it over my head? I’ve kicked myself in the ass enough, so if you think that you—”

“Shut. Up, Aria,” Liam interrupted before he captured her lips in his. His arms curled around her, and she sighed into the kiss as it deepend, pressing her hands against his chest to steady herself. When he slowly drew back, he looked at her, watching her eyes flutter open to meet his gaze; she looked a little bewildered. “I love you, too,” he whispered.

Aria swallowed thickly. “Wh-What?”

Liam’s expression softened as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Aria … I just didn’t think you felt or ever would feel the same.”

“Liam …” Aria let out a breath.

“I sabotaged your relationships not just because I thought it was funny,” Liam quietly chuckled. “But because I didn’t want to see you with anyone else. I wanted you for myself, but I was too stubborn to admit it to you. And I meant what I said that night at the beer garden, that I’m in a place where I want something serious … but I only ever wanted something serious with you. And I still do … if you want the same, that is.”

Aria thought back to that night and something he had said. “I mean, maybe … maybe if we were on the same page, things could be different, but …” She closed her eyes, subtly shaking her head at her own blindness over what he was actually trying to say; she wondered what would have happened if she had just told him that night how she felt as she intended. She opened her eyes and looked back up at him as he stared at her with a hopeful glint in his eyes. She curled her hands around the back of his neck and drew his lips back to hers, kissing him in response as his arms tightened their grip around her waist.

Liam backed Aria up, pinning her body between his and the wall of the terrace as his tongue curled against hers. He tugged her bottom lip between his teeth as he slowly drew back. “Is that a yes?” he whispered.

“What exactly are you asking me, Liam?” Aria teased.

“To be mine. Only mine.” Aria bit her lip as his fingers brushed against the exposed skin of her hip where the hem of her shirt was raised. Seeing her expression and hearing the shuddered breath he drew from her, he smirked as he leaned in, brushing his lips against her ear. “I need you to say it,” he whispered as his fingers continued to tease her skin. “It’s been eight months, Aria, and I want to absolutely ruin you in the most passionate way possible, but I need you to say that you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” Aria breathed in reply.

As soon as she spoke the words, Liam’s lips were back on hers as he pulled her away from the wall; they stumbled inside the villa and up the stairs toward his room, leaving a trail of their shedded clothes scattered along the way.

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

Perma Tags (if you’d like to be added or removed for this story, please let me know): @zaffrenotes @cocomaxley @emichelle @sweetest-marbear @indiacater @gibbles82 @the-soot-sprite @ladyangel70 @esmckenzie @dcbbw @burnsoslow @bbrandy2002 @txemrn @charlotteg234 @kat-tia801 @neotericthemis @foreverethereal123 @choiceskatie @sirbeepsalot @debramcg1106 @gnatbrain @ofpixelsandscribbles @openheart12 @sincerelyella @superharriet @queenrileyrose @aestheticartsx @kingliam2019 @indiana-jr @bascmve01 @rainbowsinthestorm @emkay512 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @forallthatitsworth @walker7519 @iaminlovewithtrr @amandablink @mainstreetreader @mom2000aggie @princessleac1 @21-wishes @appleone @tessa-liam @pixelatedpassion @malblk21 @lovingchoices14 @nestledonthaveone @forthebrokenheartedthings @nomadics-stuff @differenttyphoonwerewolf

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fbfh · 1 year

Text

light up the dark - Leo Valdez x reader [XVI]

wc: 2.7k

genre: TOOTH ROTTING FLUFF. that's it. gutwrenching nausiating fluff and emotional growth. I warned you.

pairing: Leo Valdez x goth!child of eros!fem reader

warnings: Apollo dropping a classic "I'm proud of you, kid" moment, reader has to adjust to nice safe good feelings, Harley being a feral 11 year old, Leo goes full texas mode for a minute, descriptions of camp that will make you homesick for it :')

summary: you finally make your way back to camp with your new boyfriend and new friends, and for the first time in your life, you think you know what inner peace feels like. Also, camp is just as amazing as Leo described it.

song recs: writer in the sun - donovan, proof - paramore, bad idea (reprise) - waitress obc, the cheap bouquet - pierce the veil, heaven is a place on earth - belinda carlisle, the campfire song - the lightning thief musical, happy - marina, crazier - taylor swift, how far we've come - matchbox twenty

a/n: THERE'S ONLY ONE PART AFTER THIS AND ITS MAKING ME EMOTIONAL!!!!!!!!!! honestly how far we've come is giving end credits music. Idk what to do with myself after this tbh

tags @yesv01 @magcon7280 @avashaye @perseajohnson @afidiofobia @thatmultifandomloser @yelenabel0vaswife @almostjollypizza @fictionalcomforts @lizziebitch33 @jacksondeeznuts @girlfriendwhoseawitch @urmum-xoxo @Asunnyhunny @dustyinkpages @cowboylikekelsey @legramilis @youkissedareaderinthedark @mrscarolscaramoucheplease @cosmiq-cloud @anything-forourmoony @i-dont-remember-a-lot @chasingpj @1dpjohoohp @mystic-writings @babiesimagines @dreamerball @demirunner @if-only-i-was-fictional @inthehoneymoonwithconnorrk800 @kiara7777

You’re about half way through your iris message with Chiron, explaining your side of the story and how everything went down, that you found the sundial and are ready to come back to camp. Suddenly, he freezes, staring blankly behind you. He coughs awkwardly, nodding and gesturing behind you. You feel something warm on the back of your neck and turn around to see Apollo standing behind you. You jump up suddenly, startled at his presence. Your heart thuds in your chest and you try to come down from the spike of adrenaline coursing through you. He looks at you kindly. It throws you off, you’re still not used to people looking at you like that.

“I knew you could do it.” He says softly. You glance over at Leo through the doorway and he follows your gaze, watching the way you look at him. The way Apollo is looking at you, you can tell he doesn’t just mean finding the sundial. He shrugs, sighing.

“I suppose it makes sense that she would hide it in the most horrific, off putting vessel imaginable…” A sense of peace overcomes you as he speaks. It’s strangely comforting, a feeling you hope you can get used to.

“Yeah, that does describe Eldritch Deity furby pretty well, ” you agree, picking him up from his spot on the couch.

You smooth his crunchy fur, trancing your finger over the newly installed battery pack Leo just finished fixing up. Apollo shudders at the sight of him. You think back to a little while ago, when you finally spilled your guts and told Leo how you feel, when you finally got everything off your chest. You gaze down at Eldritch Deity furby’s horrifying face, and remember how Leo held you, how sweetly he kissed you and touched you. Part of you can’t believe you really did that, you really told him how you feel, and he feels the same way right back. Your gaze softens, head still spinning with his touch. It doesn’t feel real, but he’s been looking at you differently ever since, and that’s all the proof you need.

Overwhelmed by a sudden sense of gratitude, you look back up to thank him, but he’s gone. You look around, but he vanished without a trace. Before you can wonder where he went, Jason enters, holding a printed out piece of paper.

“So apparently,” he starts, irritation evident in his voice as he fidgets with his glasses, “after we pack up, we have to do all these chores before we leave. Including…”

He skims the list.

“Mowing the lawn.”

You both sigh in frustration.

“That sounds like so much fun.” You deadpan, voice dripping with sarcasm. Your eyes widen in surprise when you actually get a laugh out of Jason, before you part ways to pack your stuff and tackle this massive list of chores.

You spend most of the rest of the day getting the house back to rights, and by that evening, you’re all piled up in the camp van. You cruise down byways and highways and freeways, getting steadily closer to Camp. The hum of the van is a relaxing white noise, and the rumbling of the car is comforting as you cruise down the highway, occasionally passing under green signs overhead, directing traffic on how to get to various places other than your destination. You’re riding shotgun, and the car seat is comfy and worn in. You trace your black nails along the ripped edges of the leather on the arm rest, and find that your gaze keeps landing on Leo in the driver’s seat next to you.

It’s warming up, and you drive with the windows down. Fresh air swirls through the camp van, blowing everyone’s hair around, and it leaves you feeling refreshed. The snow has melted, and the only place you see it is piled up in parking lots, shoved out of the way by snow plows. Everyone else is piled into the back of the van, squished in the rows of seats, paired off and sleeping or talking quietly. Your phone is plugged into the car speakers, and in spite of the angsty music Leo insisted you play, everyone else seems to be sleeping pretty soundly.

“What’s this one?” Leo asks, nodding along to the beat.

“The Cheap Bouquet by Pierce the Veil.” You answer automatically. He smiles, and you watch him tap the steering wheel. You feel your face flush, and you look away from him and out the window. You never thought someone as amazing and warm as him even existed, much less would like your taste in music. You continue to drive through the darkening sunset as your playlist titled song recs shuffles. You had time to put one together before you left, composed of all your favorite emo music to show Leo. In spite of the edgy guitars and perfectly rough vocals, it feels quiet. It’s another strange feeling, and another one you hope to get accustomed to.

The air flows into the van, smelling like summer, and Leo reaches over for your hand, holding it in his. The feeling of his fingers grazing across your knuckles makes your chest squeeze and your stomach flip. You lean into it, slowly settling into the feeling of your hand in his, and soon you’re in another quiet paracosm with just the two of you. And Vic Fuentes. Leo smiles and squeezes your hand.

“I think you’re really gonna like camp.” He states. You never would have believed someone telling you that you’d love a summer camp, but the way he says it, it’s hard not to believe him.

“Yeah?” You muse, looking over at him, watching the way his eyes light up and sparkle when he talks about it. “What’s it like?”

He smiles at you, and his chest fills with that warmth he only gets around you. He starts rambling about camp and how great it is, and he’s reminded of the first car trip you took together, just you and him and Jason. You listened to Palaye Royale and he told you about camp. It feels like years ago, but he remembers it like it was yesterday.

“Eros cabin is number 39, I think,” he continues after you listen to him ramble about how great camp is for a few minutes. “I don’t think there are any other children of Eros at camp right now, but if you get lonely I’m sure Aphrodite cabin won’t mind having you sleep over.”

The note of humor in his voice makes you laugh. You’re both well aware that the only sleepovers you like are the ones where Leo makes your head spin and your legs shake, but you catch a glimpse of Piper in the rear view mirror, playing a game on her switch. She has headphones in and doesn’t notice you looking at her, but she scoffs in annoyance as she loses the level she’s on again. Piper is okay in your book, all of Leo’s friends are. She’s kind of cool.

“That doesn’t sound… terrible…” you murmur, and Leo smiles, nudging you playfully.

“See?” He beams, “We’re gonna have you making lanyards and french braiding hair before you know it.”

You suppress a loud laugh, one he shares.

“Well, I guess if I have to…” You mutter. Leo looks at you again, and once again, he sees it. He sees that thinly veiled wall of disinterest masking your excitement. Except this time, it’s more playful than it used to be. Your chilly demeanor has become an inside joke, a bit for you to go back and forth with. He smiles, squeezing your hand in his before lifting it up. He presses a soft kiss to the back of your knuckles, and your skin feels electric where his lips meet it. You turn away again, staring out the window to try and hide how flustered you are. Leo just smiles. As you both breathe in the refreshing air that smells like the beginnings of summer, he thinks there will be plenty of time to get you all the way warmed up to him and his friends. The seasons are back to normal, and you have all the time in the world to get used to being loved. He’s looking forward to being the one who helps to get you there.

By the time you finally get back to camp, it’s late at night. Really late. You expect to crash in your cabin, and catch up with Chiron in the morning. Even though you’re exhausted as you trudge up the hill, with the scent of strawberries wafting around you on the breeze, you have no idea how you’re going to sleep. Everything Leo and his friends have told you about camp makes it sound like heaven, and you really don’t want to have to wait until morning to get to experience it. As you walk over the hill and camp finally comes into view, it’s nothing like you expected.

To your right is a large amphitheater, with a roaring bonfire in full blast. Tons of people are seated, and even more are walking around, chatting and roasting marshmallows. Lights are strung throughout the trees, and a few people are playing guitars and other instruments, leading a singalong. It looks so warm and inviting. You’re filled with a visceral sense of longing, wishing for the first time that you could be right in the middle of the crowd. Your friends laugh in delight at the surprise that everyone’s still up, and presumably waiting for you all. It wakes them from their drowsy stupor, and they push through fatigue down the hill and toward the amphitheater. Leo smiles at you before reaching for your hand.

“Come on,” he smiles, dragging you into the fray.

Someone spots you all approaching, and everyone else notices quickly after that. A cheer sweeps through the crowd and the fire blazes, doubling in height and glowing gold. A few people run forward and tackle Annabeth and Piper with hugs. You laugh in shock, not expecting such a warm welcome so late at night. You turn to Leo, but before you can say anything, he gets tackled in a hug too. Leo laughs, hugging the 11 year old back. He greets Leo with a yell, then begins talking at the speed of light.

“...it’s been so boring without you!” Leo laughs, setting him down and ruffling his hair.

“I missed you too, H-meister! Have any trouble holding down the fort?” The kid considers, then shrugs. “I only blew up a couple things while you were gone.”

Leo considers, then high fives him.

“Not bad.” Leo glances over to you, then drags the kid over, introducing you.

“This is Harley, my half brother.”

Harley looks between you and Leo, a little unsure, before Leo nudges him.

“Uh- nice to meet you.” Harley says. You weren’t expecting to socialize so much this late at night, but you can tell Harley is really important to Leo. You consider how to make a good impression. You greet him back, scrambling for something to break the ice a little.

“So, you… explode things?”

His face lights up.

“Yeah! We were working on this animatronic thing in Bunker 9, and we wound it up so fast it caught fire!” “Wow,” you agree, impressed that he knows so much about engineering at such a young age. Then again, if he’s Leo’s half brother, you’re not surprised the kid’s a genius. He tells you more about recent explosions, before he turns back to Leo. “Oh, Nyssa’s looking for you. She had something to tell you, I’ll go find her. Be right back!”

He runs off before you or Leo can say anything else. You both chuckle, and Leo guides you further into the crowd, looking for Chiron and introducing you to some people along the way. Eventually you find him, and he’s taller than he looked through iris messages. He’s also half horse, which is a little surprising. Annabeth sees the shocked look on your face from a few feet away and nudges Percy, who’s reminded of the first time he saw Chiron like this too. Leo introduces you for the first time in person, and Chiron smiles.

“We’re all delighted to have you here.” Someone sets off fireworks somewhere behind you, and everyone starts cheering. Chiron laughs. “Clearly.”

“This is one hell of a welcoming committee,” Leo chuckles, and Chiron agrees.

“Yes, well, I tried to keep everything regarding your arrival back at camp under wraps, but… the word got out somehow, I suppose.”

He tries to sound like he really needed to be convinced to let everyone stay up late to greet you and welcome you back, but you and Leo can both tell he’s glad you all have reason to celebrate. He shoos you off to greet the rest of your friends and get something to eat. After a few more introductions, and some of the best barbeque you’ve ever had in your life - you threw in an extra piece for Apollo, thanking him for helping you to get her, believing that you could tell Leo how you feel - Leo drags you away to a more secluded area. Wherever there aren’t any instruments and singalongs, there are CD players scattered around, playing lively music and keeping the good vibes going.

He pulls you away to a little grassy spot, illuminated by soft twinkle lights and soaked in moonlight. A country song is playing nearby, and even though you know you would hate it anywhere else, it sounds nice here. You get why people like it. Leo looks at you warmly, soaking in this moment between the two of you.

“So, how are you liking it so far?”

You take in the scenery, all the beautiful nature and architecture and worn wooden signs that make this place already feel like you belong here. You struggle to find a single flaw.

“The heat sucks…” You reply lightly, and it’s obvious to both of you that you don’t actually care about the heat that much, but it’s the only complaint you can think of. “Yeah,” Leo sighs, looking around, “This is nothing compared to Texas summers.”

You look back at him, raising your eyebrows in shock.

“Oh?” Surprise is evident on your face, and he realizes he never mentioned he’s from Houston before now. “I had no idea you’re a country boy…”

Leo seizes the opportunity, tilting an imaginary cowboy hat and bringing out his southern drawl.

“Born and raised, ma’am.”

You let out a beautiful, unreserved laugh, and he’s sure it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever gotten out of you yet. You have no idea if it’s the atmosphere of camp that lives up to every good thing Leo said about it, or the let down from all the ass kicking and chaos of the last several days, but when Leo pulls you close to him and starts dancing to the country song playing around you, you finally realize that you can’t fight the butterflies you get around him. More importantly, you don’t want to anymore. He twirls you in his arms, spinning you around until you laugh again.

You don’t care that he can tell this is making you flustered, you don’t care about how people see you anymore. You throw yourself in his arms, letting yourself feel happy and excited to the fullest extent. No one’s even staring at you, not in this little cozy spot you find yourselves in, but you really wouldn’t care if they were. You think that if this feeling stays, camp won’t be so bad. You might even like it. You might even love it. And you think that maybe anything could be fun if you do it with Leo. You know for sure that you plan to find out. He pulls you close, bringing his face right up to yours until your noses are brushing. He gazes at you with that sweet, sparkly look in his eyes, and he wants to kiss you. Before he does, he brushes his thumb across your lips, and breathes so softly no one else would hear it.

“Welcome home.”

#light up the dark #leo valdez #leo valdez x reader #leo valdez fluff #heroes of olympus #heroes of olympus x reader #heroes of olympus fluff #HES SO HES HE HES VERY

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spacebarbarianweird · 4 months

Note

Hi!! I love your headcanons, especially the last one you posted of a Monk!Tav! If it's okay, would you be willing to write headcanons about a Tav with chronic pain? My idea was of a Tav who uses forearm crutches due to chronic pain, but still learns to fight and/or cast spells and such despite this. I use crutches myself but I still practice capoeira (it's actually not as difficult as I though it'd be, surprisingly!), so I always wondered how Astarion would feel about a character like that.

Also I'd really like to read about Astarion navigating physical intimacy with someone who can't do certain things (stay too long in one position, move in certain ways when back/legs/hips hurt, etc) because of the chronic pain, if you'd like to add that in.

I love this prompt! Because it requires me to do research.

Let me know if I wrote something wrong.

Astarion x Tav With Chronic Pain

Masterlist

Headcanons

Many years ago, you were severely hurt.

It was the dark magic, the necrotic damage.

So painful and disgusting, you were blessed to be unconscious.

You recovered. Thanks to the healing potions.

Wounds healed. Bones mended.

But the pain remained.

It follows you like a shadow, like a ghost, like an intrusive thought.

Sometimes, you forget about it.

But it reminds of itself when you least expect it.

You've tried to heal it, but as with any sickness bestowed by dark magic, it will never fully go.

Sometimes, it is so bad you have to use crutches because you almost can't move.

The tadpole, though, suppresses it, and you forget that you ever had this chronic pain.

It returns the moment you are free.

The pain is so unbearable you want to cut your arms off.

You barely manage to get into the inn, and you stay there in the fetal position.

Unable to move a finger.

Soon after sunset, you hear familiar steps and the familiar weight on the bed.

"What is it, my sweet?" he playfully asks, only to see you are in pain.

Maybe he has witnessed this condition before or it is just too familiar, but Astarion immediately recognized it.

He brings you water to drink and then a medicinal ointment he'd probably stolen.

"Sit up," he orders and starts massaging your hands, rubbing the ointment into the skin.

It prickles, but the feeling is nice.

Then he does the same with your legs and back.

You felt like a doll in his hands, but you didn't mind.

Then, he brought you food and fed you with a spoon.

You feel relaxed and sleepy. The pain is still there, but it's not that bad.

Astarion hesitates to lie beside you, but you manage to find the way you both feel comfortable.

You keep being adventurers, but it has its complications.

Sometimes you just can't move. Sometimes, you need crutches (and for these periods you always stay somewhere safe). Astarion is always ready to carry you in his hands, but sometimes you prefer not to be touched.

Which he understands perfectly. He has his times when he doesn't want to be touched.

From time to time, you are in such pain you cry, and Astarion stays with you until it gets better.

You know a thousand ways to help him with his nightmares and traumas.

He knows a thousand ways to ease your pain.

You are each other's burdens, but together it's much easier to go through the night.

Tag list

@tugoslovenka @marcynomercy @wintersire @vixstarria @not-so-lost-after-all @ashiro20 @theearthsfinalconfession @herstxrgirl @starlight-ipomoea @micropoe10 @astarion-imagine-archive @veillsar @elora-the-slutty-songstress @fayeriess @lumienyx @tallymonster @caitlincat-95 @tragedybunny @valeprati @lynnlovesthestars @marina-and-the-memes @waking-electric @ayselluna @connorsui @asterordinary

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sincerely-sofie · 20 days

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Do songs that you listen often to ever remind you of characters or events from TPiaG or other stories you've written? It happens to me a lot with stuff from a story with OCs I've been helping my best friend make for years now.

Anyways, I'm asking about it because a song from my playlist reminded me a lot of Twig when I heard it while driving the other day. I had heard the song a million times before, but when I was thinking about the lyrics more they seemed to perfectly fit her internal conflict. The song was Blurt by Mega Mango if you want to take a listen.

The song is definitely just about dealing with mental health issues in general, but my PMD brainrot made it so that this was all I could think about after my epiphany. On that note, I want to offer you a congratulations for writing characters so well that they takes over my brain from time to time. I greatly appreciate it. :D

First up: Thanks so much for your kind words! Second: Oh my goodness. My friend, you are opening up Pandora's Box.

TPiaG doesn't have as many songs associated with it as my other projects because it hasn't been in development for several years— however, a vital part of my story development process is listening to music and imagining all the animatics of the characters and storyline that I want to make set to them. I do this for every project that sufficiently resonates with the blorbo frequency in my brain, and TPiaG is no exception!

In terms of songs that embody specific events but aren't connected to a single character, I regularly listen to “Turn the Lights off” by Tally Hall and imagine a sort of extended theme song animation for if TPiaG were an animated series. There's so many lines that mention concepts important to the story!

Another animatic song, this one set in the Dark Future when Twig was human and starting her and Grovyle's quest to save the world, is "Running Out Of Time" by Lin-Manuel Miranda--- specifically the stretch spanning at roughly 1:10 to the end of the song. I have a very vivid image of Twig repeatedly shouting at Grovyle that they need to abscond ASAP as he frantically gathers supplies that spilled out of his bag while they're being pursued by the sableye, and then of Dusknoir being dismissed by a ferryman as he's interrogating him on which way they went.

I also still listen to “Let's Get This Over With” by They Might be Giants and imagine the rest of that one unfinished animatic I posted forever ago. That song isn't as blatantly connected to the events of the game, but there's a few anchor points in the lyrics I really enjoy.

As for individual characters and songs I associate with them, here’s a selection with links to Spotify for easy listening!

Twig:

"Hey, Doctor Doctor" by Milk in the Microwave

"Monster" by Half Moon Run

"Smile" by Ukuletea

"Feelings Are Fatal" by mxmtoon

... And now, "Blurt" by Mega Mango as well!

Ark:

"Problems" by Mother Mother

"Rule #21- Momento Mori" by Fish in a Birdcage

"What You Know" by Two Door Cinema Club

Kip:

"I'm Not Fine" by Blixemi

"Don't Throw Out My Legos" by AJR

"Just Take My Wallet" by Jack Stauber’s Micropop

Grovyle:

"The Villain I Appear to Be" covered by Annapantsu

"Surface Pressure" covered by Annapantsu

(I don't know why both of these songs are specifically the versions sung by Annapantsu. Apparently she's Grovyle-coded in my head.)

Celebi:

(Insert any bubblegum pop or kawaii future bass song of your choice here.)

(Celebi has somehow evaded my ability to assign her songs. I’ll get her someday.)

Dusknoir:

"I'll Be Good" by Jaymes Young

"Never Love an Anchor" by The Crane Wives

"I Was Me" by Imagine Dragons

Twig's Aunt:

"Family Jewels" by Marina and the Diamonds

"In Fact (Demo Version)" By Gregory and the Hawk

"Ain't It Fun" by Paramore

Twig's Mother:

"Brother" by Madds Buckley

And for those who'd enjoy some Travailshipping songs...

"You Are The Moon" by The Hush Sound

"Dark Clay" by Levi Weaver

"When the Day Met the Night" by Panic! at the Disco

"Can I Have the Day With You" by Sam Ock

"Tongues & Teeth" by The Crane Wives

#the present is a gift au #travailshipping #ark/twig #pmd darkrai #pmd2 partner #pmd grovyle #pmd celebi #pmd dusknoir #pokemon mystery dungeon #pokémon mystery dungeon #pmd explorers #pmd sky #pmd eos #pmd2 #pmd #sofie answers asks

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englishstrawbie · 9 months

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Saw your prompt list. Could you do Marina “ you can talk to about anything, you know. “ please and thank you!

Maya leans against the door and watches her wife rock back and forth on her chair. The porch has become her favourite place to sit in the evenings, appreciating the cool breeze that eases the intensity of the summer heat. Even her Italian blood is struggling with the heatwave that currently scorches the city.

She sits with a book in her lap, unopened and ignored tonight, her eyes locked on the tree at the bottom of the garden. She has talked about building a treehouse for the child they are struggling to conceive. Tomorrow marks two weeks since their last round of IVF and Maya knows that she will be thinking about what the pregnancy test might show.

But it is not that which has made her so quiet this evening. Her silence can be attributed to the unexpected appearance of Vincenzo DeLuca two days ago.

He had turned up at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, as if it was perfectly normal for him to show up unannounced to see his daughter. There was no mention of the fact that he has been missing from her life over the last three years, that most of her calls and messages go unanswered, that he never calls on the anniversary of Andrew’s death, that last year he forgot her birthday.

He had taken them out for dinner, wanted to get to know Maya, been interested in her work and keen to see their new home – and then he had failed to show up to breakfast this morning. He had sent Carina a text just after lunch to explain that he had caught a flight to Los Angeles to meet with an old friend to discuss a research project he is developing.

And just like that, he is gone from her life again.

Maya steps out onto the porch, the wooden boards creaking under her feet and catching Carina’s attention. She turns her head and smiles at Maya as she pulls the second chair closer and sits down beside her.

“You doing okay?”

Carina nods, although her eyes give away her sadness. Maya reaches out and takes her hand.

“Maybe he’ll do better at keeping in touch now,” Maya says, trying to be positive.

Carina scoffs and Maya knows it is futile trying to make her feel better.

“I just…” Carina trails off.

“What?” Maya prompts.

Carina shakes her head. “Nothing.”

“Hey,” Maya says, squeezing her hand gently, “you can talk to me about anything, you know.”

“I know, bambina,” Carina says. “It’s just… I’m scared that, if we have children…”

“When we have children,” Maya interjects.

Carina smiles. “…when we have children…” She pauses to take a long, shaky breath. “I’m going to be like him.”

“No,” Maya says immediately. “You don’t have the markers, you have regular catch ups with Doctor Cole. We would know by now.” She turns in her seat. “And even if it did happen, you would get treated and we’d manage it. You wouldn’t be like your dad in any way.”

“No, Maya, that’s not what scares me,” Carina says.

Maya frowns, confused. “Then what is it?”

“What if the way he was as a dad wasn’t because of his bipolar? Maybe he’s just a crappy father who doesn’t know how to love his children,” Carina says.

A tear falls down her cheek and she wipes it away with the back of her hand.

“What if my brain is wired the same way and I…”

“…don’t know how to love our child?” Maya finishes the question for her. “Oh, honey, I know that that is never going to happen.”

“How?”

“Because our baby isn’t even here yet and you already love them so much.” She drops her hand to Carina’s stomach. “And maybe – hopefully – our baby is in here, or maybe we have to be patient a little longer, but whenever he or she or they get here, you are going to be the best mom in the world.”

Carina wraps her hand around Maya’s, more tears falling but she doesn’t bother to hide them.

“Okay?” Maya says, as sternly as she can.

“Okay,” Carina says. She leans forward and embraces Maya in a kiss. “Although I think you might give me a chase for my money.”

Maya chuckles and runs the back of her hand across her wife’s cheek.

“Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s going to be okay,” Maya says softly. “We’re in this together, right?”

“Si… together.”

Romantic moment prompts

Thank you, Anon, for such a polite message! I hope you like what I did with it.

#station 19 #maya bishop #carina deluca #station 19 fanfiction #my fanfiction #romantic moment prompts

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blurscolours · 1 year

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The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea | Prologue

Masterlist

Summary: An attack on Arthur’s imprisoned brother Orm leaves him with no choice but to rely upon you, a friend made due to unfortunate circumstances nearly a decade ago, to provide safe haven while he restores peace to Atlantis. Suddenly tasked with sheltering a sullen former king results in a very different summer vacation than you had originally envisioned, but changes both of your lives forever.

Warnings: Alcohol Consumption, Car Breakdown

Word Count: 1503

Amnesty Bay, Maine – Summer 2012

You had been looking forward to this road trip all spring. Time to yourself, to celebrate the start of summer, off exploring the East Coast. You had planned on starting in Maine and working your way south along the coast to Boston. Reality turned out to be quite different.

Your car was by no means new. It had been well loved and well driven for many years before it came into your possession, but you had done the yearly maintenance, oil changes, inspections…None of that mattered now as it sputtered and choked on the side of a winding road overlooking the ocean. With one last shudder it completely stalled, steam ominously hissing from under the hood.

You pulled out your smartphone and sighed at the utter lack of service. Phone technology had grown by leaps and bounds…service coverage had crawled behind. You pulled out your paper map and located yourself in Amnesty Bay, stranded between the town and the lighthouse. You popped the hood, turned on your hazard lights, and grabbed your bag; sliding out of the car to get a better lay of the land.

You determined the lighthouse was definitely closer. You propped the hood open, ostensibly to take a look at the engine…it revealed none of its secrets to you. Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you turned and started up the road to the lighthouse. The walk took roughly twenty minutes, during which not a single car passed you. No bars of cell service appeared on your phone either. It was warm, thankfully, with a nice breeze off the ocean, but you were still grateful to arrive at the backdoor of the lighthouse.

You took a steadying breath and knocked firmly, suddenly realizing there was a possibility that no one was home. Your fears didn’t have time to take hold, however, as almost immediately a man came to the door with a smile.

“Can I help you?” He asked in a Kiwi accent, a tea towel over his shoulder and sleeves rolled up, obviously in the midst of the dishes.

“Hi! I’m very sorry to bother you, my car broke down a ways up the road and I was wondering if I could borrow your phone to call for a tow?”

“Absolutely! Come on in, it’s just in the kitchen. I’m Tom by the way, nice to meet you” He stepped out, holding the door with his shoulder and shaking your hand warmly on your way into the house.

You smiled brightly and introduced yourself in return. “I really appreciate it, thank you very much.”

He followed you into the kitchen and pulled down a phonebook, opening it to the towing company. “Definitely call this one, the other is a bit out a lout.” He tapped the number and you nodded firmly. “Tell them to take you to Randy’s by the marina, he won’t overcharge you.”

You laughed warmly and dialed the number. A friendly woman answered the line, and you requested a tow to Randy’s shop, explaining where you’d left your car. She gave you an expected cost and arrival time of the truck before you ended the call.

“She says it will be about an hour, I should start back so I don’t miss them. Thank you again…” You turned to face Tom, who’d gone back to doing his dishes, trailing off as there was suddenly a huge man in the room. He had the fridge open, leaning on the door as he peered in, looking for something.

“Nonsense!” Exclaimed Tom. “We’ll give you a ride back to your car in about an hour, you’ve already had quite the hike. Arthur, why don’t you grab our guest a beverage while you’re in there?”

The man, Arthur, suddenly seemed aware of your presence and turned to look at you, now holding a can of beer. So that had been what he was looking for.

“What’s your poison?” He rasped. “We’ve got beer, soda, lemonade?”

“Oh, uh a soda would be great, I guess. I appreciate all your help.” You didn’t have the wherewithal to refuse the ride, or the drink, from either of them. You took the can from Arthur, and he gestured to the table before taking a seat himself. You sank slowly into the chair, feeling his eyes on you, assessing. Tom’s voice broken the tension, thankfully.

“This is my son, Arthur. He usually has better manners, but he just woke up after all.” He chided warmly.

You introduced yourself to Arthur as well, taking a sip of your soda while he took a long pull of his beer.

“So, what brings you to Amnesty Bay?” Arthur broke the silence. Ah there it was, the questioning was no longer just in his eyes.

“Road trip” You answered lamely, before shaking your head at yourself. “I was ready to explore the East Coast, my car was not apparently.” You smirked ruefully and relaxed a little when he echoed your expression.

Conversation flowed a little more easily after that, his suspicion dissipating. Tom joined you both with the last of the coffee from breakfast. Arthur revealed himself to be less intimidating than his appearance, especially as the beer got lower in the bottle, and the effects of his night before were washed away.

The hour passed before any of you really noticed, the honk of the tow truck in the back yard startling you all. You hurried out to apologize, turning back to the Curry’s and waving in thanks before hopping in the cab with the driver.

The trip back to town was easy, the assessment of your vehicle didn’t take too long, but the news was not good. Several parts needed to be replaced and none were on hand in the shop. It would be at least a week and a fair chunk of change as well.

You agreed to the work and took your suitcase out of the trunk, leaving your keys with Randy. He gave you directions to the local inn where you could stay while you waited for the car to be functional again, but his tone didn’t give you great confidence in the accommodations would you find there. You headed out to find the Inn, passing by Terry’s Sunken Galleon, stopping quickly as you heard a shout from near the door.

“Brokedown Girl!”

You looked back to see Arthur bounding over to you, strongly reminding you of a golden retriever.

“This does not look like your car is ok…” He said as he stepped up beside you. He wasn’t even winded. Tom was bringing up the rear at a much more reasonable pace.

You sighed and shook your head. “A week at least, everything they need is out of town.”

“Oh man that’s rough…” He shook his head.

Tom had gotten close enough to get the gist of the situation. “Well, we’ll just have to make the best of your bad situation.” He clapped Arthur on the back. “Once you get your room at the Inn come meet us a Terry’s and we come up with a plan to save your vacation.”

You blinked, utterly stunned. “I couldn’t impose like that, truly I’ll find something to do.”

Tom shook his head and Arthur slowly followed suit. “We will not hear of it.”

And they meant it. No sooner had you joined them at the bar, getting a rum and coke as it was now afternoon, than they had a whole list of destinations for you to choose from.

The repairs ended up taking two weeks, and your vacation turned out better than you could have ever planned. You also ended up with two lifelong friends. You stayed in touch with letters, emails, texts, and phone calls. The consistency of Arthur’s contact was much less reliable; the man kept jumping in the ocean with his phone in his pocket…

The world changed in 2013 when the long-posed question “Are we alone in the universe?” was answered with a world resounding, violent “No!” Beings from other plants, meta humans, violence, and crime made the world a darker place. Arthur became darker too, more self-destructive as he wrestled with his heritage.

He’d told you everything, the story of his parents, the story of Atlantis, during a 2:00 AM drunk dial. He was sitting on the shore somewhere in Georgia with a bottle of Jack Daniels, face timing you snug in your bed back home. It had been a lot to take in, but you never doubted him.

In 2018, when the ocean regurgitated all of the filth your kind had been polluting with for centuries, you were not surprised. Arthur had implied there might be conflict soon. Since that day, Arthur had been unreachable. Tom confirmed he was alright, but that he was now spending his days in Atlantis, leading his people.

You wondered when you might be able to hear the story from him, but never did you suspect that you would play a role in what was to come.

Read Part One

Masterlist

#orm x reader #orm marius x reader #orm imagine #orm fic #orm marius imagine #orm marius fic #ocean master x reader

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silverhallow · 3 months

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Bridgerton Drabble: Princess Diaries AU

Part #2 Broken

“What do you mean you’re still going through with it?” George sighed as he looked at his brother exasperated a couple of hours later.

“Well just that, Sophie assured me it was a one off, that it would never happen again and I believe her.” Phillip argued back.

“George, it is his decision at the end of the day…” Marina said as she walked into the room, Amanda wrapped in a blanket as she went to place her in the cot next to her twin brother.

“It’s a stupid ass decision that is what it is. Come on, the entire country has seen the Bridgerton bloke sniffing around her for the last month, it’s clear to anyone with eyes that whatever that was wasn’t just a one off… and besides you said it yourself, there isn’t a spark there! You see her more as a sister! And I’ve seen you pining after that Bridgerton girl…”

“Eloise and I are just friends…” Phillip said going red and George laughed

“I didn’t say which Bridgerton… but come on, you’re going to be stuck in a loveless marriage and it will eat away at you” George said

“She picked me, we’re doing this. She can’t marry anyone else and if she doesn’t marry by the end of the week then the country goes to the Cavenders” Phillip argued

“And that has nothing to do with you, you can return to England, back to your plants and forget about this entire mess” George said “I am sure you can persuade Eloise to come to Oxford or Cambridge for University since she’s due to start next term” he teased raising his brows suggestively.

Phillip threw a grape at his brother who laughed.

“It’s not that simple. I won’t see this entire country be wrecked by some imbecile because I wasn’t prepared to help where I can. Sophie is the best thing that ever happened to this country, even if she only found out about it a few years ago, she cares so deeply about everyone, she wants to make it a better place, a better country and I can be a part of that, I can help her achieve that and I can do my botany work anywhere. She chose me, we are seeing this through. I do not need any more lectures about it George, I just need you to be supportive please. Like Marina is being”

“Marina is being supportive because she knows she has little choice” Marina laughed “you were supportive of us when we found out about the twins and helped us with the press and your father’s rage”

“Yes, like dad would be happy about you doing this…” George scoffed

“What? The idea of me marrying someone who is going to be Queen of a country. It’d probably be the only thing in my life i’d have done he would have approved of… thinking i could seize control for the family or something… but even if he didn’t approve, it’d have been something i’d have wanted to do even more to get away from him” Phillip said shaking his head.

“Point taken…” George said before looking between his brother and his wife and heaving a deep sigh “fine, I shall continue to be supportive of this stupid endeavour and I shall be the first to either congratulate you on becoming Prince Consort, or to say “I told you so” when it goes tits up” he grinned

Marina swiped at her husband who ducked it and laughed “i promise, i’ll be on my best behaviour, I just want Phil to be happy and if being married to the Queen of Penwood will do that… then I shall be the supportive big brother”

“Thank you, that is all I ask…” Phillip said, walking over to the drinks cabinet to pour himself a drink

“And maybe keep him away from Eloise” Marina whispered into her husband's ear who nodded glumly.

They knew there was no changing Phillip’s mind when he’d set it to something that it would take a lot to change it…

He’d been adamant that when Marina and George found out she was pregnant, that to avoid the scandal of the unplanned pregnancy, the unwanted attention in the press and their father’s fury, he had offered to say he was the father and take the brunt of everything from their father…

But given the news of Marina falling pregnant by one of his son’s out of wedlock, had caused their father to have a heart attack… that lie hadn’t been required but for George, as much as he liked the Queen to be and knew that on paper this was a good match and that his brother and Sophie were friends and very similar in personality, he couldn’t help but feel that this was not the end of the matter and that the saga with the wedding was just starting…

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Over at the houses of parliament, Edmund Bridgerton was pinching the bridge of his nose as he looked over the documents finalising the plans Andrew and Roger had sent over for the new orphanage to be built as per the Princess’ request.

It had been a morning of putting out fires and dealing with the broken heart of his 24 year old son.

Benedict had come back from the palace and his sneaky yet innocent night with the Princess completely broken.

He had never seen him like this before and he had no idea what to do about it. The rules were the rules. They had been set well over 200 years ago by men who didn’t think that a woman should rule period, let alone on her own and therefore they forced through ridiculous rules.

Some of them they’d managed to abolish over the years but the marriage law… that was something that they’d never seen to rectify and he had no idea if it was even possible for the Lords of the country to make such a decision as any decisions around the crown had to be set by the King or Queen.

The marriage law as it stood now had been passed in 1812 when the then King George only had legitimate daughter’s and wanted one of his bastard sons to rule instead and he’d made it as difficult as possible for his eldest daughter Sophia Charlotte, to take her rightful place as Queen once he passed away.

He’d forced through the rule that said in order for her to rule she had to marry and be over the age of 20, before she could assume the throne but also made it clear that whoever they were to marry, would not have any power over the throne, as he was sure it would have made her whole position less fanciful, why marry a Queen if you get no power… which all men married for, power and position and for 100’s of years… that law had been enforced.

Sophia had managed to outwit her father and married a simple Lord and went on to be one of the country's greatest ever rulers.

“It’s a stupid rule” Benedict had wailed so many times into his hands that Edmund was sure it was all he was going to think about when he slept that night. He knew his wife would be the better person to calm their second son down, she always had been but there had been some sort of drama with Eloise so he’d been left to deal with Benedict.

It broke his heart that there was nothing he could do, he personally didn’t have the power to change it, he couldn’t even make the motion to change the rule that could only come from the sovereign or sovereign to be, and then parliament could decide on whether or not to back the motion…

And given half of the men that sat on the benches of parliament, he wouldn’t put it past them to not pass it and being so close to the wedding now…

Edmund hated this. He hated that he hadn’t learned more earlier, when he first got to know their future Queen, he’d assumed that she’d have found a way out of it, or been happy but he’d not anticipated the connection that seemed to form almost instantly between his son and the Princess.

It had been even quicker than that of when he met Violet when he’d known by the end of the dance… he’d seen the Princess run into Benedict and stand on his toe and he’d seen the sparks fly…

And knew that they were in trouble.

“I know she’s the best thing for this country but it’s not fair… it’s not fair” he wept over and over in his hands, his eyes were red and swollen, as was his nose from the hysterics. It didn’t matter that he was a grown ass man of twenty four years old.

Benedict knew he would never find anyone that compared with Sophie and living in this country meant he was going to be forced to see her face every single day, it would be everywhere right down to the money he earned and spent.

Her life would be broadcast, he’d have to see her pregnant with another’s baby, on the arm of another.

Or he will have to leave the country, never to return, never to see his family unless they came to see him…

He wasn’t going to be strong enough to endure seeing the love of his life thriving in that capacity.

It took Edmund several hours to get his son to stop breaking his heart, to stop his son from the weight of he guilt he felt after the rumours had briefly flown that Sophie and Phillip were not to marry and it was being called off after the “incident” but they’d received communication from Anthony and Kate that the wedding was still to go ahead, which of course set off another round of tears in Benedict.

Eventually he managed to persuade his son to go home and not do anything drastic or dramatic. Edmund had an idea on how he could get the information to Sophie about it could be stopped, how it could be changed and challenged but it would be a risk.

If parliament didn’t back her… then everything could be a disaster.

#bridgerton #benedict bridgerton #sophie beckett #Princess diaries AU #Benophie Drabble #benophie #benedict x sophie #anthony bridgerton #Benedict bridgerton fic

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doodlesfromthebird · 2 years

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Hi, Canary! It's really nice to see you back. You've been one of my favorite internet artists since I found your work a few years ago, and I really admire your sense of character and costume design! I found you through KH, but I've since fallen in love with your original characters and story ideas, which are lovely. I was wondering if you had any advice for someone hoping to develop their own original characters and worlds. I've been trying to for a few years, but it still feels pretty daunting.

Hello!! Oh my goodness, thank you so much. I'm so glad! ^u^ I absolutely can give some pointers!

Here's a little guide with a few methods I've used to creating characters and developing the world they live in. I'm by no means a writer of any kind (I rarely create stories, and struggle with plot) but I am passionate about developing funky little dudes who live in your brain.

Designing a Character - Make a list. I somewhat recently compiled a document full of design elements, tropes, personality types, aesthetics I generally really liked to help build a small cast of characters I knew I’d have fun designing for. Think about your favorite characters in media and what you like about them! It could be a great jumping point to creating an OC you’re passionate about. That goes for relationship dynamics, too!

Grab a handful of things from that list, 5 or 6 maybe, and there ya go!

- Make a moodboard. I’ve used this method to create characters based on A VIBE and building off that.

I’ve even figured out personalities just based on the “aesthetic text” I found associated with a color. Part of Cherri’s backstory and personality came forth simply because I kept finding Marina lyrics in pink. - Try using online dress up games! I used to use Dolldivine all the time to get creative. - In addition to mood boarding, pinterest can also be a good resource for design inspiration with official concept art for movies/games and assets of those sort of dress-up games readily available. CocoPPa is a good example! [Let’s please respect the wishes of individual artists and either give credit when posting for inspiration or respect their wishes if they state not to repost their work at all.] - In depth character creators in video games! Or simple ones! I’ve built up such an affection for even a few of my stardew valley farmers with their own personal bits of lore, they could probably be stand alone characters separate from the game at this point. Sometimes developing a character from an established setting can be a good base. Dig some of your old fan characters out of the closet, even!

Get to know your character

Getting to know your OC is one of my favorite parts of the process, and is something I find really important if you want to get attached to them. And you should!! The more these guys are on your brain, the more you start asking questions about them, and the more bigger details start to fall into place. - Go broad. Say you have the base concept of a character with their situation, their goal in life, their goal in the present moment, and the past/future that will effect them. What lies do they believe as truth? How has their childhood effected their habits and views? What's one secret they keep to no one but themselves? Who are the most influential people in their past and in their day to day life? - Go detailed. They're practically a roommate living rent free in your mind, so think about what a day in their life is like. Observe how they do small things. What are they eating for breakfast? How do they carry themselves when they walk? Nervous habits? What are they wearing to go to get quinoa from trader joes??? Detail what a few hours of what it'd be like to observe them, doing what they do every day and how they'd do it. - Give them an interview. Here's a blank bio sheet with a detailed list of questions that could be fun to fill out at your leisure! A lot of good questions to chew on. - Or quite literally give them an interview. Pretend they're sat down to answer some questions and think about how multiple characters would answer the same question. Do they overshare? Are they curt and to the point? Do they frequently lie and contradict themselves? What questions take them off guard? - Write about your own experiences. Giving characters traits and experiences you can speak from in a detailed can really flesh them out as people and gives them that relatability. Even if they’re decidedly different from you as a whole, there’s that point of connection that anchors them to you.

Worldbuilding...ish

Developing a world is a little less easy for me to give advice on, as I’m very character oriented, so my worldbuilding is more of starting with the bigger picture and then filling in details that would affect the character directly, while some other things aren’t as fleshed out and water tight. (I’m working on it!) Some universes have more to them than others simply due to how much time I’ve spent with them over the years. But it’s important, a lot of fun, and gives all the more weight to the universe you’re developing.

- Research. If you’re like me and either have no writing experience or have difficulty pulling key world-building aspects from imagination, there’s a PLETHORA of resources to learn from, a lot of it free and on youtube, even. Make yourself a playlist, grab a notepad and sit yourself down to gather info, and map things out. If you’re, say, creating a country from scratch, look into places with a similar climate and how it affects what species live there. I’ve been researching dining etiquette and shipbuilding lately! It would be of great help to learn from writers as well, if you aren’t one yourself. There's A Lot of advice out there. - Ask cause and effect questions. I create a lot for the fantasy genre, so I get to ask questions like...”What does a world being shaped by the gods/guardians look like? How has their presence influenced the mortals they look after? Their culture, their customs, the way they communicate? What’s the actual truth of ancient happenings and what has been passed down through a long, long game of telephone? What is the truth current day people believe about magic, technology and historical events? What kind of questions could you ask from the world you’re creating? -Appease your inner child. Think back on what captured your attention as a kid and how you experienced them through your eyes at the time. What sort of things did you feel experiencing your favorite games, movies or books that you can still tap into through a nostalgic lens? I feel incredibly attached to my The Spiral OC universe when I’m playing Legend of Zelda games, especially Wind Waker. The mood, the sense of adventure. The feeling of sailing the seas, the quietness of Windfall at night, the reverent silence when arriving at Hyrule frozen in time. Those feelings have lent an atmosphere to the world I’d go on to create for myself, and still illicit a strong emotional response when I visualize aspects of it. the adventure, the monsters, the sweet and emotional tone, and the heaviness of ancient legend lost to time. - Immerse yourself in other people’s worlds. Get into a tabletop game podcast of your preferred genre! You’ve got high fantasy dnd, but there’s also plenty of sci-fi, modern fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and more. Listening to multiple people work together to build their world (sometimes as they go a long!) can really get that creative juice a-flowing. Critical Role and The Adventure Zone are big ones, but I also recommend SkyJacks, Friends at the Table, Dimension 20, Dungeons and Daddies and JemJammer! Worldbuilding prompts/generators! X X X I hope ANY of this was helpful, I’m happy to answer specific questions as well.

#sorry for the delay in answering!#its my birthday go out and give ur OCs some love #INDULGE!! INDULGE I SAY #masterpost #character design #original character #text #letters to the bird

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