#i love the sleeves and the skirt! such soft layers

[crystalflygeo]

Last of her kind Emperor!Alpha!Zhongli + Omega!Dragoness!Reader-

cw/tags: This chapter has no smut but still contains highly suggestive themes and sexual implications. Mentions of slavery and past sexual abuse on fem!reader, A/B/O dynamics and heat mentions. fem!reader suffers with self-worth and bad memories, including past insults and abuse.

notes: After so long finally part 2!! EEEEEEEE I am so excited but also so nervous pls ;w; like if you want the first part can be read as a standalone and have a "happy ending" but now I am committed to the emotional roller coaster, A/B/O dynamics and LONG BURN PINING so yep >:3c hope this does justice to everyone's expectation tho. And hope you like it and accompany me on this tale hehe

As a lil sidenote brackets [] now indicate past actions/words and bad memories, regular italics for emphasis, inner thoughts or the little pinyin I sprinkled here (which btw is taken straight from genshin wiki so...).

<- Part 1.

Being precious all of the sudden was… different.

Your hand subconsciously kept touching your bonding mark, as if to make sure it was still there, to soothe you.

After a quick meal just between Zhongli and you, consisting of some soft rice buns and delicious minced meat packaged inside a crispy pastry shell, you were then offered some new clothes. It was much more elaborate and certainly more layered than anything you’d worn before: a long skirt and flowy sleeves in a silky soft fabric, beautifully embroidered and hastily modified to make a hole for your tail to slip out. A sash keeping everything in place while accentuating your figure. You immediately loved it although it felt a little heavy and restricting.

Now, you quietly follow Zhongli as he leads you around the palace. He’s back to his former fully-human appearance, wearing an elegant attire, and everywhere you go, people bow at him and cast curious silent glances at you. It was rather unnerving.

It’s fine, you are used to being stared at, judged. You hold your tail up close for comfort.

The place is huge and you quickly get lost trying to map it out in your head, simply following along until you reach a large room with a few simple beds scattered around. Bookcases and cabinets stacked the walls, filled with all sorts of books, papers, jars and things. A pungent smell present in the air.

A green-haired man leans over a desk, glasses perched on his nose as he frantically scribbles some notes. What seems like powders and plants litter the space around him, along with a few more glass containers, incense, and a tea set with a steaming fresh cup.

“Baizhu.” Zhongli’s voice calls and you stiffen a little, hearing it again after a while of silence. It is still warm and deep but with a more reserved and regal tone like when he first met you.

The green-haired man (a Beta, you recognize) looks up and blinks in surprise, then smiles brightly and says some words you do not understand, you shuffle in place.

“Yes, this is her.” Zhongli replies. “I will ask you to speak in in common tongue so she can understand as well, I don’t want to unnecessarily unnerve her.”

Well, that is… very considerate. It eases you a little.

“Of course, your majesty.” He turns to you, his eyes were a bright amber, also with slitted pupils. Was it common in liyuens? “My name is Baizhu, the royal doctor and apothecary, pleased to meet you, empress.”

Empress?!

“E-Empress?!” You can’t help but blurt out.

“Why of courssse.” A high-pitched voice hisses and you almost jump when a white snake peaks her head from her coils at the desk, staring up at you. “You’re mated to hisss majesssty the emperor, sssso, it would be underssstood you’re now the empresssss.” Her split tongue flickers.

Baizhu chuckles. “Changsheng, be nice.”

You don’t know what to answer, mostly because you’re still reeling from the fact that you’re apparently now an empress, and because there’s a talking snake.

Liyue is weird…

“I decided to bring her here exactly because of that.” Zhongli turns to you and suddenly holds one of your hands, softly, staring at you with such affection it makes you melt. “Darling, would you let him check your bonding mark for a moment?”

You’re a little nervous, but it is not like you can refuse… right? You nod quietly.

Baizhu approaches and examines your neck and you fight the urge not to flinch or growl. No Omega likes it when a stranger is so close to such a sensitive spot. He hums and tilts his head but doesn’t touch you. “It seems it’s already healed due to her illuminated beast blood but the scar is present. I’d say the bond has been properly established, congratulations your majesty.” He smiles warmly.

A grateful bubbly feeling creeps up your chest. Properly established. So, it’s true.

You feel Zhongli’s hand squeeze yours lightly and look down at it, then back up at him. “Thank you, Baizhu. I will not keep you any longer. We still have a lot to do and I’m sure you do as well.”

Baizhu bows at him (at both of you, you realize) and then you’re on your way. Not before hearing the snake’s hissy whispers again

“A fine yin, hm…?”

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

This is… your new home.

Zhongli shows you around some of the areas in what he called the “inner court” of the palace complex. Everything is so… large and open and lavish it has your head spinning, your eyes darting in every direction trying to take in all at once, walking fast on your new clothes. He guides you along the dining hall, a small temple, crosses through an enormous main hall where he explains audiences are held, and then a gorgeous outer garden that completely takes your breath away.

The wooden gilded architecture in golds and reds, the fresh wind and gentle sun. All sorts of new sounds and smells. The painted walls and high ceilings. The new plants and flowers. The chatters in a different language… everything is so distinct from the desert.

You soak in the new environment. Inhaling deeply.

It is both terrifying and exhilarating.

Finally, he guides you to another room, it looks similar to the nest room where you’d first been at, but larger. It is sparsely decorated with a large and comfy looking-bed, a desk, mirror and a small table with a couple chairs and a tea set. It smells nice enough.

You peek up at Zhongli.

“This will be your room.” He explains.

…What?

“We kept it simple for now but you are, of course, free to furnish and decorate it however you’d like. It’s close to my own room and anything you might need.”

Wait what?

Your ears lower down and you seem to deflate a little, disappointed. “H-Huh? But… I-I won’t be sleeping with you?” You ask softly.

Mated pairs sleep together, don’t they? They share living chambers and mix their scents together to symbolize their union. That’s what you’ve always been told. You are to always be near your Alpha, at his beck and call, warm up his bed and be ready to please.

Maybe things are different in Liyue? Or maybe it’s because he’s an emperor. Master didn’t tell you anything, so maybe you are just making a fool of yourself right now on your-

Zhongli clears his throat and looks at you a little surprised “I simply thought you’d be more comfortable having your own space, we… don’t really know each other very well yet, and I wouldn’t want to impose.”

Impose? As in order? But he’s your Alpha! “B-But I want to! Please! I-I mean… I thought that since we’re b-bonded…” You mumble shyly.

His cheeks turn a little pink, you like when that happens, he looks a lot less serious. He cups your cheek and you inhale looking up at those gorgeous golden eyes. “My dear dragoness. I don’t want you to feel forced to do anything you don’t want to. I know you were raised… differently, I cannot claim to understand your experiences, but listen to me: you are safe here.” He says the last part slowly, enunciating each word. “No one will scold you or punish you, least of all me. I want you to be free to speak and choose what you want.” He sighs. “Though I know it’ll be difficult...”

Furnish, impose, free… you don’t know any of those words.

But no punishment, to choose what you want, to be safe… it sounds surreal even.

What do you want?

His eyes soften at your nervous silence. “Let’s try this… do you really want to share my room, or would you like to stay here? I won’t be upset if you do.”

“I…” Your tail curls around you. “I want to stay with you. Sleep together. Like mates.” You mumble.

“Then it would be my honor, however, this room will stay ready if you change your mind, alright?” You glance around at the room again, and nod. “Now that that is settled, I have one last thing to do. I need to introduce you to a few very special people before I leave to-”

“Leave?!”

You didn’t mean to yelp like that.

“J-just to do my duties, I am not leaving you, I promise.” He corrects, a little taken aback. “I am sorry my dear, but as much as I’d like to spend every moment by your side right now, I have a few pressing matters to tend to. I know you’re nervous, everything is new and scary and overwhelming but I promise I’ll leave you in good hands and be back as soon as I can.”

You nod, now feeling a little embarrassed at the whole ordeal. You’d been feeling so at ease with his presence, showing you around, listening to his voice name and explain everything you saw that you’d almost forgotten. “You’re the emperor, I’m sure you’re very busy. No need to worry about me, I’ll behave, my lord.”

He frowns a little at that but says nothing, and you choose to say nothing else either.

Going back to the main hall, you immediately spot three people lined up looking at you with a mix of the already expected curiosity and excitement. One of them in particular immediately catches your attention, he’s an Alpha and you can’t help but feel a little nervous…

“Allow me to introduce you, these three are my most loyal and closest council members: Ping, Ganyu and Xiao.” Zhongli gestures at them and all three bow lightly. “Like you and I they all have the blood of xiānshòu, and you can ask them for anything should you need help or have questions. I hope you learn to trust them and feel at ease.”

You nod quietly, still a bit fixated on the other Alpha.

“Xiao, or general Alatus, is one of Liyue’s strongest, most resilient and skilled warriors. He usually keeps guard at the palace to ensure my wellbeing and now yours as well, if you ever feel danger call out his name and he’ll come.”

Ah, did they notice you were staring…?

With a gesture of his hand Xiao manifests a gorgeous Jade spear, crystalline green shards reflecting light as he taps it by his side, standing firm, you flinch in surprise. “My spear shall now serve you too, empress.” His eyes too are golden and sharp, filled with a certain rigidness and determination you can’t quite put your finger on.

“Thank you, Xiao, dismissed.”

Xiao hums quietly and promptly disappears in a burst of black and green smoke, you stand there a little startled, your hand clings to the brown fabric of Zhongli’s sleeve.

“He might be an Alpha as well, but I promise you he’ll cause you no harm.” Your alpha murmurs softly towards you.

“O-okay…” You squeak, a bit embarrassed.

“Ganyu here is one of the most reliable people in the palace, perhaps the entirety of Liyue. Everything of importance reaches her ears and passes through her eyes. She’s able to organize meetings, events, report, compile information and assist every negotiation and decision of this palace with stunning efficiency. She too will help you with anything you need and might be in charge of a little logistics regarding you settling in for the next few days.” Zhongli smiles.

The young woman with long blue hair and… horns? chuckles and blushes a little. “Your majesty, you're too kind, I merely love doing my job.” She puts her hands together and beams at you, sunset eyes bright. “I’m so honored to meet you, rest assured I’ll take care of anything you need. I hope you feel comfortable and welcome at the palace!”

That sounded like a lot. You weren’t used to people coddling you like this. You didn’t want to give anyone trouble or work. “T-that’s alright, thank you.”

“Now, Ping is probably going to spend the most time with you, she’s very knowledgeable in culture, history and the inner workings of the palace amongst other things. She has graciously offered to teach you liyuen and anything else you’d be interested in.”

Unlike the other two Ping has a certain calm aura to her, contrasting Xiao’s seriousness and Ganyu’s excited energy. You can tell she’s a gentle old soul as she approaches you with a soft wrinkled smile and graying hair.

“Don’t worry young empress, while Lord Morax here is regrettably busy with a work-packed schedule,” She gives him a playful side stare “You and I will have some fun. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.” She takes your hand and pats it comfortingly. It’s kind of an awkward gesture for you, but you still welcome the warmth and good intentions.

Zhongli chuckles quietly. “In that case, I’ll leave you in her care and see you at night for dinner, alright?” He seems to hesitate for a moment but then cups your face in his hands and places a soft kiss at your forehead. The unexpected gesture has you blushing scarlet and your heart speeding up like crazy. His thumb brushes at the scales under your eyes, so affectionate in the smallest ways… “I know it’s not ideal, but it’ll be fine, yes?”

You stare at his golden eyes, the red lines, his handsome face framed with dark hair, his serene smile.

You don’t like this. You don’t want him to leave. The idea makes you uncomfortable.

But it’s not like you can say no.

You nod.

“Thank you, Ping.” Both of them exchange a glance and then he turns to the blue-haired woman still in the room. “Ganyu, if you will.”    

“Right away your majesty!” She scurries after him, talking quickly in foreign tongue while both walk away.

You stare after him for a moment longer.

“It’s a little difficult, isn’t it?”

You quickly turn back to Ping and then look down, ears folding back.

She laughs softly. “No need to be ashamed dear, it is understandable that you are unsure with all this, it’s a lot of changes for such a short time and you bond is still fresh, but let’s take it easy.”

Your hand brushes at Zhongli’s bonding mark again. “O-Okay…”

“Are you hungry? Tired? Perhaps you want to rest a little?”

You want to scurry away to your mate’s room and curl up there, that’s what you want, but…

“Um, aren’t you… going to train me?”

Ping blinks a little taken aback “Train? Oh! Teach?”

Same thing.

“Well, yes. I did offer, but only if you’re feeling up to it young empress. You can take your time, we don’t have to start right away. And like I said, take it easy, it's only your second day here.” She explains. “You won’t be absorbing any information if you are uncomfortable and jittery like this.”

“S-sorry-”

“No need to apologize at all. Now tell me, is there anything you’ve seen or heard today that you’re curious about, anything you want to do?”

What you want…

You think back a few hours earlier. The infirmary, the small temple, the grand hall, and…

“The garden.” You speak. “Can we go outside and see?”

Ping smiles brightly. “Of course! I’m sure there are a lot of things there that will catch your interest and cheer you up.”

Your tail sways a little after you as you follow the old lady along the corridors.

------------------------         

The garden is breathtaking.

More than a garden it feels like a whole different world. Bright and exciting and colorful, full of life. It reminds you of an Oasis, but just… more!

A grand pond with multicolored fishes and a couple of turtles sunbathing. Walk paths made of stone, plants everywhere you see: in trees with vibrant yellows, oranges and all shades of greens, in flowers with soft colors and small petals, in thick bushes. The light filters through the leaves and there’s the soft tweets of small birds.

“It’s… so pretty!” You exclaim happily.

“I’m glad you think so. Gardens like this are carefully cared for and preserved to impress, but they also represent beauty, abundance a sense of harmony.” Ping explains as she is now the one following after you, skipping along the path. “These trees you see are sandbearers, and that one is a ginkgo tree, you can tell the difference by the shapes of their leaves.” She points at each one and you follow with your gaze, picking a small leaf from the floor, golden and fan-shaped.

“Ooh…”

“See those smaller fishes? They’re goldfishes. The bigger ones are kois.” She gestures at the animals freely swimming around. Some of them are huge!

“What do they eat?” You blurt out.

“Well, usually algae and wheat. We can get some another day and you can feed them.”

“Really?!”

“Of course.”

“Oh! Is that a koi too? It’s so… long and pretty.”

“Ah, that one is a golden koi. Lord Morax has a few of them here. They are also called Jīnchì Jiǎlóng or ‘false dragons’ you know? For the small horns and long bodies. They do resemble your tail a little, don’t they?”

You move your tail forward and stare at it, then stare at the serpentine fish.     

“Yes, sort of… Jin chi… jia long.” You mumble.

“Here, I think you’ll like these ones. Come with me.” You eagerly follow after Ping as she rounds the pond and guides you towards a few red bushes. They’re dotted with pink round flowers. “These are silk flowers, Nícháng-huā, usually harvested to make clothes, but there are many special ornamental variants and between us both, your dear mate has a weak spot for these so he has quite the collection.” She chuckles.

“Orna…metal?”

“Ornamental, it means mostly for decoration.”

“Oh!” Suddenly you feel dumb, you’d thought for a second that was a liyuen word too. “I’m sorry… I don’t even know common tongue very well.” How could you even expect to learn liyuen?

“No worries, dear, learning a new language is a daunting task, it takes a bit of work every day. If you keep learning, using and practicing words, you’ll get there.”

You smiled softly. Ping was so… patient and supportive.

So much different from…

[You have to try harder.]

[Tch that is not good enough.]

[Are you stupid?!]

[Useless omega.]

You looked at the budding silk flowers and blinked. Once. Twice. Why was your vision blurry now? What was this feeling?

“Oh, oh young empress please don’t cry. It’s alright” Ping’s alarmed remark helps you understand. She fusses over you. “Are you ok?”

You wipe at your tears and smile, a genuine bright smile.

“I’m fine.”

And this time, you truly mean it.

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

After a rather fancy bath (the kind of like you used to take before being presented to Alphas, with bubbles and scented oils...) and a good dinner Zhongli and you headed over for his chambers for the night. You couldn’t help but be a little… nervous.

This is stupid. He’s your Alpha.

He’s been nothing but kind to you.

What if he wants to… d-do things?

Then you’ll do it. He’s your mate. It’s your obligation.

You were the one who chose this anyway.

Your heartbeat was loud in your ears, anxiety creeping up your chest. Were your fingers trembling? Was the room suddenly cold?

As expected, the bedroom was quite matching his style. Golds, browns and a bit of red and black here and there. Dragon imagery adorning some of the walls, a tea cabinet with a small table and shelves filled with all sorts of trinkets from precious stones and books to a beautiful fan and a tea set.

And then there was the bed.

A large canopy bed, enough to probably have your body and tail fully stretched across and still fit in the mattress, beautifully decorated and filled with fabrics and pillows.

The scent of Zhongli’s Alpha pheromones was definitely strong.

He yawns and runs a hand along his forehead, combing along his hair before pulling out the clip on it, letting his long dark locks spill free. He takes off his robe revealing his naked torso and you jolt.

It’s fine. It’s fine. It’s fine.           

You undress as well into your light sleeping clothes and gingerly slip into his bed, curling up around his pillows, surrounded by his scent.

His.

You are his.

It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine-

“Darling, is everything alright? Are you uncomfortable?” He asks concerned, climbing on the bed as well and reaching out to touch your arm. You squeak. “You’re… terrified, what’s wrong?” Then Zhongli’s eyes widen a little. “Oh. The scent… I completely overlooked that, my apologies. Is it too strong? Are you ok? Should have given you some things earlier for you to scent and include them here. This is no good…” He rambles a bit to himself as he sits up and crosses his arms thoughtfully.

You stare at him, anxiety still surging through your veins but now mixed in with confusion.

“Would you like to sleep in the other room we prepared for you instead?” He sighs.

“I… t-this is… you… would just let me leave?”

Zhongli tilts his head slightly, now he looks confused.

“I promised you that the room would be available-”

“So, you don’t want to mate?”

Silence.

He stares at you for a moment as you grip at the bedsheets, still tense.

His eyes widen as realization settles in.

Ah. The pink dusting in his cheeks is back.

“Y-You thought that… no! My dear, no, no, no…” He coughs into his fist awkwardly. “I apologize if I gave you the wrong idea. A-As I said before I want you to be comfortable and feel safe. No Alpha will force you to do anything you don’t want. Not even me. And you don’t have to feel forced to do things you don’t want to, either.”

You look down. Although you feel slightly more relieved.

“I want to stay here. A-and if you want to, I’ll service you, my lord. I was just… nervous, sorry.”

“I assure you there is no need for any of that.” He says softly. “Here.”

He pulls the covers and slips them over you both, lying down facing you but still keeping a little distance. You do the same, curled up face to face with him.

He’s so effortlessly handsome.

And kind.

And you like him.

But he’s still an Alpha.

“Is this alright? We’re just going to sleep, I promise.” He brushes some hair away from your face.

You nod.

“Is there… anything you want to talk about or ask me?”

You... don’t know.

You shake your head.

“Hmmm. Want to share about your day? What were you up to with Ping?” He gives you a playful smile. Suddenly he feels less like an imposing strict emperor, or like a scary Alpha. He’s just your Zhongli.

“She… showed me the garden. I wanted to see.”

“Ah, the royal garden has many fascinating sights and it’s a beautiful landscape to retreat to and ease one’s mind. I had the feeling you’d be interested.”

“There were so many beautiful things. She taught me about the silk flowers, nícháng-huā. And all the trees and fishes and birds.”

“Oh? Are these your first words in liyuen, my dear?”

You giggle. “I… suppose they are. She also showed me your turtles Jiàn and Fù and told me what their names mean, they are so cute. Oh! And we saw the liúlí bah… bai… bǎihé! I sang to them and they bloomed! It was... amazing.”

“I see. Not everyone can achieve that, I’ll admit I’m quite hopeless at singing.” He chuckles “What more did you learn?”

Feeling much more content and at ease you continue retelling all the new things you had experienced and the vocabulary you had learned including how to introduce yourself and some greetings and basic words. Talking for what felt like hours until weariness and sleep claimed you both.

Zhongli simply listened and stared at you, captivated. He seemed content as well.

It made you happy.

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

For the next couple of months, you established a sort of routine.

You’d wake up early alongside Zhongli, even though you didn’t need to, you simply enjoyed having some morning tea and breakfast with him. Afterwards he’d go tend to some of his official duties and you’d stay with Ping Lǎolao, learning more and more each day. By now you could even follow some basic conversation (provided the other person didn’t speak too fast) although reading and writing was still extremely difficult.

You’d expressed interest in some gardening and even headed to the kitchens to prepare some food by yourself. The maids claimed there was no need for the empress to do such ‘menial tasks’ but as an Omega you pride yourself in certain things, and cooking for your Alpha was something you’d yearned to do.

You were overjoyed when Zhongli praised your Jade parcels.

You’d always have lunch with him and some days he’d accompany you for a stroll or you’d stay at his study for some leisure time, or even at some meetings. It had been a little unnerving at first but you also knew it was important to know others and be known in the council, as well as understand Liyue outside of the palace walls. After all, you are an empress now.

At night, you slept close to him. The initial awkwardness of sleeping at opposite sides of the bed soon traded for a much cuddlier approach, often with you curled up to Zhongli’s chest or him spooning you, tails often intertwined together. The bed and the entire room now have a mix of your combined scents, like true mates.

And so, life was good…

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

You’re slowly pulled out of your sleep as Zhongli stirs in the bed. You grumble a little and yawn, already missing his warmth. It was so pleasant…

“Good morning, my dear dragoness.”

“Morning…” You mumble, not opening your eyes and instead blindly reaching for his pillow to hug and cling to. “Can we stay for longer?” You whine.

“You definitely can, but I have to go.” He kisses your forehead “Rest, my dear.”

You pout but say nothing. Squeezing at the pillow and burying your face in it.

It smells so good…

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

“Hmm… is it warmer today?” You wonder aloud as the maids help you up with the layers of your hanfu. The clothes still hot and heavy in contrast to what you used to wear at the desert, but today seemingly more so… the sash feels more constricting than usual. “I-I think I’d like to wear something a little lighter… if possible.”

“Of course, your majesty, no problem.”

You smile at them, grateful.

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

Sitting at Zhongli’s study room you practice some basic liyuen calligraphy while he seemingly goes over some important documents. The silence is comfortable and a warm cup of Qixing tea steams at both desks. Yet, something keeps bothering you.

You huff lightly, scratching and picking at the scales of your tail, irritated with the uncomfortable feeling. Why is it so itchy? A couple of them fall off, revealing new glossy ones underneath.

“Ah…” So that means…

You stop for a moment. The feverish feeling, scents being stronger on your nose, the urge to nest and cling to your mate.

Hmm… part of you is a little excited. And yet, there is fear.

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

“You have quite the appetite today, dear. Eat slowly, the food won’t go anywhere.” Ping chuckles as you practically pick a little of every dish while still trying to keep some modicum of elegance. Chopsticks weren’t that easy after all.

“Yes… I think… I think it’s my pre-heat hormones.” You sigh before munching on a shrimp ball.

Your heat…

Your first heat with Zhongli. With any Alpha to be honest. You’d always had to endure them on your own (Master couldn’t have you get pregnant) and they were excruciating and debilitating, crying out for days with your skin burning and itching, trying to sate yourself with your fingers and humping pillows. But now… you’re happily bonded.

Would it… feel good again?

Like, that first time you two mated…

You feel your cheeks heat up.

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

You’re brought back to reality to see Ping staring at you seemingly a little alarmed.

“Pre-heat? Young empress, are you going into heat soon?”

“Y-yeah? Probably um, tonight…? Or tomorrow.” The onsets are always so quick, and your cycle has always been more or less stable.

The elder places her chopsticks down. “Have you told Lord Morax?”

“Um. N-No, not yet. But… m-maybe he already caught on...” You tilt your head.

…Right?

Then again even you took a couple of days to identify the signs, and now for sure you were at the brink of it. Maybe he’ll mate you tonight…

Hm… how will Zhongli react to your heat scent?

You have to do your best!

[Be a good omega.]

Ping stands up, her expression still gentle but with a sort of urgency to it, your instincts catch the feeling she’s worried about something.

“I have to inform about this, please stay here dear.”

Now you’re nervous. You nod slowly.

Why does it feel like you did something wrong…?

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

After that, things get… chaotic.

It’s only a while later that you find yourself at the infirmary. Ganyu and Zhongli are also there and everyone’s anxious pheromones in the air do not sit well with you (subtle as they are, your nose is hyperaware right now).

“I’m sorry the symptoms are already settled in. At this point it is simply not feasible to give her suppressants, she has to go through this heat.” Baizhu says, looking troubled.

Feasible? Suppressants? More unknown words but…

Is there something wrong with your heat?

Ganyu scurries off and Ping starts talking with Baizhu on the other side of the room. You cling to Zhongli’s robe, trying to soothe yourself with his presence but his scent is… agitated.

You whine to call out to him. You’re scared.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Zhongli pulls you close, cupping your face again, staring straight at you. “No… no my dear dragoness, of course you didn’t, it’s just…” He steels himself searching for the right words, it doesn’t ease you in the slightest. “We didn’t expect your heat so soon. I should have known, noticed… I’m sorry.”

Why is your alpha apologizing to you? That is ridiculous.

“Is it a bad thing?”

“It’s… not the right time.”

You’re so confused.

Don’t Alphas like it when Omegas are in heat? Soft, pliant, warm, needy and ready to breed.

“I just don’t want you to feel obligated to do this…” He says. “And… you could trigger my rut, you could end up pregnant. I don’t want to… scare you, or hurt you. It’s much too soon for us to share your heat. I thought we’d have more time for you to get acclimated to Liyue or…” He shakes his head. “Nevermind. For the next few days you’ll be in a separate room, yes? No one will disturb you during your heat, I promise.”

“B-But then… I… what…?”

Alone?

“Usually omegas take suppressants, like a type of medicine, to stave off their heats so they don’t have to face these risks or suffer them alone, and then when they’re ready, when they want, they choose to share heats with their partners.” He explains.

“But I want to! I… I’ll be good!”

Zhongli sighs. “Darling you are good, you are precious to me. You don’t need to prove anything or do things because they are ‘expected’ of you.”

He’s not listening!

He asks you what you want. He says you can choose. But now that you tell him, ask him, beg him even… he denies you?

How come you’re always making the wrong choice?

Was it all a lie then?

“But I- T-then- Why-… YOU’RE CONFUSING ME!!” You yell, tears stinging in your eyes.

There are a few gasps and you see not only Baizhu and Ping, but Ganyu and some of the maids staring at you in shock. You cover your mouth, eyes wide at the sudden burst of fierceness and emotion.

You yelled at him.

You talked back.

You should be punished.

He stares at you, frozen like a statue for a few moments. You stare at him, pitiful, your eyes begging. A whimper leaves you and Zhongli lets out a shuddering breath.

Oh, your Alpha wants you, you know it.

"Please..." You mumble, voice so small.

"I'm sorry my dear, it's better this way." His hand moves towards you, to cup your face again or brush at your hair you're not sure, but he stops himself before you can find out. He sighs, averting his gaze and looking conflicted, and then turns around.

This is your punishment.

"It'll be just a few days, you'll be well-cared for. This is for the best." He says sternly, voice pinched.

And then he leaves.

Your heart shatters.

Everything is a blur after that. You’re gently guided along towards an empty nest room, the same one you'd first met him at, there are some things with both your scents on it but they feel sterile, washed anew.

Your hands start trembling. Your eyes start to water. Your lips quiver. Your throat feels tight, choked and dry. Your body feels feverish, hot and restless.

Zhongli rejected you.

“Your majesty please calm down."

[Useless.]

[Moron.]

[Whore.]

You could no longer breathe, hear nor see. You feel like you're drowning, unable to process what just happened. Your mate…your precious mate…he…he…

He abandoned you.

“Your majesty…?"

You scream.

#genshin x you #genshin impact x you #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #zhongli x reader #zhongli x you #genshin imagines #genshin impact imagines #crys writes #fem reader #LohK #just in case (?) #minors dni #c l i f f h a n g e r :))))) #I am in my evil era (?) #zgvcgjahbcajsncaj gods the emotions and issues here are so complex pls talk to me about the fic I will happily rant a lot #I love dragoness reader so much is2g #I want her to be happy #bit it'll be a journey until there #shoutout to honorary sisterwive guizhong speedwagon and her tiny husband for their cameos (????) #golden kois are my fav genshin fish can you tell? #also I decided on silk flowers and later remembering of all the variaties zl talks about during the archon quest and lmao #anyway ty all ILU byeeee

[casuallyimagining]

Selfish. || myg.

Less of Them - Two: Selfish.

NSFW. minors dni

Pairing: Min Yoongi x reader Genre: arranged marriage au, established relationship, star-crossed lovers, angst, smut, fluff Word Count: 5,461

Summary: As the daughter of one of the oldest families in the kingdom, when the king decides that it's you he wishes to marry, you're forced to make a decision and fulfill your duty, leaving behind everything you've ever known--and the only man you've ever loved.

Warnings: implied domestic abuse, controlling behavior, depression, arguing, a slap, blood, discovery of a dead body, murder

Notes: thank you to @oddinary4bts for beta-ing this

"I do know there are all kinds of barriers to love. I do believe the world needs less of them." - Lang Leav

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There’s a bustle in the castle that hasn’t been here for a year. It’s like the very stone–polished, whitewashed, ancient–is vibrating with excitement. After all, a royal wedding is an exciting time, and everyone must play their part. The cherry trees, hundreds of them across the property of the castle and in the castle town, are close to blossom. The merchants are busy building and sewing and crafting and baking. The stewards and keepers have cleaned the castle walls inside and out more times than can be counted.

You cannot find it in yourself to match their enthusiasm.

You stand on a pedestal facing a floor-length mirror, a seamstress on either side of you. They haven’t stopped touching you since they’d walked into the room. Slipping garments onto your body. Primping and adjusting the fabric so it lays just right. Measuring, pinning, tucking, tacking. The silk is heavy, like lead on your limbs, and they just keep layering it on. All of it is an elegant cream color–not white, despite tradition. Daniel had instructed the royal seamstresses. It was because of him, after all. White is too pure, too untouched.

Maybe, under different circumstances, worn by someone else, you would find the gown pretty. The silken fabric is soft and luxurious, a delicate floral pattern embroidered into the sleeves. The skirt is plain, but it flows well, and it’s a slightly richer color than the rest. There’s a small loop at the waist where a luck ornament will be attached. You haven’t seen it yet–the queen mother hasn’t yet presented it to you–but the handmaids have told you that it’s meant to bring many sons.

But honestly, you’ve avoided looking–really looking–at any of it, your focus solely on the leather toe of your shoe sticking out from under the fabric of your dress. You were never too mesmerized by your reflection, but now… It’s hard to reconcile what you see with what used to be there. Your hair is longer. You’ve lost weight. A bruise peeks out from under the collar of your dress. There’s a hollowness in your eyes, and worse, there’s a hollowness somewhere deeper. A meekness that you don’t recognize, but that’s been gnawing at the edges of you for nearly a year now. 

You don’t recognize yourself. You don’t want to recognize yourself.

“Have you seen him yet?” You hear one of the handmaidens ask as the seamstresses pin the fabric at your sleeve.

The other handmaiden groans softly. “I’ve been stuck inside all day. Kagha asked me to shine the silver.” Kagha is the stewardess of the castle, and she’s been running around like a crazy person of late trying to prepare for the wedding.

The first handmaiden leans closer to the other. You’ve seen her around, but you have no idea what her name is. “He’s gorgeous,” she whispers, so quiet you almost can’t hear.

“Shame he’s from the forest,” the second handmaiden laments, standing. Her arms are full of linen.

You hum. It’s been a long year. A lonely year. You’ve learned a lot, and you know you’ve done a lot of growing to meet the needs of the position you find yourself in. But that doesn’t mean that the path hadn’t been lonely. And you’d finally managed to convince Daniel to allow you to send a letter to your father, asking him to send you someone to serve in the castle.

Based on the handmaidens’ reactions, he’s sent Seokjin. 

It makes sense. Out of anyone your father could have sent, Seokjin is the most likely to fit in at the castle and in Castle Town. He’s charming and smart, and knows how to hold himself at court. And, more than anyone, Seokjin knows–or assumes–how careful one must be in this life, too. 

There’s an excitement bubbling in you that you haven’t felt in a while. Your step-brother. Here. Finally, a friend. You leave the seamstresses when they’re finished, an almost giddy bounce to your step. It leads you all the way to the King’s Council Chamber–if Seokjin is here, that’s where he’ll be. Daniel may not have greeted you on your arrival to the Ironhold, but he would certainly not risk snubbing the eldest son of one of the old families.

You stand outside of the council chamber, suddenly unsure. The excitement has faded, replaced with the roiling unease that comes with being anywhere near this room. You should wait. As excited as you may be to see Seokjin, you don’t want to risk Daniel’s ire at your interruption. So you stand there, outside the door, far enough away so that you aren’t in anyone’s way. 

After a moment, you can feel your heartbeat start to pound in your ears. Maybe waiting is a mistake. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you can make it back to your chambers. Maybe you can wait there. You nod to yourself. That’s a better idea. You’ll wait for them to come to you.

You’ve just turned to go when the door opens, the hinges creaking lowly with the motion. You can hear Daniel’s voice, but it’s Eden, Daniel’s younger brother, who walks out first. His eyes widen when he sees you standing there, half fleeing, and you can hear him make a little noise of surprise. It doesn’t last long, though, because as soon as Daniel spots you, Eden’s face schools into something neutral.

Daniel stops mid-word to question you. “What are you doing here?”

“I-” Your words stick in your throat. You shouldn’t be here, but you’re frozen in place. And then, just when you think things can’t get worse, a dark head of hair and curious, feline eyes poke out from around Daniel’s form.

You freeze, hoping the ground will open up and swallow you whole. You feel yourself wilt, and suddenly, you’re hyper-aware of how you’re standing, how awkward your arms feel at your side, how rigid your spine feels.  It’s not Seokjin. You could never be that lucky.

Daniel stalks toward you and roughly grabs your upper arm. His fingers dig in, pressing into your flesh. You wince ever so slightly–it hurts, the bruise already there is an angry deep purple–but quickly, you school your face into something more pleasant.

“We’ve talked about this,” Daniel says. His voice is even, but you can hear the undertones.

You should not be here.

You’re embarrassing me. Again.

We will discuss this again later.

“I’m sorry.” Your voice comes out softer than you’d like, and you wonder if he can hear the slight tremble, or if it’s just you. “I… I thought it was Seokjin and I…” You trail off, eyes falling to the stone floor.

The king jerks you closer, grip like a vise on your upper arm. “You what?”

“I got excited.”

He hums. “I see.”

Off to your left, Eden clears his throat. “Brother. You have a meeting with Mother and the High Priest in the garden soon. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

Daniel nods and squeezes your arm. “We’ll discuss this later.”

The brothers leave, and suddenly, the hall is quiet. The few guards that had been milling around follow Daniel and Eden out. You clear your throat, unable to meet the dark eyes that watch you curiously. He’s never been to the Crownlands, and your brain latches onto an idea. 

This doesn’t have to be awkward.

“Have you seen the grounds?” you question finally, shifting your weight.

Yoongi shakes his head. “Not yet.”

“Would you like to?”

You can feel him looking at you, can feel the questions hanging in the air. Thankfully–and surprisingly–he says nothing, simply motions for you to lead the way.

“The castle was built nearly 800 years ago by the Choi family. Because of tensions at the time between the royal family and the rest of the old families, the Ironhold was built to be nearly impregnable, with oil chutes built into every staircase and balistraria in every exterior wall.” You gesture to one of the arrow slits in the wall, where the sunlight from the mid-spring sun peeks through the thick stone. You know that he knows all this–he sat through almost as many of your father’s history lessons as you did–but it helps to keep talking.

And to his credit, Yoongi listens patiently. He follows dutifully at your side, pausing to look at things you point out and nodding along where appropriate. You can’t show him everything–that would almost be impossible as the castle grounds are so large. But you walk him through parts of the gardens (“There are over 1,000 cherry trees on the castle grounds.”), and show him the fish ponds (“The fish have been imported from the Eastern Coastlands. Some of the koi are descendants of the original fish brought in when the ponds were built 300 years ago!”). You walk past the Queen Mother’s private residence in the southern part of the castle grounds and show him the knight’s barracks and the training grounds. 

All of the buildings on the castle grounds look the same. It had taken you a few months to actually learn where everything was and what each building housed. Tall, sloping, whitewashed walls, deep blue tile roofs, sharp corners and rectangular windows. A far cry from the curved staircases and round windows and dark woods of Castle Blackwood. 

Re-entering the castle proper, you show him the Grand Hall, where important dinners are held, and the king’s dining room. And finally, finally, you end the tour of the castle grounds on the second floor of the western tower where your chambers–and the chambers of personal guards and hand servants–are. You’ve known for a while that there was a room designated for your own personal guard, so you end up in front of that door.

“This is yours,” you tell him, gesturing to the door. It’s not as thick or as dark as the ones back at Castle Blackwood, but you grew accustomed to those small differences long ago.

He stands there, his hand on the brass doorknob, gaze soft as he takes you in. You can see his eyes dart briefly to where the bruise peeks out from under your collar and feel yourself shrink away. You don’t want to know what he sees when he looks at you. 

“Come in.” His voice is gentle, almost as if he’s speaking to a wounded animal. “Let’s catch up.”

You shouldn’t. You know you shouldn’t. It’ll make it harder to move forward–to move on. But then he says, “Please,” and you’ve never been able to resist the softness of his eyes. So you let him lead you into his chambers and shut the door.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen you in a dress,” he says quietly. He stands in front of you, a little awkward. He keeps rubbing his hands together, patting down his trousers. It’s little comfort to know that he’s just as nervous as you are.

“Why are you here, Yoongi?” You don’t mean to snap, but it just kind of happens. You aren’t sure what this means–what it means for him, let alone what it means for you. There’s a pit in your stomach that feels almost like you swallowed a rock, and you do your best to steady yourself.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean why are you here? Why did it have to be you? Why couldn’t it have been Seokjin, or Namjoon, or any- anyone else?” 

He reaches into his doublet and pulls out a folded piece of parchment. It’s a little crumpled, the edges a little worn, like it’s been read many times. You catch a glimpse of a forest green wax seal still clinging to the top edge, and immediately you know what it is. 

“Maybe we’re both a little selfish.” The way he says it, you can feel your heart sink. 

Of course you know what the letter says. It haunts you, but at the time, you thought you were doing the right thing. You still do. 

I hope that, in time, you can move on. That eventually, you will find yourself in love. That you will find happiness again. It’s selfish, but I will only be able to live through this with the hope that you are happy and living a life that is worthy of the care you’ve shown me. 

Find someone who loves you as much as I do. For my sake, if nothing else. 

You want him to be able to move on and live his life. You want him to be happy. He deserves to be happy. And you would sacrifice your own happiness a hundred times over if it meant he could have the life he deserves. 

Yoongi reaches out, and your heart races. You tense, an automatic reaction, and his hand pauses mere centimeters from your cheek. A look of confusion crosses his dark eyes that quickly morphs to understanding and then sadness. His hand falls back to his side.

“How did you get that bruise?” His voice is casual, but you know him, can practically see the cogs turning in his mind.

You tug the collar of your gown so that it covers better. “I tripped.”

“And bruised your shoulder?”

“I’m still getting used to the gowns.”

He hums. You know he knows you’re lying. But you aren’t sure how much you want to allow him back in yet. You aren’t sure how much you want to drag him down with you. 

He sighs, but he doesn’t push it. Instead, he looks at the letter that’s still in his hands. “I tried,” he says softly. “For the first few months, I thought that if I could just convince myself that I was mad at you, it would be easier. I tried so hard to hate you, to blame you for leaving, make it your fault.” He looks up at you, then, and you can see a shine to his eyes. He reaches out again, but this time, the tips of his fingers brush against your hand. “But I couldn’t. It’s not fair, but it’s even less fair for you. And I want to be here. I know it won’t be easy, but I want to be here with you. You shouldn’t have to do this alone.”

Your eyes sting, and there’s a lump in your throat that you can’t quite swallow down. 

Hours later, you’re alone in your chambers. Dusk has fallen, the handmaidens have already been through to light the few candles on the tray near your bed. You sit on the chaise under the open window, a gentle spring breeze lightly caressing your skin. Silently, you stare down at the wooden box in your hands.

It’s dusty. You haven’t touched it since placing it on the shelf when you’d first arrived in the Ironhold. You can see the fingerprints from how you’ve held it over the past half-hour. Gently, you wipe the dust from the gilded leaves of the thistle and press them in. A soft ‘click’ echoes through the inside of the box. 

You take the contents out carefully. Sketches from one of the artists in the Forest Town–one of you, your father, your step-mother, and Namjoon and Seokjin; the other of you and Yoongi. You look much younger here, even though the drawings were only done a few years ago. It feels like an eternity. The real reason you’d pulled the box off the shelf, though, is still in your hand, wrapped delicately in a piece of cloth you’d ripped from a pair of your trousers.

Once it’s unwrapped, you hold it between your thumb and your forefinger and inspect it in the low light. 

Part of you feels guilty that this is the first time you’ve looked at it in almost a year, that you can’t wear it, even on a chain around your neck, or at the very least that you can’t display it in some way. You shouldn’t have accepted it. But there’s no way you could have known it would have spent a year hidden away in a secret compartment in a wooden box, wrapped in the fabric of the trousers you can no longer wear.

You suppose there are things about the world your father couldn’t have thought to teach you.

He couldn’t have prepared you for everything you’ve learned here. How to break yourself down, brick by brick, and rebuild from the ground up. How to change how you talk, how you think. To change your personality to be more likable, less loud, less prominent. To change how you walk, how you stand, how you take up space. A good queen knows when to enhance her king’s spotlight, but also how to fade into the background. She’s firm but quiet. She defers to her husband’s opinions, she doesn’t shape them. And certainly, she knows naught of how the king’s court functions.

He could never have taught you that there’s a special kind of loneliness reserved only for future queens, when you arrive in a new city and no one knows you and no one likes you and no one wants to know or like you. You’ll just be another fixture in the Crownlands, a figurehead with no power, a vessel with no thoughts. There for one thing–maybe two, if you’re lucky–and ignored the rest of the time.

You miss home, miss having things to fill your time with. You miss the activity of Blackwood Castle–there was always something going on, even if it was something minor. Now, you feel as though you spend most of your time daintily draping yourself across chaises and windowsills, watching the world pass you by. You’d tried to go to the library once and were barred entry (“The queen has no need for such knowledge!”). You’d been banned from the council chambers (“How dare you embarrass your king in front of the Eastern traders!”). You couldn’t watch the knights spar, couldn’t sit by as the dog trainers did their work, couldn’t stroll the streets of the Castle Town.

The sound of guard boots in the hall draw your attention, and you jump, hurriedly re-wrapping the ring in cloth and slotting it and the two drawings back into the secret compartment in the box. You press the thistle flower and manage to wipe the rest of the dust off the front just as the door to your chamber opens.

Daniel stands there, the Realm’s unshakeable king, smelling of wine and grinning like the dog that caught the hare. He doesn’t say anything, merely shuts the door behind him and yanks the bolt in place to lock it. You embrace him as he approaches, allowing him to push you back onto the bed.

After he leaves, you stare at the ceiling and hope that someday soon, you’ll start to feel less hollow again. 

It takes mere days for Yoongi to fully integrate into life in the Ironhold. Or, perhaps, integrate is the wrong word. It takes mere days for him to disappear. Once it’s clear he’s there to stay, he’s no longer a novelty, overshadowed by the wedding looming over the next couple days. He goes with you to dress fittings, sits behind you out of the way when you meet with the clergy. He even accompanies you to meet with the Queen Mother. You’re shocked that she allows him to stand in on your conversation, but if you’re honest with yourself, you’re a little glad she does.

“My knights followed me everywhere over the years,” she says casually, pouring herself a cup of tea. “I expect you’d want yours to do the same, forest bumpkin though he is.”

The Queen Mother sits at a small table near the window. For a moment, she doesn’t say anything, simply stares out at the garden as if she’s inspecting the very plants for quality of growth. It’s uncanny how much her sons have inherited from her. Daniel has the same intense, calculating gaze, and both he and Eden have her high cheekbones and downturned lips. They’ve all got the same dark, glossy hair and downturned eyes.

You stand there, waiting for her to address you again. It’s awkward, but you dare not move. You can feel Yoongi’s presence behind you–he’s been quiet all morning, but you can tell that he has thoughts about life in the castle. You ignore him. Instead, you focus your attention on the table in front of you and the Queen Mother’s cup of tea.

Finally, the Queen Mother brings her attention back in your direction, leveling a gaze at you that reminds you just how scrutinized you’ve been since you arrived at the Ironhold nearly a year ago. She studies you for a moment before raising her teacup to her lips. “I suppose you’re expecting me to give you the norigae for tomorrow’s ceremony.”

That had been why you thought she’d called this meeting. The seamstresses who’d been working on your gown said the Queen Mother would give you a lucky decoration. They’d said it was a big honor, that it was tradition. Now, you’re unsure. Still, though, you nod quietly.

The Queen Mother hums. Her gaze burns into you, and when you fidget where you stand, she frowns. “Danny has said that your dress is to be cream.”

“It’s pretty.”

“It’s not white.” Her tone is as sharp as her glare. It’s an accusation.

You swallow. “I do as my king asks.”

“The traditional norigae has been passed down for generations in the Choi family,” the Queen Mother says. She does not look at you, merely glares down at her tea cup. “It’s supposed to bring great luck to the marriage and many sons. It’s meant to be given to a king’s bride to both welcome her into the Choi family and celebrate the pure gift she brings with her.”

It scares you a little, how she says it. It almost sounds like a threat, though you aren’t quite sure what she’s threatening you with. What you do know, though, is that you probably should be scared of whatever it is.

“Do you think you deserve that?” she questions.

“I…” 

You aren’t sure what to say. You aren’t sure there’s anything you can say. You’ve willingly allowed Daniel into your bed when he’s come calling. He’s the king and the man you are to marry. This is your life now.

Her question lingers as you wrack your brain for something–anything–to say. Thankfully, she puts you out of your misery.

“I suppose I must. Tradition is tradition, after all.” She sighs. “I will give it to the dressmakers tomorrow before the ceremony.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“You may go.” There is no room for argument. 

The trek back through the gardens and to your chambers is silent. Yoongi is quiet as he follows you, the only signs that he’s there are his shadow following yours and his footsteps echoing off the stone floors of the castle. He shuts the door behind you as you enter your room, sliding the steel bolt into place to lock it.

“That’s not necessary,” you tell him, collapsing onto the chaise at the foot of your bed. You’re exhausted, and there’s something heavy growing in your chest. “You can return to your own chambers. I’ll call for you if I need anything.”

He doesn’t move, and when you look up at him, you can see the conflict in his eyes. After a moment, he seems to decide on something, because he takes a cautious step forward.

“You know you don’t have to put up with any of this.”

“What?” You have no idea what he’s talking about. 

“We could run away.” He’s closer now, kneeling in front of you. Carefully, he takes your hand, holding it as though it were glass.

You shake your head. “You know that’s not possible.”

Yoongi squeezes your hand, dark eyes pleading. “We could go somewhere far away. Somewhere they couldn’t find you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

“You’re exactly who I’m worried about.” His tone is firm. “This place is poison, it’s… it’s-”

“It’s fine, Yoongi.” His touch is electric on your skin, and you jerk your hand away, burned by his proximity. “This is my duty. This is my life.”

“It’s not fine!” He stands, clearly frustrated. “You don’t deserve how these assholes treat you. No one does. The Westerlands can deal with whatever comes from-”

“Loyalty does not yield.”

“Fuck that! Have some sense!”

“Get out.” You say it as loud as you dare, not wanting to draw the guards but desperate, so, so desperate, for him to leave. When he doesn’t move, you pick up the closest thing to you—a soft-bound journal—and throw it at him. The book hits him in the chest with a dull thud and plops to the ground. 

A pillow follows. Then another. A blanket. Your hair brush. Anything you can get your hands on, you hurl in his direction. If he would just leave and let you rest. You’re exhausted. Dear God, why won’t he leave? Eventually, you’re out of ammunition, everything else around you being too heavy or too large to throw with any sort of accuracy. Yoongi, to his credit, has stayed stock-still throughout the ordeal, unflinching despite the onslaught.

You stalk over to him, blood pressure rising. There’s a headache stirring behind your eyes. The pit grows inside of you. “Go. Now.”

“No.” He says it so calmly.

“Stubborn fool. I will send you home.”

“Listen to yourself,” he pleads. “This isn’t you, you don’t-”

Your palm stings. 

Why does your palm sting? 

You look down, confused, and see your skin a shade of angry red. Movement in front of you draws your attention. For the first time since you’d thrown the journal, Yoongi moves. His hand comes up to cup his cheek; your gaze follows his arm as it moves. There, hidden by his hand, his skin begins to blossom pink.

It’s like you’re sucked out of your body. You can see yourself standing there, cradling your stinging hand, staring in bewilderment at the red that blooms across his skin. A silent moment passes. But then you feel something, deep within you. At first, it’s nothing more than a tremor, a slight tremble within you, but then it builds. Your heart races. Whatever was left of you—whatever you’d been able to claw and cobble together over the last year—implodes. You can feel it shatter within you, a thousand times more powerful than the initial destruction. And with it, you crumble.

Yoongi approaches you cautiously, like he’s coming up on a wounded animal. “What can I do?” he asks, his voice soft, kind. “Tell me how I can help.”

“Leave,” you beg.

You regret it. You regret contacting your father. You regret asking him to send someone. Why you thought having any of them here would be helpful–or why you’d never considered it would be him–you’ll never know. You can survive here–you were surviving here. But at what cost?

It hits you hard, blindsiding you like a sudden storm. The truth is, you’re scared. What if the old you–the you he fell in love with… What if she’s gone? What if she can’t come back? What if she died the day you climbed into that carriage, replaced by this hollow husk of a person you are now?

You suppose it doesn’t matter. You’re here. Yoongi is here. Tomorrow, you will marry Daniel. And from there, you will take things as you have. One day at a time.

Eventually, you manage to pull yourself together. Your face still feels stiff and puffy, but you refuse to remove the cloth you’ve draped over the mirror, so you don’t know if it really is. You’ve got a headache–all the pressure behind your eyes and in your cheeks is enough to make you feel like your head is splitting open. Part of you just wants to go to sleep. But it’s barely mid-afternoon, and you aren’t entirely sure what you’re supposed to be doing.

The wedding is tomorrow, but you’ve gotten almost no direction from anyone on what should be happening. You suspect that something should be happening, but you have no idea what it could possibly be. As a child, you spent more time climbing trees and tormenting Namjoon with Yoongi than dreaming of your wedding, but even still. This feels like a business transaction.

A knock at your door pulls you from your thoughts, and it takes a moment for you to gather yourself. Your mind is a little hazy as you slide the bolt unlocked and open the door, but when you see Eden standing there, you force yourself to come to your senses. The prince bows slightly with his head, inclining it forward ever so slightly. It’s respectful, but only so much–he’s still the one with royal blood.

“How are you holding up?” he asks, stepping into the room. You haven’t really invited him in, but you step aside anyway and close the door behind him. “I heard that mother may have accosted you over the norigae this morning.”

“She was within her right,” you tell him softly.

Eden hums. “Still. You’re to be part of this family. Mother is just disappointed that she won’t be the most important woman in Daniel’s life anymore.”

“I don’t think that’s remotely true.”

He snorts, a wry smile on his lips. In the year you’ve been at the Ironhold, Eden has become your favorite person here. You don’t particularly trust him, but of everyone that lives in the Crownlands, he seems the most normal.

Casually, Eden wanders over to a window, looking out over the courtyard several levels below. “It is my hope that things will get easier for you in time.”

From where you’re sitting, that seems almost impossible. But you don’t want to quash his optimism. So you smile politely and nod.

“I brought you something,” Eden tells you, and the way he says it, it sounds almost like a conspiracy. 

Carefully, he pulls a long strip of fabric out of his pocket. It’s a beautiful silk, red as blood–the chosen color of House Choi. He holds it out with both hands.

“Technically, my brother should be giving this to you,” he says as you take it. “But I don’t think he cares so much about keeping to every tradition. Just the ones that are convenient to him.”

You can feel something thin and hard inside the silk. Eden nods, and you gently unfold the fabric. Inside is a hairpin, shiny silver and around the length of your hand. The end is an intricate dragon head, expertly forged, and in its mouth, a bright red gem. The same dragon that stands resolutely on the Choi family crest. It’s pretty, but something about it makes your heart hurt.

“Tomorrow, you will become a dragon,” Eden says. “You should be able to dress like one.” 

“Th-thank you.” You can barely manage it, and you hope that he takes your struggle as emotion and not the war that’s starting to wage within you.

After Eden leaves, the hours pass slowly. You aren’t sure what time it is when Daniel stops by your chambers. He barely speaks to you, but you can tell something is different about tonight. He stays longer after, falls asleep in your bed, on top of the coverlet. You aren’t sure when you drift off, only that you do.

You aren’t quite sure what wakes you up. It’s late. Or maybe early. It’s pitch dark–you can’t even see candles in the windows across the courtyard. Mysteriously, Daniel is still beside you. You’ve awoken on your side, so you can’t see him, but you can feel the dip in the mattress and the pull of his body on the blankets.

But there’s something else. Your blankets almost feel damp, the linen heavy with an extra weight. You sit up, curious, and immediately notice a spot that pools around Daniel. It’s soaked down deep into the mattress, the spot dark, almost black, in the dark of night. You reach out and touch it, and though you aren’t sure what you’re expecting, it’s sticky.

“My king?” you ask softly, touching his arm. He hasn’t moved since you woke, and you have a sinking sense that something is horribly wrong. When he doesn’t rouse, you shake him. “Daniel?”

There’s no response. His arm is stiff. He does not move. Your skin is sticky. You shake him harder, so hard that he rolls over. For a moment, you believe he’s awake. But then you see the cloth sticking out of his parted lips. And the gaping hole in his neck.

prev. | masterlist | next

#yoongi x reader #min yoongi x reader #bts x reader #yoongi fanfic #yoongi fic #suga fic #suga fanfic #bts fanfic #bts fic #min yoongi fic #min yoongi fanfic #myg x reader

[mrsmikaelsxn]

Marry Me

masterlist

pairing: anakin skywalker x female reader

warnings: kissing, fluff, insecure anakin

summary: anakin proposes to you and your wedding

a/n: lmao this was taken straight from my anakin fic on wattpad but it makes a good oneshot too, on wattpad it is an x oc though

song: perfect - ed sheeran

Anakin and you are in the bedroom of a house that you two were temporarily staying at. Anakin is wearing a long sleeved shirt with the front buttons open.

He sits next to you on the bed and looks down. He frowns at his mechanic hand.

You look at him and see him try to cover the hand, "Ani?"

"Hm?"

"What's wrong? Is it the arm? Is it hurting you?"

"No, love," he kisses your head.

"Well why are you trying to hide it," you frown at him.

"Well, I- do you think it looks bad?"

You then realize that he's insecure about it, your heart hurts.

"Ani," you whisper, "nothing, and I mean nothing, about you is or looks bad. That arm will not change a single thing I feel for you. I think it makes you look strong," you smile.

"But.."

"No buts!" You pick up the mechanical hand, he watches you as you kiss it. You continue to kiss each of the knuckles. His eyes water.

You leave a few more soft kisses on it and gently place it down. You look up at him and wipe his tears. You leave a gentle kiss on his lips, "I love you. No matter what."

"I love you," he hugs you and rests his chin on your head for a moment. He stands up and walks onto the balcony, pulling you with him. He turns to you as you gaze at the unreal sunset.

"Y/n," he whispers. You look at him and he reaches into his pocket. He opens a small box and you look at the most gorgeous ring you have ever seen. "Marry me."

"Ani... I- what about the Jedi?"

"I don't care about that. I love you. You are my life. Marry me," he whispers.

"I'll marry you," tears fall down your face and you smiles. Anakin grabs your left hand and places a kiss on it, he slides the ring on as he looks into your eyes.

He pulls you into a love filled kiss. He kisses you like his life depended on it. Your lips on each other, so perfect it's like they were made for one another.

In a garden on Naboo, there are waterfalls in the back, flowers everywhere, a bright sun, and the air is warm.

There is an archway decorated with the most beautiful flowers and vines. A Naboo holy man stands underneath.

There are three chairs on the grass. Anakin stands under the arch in a suit, nervously looking around.

Then, Padmé walks out with some flower petals, she grins at the nervous boy and winks as she throws some petals into a path. When she's done she takes a seat in one of the chairs.

Next is Artoo and Threepio. Artoo happily bleeps his way down the path with Threepio walking next to him. They get to the holy man and give him the rings. Threepio then takes his seat and Artoo stands next to him.

Lastly, are you with Obi-Wan on your arm.

You are wearing a white wedding gown. It has some very, very, light pastel flowers embroidered onto the skirt. It's made out of a soft and flowy fabric that elegantly drapes over your curves. The dress has an ethereal effect and it has a medium length train. The beautiful layers of the skirt fabric are cascading down like a waterfall.

Your hair is in a stunning, but somewhat loose, bun in the back of her head, you also have flowers in your hair. You have light makeup on with the biggest smile on your face.

Anakin has tears falling down his face at the mere sight of her, he has to bite his lip to stop it from wobbling. He quickly wipes away the tears and swallows nervously.

You get to the end of the aisle and face Anakin. Obi-Wan walks to his seat and sits down. The holy man starts his wedding speech and they get the vows. After they exchange their loving words, they both are crying again. Obi-Wan smiles, he's more than happy for you both, as is Padmé.

"Anakin Skywalker, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"Y/n L/n, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"Repeat after me," the holy man says. "I, Anakin Skywalker, take you Y/n L/n, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

Anakin repeats the words with a smile.

The holy man turns to you, "I, Y/n L/n, take you Anakin Skywalker, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

You repeat and then place the ring on Anakin's finger and he places the other on yours.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Anakin grins and pulls you into a kiss as Obi-Wan, Padmé, and Threepio clap. Artoo lets out joyful whistles and bleeps.

You pull apart, and some flower petals gently fall on and around them. Your foreheads are connected for a moment and Anakin whispers, "My darling love, my wife."

#nina writes 🤭💗 #anakin skywalker #anakin fluff #anakin skywalker fluff #star wars #star wars fluff #star wars x you #anakin skywalker x you #anakin skywalker x reader #obi wan #obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker oneshot #anakin skywalker imagine #anakin fanfiction #star wars anakin #star wars fanfiction #star wars oneshot #hayden christensen #hayden christensen x reader #padme amidala #threepio #r2d2 #naboo

[yourfavoritewitchbitch]

Gator Tillman x Fem! Reader

Blurb with my new favorite duo, Gator x Bunny

You give Gator a few gifts for Christmas!

18 + only! Minors DNI!

Warnings: Porn, with plot. Reader is referred to as Bunny or Bun. No use of Y/N. Established (albeit toxic) relationship. Ass play. Anal. P in V (wrap it before you tap it!). Creampie mentioned.

Special thanks to @starksbabie for the perfect graphic of Bunny's tattoo and always indulging my endless Gator thoughts!

Word count: 2.7k

Merry Christmas ya' filthy animals! Enjoy!

Christmas morning arrived with a fresh layer of snow.

Gator had to leave early for his day shift, making sure to fuck you into the mattress before leaving bed.

He was never gentle, but it was slower than you were used to. He tried to roll his hips instead of snapping them as you came around his cock. His patience would never allow him to make love, always so eager for your cunt to pulse around him.

“Merry Christmas Bunny, love you.” he mumbled against your lips, as he finished inside you, leaving you a complete mess before the sun had the chance to rise.

Since he'd left the house, he'd been in a bad mood. Leaving the warmth of bed and your body pressed against his, always left him bitter, but especially today.

He hated working Christmas.

He trudged home, expecting you to already be asleep. He had to stay over his already 12-hour shift when Roy asked him to take care of something else for him.

No doubt being spiteful for not making it to their Christmas dinner this year, opting to spend the night celebrating with you instead.

He pulled into the drive, all the lights in the house were off, all except the twinkling tree in the front window still aglow. It cast a rainbow of colors out onto the front lawn, kindling something within him.

Happy to be home. Happy to come home to you.

Your nerves were alight with excitement.

You weren't sure you'd be able to pull this little stunt off until he'd texted you earlier that he was going to be late, which would automatically mean he'd be coming home in a bad mood.

A bad mood, you were sure he'd fix my fucking you stupid.

You were laid out on top of your shared bed in an outfit you'd been hiding for months.

Your body was covered in a red velvet skirt and matching bra, both trimmed in white fur. Forgoing any panties for the main surprises you had in store.

Your legs were crossed, red fishnets that stopped at the plush of your thighs squeezing them just right.

To top it all off you had a pair of fluffy white bunny ears adorning your head.

You hadn’t been sitting there long when you heard the front door open and close.

Your heart began to pound. You were never nervous, but your nerves were getting the best of you right now. You'd never done anything of this caliber for anyone you'd dated. You were fucked if he didn't like it.

His heavy boot steps stopped down the hall. You figured he must think you were already asleep, toeing them off trying to be quieter.

You straightened up a little as you saw the handle slowly turn.

There was soft candlelight around the room, joining the glow of the bedside lamp.

He opened the door and his head popped into view. As soon as he saw you his jaw dropped, eyebrows shooting up.

“Hey handsome, Merry Christmas.” You giggled.

“Holy shit, Santa must've gotten mixed up, because, "he licked his lips as his eyes traveled up your legs, “I haven't been a very good boy this year. Not for this present.”

“Oh baby, you've been a naughty boy. But you're my naughty boy.” You took the moment to uncross your legs, allowing him to see your bare cunt glistening in the low light.

“Oh fuck,” he mumbled as he practically launched himself onto the bed, immediately slotting himself between your thighs.

He'd already removed his outerwear leaving him in a thinner short sleeved shirt and cargo pants.

You wrapped your legs around his waist, feeling his thick cock already beginning to strain in his pants as you moved your hips to meet his.

Attacking your lips with fervor, he almost knocked the bunny ears off with his excitement. It was all tongue and teeth, as he nipped your bottom lip, sucking it slightly before releasing it.

“Baby,” you breathed out, pushing his chest slightly so you could get the word out, and unlatch from him.

He moved slightly, so he could look down at you, “yeah?”

“I've got a big surprise for you. Well, two actually.” you grinned. “Why don't you lay back and get comfy for me.”

“I thought this” he tugged the little ribbon situated between your breasts, “was the surprise?” He grinned back.

“It's part of it but you have to let me up.” You nipped at his jaw.

“Ugh… Do I have to?” He whined, as if he couldn't bear the thought of not touching you for the few minutes it would take but was already moving out of your grasp.

You slid over, moving slowly so it didn't reveal itself too soon. He situated himself on the pillows, after you'd told him to go ahead and remove his clothes.

He spit in his palm, then stroked his hard length a few times as he watched you.

Making a show of it all, sliding the straps down slowly one by one before finally undoing the latch and letting the bra slide off your arms and onto the floor.

He was already drooling at the site of your bare chest, something it seems never ceases to amaze him.

“Fuck, look at my girl's fuckin’ perfect tits.” He praised.

The skirt was short enough, when you bent over it would give the perfect view of your backaide. You slowly turned around, letting it ride up the globes of your ass, using your hands to aid in lifting it just enough.

You could see him in the reflection from the mirror, he was mid-stroke when he noticed it, completely stopping with his mouth agape. Nestled in-between your cheeks was a fluffy white bunny tail.

“What's the matter, Gator?” you cooed.

“Oh, fuck Bunny, you're going to be the death o’me. C’mere.” He patted the bed, but you still had one more thing for him that you were sure would leave him speechless.

“Patience baby.”

You slowly started to drag the skirt down, intentionally showing him only the left side of your body. You asked him to sit on the edge of the bed as you walked over.

“One more thing,” you turned around. On your right cheek, there was a small portion of skin covered, the edges sealed with tape.

“What's all this?” He asked. Pulling you in by your hips to gain a better look.

“Go ahead.”

He cautiously lifted the edges; the fresh ink was revealed slowly to him. It was his own name, in perfect letters with a small heart etched beside.

He ran his thumb just underneath it, which still drew a small hiss from you.

“You did this f’me?” He asked quietly.

You wish you could've seen his face, so you finally turned around.

“Of course, baby. You like it?” you said as you cupped his cheeks.

“Like it? I fuckin’ love it. C’mere.” He gripped your waist pulling you forward, as you moved to straddle his lap.

He pulled you into his chest, as you wrapped your arms around his neck, your lips meeting once more.

Moving in tandem against one another, as you finally ground your hips into his. You moaned out once his cock met your clit.

That's all it took, he lifted you up with him, as you locked your legs around his waist laying you back on the bed, never letting his lips leave yours. Bunny ears falling from your head in the process.

With his chest pressed tightly to yours, he pushed you into the mattress.

He reached in between you, guiding his cock between your folds bumping your clit once, twice, three times before catching your entrance pushing in just enough to have you gasp out and grip his shoulders.

You arched into him as he slowly eased the rest of the way into your aching pussy, stretching you out for him.

“Fuck, Gator.” You moaned out, as he hadn't prepared you to take him fully even though you were soaked.

“I know you can take it sweet thing, probably thought about my dick stuffing this tight little cunt all day, huh?” He nudged his nose against yours, as you nodded, mouth slack. Already so cock drunk you could barely think, and he hasn't even begun to fuck you.

He pulled out just as slowly as he pushed himself in, letting you feel every ridge and vein on his exit. He slid out, barely leaving the tip before he plunged back in.

You moaned out, as he spoke “That's it baby. Let me hear you.”

He sat up so he could set a harsher pace, putting your leg in the crook of his elbow so he could get deeper with each thrust, pulling small uh, uh, uhs from your lips.

He leaned in close to your ear, his hips never faltering as he spoke, “It's only right I give her what she needs before I fuck that ass and take what's mine.”

His filthy words and the way his cock was brushing that spot within you over and over had you on the verge already.

You clawed at his back, fingernails leaving deep red scratches behind. He loved the way you left your marks on him.

“That it baby? Need a little help?” It came out a little patronizing, but you only nodded.

He let your leg fall back down, as he lowered his thumb to your bundle of nerves. Pressing in tight circles, just the way you liked it.

The coil within you wound tighter and tighter.

“Come on baby, I can tell you're close.”

And you were, the pressure kept building until it finally snapped. With a scream of his name, your back arched higher off the bed as he stopped toying with your clit to pound into you even harder, working you through your orgasm.

You were clamping down around him, “fuck Bunny, your so goddamn tight,” he slowed his pace to keep himself from cumming too soon.

Your chest was heaving as you came back to yourself. He placed a sweet kiss to the side of your mouth.

“That felt good, huh?” He hummed.

“Fuck, Gator, you know it did.” you giggled.

He pressed a kiss to your neck, as he sat up.

“Come on baby, I've been a good boy. Let me have my present.” He begged.

You rolled over, propping your ass up into the air getting onto your knees.

He groaned at the sight. It was all doing it for him. The bunny tail and his name scrawled high across your right cheek.

He leaned down and placed a kiss right above his name. It sent chills across your skin at the tender notion.

He smoothed his hand down your other cheek before pulling it away and bringing it back down with a sharp smack against your skin.

It made you jolt forward, as you cried out.

“Fuck, Gator!”

But he quickly grabbed your hips before you could fall against the mattress. He soothed your now reddened skin beneath his palm.

He didn't say anything, just calmly eased his fingers to the bunny tail. Slowly, he began to ease it out of your tight hole.

You moaned at the feeling. He watched intently as it finally came out with a slight pop, as he threw it somewhere into the room.

“Mmmm, think you're ready for me?” He said as he spit right onto the ring of muscle, watching it slightly contract as he spread it around with his thumb, slightly breaching your entrance making you throw your head back with another moan.

You reached over to the nightstand, grabbing a small bottle of lube, and handing it to him over your shoulder. It didn't matter how prepared you were, it was never enough.

He squeezed a generous portion out of the tube and onto his waiting hand. Bringing it down to his length, spreading it from his ruddy tip down and back up.

His left hand laid gently on your lower back, you took the hint and lowered your upper body to the mattress.

He brought his tip to your entrance, breaching, while shushing your light protests.

“Relax Bunny, I've got you.”

His words soothed you, relaxing further as he pushed in. You exhaled letting him do all the work.

You hissed, as he thrust in slowly, inch by inch.

Anal was his favorite, no one let him do it until he met you. He loves watching your ass bounce with every thrust.

“That's it baby, just relax. There we go. There's my good fuckin' girl.” He tried to be patient, your ass was so tight he could barely contain himself, as he reached the hilt and groaned with satisfaction.

He stilled, letting you adjust, his hands firmly gripping your hips. Your hands fisted the sheets, preparing for what came next.

He pulled out halfway as you whimpered, quickly sheathing himself back in as he pulled your hips back in time to meet his thrust.

“Oh fuck, Bunny.” He threw his head back in ecstasy.

Pulling back out, now setting a slow pace. He moved to place his foot flat on the bed, giving himself better leverage to plow into you.

He started to pick up speed, as you started to unravel beneath him once more. As if he'd suddenly remembered the tattoo, he smacked your ass just below the fresh ink.

It stung, making you whine and moan, as tears began to line your lashes. You needed more.

“P… Please Gator.” You begged, a little muffled where your cheek was pushed into the bed.

He barely heard you over the sounds of skin slapping and his own moaning.

“What's that sweet thing?” He said, not missing a beat.

You raised up enough so he could hear you plead clearly.

“Please Gator, I need t’cum.” You cried out as he smacked your cheek once more, making you whine out again.

“Ok baby, since you asked nicely.” He leaned over you, kissing your back, before dipping his hand between your thighs.

He trailed his fingers lower, gathering your slick before bringing them back up to circle your sensitive bundle of nerves.

He didn't let up, his other hand holding you in place with a bruising force.

“C’mon. Cum for me and I'll cum inside this tight asshole. This ass is all mine.” He sped up his motion to your clit.

Your lower abdomen started to tighten. A hot white heat flooded your lower body as your orgasm washed over you. Your pussy clenched around nothing as your ass strangled Gator’s cock.

“Oh fuckfuckfuck.” He started to cum as soon as you did. Pumping you full of his sticky spend, with a few more thrusts.

“Jesus Christ,” he mumbled as he fell over your back, careful not to crush you with his weight, as he pulled carefully out.

Your limbs felt like jello and gave out immediately once he let go, falling onto your stomach and stretching your legs out behind you.

He walked into the ensuite bathroom and came back with a fresh moist washcloth for your new tattoo. He'd taken care of his own, so he knew what was needed.

“Need t’keep it clean, Bunny.” He chided with a tisk of his tongue, no malice behind it, you could tell he was grinning even though you could see his face.

“I got too excited, Gator.” You pulled the pillow into your chest as he finished cleaning it and rubbed some aquaphor over it.

“I know, baby.” He threw the cloth into the corner bin. “Roll over, let me take those off.”

Forgetting you'd still had the fishnets on, you did as he asked, lifting one leg up, placing your foot on his chest. His hands quickly rolled it down over your thigh and calf letting it fall to the floor with the rest of your clothes once it was free. He did the same with the other, kissing your ankle before letting it fall back to the bed.

You rolled over as he laid in behind you, wrapping his arm around your waist, pulling you close.

“You know you're mine forever, right? Can't get rid of me now. You're branded.” He breathed out, against your cheek.

“Yeah, I know.” Your soft voice came out, now sleepy. “I love you, Gator. Merry Christmas.”

Maybe next year he could give you what you deserved. A little black box with a diamond worthy of you tucked inside because he knew he was a lucky man, if you'd ever have him.

#gator tillman #gator tillman fargo #gator smut #gator tillman smut #gator x bunny #gator x reader #gator tillman x fem!reader #fargo season 5 #fargo s5 #joe keery fargo #gator tillman x y/n

[superblysubpar]

#82 from the first smut prompt list SCREAMS enemies to lovers hate fucking with either steve or eddie. bonus points for rockstar!eddie or king!steve

Hello lovely! SO. This dialogue actually fit perfectly in a little thing I'm working on - not quite hate fucking, but I've got this little modern!eddie one shot that's almost done. He's not quite a rockstar, but he does play with his band still from time to time. Anyways, enjoy the 500ish word teaser of it and let me know what you all think! Ready for the oneshot? 👀

Pushed up against the brick, barely a block down from the bar, and he had his tongue licking into you. A hand on your hip that dared to rise higher and higher, rucking up your sweater until his nails could scratch your side, till his fingers could rest against your ribs, thumb playing with the lace he found. His other palm was flat against the cold stone, legs spread wide, taking up space and caging you in. 

His lips were sure, warm, tinged with the bourbon of his cocktail and the cigarette you interrupted. They moved over yours gracefully, silky and smooth, parting your mouth easily and swallowing your sigh. The sort of kiss that felt like your lips touched something electric, a quick prick of a shock straight down your spine until you felt warmth flow through your body, surging and shooting across your veins. Passion and confidence explode out of him as he keeps kissing you like his life depends on it, pulling your bottom lip between his and tugging, teeth biting into the soft skin a little mean. Underwear growing far more damp than you were expecting it to tonight, wet lace and cotton sticky with arousal. 

Your palms pressed against his chest, feeling the smooth and hard pecs beneath the black cotton shirt, and you can’t help but wonder how many more tattoos like the ones that disappeared under his sleeves lie beneath it. He releases your lip with a pop, breathing heavily and giving you another quick peck as your fingers descend, scratching as they go and making him shiver. 

He noses at your cheek, lips ghosting over your jaw as you breathe heavily, chests bumping as you both catch your breaths. Your fingers reach the hem, tugging it free from where it’s tucked behind the handcuff belt buckle. His hand has dropped, toying with the edge of your skirt, fingers daring to skim the thigh beneath it and he swallows harshly as they trail higher. The skin beneath your tights has erupted in goosebumps and you shake your head, laughing breathlessly.

“I…what the fuck am I doing. I don’t like you. You’re not my type.”

He smirks, fingers landing where your body wanted him most, feeling how wet you are, the damp patch on the outside of your tights. He chuckles as your body arches against the brick at the press of one finger, then two, and the gentle circles he makes against your clit sending your stomach into knots even through the layers. 

A kiss pressed to the hinge of your jaw, nose dragging down your neck as his open mouth leaves a trail of hot breath and more goosebumps and your hips circle his wrist, pressing down onto his fingers with more weight. 

“Really? Because your pussy’s saying something different, sweetheart.”

Groaning at his crude comment, it quickly turns into a whine as his mouth latches onto your neck. His lips pressed gently in a kiss before his teeth tug at the skin between them, your fingers pull at his belt loops, needing more. 

Fuck, maybe Robin and Steve were right about this after all. 

#taylor's asks 💋 #eddie munson #modern!eddie munson #fic sneak peek #eddie munson smut #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson oneshot

[dreamgrlarchive]

A Prissy Girl’s Guide to Summer

the summer is right around the corner and we have to make sure we’re ready to have a good time and look great while also staying focused on our development and goals. i don’t care, i feel like every little change is an opportunity for reinvention. season change, new year, birthdays, etc. make the changes you feel are necessary but have been putting off.

what’s the look this summer?

“she’s perfect omg” look as natural as possible yet ethereally flawless. hot girl bimboesque. glowy skin that looks hot to the touch. siren straight out of the water hair.

“body shimmer, pretty belly rings, mini skirts, dior lip gloss, laneige lip sleeping mask, lash extensions, pink binki's, pink french acrylics, iced coffee, dewy skin, big gold hoops & curly hair”

“I need a mani pedi, full body massage, spa day, a hydrojelly facial & a vacation.”

- @milliondollaprincess

“Aggressive orange blush. Skin balm as highlighter. Hydrating serums under base makeup. Applying coverage only where you need it. Setting spray over a thin layer of powder. Bronzer. Gloss over smudged liner on top of stain.”

- @plumslices

first and foremost…

let’s get the skin together. we’re going towards the glowy second skin look and it’s hard to do that with dry, aggravated skin. use gentle cleanser in the am and actives at night. go outside with spf and facial oil finished with a laneige lip treatment + tree hut shea lip butter on days when you’re not wearing makeup for the pretty natural look.

preparation

waist training. when at home or running errands wear a steel boned torso covering waist trainer and a sweat band when active.

revamp your wardrobe and declutter, then post on depop, mercari, poshmark etc. this doesn’t mean change your style but it’s always refreshing to get a good honest look at your wardrobe

get your passport. everyone loves taking trips but summertime is the time for exotic destinations.

car maintenance. make sure your transportation is in good condition so you can move freely

acid peels for your entire body

make a new summer playlist to drive around to

body exfoliation for soft pretty skin free of bumps and flakes + waxing to reduce ingrown hairs

get a new fun hobby/job

keep your brows and lip waxed

essentials

SPF!!!!!!!!

mini fan for your purse

glowy body oil

butterfly clips (let’s not sweat out our hair)

cute matching luggage for the cute trips we’re takin!

summer ‘22 diary

a mini deodorant for the hot weather

travel water bottle

new breathable pajamas

body wash with aha, bha, or vit c for glowing skin

victoria’s secret passport sleeve

clothes and accessories

lightweight tanks and sweats with girly sneakers!! super chic, very off duty model effortless pretty (check out @staszki if you need more lookspo)

bottega veneta (style) pieces. bottega screams sunny vacation to me! i’d you can’t afford designer there are plenty of hobo style bags and strappy knit pieces you can find at an affordable price!!

maxi, midi and mini tube dresses. i love a tube dress they just compliment my shape so well. they accentuate the collarbone, bust and hips

belly rings!! so sexy. girl you better snatch that waist up and show it off in the hot weather.

low rise pants to show off your waist

short shorts. look for cuts that are flattering and sexy but not extreme. PINK, Juicy Couture, Forever 21 make the best short shorties!

mini bags and purses, including baguettes and pochettes add to the effortless summery look. keep your essentials on you at all times and that’s it

tube tops, bikini tops. prissy essential duh

more: palazzo or wide legged pants, heeled and strappy sandals, ruffled and pleated mini skirts, maxi sun skirts, shirt dresses, satin and see through shirts, leather tops and bottoms, linen fabric pieces, gold jewelry, brights and pastels (not neons though, ew)

beauty

tinted moisturizer, liquid blush, full coverage concealer, tinted brow gel all for a flawless LIGHTWEIGHT face. it’s too much for thick makeup bc you’ll sweat it off

jergens natural glow, even for my dark skinned girls, trust me!

patrick ta body oil for that hot sunkissed siren skin.

edp with bright sweet or sparkling notes of flora or clean light scents. good examples include springtime in a park by replica, donna born in roma by valentino, gucci gorgeous gardenia, marc jacobs daisy love eau so fresh, si by armani, yellow diamond by versace

wispy lashes give a very natural look and compliments a lightweight face

body mist for travel! it’ll be hot we’re gonna start feeling the need for a refresher

glitter gloss and clear gloss!! again we’re going for the lightweight effortless looking beauty, plus glitter gloss looks amazing in the natural light of the sun

natural looking hairstyles like water waves, kinky straight, body wave, twist outs, braids.

juicy sheet masks!!! i don’t know what it is but these make pores disappear and skin look so beautiful. i love putting one on after my aztec clay mask and applying spf and going out with lashes and a poppin gloss

natural hair girls: invest in your hair. do a mask every two weeks. buy new tools. get a pink tangle tweezer or tangle angel brush. stay up on oil, cream and gel. it’s summertime! prime wash and go season. always brush your hair in the shower with a detangling brush then seal with oil and a lightweight cream then gel and you’re all set. my favorite products include edge booster, tgin leave in, aphogee keratin reconstructor, etc.

jergens cloud creme lotion. my boo @luxehunny put me on. it’s so light and airy feeling. leaves behind no heavy film or greasy texture.

#summer #essentials #the prissy girl agenda #my posts #diva seasonz!

[bluravenite]

I would love to hear any little headcanons you have about the ghouls, perhaps thoughts about the different ghouls styles if that’s something you’ve thought about :)

I do have ideas for their style but it's something very abstract in my mind so I'mma try to explain it to the best of my abilities??

Dew: black band shirts ripped years and scrappy leather boots chains and jewelry.

Rain: flowy shirts, very frilly, fitted clothes, fitted pants and jeans, either flat sneakers or fancy boots, he often wears dresses too. And he has lots of simple pretty hats to keep the sun off his face.

Aether: dad. But fashionable? Lots of cardigans and vests, button up print short sleeve shirts, and cuffed slacks, with fancy mm but comfy flat shoes.

Mountain: he wears tank tops with layered solid color button up cotton short sleeves. Usually with some kind of cropped or cuffed pant or shorts. He also wears lots of open toed shoes, or flats sneakers on occasion. He can be a fancy boy though.

Phantom/aeon: he's low-key the dress up doll of everyone so he will wear frilly shirts or button ups, normal black tshirts, lose or fit pants, he cares more about looking nice in whatever he's wearing than what he is wearing, he also has nice shoes but prefers sneakers and likes being comfortable in his clothes.

Swiss: leather jackets, flannels, tank tops, tshirts that are too tight for his own good, muscle tanks, lose pants, sweatpants, nice shoes or sneakers depending on occasion. On hot summer days he wears open button up shirts with no undershirt, shorts and open toed sandals or something of the like.

Aurora: she's like the vampire goth girly, she will wear frilly blouses with big sleeves, puffy dresses and sheer fabrics and either Mary Jane's or demonia style boots. She's kinda like a Gothic academia and very mild pastel goth. If you ask her what her inspiration is, it would be Morticia Adams in her fashionable youth, before she became a fashionable milf ofc.

Cirrus: she's pretty laid back but likes to look nice, she will wear the fancy cocktail dresses and look so hot everyone wants to melt into the pits of hell. She wears fitted clothes and a sort of comfortable but polished style, you'll never see her in just one style of clothing though, she's kind of like a really well dressed hot millennial.

Cumulus: LOVES lives comfy stuff, anything that's like soft or cotton she loves wearing, so she will often have fluffy cute sweaters or pretty tops shiny tops she loves showing her skin but also being cozy so skirts, shorts and sweatpants or cute fitted pants are always the way, she also loves pretty flowy sundresses and cropped or flowy shirts. The ghoulettes spend HOURS helping her find just what she wants and making it fit perfectly just for her.

This is the main ghouls but!! Lmk if you want a part two with other ghouls like zeph, ifrit, alpha, cowbell, etc!!

#raven rambles #nameless ghouls #the band ghost #ghost bc #ghost the band #nameless ghoul headcanons #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghoul #aether ghoul #mountain ghoul #swiss army ghoul #aurora ghoulette #cirrus ghoulette #cumulus ghoulette #phantom ghoul #aeon ghoul #nameless ghoul

[cosplayinamerica]

Mothra & Godzilla from @btanselanoican’s gijinka D&D/fantasy kaiju series // Cosplayers: @strangecatcosplay & @Fooprawn // photos: Ejen Chuang

My Mom is a skilled sewist and used to make Halloween costumes for my sisters and I when we were young. My sister was born on Halloween so we always had costumes and fun celebrations. That started my fascination with dressing up in costume and I always had fun doing it. 

As I got older, my Mom taught me how to sew. In 2010 I saw Alice in Wonderland, and fell in love with the costume designs Colleen Atwood brought to the screen. 

My Mom helped me a lot with making an Alice cosplay, and I went to my first anime convention. I had never been to one, and after that I wanted to go to more. I fell in love with the fun process of making cosplays and have been doing it since. It's a huge part of my life now, and I met both of my partners through cosplay.

Godzilla movies have a special place in my heart. I always loved sci-fi and fantasy, monsters and crazy costumes. Mothra and Battra are my favorites, so when I saw the designs by btanselanoican, I was inspired. It brought back a sense of nostalgia and happiness while making parts of the cosplays. I still have more details that I want to add and fix, but my Mothra cosplay is one of my favorite projects I have worked on in a long time.

It was a long process, and involved many different materials. For Mothra, I started with the wig. It involved a lot of cotton batting and white felt to build up the shape without adding a lot of weight, then shaping the wig fibers over that. I made the antennae out of wire and painted felt. The earrings are made of cut brass and painted beads. For the dress, it was a lot of patterning by pinning fabrics to my dressform, making a first draft, then using that to cut the actual fabric. I made a corset and skirt, and then the robe/dress piece that wraps over that. The skirt started out white, but was then dyed to the right colors. The sleeves were the hardest part to figure out. They were dyed and painted by hand, before being sewn to the dress. There are also a lot of appliqued gold fabric pieces on the dress. I made the belt, and all the shiny belt petals are also hand-cut brass pieces.

The wings are made of wire and old tights, that I then stitched, painted, and shaped to fit along my back.

The staff is made from a PVC pipe and foam base, then I added the electronics. There are green LEDs, and a small 10rpm motor that makes the moth wings move. I covered everything with foam strips, making them look like wood and vines. There are compartments made of foam and magnets, that way I can get to the battery pack or motor if I need to. I then added the paint and flowers. The moths are made of foam, pipe cleaners, painted posterboard, and faux fur. The moth wings are attached to the motor via some old ukulele strings. The monofilament keeps its shape and is light, but also strong. It's fed through old metal brakeline tubing that goes through the staff.

For Godzilla, it was a lot of use of canvas cotton. We found these huge canvas dropcloths at the hardware store, and they were surprisingly soft, but sturdy, after washing them. They have a thick woven texture and take fabric dye really well. We used that for making Godzilla's pants and shirt. The cape was made of thick cotton, cut, weathered, and painted. The spine has LEDs in it that go up into the hood. His chest and hip armor is all actual leather, patterned by hand and stitched together. The chainmail on the hip armor is hand made as well. His arm and leg armor is more canvas and layers of thick fabric. His shoes are leather and layered canvas and cotton. They are made by hand, and if you look on the bottom they have a Godzilla footprint.

All the "claws" on his hand armor and foot pieces are made of bamboo from the backyard. All of the woven rope pieces are cotton wrapped fleece, braided together for a thick and lightweight rope.

The sword is PVC and foam for a base. The lights are two different sets: a LED string light set, and a neopixel setup. The neopixels were soldered by hand, and are controlled by a command board that also controls a speaker. We set it to play Godzilla's roar with custom light animations. It has a plastazote foam to diffuse the lights, and then more EVA foam on top.

When I saw the designs I fell in love with the props, the attention to detail, and the use of color. Plus, I have always loved Dungeons and Dragons, so putting them into that universe was such a wonderful idea. I also look for fun challenges when it comes to props, and Mothra's staff was so beautiful. I couldn't resist.

Having experience in textile studies has helped me so much with my understanding of how different fabrics work with dyes. I used a lot of dye techniques for different parts of these cosplays. Godzilla's pants and shirt were dyed, Mothra's skirt was dyed two different times, the sleeves were dyed, painted with more dye, and then painted again. I don't think I would have been able to make my Mothra cosplay the way I wanted to without that prior knowledge and experience.

The best part is the magic staff. I am so proud of how it turned out and the way the moths move makes me so happy!

The only thing that I get tired of is that occasionally I run into things with the wire wings, and the long dress can make it hard to go through crowds in convention halls.

#mothra #godzilla #fan expo New Orleans #comic con #cosplay #cosplay interview #cosplayfeature new Orleans

[15-lizards]

mrs. reed i have an important question pls. or two actually. it's for fanfiction purposes and also i am obsessed with ur fashion and hair headcanons and regularly check the tag for updates.

how would a fem!selmy character dress ? also important note she spends a lot of time in braavos.

how would a fem!halfdornish half volantene character dress? she also grew up enslaved so not a big fan of red priests OR volantis.

how would a fem!house strong character dress? it's viserys' court in the late (rotting corpse) stages and she's very ambitious. thankyyy

it's very specific but maybe a challenge considering? idk i love your headcanons and want to know your thoughts but feel free to totally and completely ignore/generalize more :))))

Let me read ur fic!!

Selmy girls, to me, dress very down-to-earth casually, with a preference for golden yellow colors. The top gown she might wear in Westeros, plain and long sleeves gowns that may or may not be fitted to her, depending on whether she has a surcoat/overgown on as well. The left is a mash of Pentos/Stormlands she can wear in either place. It has the cut of an average gown she might wear in Westeros, but the overcoat, the belt, the headpiece, and patterns are inspired from her time in the Pentoshi ports. The right is a full-Pentoshi gown (shout out to the Chechen culture for his one) with a simple cut and silky fabric to wick away sweat. Metal jewelry and accessories like belts and brooches hand crafted by Essosi artisans, and of course a loose veil/scarf/head wrap to protect her head from the sun

For your dornish-volantene girl, she might scorn all finery from or that reminds her of Volantis. She wears long strips of light cloth wrapped around to make a loose skirt or pants, and another bolt to create a wrapped top of some kind, and that’s it. Nothing heavy or golden, just something that can give her ease of movement and also not remind her of her enslavers. If she was ever in Dorne, she most likely would adopt that style of clothing, especially on the coasts or in the sands, where there is far less shade than in Volantis. Simple, square cut gowns of cotton that are decorated by incredibly detailed embroidery and other types of patterns. Again, a veil or headscarf is useful in Dorne, but some situations may require full facial coverage from the sun

Unnamed Strong sister my beloved. Bringing her to court while she’s still a young girl, she is dressed as the innocent she is. White gowns with colorful borders and flowery patterns, short puffed sleeves, ringlet curled hair, and a lace neckline high enough to be considered appropriate for a young girl. As she grows up, she starts wearing finer gowns (perhaps from Rhaenyra’s closet), soft silk with gilded lining, neckline pushed down low enough to get a courtiers attention. Once she’s a grown woman, she is far more comfortable, wearing Targaryen colors to symbolize her favor with the crown (or green, depending on which side she’s on). Off the shoulder necklines and flatter sleeves symbolize that she is a woman now, not a child. Many layered gowns with cloth of gold underskirts show off her new wealth.

#asoiaf #asoiaf hair and clothing #justice for the unnamed daughters of Harwin Strong #should’ve been Rhaenyra’s ladies this is highway robbery

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 174. brb x oc

a/n: i have no idea what im doing so if it makes no sense blame google cause well 8) (comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!! they make my nights they really do<3)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: n o n e. but expect some angst next chapter. NOTHING SERIOUS

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

116/117/118/119/120/121/122/123/124/125/126/127/128/129/130/131/132/133/134/135/136/137/138/139/140/141/142/143/144/145/146/147

/148/149/150/151/152/153/154/155/156/157/158/159/160/161/162/163/164/165/166/167/168/169/170/171/172/173

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @fanboyswhore9 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23 @gh0stsgoodgirl @mygyn @chavivaelisheva @kmc1989

-

One month apart,first trimester, 12:12,San Diego CA.

They were getting bigger.

It’s obvious when she turns her body and when she looks at her reflection, she was getting more…oval. Oval? Would that be the right shape? She gives herself another look, running her hands through her hair before she turns her body partially around, smiling at how the dress looked on her body.

Marcus is a magic man, he’s the Wizard of Oz of fashion because this is just so beautiful. This dress is crafted from an almost ethereal, lightweight fabric that gracefully drapes and flows with every movement. It is a seamless blend of enchantment and comfort, which is exactly what she adores.

The dress has an off-the-shoulder neckline that delicately frames her collarbones and shoulders and the bodice is designed to offer gentle support to the growing belly, and that she was pretty sure was somehow added before he handed the dress over to her.

Again, wizard of OZ.

The flowing skirt starts from just below the bust, allowing ample room for the baby bump. It cascades down in layers of soft, translucent lilac colored fabric, creating a mesmerizing and dreamy effect as it catches the light . The length of the skirt is more of a tea-length which is really comfortable, and it’s not too tight.

And it had a stretchy, adjustable waistline, “God,I love Marcus so much.” she says, still admiring herself in the mirror and cupping the bottom of her rounded stomach with both hands, “I look like those…renaissance paintings. Oh it’s so lovely!” she stops looking to herself when her phone pings with the alarm. She quickly grabs it to check the time, “Oh boy. Time to go,Nikki.” her daughter was peacefully sitting on the bed, surrounded by her toys and only looking up when her mother refers to her.

“Aa?”

“Yes, we need to go to auntie Evelyn’s party!” she coos, picking her up, “Auntie Shells is picking us up-even though I could easily drive us there she just doesn’t want me to get hurt.” she doesn’t sound that happy but she does shake her head while slapping on a smile, “Anyway, let’s go. You look so cute!”

It was just a miniature version of her dress only it had princess sleeves that made Nicole look like a little pixie. The flower headband fell a bit forward so Beatrice quickly adjusted it backwards so it wouldn’t land on Nicole’s eyes but honestly her daughter was too busy playing with the flower appliques on her mother’s bust, “I know right? It’s pretty!”

“Peety!”

“Yes! Pretty!” she grins, kissing her cheek and grabbing both the gift and her bag before walking out of the bedroom. The dogs all looked up when they heard her footsteps, with Jolene standing up at the bottom of the stairs, “Jojo.” she begins, “I’m going to be out of the house for a few hours, I’ll probably bring something for you guys too- I know there’s going to be some doggy friendly treats for you.” Eleanor whines from the corner and Beatrice lowers her brows, “I know,I know, but Evelyn said some of her relatives will bring their dogs over and they can be…hard to befriend, if that wasn’t the case you’d all come with us too!”

“Baaaabes!”

“Oh God.”

“Babes!” followed by a series of honking, “Come out here!Come on!” more honking.

“I swear to God.” she whispers to herself, bringing Nicole up to her chest, “One of these days she’s going to get arrested while here- bye guys. Say bye,Nikki.” Nicole already knew how to wave, so she did just that as they walked to the front door, saying ‘bye bye!’ to the dogs until they were no longer in her view.

Shells was leaning against the front of her Buick with her arms crossed. She was wearing a dress, but it was green, tight at the waist with a halter top bust, “Ohhh!” she smiles as Beatrice locks the front door, “You two look adorable!’

Beatrice returns the smile, approaching Shells once everything is locked tight. She adjusts Nicole in her arms, making sure her daughter is comfortable and secure. "Thank you, Shells! And you look stunning as always," Beatrice says, genuinely admiring her friend's outfit.

Shells uncrosses her arms and opens them for a hug. Beatrice leans in, careful not to squish Nicole between them, and they embrace for a moment. "Are you ready for the party?" Shells asks, pulling away from the hug but keeping her hands on Beatrice's shoulders.

"Absolutely! I can't wait to celebrate with Evelyn and everyone," Beatrice replies with enthusiasm. "Is she excited?”

Shells gives her a half shrug, “She’s kinda annoyed she had to change the date because of the people. But you know, she’s managing how she can,I don’t think she murdered anyone with her eyes yet.”

“It’s still early.”

Shells nods while laughing, opening the back door for Beatrice, “Go on ahead.” she says while gesturing towards Nicole’s seat in there. Beatrice wastes no time in latching Nicole comfortably tight, then stretching her arms above her head once she’s back to her standing position, ‘Oh my God, now I can see it?”

Beatrice blinks, holding both hands on top of her head before turning her eyes to Shells, “Hm?”

“The twins!” she points to her friend’s stomach, “Look at that! Now it’s obvious they are there, god damn,Bea, they’ll be so big once they pop out.”

Beatrice follows Shells' gesture and looks down at her own rounded belly, laughing softly. She gently places a hand on her stomach, feeling the weight and presence of her unborn twins.

"You're right, Shells. They are getting bigger," Beatrice says, her voice filled with awe and wonder. "I can't believe how much they've grown. It's both exciting and a little overwhelming."

Shells leans against the car, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I mean, are they kicking yet?"

“Not yet, but they will soon.”

“Just wait until Rooster sees you like that. He’ll freak out.” she says much to her friend’s confusion, “Girl,we are going to take some pictures!You look too pretty to not share with others!”

Beatrice blushes at the compliment and rolled her eyes, but she is very happy. "Thank you, Shells. Your support means the world to me."

“That’s why I’m here,babes. Now, get in the car or else Evelyn will have a freakout. She needs our support more than you know.”

“Both of her parents are there?”

“Just her mom, her father will be there later…cause work.” Shells mutters,”And her mother is hounding her a lot, sooo…”

Beatrice nods understandingly, realizing the importance of their presence at the party for Evelyn. She takes a deep breath, gathering her composure, and climbs into the car. Once seated, she fastens her seatbelt and adjusts herself to find a comfortable position, mindful of her growing belly “Ow.”

Shells snaps her head in Beatrice’s direction so fast she was sure something cracked, “What? What happened? Is Rooster going to kill me?”

Beatrice didn’t look amused, “No,” she sighs, “Just pinched the side of my leg with the seatbelt. Nothing to worry.”

“Ah, well,alright.” Shells starts the car and begins driving towards Evelyn's parents house. When asked the reason for doing that there and not at her penthouse the answer was ‘I am already doing more than enough, plus my parents have a huge backyard and I don’t trust my uncle Tom when he’s drunk.’. Beatrice steals a glance at Nicole, who is quietly observing the passing scenery through the window, seemingly lost in her own little world, babbling quietly.

Sometimes she could hear certain words, like ‘okay’ and ‘hello!’ coming out of her daughter’s mouth and it was so adorable. Better than music if she was honest.

She leans back in her seat, feeling the gentle sway of the car as it moves through the streets. They are getting to a residential area - after Shells stops and checks her gps at least twice- and they see it.

It’s an impressive house that looks like it was built in the 1980s. It was situated on a spacious lot,where they see a well-manicured front yard and a charming entryway adorned with mature trees and colorful landscaping. The exterior of the house showcases the distinct characteristics of the 1980s design, featuring a combination of stucco and brick siding, along with large windows that allow plenty of natural light to filter through.

And there were a lot of cars.

And Evelyn, right by the door.

She widens her eyes then relaxes, looking back over her shoulder then at the car as it rolls into a park, “Took you guys long enough,” she murmurs, stepping back when Beatrice opens the door. The two share a look before hugging, Evelyn squeezes her friend a little bit and Beatrice feels how tense she was.

“You okay?”

“I am now.” she replies quietly, ‘Jake’s family just got here.” she looks back to the front door, letting go of Bea so she could pick Nicole up and Shells was up to her friend instead, hugging Evelyn just as tightly. 

“So,” Shells smiles once she leans back, “What are we expecting?”

“My family being a nightmare.” Evelyn says softly, “They are behaving, which is good but…no promises. My aunts and cousins might hound you,Bea,” the brunette looks up in surprise once Nicole is in her arms, “Since,well,” she waves her hand from Nicole to the growing bump, with a grimace, “Y’know?”

“Oh.” Bea laughs nervously, bouncing Nikki in her arms, “It’s okay, it’ll be fine.I can handle it. They can’t be worse than some of my relatives.”

Evelyn,while clearly not comforted by that sentence, just gave her a little smile, turning on her heel to go back inside, “Come on in.”

Upon entering, they step into a grand foyer with soaring ceilings, showcasing a dramatic staircase that adds a touch of elegance to the space. Both women stare, wide eyed and slack jawed at the view.The layout of the house is spacious, with multiple levels that offer versatility and room for various activities, including a pool table in the corner of one of the rooms.

The living room is adorned with large windows, allowing for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, while the adjacent dining area provides an inviting space for formal meals or casual get-togethers. And that’s where most of the gifts were, and there were a lot of gifts. So many that neither of the girls knew how to place their own bags there, “Here.” Evelyn just pushed a large amount to the side of the table - and they didn’t fall! - “Sorry about that, there was a lot of stuff and…well, some of the gifts ended up inside.”

Some??

Evelyn,noticing their shocked stare, just sighed, “Not my fault,my parents just told everyone to…uh, go crazy.”

Beatrice and Shells exchange amused glances, with the brunette especially understanding the chaotic nature of family gatherings and the tendency for gift-giving to go overboard. They follow Evelyn into the kitchen, carefully maneuvering more gifts before reaching the backyard where everyone was.

Beatrice can't help but admire the decorations and attention to detail once they get outside, Nicole even reaching out to tug some of the ribbons that hang low enough for her little hand to grab. The area is tastefully adorned with festive colors and elegant centerpieces, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. From the corner they could see Evelyn’s mother talking to people

"I must say, Evelyn, your parents really went all out for this party," Beatrice comments, a hint of awe in her voice.

Evelyn chuckles, almost confusedly. "You have no idea.” she exhales “They love hosting and showing off their home. I tried to rein them in, but they insisted on going big."

“They do?”

“I know,Shells.” Evelyn replies, sounding so tired, “I can’t believe it either since they are both…so…social.” and her eyebrow flicks with annoyance, “Anyway, let me introduce you guys to everyone.”

-

One month apart,first trimester,21:12, unspecified location.

‘Is that your third or second?”

Rooster looks up from his files to see Hangman at the door, holding his own cup of coffee. Rooster flicks his eyes to his mug, checking the contents before pursing his lips, “Fourth,actually.”

“Ah,well, I was close,wasn’t I?” the blonde pilot looks back, where Coyote’s form is approaching, “You called us?”

“I did.” Rooster groans, rubbing his eyes, “Sit down.” and his arms went up to his head, one hand holding his wrist and his vision turned to the several maps and notes he made during the past…three hours, “Dude,my back.” he begins, “It’s like, tiny little mice are stabbing every nerve I have with tiny swords.”

Coyote makes a face, ‘Weird sentence,but okay.”Hangman and Coyote exchange amused glances before taking a seat across from Rooster. Hangman leans back in his chair, sipping his coffee, while Coyote leans forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"Well, Rooster, you look like you've been deep in thought," Coyote says, eyeing the maps and notes scattered all over. "What's on your mind?"

Rooster sighs, massaging his temples. "Well, remember how we thought we knew what we were expecting? When we figured out the old factory was being used as a stronghold?"

Hangman nods, his expression serious. "Yeah, I remember. What about it?"

Rooster taps a specific area on one of the maps. "Intelligence reports suggest that the enemy has significantly reinforced their defenses in that area. They've brought in heavy artillery and increased their troop presence. It's going to be a lot tougher than we initially anticipated."

Coyote's brow furrows as he studies the map. "Damn, that complicates things. We can't afford any surprises when we fly in."

"Exactly," Rooster replies, his tone filled with frustration. "And I don’t plan on losing anyone on this mission so, we need to come up with a solid plan to neutralize their defenses.." he mumbles, “You two are going to join me at the first surveillance round, we can’t get too close, they have heavy shit waiting for the first bird they see…and we are going to bring some of the recruits.”

Hangman makes a face then  takes a thoughtful sip of his coffee before speaking up. "If it smells like shit it probably is, what exactly can we expect? Since what we knew went down the drain?"

Rooster leans back in his chair, a weary expression on his face and one of his hands against his mouth . "Well, based on the latest intel, we can expect fortified barricades, manned checkpoints, and increased patrols around the perimeter.” and he pulls every single file that contains such information “ The enemy has brought in additional firepower, including anti-aircraft weapons and armored vehicles. They're taking this shit seriously."

Coyote interjects, after a minimal amount of silence. "So, they're ready for us. It's not going to be a walk in the park,huh?"

Rooster nods grimly. "Never is. We need to be cautious and precise in our approach. Our primary objective is to gather as much information as possible without alerting them to our presence. So I suggest we divide our teams already. That way, we can cover more ground and gather information from multiple vantage points. It'll also make it harder for the enemy to detect us."

Hangman nods in agreement. "Good idea. We'll assign specific sectors to each team and maintain constant communication. We need to be aware of any changes in enemy movements or reinforcements." he purses his lips, “Which means more training.”

“Yep.”

“No wonder they said we’d be here for six months.” Coyote murmurs, leaning into his chair, “That is…intense.”

“Yeah.” Rooster laughs breathily,shaking his head and rubbing his eyelids, inhaling against his palms, “But that was it for right now, next week we’ll…have a lot to do.”

Hangman glances at his watch and raises an eyebrow. "Next week? You mean we're not going in immediately?"

Rooster lets out a tired sigh, of course he’d say that. "No, we need some time to analyze the new information, and fine-tune our plan. We can't rush into this blindly. It's better to be prepared than to walk into a trap." he groans, “Not to mention the kids need to be aware of this now.”

Coyote leans forward, his curiosity piqued, ignoring Hangman’s sour expression. "So what's the plan? How are we going to gather information without alerting the enemy?"

Rooster leans forward, hovering his hand above the papers, his eyes scanning the maps once again. "We'll have four teams. I want you two to lead one team to conduct aerial reconnaissance. We'll gather as much visual intel as possible, identifying enemy positions, defenses, and any potential weak points." he begins, “We can’t get too close, so it’ll be hard but we can do it.”

Hangman nods, his expression determined. "Understood. I'll coordinate with the kids pilots and make sure we have everything."

“Bob will help you too.”

“Bob?”

Rooster then turns his attention to the map, ignoring Hangman’s displeased shout. "And then I go in.” Silence takes over, both men look at him in surprise and he raises his brow, “I’m not going to stay here, twiddling my thumbs while you go all out. Mav will handle everything while I’m gone.” he inhales shakily, the claw of fear squeezing his stomach, “Once we get everything, once we are aware of it…I’ll go in and we’ll lead the aerial assault.”

Hangman and Coyote exchange glances, their surprise evident. Hangman is the first to respond, but his words break the obvious nervous atmosphere. "Of course you will,why am I surprised."

Rooster looks up from the map, flicking his brow with nothing but amusement shining in his eyes. "You can stay here instead, you know, staring at the snow. If that’s what you want.” Hangman rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in defense before looking away, “I’ll meet with the others in a few, then we’ll debrief to the new recruits and separate the teams. You guys know they’ll be the new co-pilots,right?”

“Sure,” Coyote nods, “We’re playing babysitter.”

“They aren’t that bad.” Rooster chuckles as he organizes everything on the table, “They have talent,they are just…you know, like Hangman.” his friend snaps his gaze at him, “You know, annoying.”

“Hey.”

“And stubborn.” Coyote adds.

“Hey!”

“And don’t forget: full of himself.”

“Hey!I’m right here!”

Rooster,while nervous by the sudden change of events, just laughs.He’s at least glad they could share some humor in such somber circumstances…and he couldn’t help but get nervous. He led missions before, he sure did, but this one felt different because the unknowns were past the common ground.

He didn’t like to be in the dark. He didn’t like to not know what was going on…but he had to make sure everyone got back home intact…him included. He inhales shakily one last time, “Dismissed.” he mutters, “...thanks guys.” the break of professionalism wasn’t necessary but in his opinion was needed.

Sure,he was leading the mission, but they were his friends. He needed that familiarity. “Ah,Hangman,” the blonde pilot stops and stares back at him, “You should check your phone.” 

“My phone-” his blue eyes widened, “Oh my God. Oh my God.” and he runs off, leaving Rooster and Coyote staring at his retreating back, the taller officer just chuckles from his desk, walking around it to turn off the lights and close the door behind him.

Beatrice talked to him about the party, it was still going back in California since it was early so Rooster could just imagine what else was planned for that day…and she looked beautiful. She always does…fuck he missed them so much, he just wanted this mission to go right.

He needed this to go right.

No mistakes.

No doubts.

#bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw x named reader #tgm oc #tgm fic #tgm fanfiction

[i-fondued]

Ghost | Sinners in Secret - Chapter 18

Chapter Seventeen - The Corruption Ritual Incident Pairing: Cardinal Copia x Reader/Sister of Sin x Papa “Terzo” Emeritus III Rating: Explicit Warnings: Plot, smut, etc. See AO3 for full list of tags!

A/N: I won't lie, this chapter I really struggled with and pacing is kinda off but the next few chapters already have their outline written so I'm hoping it helps out!!

EDIT TO ADD: I COMPLETELY WOKE UP FROM A DEAD SLEEP BECAUSE I REALIZED I DID NOT PROPERLY ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE A BETA NOW!! @lurancyvenom HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY START GOING OVER SINNERS BUT ALL THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS AND OLD WORKS AS WELL AS NEW ONES I HAVEN'T SHARED YET. PLEASE SHOWER THEM WITH LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR GOING THROUGH THE EARLY THINGS THAT WERE WRITTEN AT LIKE 2AM!!

Full Chapter List - HERE AO3 Link - HERE

The next morning started pretty much the same as the previous one. 

Swiss had curled around me at some point in the night, his sweet and spicy scent comforting as I buried my face in his chest, only to be awoken by Sister Imperator barging in again. Swiss and I darted apart, not wanting to give anyone the wrong impression. Quickly, I was ushered into the bathroom again to get ready and Swiss went off in search of some breakfast for us. I yawned as the Sisters worked to get me ready again, ignoring the occasional snide comments from Sister Caterina as I focused on the fact I would get to see my lovers again today. 

“Sister, you seem off on another planet today,” Imperator teased, her hand on my shoulder bringing me back to the present. My cheeks flushed as I looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Everything alright?”

“Y-Yes Sister Imperator, I’m sorry. I was thinking about Ter-Papa and Cardinal Copia,” I stuttered, correcting myself to use Terzo’s title in front of her. 

“I know you miss them, but soon they will be back here with you.” She gave me a small smile before stepping away. “Come, let's get you dressed. But first, I think Swiss is back with your breakfast.”

I followed her into the other room, coming to sit in one of the chairs by the fireplace as Swiss walked over cheerily with a tray in his hands. My mouth watered as I saw a plate of eggs, sausage, and a thick slice of toast. A mug with steaming tea sat on the corner of the tray as well, and I smiled gratefully at my ghoul as he placed everything down on the table to my right. 

“Thank you, Swiss.” I sighed happily as I took the mug in my hands, soaking in the warmth. “Do we know how Copia and Papa are fairing today?”

“Still on lockdown with Secondo last time I checked. They don’t require nearly as much prep as you do for these things, Sunshine,” he chuckled, curling up in the other chair set in front of the fireplace. 

“No, I guess they wouldn’t…” I mumbled, pausing to sip my tea and nibble at my food. I was anxious about the ritual today, and I knew having a full belly would make me feel even more nauseous than I already felt. “I’m just ready to spend time with them again.”

“I know, I know. But only a few more days and then you are done, okay?” He placed his hand kindly on my leg and I smiled. “Now hurry up and eat at least a little bit, Sister Imperator is glaring at me and she scares me…”

I ate quickly, still unable to finish the whole plate, and headed back to allow the Sisters to finish getting me dressed and ready. Once more, I stood in front of the mirror turning back and forth to check out my reflection, and couldn’t help but feel impressed with what the Sisters had been able to accomplish. 

I was swathed in a dress made of layers of soft, gossamer silk, cut in a renaissance chemise fashion, neckline scooping entirely off my shoulders and skimming low on my chest. The sleeves were large, billowing bishop sleeves that came in tightly at my wrist and had a cuff that came to a point over the tops of my hands. The dress had an empire waist, and the skirt flowed out in a way that flattered my frame. It also had a train that trailed behind me in a wispy, whimsical fashion. I was barefoot today, my toes already chilling on the stone floor, and I dreaded the long walk to the chapel. My hair was down and had, surprisingly, been left natural. On my head I wore a gold circlet fashioned to look like a crown of thorns, the fake spikes dull but still biting into my forehead and scalp sharply. 

“Woah…” Swiss gasped before he whistled lowly, leaning against the frame of the mirror I was staring at. “I think they outdid themselves this time, you look like some sort of succubus…it’s…wow.”

“Good wow?” I blushed, swishing the skirts back and forth as I turned to take in all the angles

“Yes, of course, you ass,” he laughed, coming over to shove me playfully. Swiss was once again dressed in his formal robes complete with cape, and he bowed to me with a wicked grin. “Your Eminence, shall we?”

“We shall, Ghoul.” I offered him my hand and laughed as he kissed my knuckles before taking my arm and curling it around his, leading me out to the living room where my court awaited me. “You know, Imperator told me this was a genuine antique gown, like it should be in a museum…”

“Sunshine, the Satanic Church isn’t going to give up a dress that’s been used in this ritual for millenia.”

“But it belongs in a museum…”

“Try telling Papa Nihil that, okay?” he teased before taking a long, white veil from one of the Sisters and carefully draping it over my head, once again cloaking me in an air of pious mystery. Or at least that’s what I thought it did. “You ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good enough,” Swiss chuckled as he signaled to Sister Imperator that we were ready to start the procession again. 

…

Much like the day before, the progress to the Church hall was a slow saunter. 

When we finally did arrive, I was thankful that I would be sitting for most of this ritual because my feet felt like blocks of ice. My teeth fought to not knock together as I held back a shiver that wanted to skim up my spine. Once again, Swiss walked me up the aisle towards the altar, however this time I wasn’t made to kneel at the base of the steps. Instead on a small platform was the Papal Throne, a relic from the Medieval ages, which was made of a deep, dark hardwood, and carved with all manner of depictions of the Cardinal Sins. Standing slightly to the side was Primo, who’d again offered to lead this ritual for us, a small wink waiting for me when we locked gazes.

Lifting my flowing skirts I moved up the steps slowly, holding onto Swiss’ hand as he helped me to sit on the velvet cushion of the ornate throne. Gently, Swiss lifted the veil to expose my face and I couldn’t help the small smile on my lips.

“You got this, Sunshine,” he whispered, before moving to stand to my right, arms behind his back as we watched the doors open up and the procession of Copia and Terzo make their way up to us. 

They were coming up the aisle together, both had their heads bowed in prayer again, and were dressed in essentially the same outfit as the day prior. Today however their billowing robes were black and under them they wore white linen poet shirts with tight fitting breeches and knee high black boots. Both robes had a large beaded grucifix embroidered on the long train; the glittering beads and gold thread picked up the light and shimmered as they made their way up the stairs to kneel at my feet. Neither had looked me in the eye yet, and I squirmed with a slight pink hue to my cheeks when they bowed their heads in sync. 

“It is with great pride that I am here today to continue the ritual for our ascending Prime Mover.” Primo’s voice pulled my attention, and I placed my arms on the armrests and straightened my spine as I felt hundreds of pairs of eyes on me again. “Today brings us a new rite to perform, a new way to prepare our throuple to take the step towards binding together for eternity.”

I swallowed nervously as Primo explained the importance of the ceremony today. Called the Corruption ritual, this one had origins in the Middle Ages. What was originally used to just mock the Roman Catholic Church down the hill, became something of a favorite of the Satanic Church as a premarital binding experience for lovers. The bride, or in my case Prime Mover, would be dressed in white with a crown of thorns, and would sit in the Priest’s chair on the altar platform. Due to my status, it was the Papal Throne I was sitting on, with a large basin of unholy water placed in front of me. There was heavy incense burning in the chapel, which gave everything a hazy glow as I looked at Terzo and Copia through my eyelashes. Both were looking at me like I was a vision from Lucifer himself, and I knew my cheeks had flushed another three shades darker. 

Primo’s voice pulled me back - “...to clean Sister of her past sins, to absolve her of any guilt or shame as she prepares to ascend. Her partners will wash her, cleanse her, bring her strength and resolve in their next step in their lives together.” I moved slowly to slide my skirts up my legs, settling them on my thighs, as an attending Sibling slid the basin closer to me. 

I held back a hiss as I dipped my feet into the cold unholy water that had been collected from the river outside and purified together by a fire and water ghoul. Terzo nodded his head in the direction of his brother as he reached and took the offered cloth from the Sibling, Copia mirroring him and his movements as well. Primo began to lead the congregation in slow prayer, the sounds of numerous voices droning on making my skin break out in goosebumps. 

Copia was on my right side, Terzo on my left; together they started on my feet and calves. They each took a foot out of the water, running their cloth over my skin while praying in Latin under their breath.

Infernus Pater,

Huius Motoris Primi opprobrium eluamus,

Dulcem emissionem damnationis eterne sentiat,

Ut Supra, Ut Infra.

Hellfire Father,

Let us wash away the shame of this Prime Mover,

Let her feel the sweet release of eternal damnation,

As Above, So Below.

The feeling of their warm hands on my skin made me shudder slightly, eyes coming to look back at the pair of them. Terzo had a wicked gleam in his eyes as he leaned down and pressed a warm kiss to the inside of my ankle. I bit my bottom lip as I squirmed under his heated gaze, a small chuckle interrupting his prayers. Copia rolled his eyes, but had a fond smile as he glanced at Terzo and I; an intimate moment between us in the full chapel, as they washed my feet, ankles, and calves. I sighed happily as Copia took my momentary distraction to rub the arch of my right foot before kissing my inner knee. I blushed as he stood, holding the cloth still, and ran it over my face, the cool feeling of the water almost refreshing on my flushed cheeks as he coyly pressed a kiss to my temple. 

“Amore…” he sighed, as he took my right hand and kissed my knuckles. “You look deliziosa.”

“Thank you,” I whispered back, cheeks flushed. “I miss you.”

“Il sentimento è reciproco, Stellina," he chuckled. Terzo stood, and just like Copia washed my face and pressed a tender kiss to my temple. 

“I miss you too, Tesoro,” he mumbled, pressing another kiss to my left hand’s knuckles as he spoke. “Three more days, yes?”

“Yes. Just three.” I looked out over the gathered congregation, all the eyes on the three of us on the altar. 

I felt like some sort of regal painting, my knights standing on either side of me like constant protectors. Primo spoke passionately of the commitment of a binding marriage like ours, our devotion to each other in ways that celebrated the seven cardinal sins. Warmly, he spoke of the bonds between a Prime Mover and her mate; or in my case, mates. I could see his eyes grow distant as he spoke of the love and devotion that would grow from a binding like ours, of the strength that it would bring the Satanic Church as I bore my men’s children. I couldn’t help but blush furiously as Primo handed us a glass of deep red wine that had been infused with several herbs, and blessed in rituals to bring luck and bless us with fertility. I sipped the glass after Copia passed it to me, a little dainty sip. 

Terzo had a wicked gleam in his eyes again and smirk to match as he took the goblet from my outstretched hands, and took several large gulps, a quiet ripple of laughter over the congregation. As the ritual was coming to a close, Primo turned to us again and closed the ceremony much like he had the day prior. He gestured towards Swiss, who came over to me and lifted the veil to cover me again. Swiss bowed slightly towards me before offering his hand, helping me stand and make my way off the dais of the Papal Throne and down towards Primo.

“Go in peace, Sister.”

“Yes, Papa. As above, so below,” I murmured, bowing my head to him as Swiss and I headed from the dais and down the steps. Behind me I could hear the call and response he issued to Copia and Terzo in turn.

“Go in peace, Cardinal.”

“Come sopra, così sotto.”

“Lead the flock, Papa Emeritus the Third.” 

“Come sopra, così sotto, Papa Primo.”

As Swiss and I were following out the procession of my court again, I couldn’t help but look back over my shoulder towards the altar. I knew this would be the last glance of them both till tomorrow night, the longest stint I’d been away from them since the rituals started. Copia was looking right at me, a sort of shy and lovesick look on his face that made my stomach do flips and knot itself into a ball. Terzo, however, was giving me the darkest, lust-filled glare I’d ever seen. He looked absolutely feral, and a shiver of anticipation for our post-binding night together ran up my spine and settled between my shoulder blades. As I stepped out into the hall, heading back to our suite, I gave them both a little wave and a smile that was obscured by the veil. 

“Sunshine?” Swiss’ voice was low as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. 

“Yeah?”

“Stop thinking about fucking those old men, we are in public and my pants are too fuckin’ tight.”

I almost choked trying to hold in the bark of laughter that threatened to spill out of me. 

…

The knock on my bedroom door made me jump up, giddy as I glanced at the clock. 

“Come in!” I called happily, trying to school my face into a picture of a serene woman. I’m sure I looked deranged standing in front of the fireplace as Sister Imperator and the other Sisters that had been chosen for my court came in. 

“Alright, Sister. You know the drill by now, go and wait to get in the bath,” Imperator chuckled, as I nodded a little more aggressively than I needed too and darted off into the bathroom. “You seem eager tonight.”

“I’m just excited about seeing Copia and Papa, I spent so much time with them before all this. I feel like I’ve barely seen them.” I said shyly as I waited in my bathrobe for the tub to be ready. 

Tonight I’d be dressed in the finest dress I’d worn so far, and would wine and dine to my heart's content. I’d be expected to dance with every member of the Emeritus clan, Papa Nihil included, and several members of the Clergy. 

The main ritual, more like a ceremony, was having both Copia’s name and my own added onto the tapestry in the meeting hall. It was supposed to be symbolic of adding the next lines, but also kept track of the line of succession as well. I didn’t care about anything but the fact I’d finally be able to spend more than five minutes with my beloved men, not to mention we’d all be dressed up for the occasion. 

The butterflies that permanently lived in my belly lately flew around at the thought of what Copia and Terzo would be wearing this evening. After the party, at three in the morning, I’d be expected to journey by myself to speak with Secondo, and he would guide me through meditations and confessions to help prepare my mind and soul for the Prime Mover ceremony the next day.

When the tub was filled, I slipped in and relaxed as much as I could as the Sisters once again scrubbed me down like a queen. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Sister Imperator speaking sharply with Caterina in the other room. I couldn’t make out what they were saying but I could tell it was heated; the conversation ended when Caterina threw her hands up and walked out of my bedroom and into the hallway. Sister Imperator rubbed at her temples before turning to me with an apologetic smile. 

“Please excuse Sister Caterina; apparently plans have slightly changed and she is needed elsewhere this evening.”

“I-I hope everything is alright?” I said, granted it wasn’t exactly like she’d be missed in my eyes. 

“Yes, yes. More preparations need to be made for the ceremony tomorrow. It's very important, Sister Caterina was just looking forward to dinner and dancing.” Imperator sighed before handing me a cup of warm tea to enjoy in the bath. “It cannot be helped, however.”

After relaxing in the tub, letting myself soak in the hot water until my fingers were pruney, I got out and was once again rubbed down with oils and lotions to smooth my skin and make me smell like a bouquet of fresh flowers. I threw on my silk robe and moved from the bath to the vanity where another Sister went through the process of getting my hair to cooperate for the evening. They decided on a simple bun at the base of my neck, several wispy pieces pulled out to give an effortless windswept look, and they slipped an antique silver comb into my hair to hold the bun in place. My make-up was done simply at my own request; just a winged eyeliner, mascara, a little bit of red eye shadow for some color and a blush lip stain. The only jewelry I was given to choose from were either a large set of dangly gold and ruby earrings or the set of grucifix earrings I’d worn to the club. Without hesitation, I went with the grucifix earrings, and couldn’t help the small smile as I thought of that night. 

“Come, Sister,” Imperator called, catching my attention as I took in my reflection. “We’ve got to hurry or you’ll be late.”

I came back into my bedroom and smiled brightly at Swiss, who was sitting in front of the fireplace with a book in his hands. He smiled back, giving me a once over with a nod of approval. With the help of the three remaining Sisters, we managed to get the heavy dress made of deep red velvet off the mannequin and over my head. Once I was tightly laced into the dress, the Sisters stepped back with small smiles and admired their handiwork, while I stood in awe of my own reflection. 

“Wow…” I whispered, my face shocked as I took in the final look. 

My dress was a princess ball gown style, the bodice reinforced with boning that nipped in my waist and came to a point near my belly button. The neckline was off the shoulder with a beaded collar, the sleeves a balloon style that came in tightly at my wrist with cuffs that were beaded to match. The skirts had been cut in an a-line style but were voluminous, and there had been a small bustle to bump out the back of the dress. Under the skirts I wore a hoop skirt and two layers of petticoats to soften the shape further. I spun happily with a smile, my skirts lifting slightly, and Swiss appeared to help steady me, while holding a familiar black antique silk netting.

“No…Swiss. No…” I whined, crossing my arms and stomping my foot like a child. “You can’t be serious, I don’t want to ruin this dress with that thing.”

“I’m sorry Sunshine, even the ascending Prime Mover has to follow the rules. You aren’t supposed to leave your room uncovered until after you’re bound.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as I glared at him. 

“It’s gonna cover up my whole dress…” I grumbled as he came over with a sympathetic smile while gently draping the veil over me. 

“You will look beautiful either way,” he laughed, smoothing the gossamer fabric over my head before offering me his arm. “I think the last thing Copia or Terzo will care about is a translucent veil over you.”

“I know…” I graciously took his arm as we headed out into the sitting room and met with the rest of the Siblings that would be accompanying us. “I’m just ready for things to get back to the way they were before, I’d never thought I’d say I miss my scrolls and translations but here we are…”

Unlike the other rituals, because of the informal nature of the ritual itself I didn’t have a huge procession. Instead, our little group was led by Sister Imperator on the arm of Papa Nihil, though one could make an argument that it was like he was on hers. Then it was the three Sisters of Sin from my ‘court’ dressed in formal full Sister robes, complete with white cowl and yoke. They all had their heads bowed slightly and hands together in front of them as if in prayer and after them was Swiss and I, dressed in our finery.

We finally arrived at the Council room where all those weeks ago I had first gained favor of His Darkness Below, a small smile on my face as the doors opened as we approached by two ghouls standing guard at the door. Inside was a lavish party in full swing, music playing and laughter in the air. There were formal seated tables, some small cocktail tables by the fireplace and windows, and a few little seating areas. There was a corner of the room set up with several buffet trays of mouth watering fresh food, and a small but well stocked bar. Only high ranking or specially selected members of the Clergy and Siblings had been permitted to join us out after curfew and everyone had on their nicest formalwear. 

A few of the women wore their formal habits, however most wore a more subtle dress along the lines of what I was wearing. Most were taking advantage of the opportunity to wear something completely out of the norm, and the room was a symphony of the sounds of silk and swishing skirts. The men were dressed in different levels of formalwear. Some of the ranked Priests, Bishops and Cardinals were wearing their chausables with various belts and capes to indicate that they were, in fact, dressed up. Some, much like Copia and Terzo had when we first arrived, wore tight fitting trousers and snugly cut tailcoats. They all looked at me as I came into the room, all bowing their heads courteously at me. 

“All hail Prime Mover Emeritus,” The hawker called from off to the side, and I blushed at the use of a formal title for me. Everyone repeated the line back as I made sure to hold my head high as they bowed and curtsied to me as I passed them.

Swiss and I followed Imperator over to the edge of the dance floor, where she turned back towards me with a wicked gleam in her eyes. I tried to hide the fact that I stepped closer to Swiss with her sudden change of face but blushed when she took my hand into hers. 

“Sister, as you know you’ll be expected to dance with Copia and Terzo, but you’ll also be asked to dance with the other members of the Emeritus clan,” she explained, gesturing to the dance floor that had yet to be taken advantage of. “When Papa and Cardinal Copia arrive, you’ll be expected to open the dance floor with Papa and then Copia. After that, you’ll follow the family tree backwards. For now, let's get you something to eat.”

“Why do I feel like a show pony…” I mumbled at Swiss who had to hold back his laughter. 

“Because, Sister, for this one week you are.” Sister Imperator smirked while gesturing to the table in the corner where Primo and Secondo already sat. “Your Multi Ghoul will serve you, sit and please keep the trouble to a minimum.” 

“I didn’t realize I was your butler for the evening.” Swiss mumbled in my ear, causing me to chuckle as well as he helped me into my seat and tucked me in towards the table. 

“Ah! Sorellina, are you having a good start to your evening?” Primo asked, a warm smile on his face as he slid closer to me and took my hand. “Mi fratellino and il Cardinale should be arriving shortly, they said they needed to go and get something first.”

As if on cue the large wooden doors swung open, everyone in the room turning their heads towards the sound and I had to hold back a gasp as my jaw fought to not hit the floor. 

“All hail Cardinal Francesco Copia.” The hawker called out, my cheeks blushing at the use of his birth name before I watched him enter the room properly. 

Copia had dressed in what I could only describe as a cross between military uniforms and a prince’s formalwear. He wore a high collar military dolman coat made of a deep red wool; it had gold rope frogging crossing back and forth across his chest and around his waist was a sash of black silk tied tightly. His coat also had gold rope epaulets, and a short black cape draped over his shoulder with more gold rope tying it on across his chest. He wore his customary black leather gloves along with white breeches so tight to his thick thighs it left nothing to the imagination. He wore knee high riding boots and looked every part of a dashing Prince from a foreign land ready to sweep me off my feet. 

“Sunshine, you’re drooling.” Swiss teased as he came back with a small plate of food for me, my cheeks flushed bright red and I shoved him slightly as he sat next to me. I turned back as Copia bowed to the standing crowd who had clapped for his entry before repeating back to the hawker ‘All hail!’

“All hail, His Eminence; Papa Alessandro Terzo the Third. Long may he shepherd.”

My eyes moved from Copia’s blushing face to the doors as Terzo entered the celebration. If I had thought my jaw was on the floor for Copia, my stomach had fallen out of my ass as I took in Terzo. 

He was dressed in all white; everything from his tailcoat to his breeches and gloves. Everything was accented with gold lace that caught the candlelight wonderfully. He wore a white brocade tailcoat with frogging and roping twisting back and forth, more complex and intricate that what Copia was wearing, the cuffs of his coat had the same decorative pattern but accented with complex gold spanish lace. He too had gold rope epaulets, with a few longer braids coming to loop on the button at his shoulder. Across his chest he had a silk sash with more gold piping, and over his heart he had a decorative grucifix medal made of gold and various red gems. Terzo’s pants were just as skin tight as Copia’s but had gold piping down the side seams and were tucked into his black riding boots. On his hands were his familiar white silk gloves, the only thing besides his papal paints that remained. 

“Long may he shepherd.” was the enthusiastic cry around the room, men holding their cups high in a salute to Terzo, who was smirking and soaking in the attention. 

“Amore,” Copia’s voice caught me off guard as I jumped and looked up at him. “Scusami, I did not mean to frighten you. I just wanted to come and see you before all the ceremonies started.”

“It’s okay Copia. I’m just happy to see you.” I smiled brightly as he took my hand and pressed a chaste kiss to my knuckles, his mustache faintly tickling my skin. I shivered at his lusty gaze as he took my body. 

“Sei così bella stasera, Sorella.” He purred, kneeling slightly so he could lean closer to me as he spoke. “If only I could whisk you away from here and spend the night peeling every layer off one by one.”

“Copia…” I whispered to him, eyes transfixed with his mismatched gaze and leaning in slightly before someone cleared their throat. I looked up, slightly dazed, and blushed at Terzo’s mischievous smile. 

“Ah, ah Cardinale. I believe Tesoro owes me a dance, si?” He spoke softly, his eyes locked on mine, as he offered his hand to me. “Shall we, Amore?”

“Of course, Terzo.” I said, taking his offered hand to stand but before he could lead me away I looked back at the starved look Copia was giving me and reached out to take his hand in mine. “Wait for me?I believe you are next on my dance card.”

“Si, Amore.” He chuckled, standing and bowing slightly to me before sitting in my now empty seat. “Watch for his walz, Terso is not the most aware where his feet are sometimes.”

“Bastardo compiaciuto, alcuni di noi non hanno preso lezioni di ballo…” Smug bastard, some of us did not get dance lessons… Terzo bit back, pausing to flip off Copia behind us before taking my arm and leading us out on the dance floor. 

…

Just like Copia had warned, Terzo stepped on my toes during our walz. 

While Terzo was curing Copia for jinxing him, I laughed and stepped closer to him as we slowed the dance from a more complicated walz to something more akin to swaying in each other’s arms. When the song came to a close Copia was already there, scooping me into his tight embrace and twirling us off with a smug smirk thrown in Terzo’s slightly pouty direction. 

If dancing with Terzo felt like falling in love, sweet and tender, then dancing with Copia was like the throws of passionate sex. The man was so attuned with how to move his body and by extension my own, he made it all seem effortless as he gilded us around the dancefloor. He held me close, in ways I knew would make some of the older clergy clutch at their pearls, but I didn't care. It felt so good to be close with him again, the looks in his eyes and feeling of his hands on my body were like an aphrodisiac. I knew Swiss could feel the heat roaring in my belly if his squirming in his seat was anything to go off of. 

All too soon our dance came to a close and he bowed deeply to me before passing my hand off to Secondo, who had been waiting for us to finish our dance with a bored expression on his face. It seemed like our time together was cracking that cold exterior however because as we begun to dance, a more simple one-two-three sort of movement, he couldn’t help but crack a small smile. 

“You look molto felice, Sorellina. Joy is a good look for you.” He teased, which that alone was enough to make me laugh. 

“Thank you…I think?” I questioned but my face was warm. “Thank you for letting me join your family, Secondo. If it wasn’t for you I’d never have known this happiness.”

“In a way, Sorella. I think I owe you my thanks.” He sighed, but he wore a smirk almost like Terzo’s mischievous one. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d never have had the perfect excuse to retire.”

“W-wait what?”

“They wanted me to marry you, as I was the reigning Papa at the time, but monogamy isn’t for me.” He chuckled, taking in my bewildered expression. “So I forced their hand, retired without real permission and gave Sister Imperator the biggest headache of her life. It was a win all round.”

“But did you want to retire?” I blurted, unable to help myself. “Why do all that for me?”

“Oh I did, I really did feel like I was getting too old for the Ghost Project rituals. But I was the one who had the vision and I knew it would have ment a lifetime of sharing my wife, something I am not willing to do.”

“But I thought you said monogamy wasn’t for you…”

“Ah, you misunderstand me. I am someone who prefers the company of beautiful women…only women. But Terzo? I knew he would be the perfect fit, so I retired. Its a win, win for all.” He smiled, something that look honestly out of place on his face as the song came to a close. 

I was reeling from the confession, my head spinning. I gave some sort of grunt as a response, my cheeks enflamed, as he chuckled again and handed me off to Primo. “Congratulazioni ancora, Sorella.” He called back to me, waving his hand slightly as Primo and I spun off. 

“Sorella, are you feeling well? You did not eat much.”

“I’m o-okay, Primo.” I stuttered, trying to shake off the brain fog and vivid image of Secondo draped under the limbs of multiple women. “Just thrown off I think.”

“So Secondo finally told you why he retired, eh?” Primo chuckled as we danced, despite his age he was agile and graceful like Copia. I looked at him like he had two heads before sputtering my response. 

“D-did you know too?! Am I the only one finding out last?!”

“Sorellina you will soon learn there are no secrets in the Emeritus family, we all find out everything about each other. Some things are more willingly shared than others.”

“Does that mean you know anything about me from Terzo?”

“Well…”

“Oh god, what did he tell you?” I groaned, taking my hand from his shoulder to pinch the bridge of my nose. 

“Terzo has a tendency to brag about things and well…he mentioned an incident involving the confessional booth back home…”

“I’m going to kill him.” I hissed, turning my icy stare back at Terzo who looked pale at the fury in my eyes before having the self preservation skills enough to look sheepish.

“Ah the virility of young love.” Primo chuckled and my face felt like it was on fire.

#ghost #the band ghost #cardinal copia x reader #papa emeritus x reader #papa emeritus iii x reader #copia x reader #copia x reader x terzo #copia x terzo #terzo x reader #cardinal copia #terzo emeritus #my writing #sinners in secret chapters

[prismatica-the-strange]

Lost my Fear of Flying

Warnings: 18+... None(?), I go into a lot of detail about a dress that doesn't exist

Edward has no qualms about spoiling his queen to be, whether it be with pretty dresses or even prettier words.

Song: Parachute by James Durbin

She's not used to it. The expensive gowns, the extravagant decor, the castle staff, completely committed to waiting on her hand and foot.

No, Cas is out of her element and absolutely terrified to touch anything.

She sits on the bed in a silk robe, staring helplessly into the T.A.R.D.I.S.-like closet full of far too expensive looking dresses.

She'd politely sent the maids away, feeling awkward under their attention, but now she doesn't know what to do. Sure, she could manage to get one on if she tried but that's just it, she's afraid to try.

What if she ruins one?

She's briefly pulled from her thoughts by a knock at the door.

"Cassandra, my love? You didn't come down for breakfast, are you alright?" Edward asks.

"Oh, I- I'm fine!"

It's quiet for a moment, "May I come in?"

"Um, yes?" Her voice is unsure, but he doesn't notice.

"If you'd like, I can have one of the servers bring you something here- you're not dressed."

Her eyes drop to the floor, sudden anxiety eating at her.

"My dear, are you sure you're not ill?" He hurries to her side and takes her hand, "I can call you a doctor."

"No, no I'm fine I just... It's just a lot for me," she plays with his hands and motions back at the David's Bridal in the next room, "All of this."

He let's go of her hand to curl his finger under her chin and raise her gaze back to him.

"Tell me how I can help."

She hesitates for a moment, "Help me pick out something to wear?"

"Is that all?" He smiles, not teasingly, but happy that he can actually help with, "Any dress should be honored to have you wearing it, come with me."

He pulls her to her feet and steps into the closet that is nearly bigger than her studio apartment back in New York.

"What would you prefer to wear?" He asks as he pushes different fabrics aside, "Something like this?"

He holds out a silver gown that shimmers from top to bottom with countless crystals and far too many layers of tulle to be comfortable for daily wear.

She giggles and he frowns, "Do you not like it?"

"It's beautiful, but, maybe something a little more... simple?" She suggests, "Not only does look more expensive that my car, but I would be a walking disco ball, blinding everyone as I walk by."

"Simple... simple..." he mutters to himself as he haphazardly rummages through the dresses, "This one!"

He rips the hanger from the rack and shows off a pale pink gown.

"The color would really bring out your eyes," He grins.

He steps her in front of a mirror and holds it to her body, looking utterly gleeful to be helping her.

"Are... are you sure it's okay I wear this?"

He looks at her, head cocked like a confused puppy, "Of course, my love, it was made for you after all."

He waits until she takes it from him and presses it to her chest, playing with the skirt in her reflection.

"Shall I call a handmaiden to help you dress?"

She looks up at him through the mirror, cheeks warm as she nods.

Once she's properly fitted in it, she realizes how well the bodice is fitted to her, how the soft, blush colored satin complements her complexion. And her eyes have never looked bluer.

She's enamored by the simple tulle overlay and sleeves, the ends of which and queen anne neckline are lined with little lace honeybee appliques.

She let's out a small squeal when she spins and the dress flutters around her.

As soon as Edward sees her walking towards him across the throne room, he's completely awestruck.

Her white oxford heels click against the stone floor and the long trumpet sleeves flow elegantly behind her like wings. Her hair, curled at the ends, bounces with every step.

Whatever conversation he had been having a moment ago is gone from his head as he strides over to meet her.

His arms encircle her waist as soon as she's in reach, spinning them in vortex of tulle and glitter.

He sighs happily when she kisses his nose before he sets her down.

"I knew you would look divine in this," He takes her hand and raises his arm to give her one last twirl before pulling her close, "But words fail to describe how beautiful you truly are."

She runs her fingers through his hair, hand settling on his cheek as she raises to her toes to kiss him.

He's somehow smiling wider when she pulls away.

"We should be dancing. There should be music!" He exclaims and as if by magic, the faint sound of strings begins to fade in, "Shall we dance the night away, dear Cassandra."

"It's still morning, Edward" she teases.

"Then we shall dance the day away as well!" He laughs, falling in step with the romantic melody surrounding them, guiding her with him by hand and hip.

#prince edward enchanted #edward enchanted #just find who you love ♡ #prisma self ships #prisma writes #self ship writing #self shipping #self ship oneshot

[wisp-of-chaos]

OC Kiss Week 2024 - Day 2

Alright lads here we are!!! Day two of this lovely challenge and I happily present you with my contribution for the 2nd prompt "Rain"

Once again, this features my OC and that of a friend, who are illithids and don't really have a mouth and instead use soft headbutts to express their affection.

Part two of this little series takes place in the same AU as the previous one and is set a few months after "Almost". Enjoy either under the cur or over at Ao3!

Day 2 - Rain

The rain caught them off-guard.

Vlassk and Larik were out on another art supply errand when the sky darkened and eventually spilled.

It was still a bit new for Vlassk to not have the squidlings around him all the time and he had a bad time adjusting to it, but Mar’reen insisted they don’t get too depended on each other and spend some time apart now and then.

And yet, Vlassk couldn’t help it and miss the familiar touch of their minds on his own; how their emotions and thoughts whispered through his head, how their small, developing and growing consciousnesses mingled and touched his own for support and help and left him tingly and happy. And not having that feeling of soft, warm closeness made Vlassk’s heart ache, his mind bristle and his tentacles twitch.

He needed a distraction, and Larik proved to be the most helping tentacle in that regard. He was still very busy with the paintings Ragzlin had demanded of him and could always use some help with one thing or another. And Vlassk was desperate for his aching mind to latch and concentrate on something other than the lonely, gaping space inside his head.

So, when Larik had proposed to visit the market to get a few new brushes and paint, Vlassk had all too eagerly agreed, and now here they were. Shivering and huddling close to each other under the roof of a pavilion in the garden on their way back to the palace; their hands and tentacles full with art supplies and their clothes soaked.

Vlassk grimaced and shook his head to get rid of the water clinging to it while he reached for one of his voluminous sleeves and used it as a towel for his tentacles. It wasn’t that he was against a bit of water on his skin – and, most of the time even welcomed it due to the special condition of his mucous that had it drying out faster than that of the average illithid – but getting drenched and having his clothes sticking to his body and trying to suffocate him wasn’t exactly pleasant.

He felt a trickle of endeared amusement and heard a faint chuckle that instantly had his frills and tentacles bristling. Vlassk lifted his head and shot Larik – who was visibly grinning down at him – a nasty glare.

“I didn’t know a bit of rain bothered you this much”, he said and Vlassk made a disapproving growl in the back of his throat. “I don’t”, he bit back and flicked his tentacles to get rid of the last few droplets still stubbornly clinging to them. “But I don’t appreciate the feeling of layers upon layers of fabric sticking to my body and making it hard to move and breathe. Not that you would understand that, of course-”, he made a vague gesture towards the qun skirt and open ru jacket that proudly – and obscenely – showed off Larik’s well defined chest muscles, “- with that minimalistic way you dress yourself with.”

Vlassk felt a brush of surprised confusion from Larik’s mind before seeing him raise his eye ridges. “Do you have a problem with how I dress?”, he asked; calmly and only with the barest hint of a smirk hiding in the corners of his eyes.

Vlassk’s tentacles twitched and heat seeped into his face. “No!”, he instantly – and way too quickly – denied. He winced at himself and steered his eyes away from Larik. “It’s just … it distracts people.”

“People”, Larik echoed; his amusement rising. “Care to tell which people exactly?”

Vlassk flinched under the obvious hint in his tone and thoughts behind that question and gave him another glare. Straightening his shoulders and with his head held high and proud, he defiantly said: “The servants of the palace.”

Larik sputtered and made a noise that was very close to a choked up laughter. “The servants of the-? Why would they be bothered by how I dress? And how do you even know that?”

Vlassk crossed his arms and two of his tentacles. “I heard them thinking about it”, he said with a light poke of one of his unoccupied limbs to the side of his head and grinned. “There is so much an illithid gets to hear inside those high walls. It’s most entertaining, I assure you. And so very effective in fighting off boredom.”

Larik hummed, almost sounding thoughtful if not for that quiet whisper of mischief clinging to his mind as he shuffled closer and leaned into Vlassk’s personal space.

Vlassk tensed, his heart skipping and stumbling as he felt Larik’s breath tickling over his frills. “There’s a lot to see within the palace as well”, he said with that rich, deep voice of his that never failed to send a pleasant shiver down Vlassk’s spine. “If one knows where to look.”

Vlassk shuddered at that; his tentacles curling tightly into each other and his skin tensing over his muscles. He felt how close Larik was, his face merely a few inches away from his own and his amber eyes seemingly burning through his skull and gazing right into his mind.

Vlassk unconsciously held his breath and felt his knees melting at an alarming rate.

“The lavish gardens or the grand library, for example. Or that exquisitely handsome guy living there with his two adorable kids”, Larik continued and Vlassk’s mind toppled over itself. He sputtered and blushed and scrambled to come up with an argument against this frivolous flattery but wasn’t able to form a single coherent thought.

“That one guy with this soft, beautiful skin colored like the sea and those cute frills. With the most expressive face I have ever seen and prettily mismatched eyes”, he continued to speak; each new word worsening the pale blush on Vlassk’s face and making his heart and mind jump and twist. “The same guy that keeps sneaking glances at my bare chest when he thinks I’m not looking and then complains about it.”

Vlassk made a sound. High and strangled and definitely not a yelp. “I never-”, he started to protest, his tentacles snapping and quivering angrily while his face was set ablaze with embarrassment. But he didn’t get to finish his sentence, for Larik leaned in and softly pressed his forehead against Vlassk’s and effectively silenced him.

Vlassk blinked; his tentacles calming and limply falling against his chest as his mind stalled and processed what just happened. Oh, he thought with a soft, warm feeling blooming in his chest and taking over his mind. That was a kiss. Larik had kissed him. But why …

“The most amazing and wonderful parent and person I have ever met.”

#oc kiss week #ockiss24 #oc kiss day 2 #my writings #random rambling #harem au #squidlings au #dnd original stuff #illithids #illithid oc's #vlassk #larik

[dragonwritersblog]

Dress

Funnybunny Week Day One: Wedding . It was just them, no one else. They didn’t need anyone else for this moment. If word got out about what they were about to do then Caine would find out, and all hell would break loose. It was best this was kept secret. Only the stars were witnesses for something as special as this.

Read on AO3

Hey ya'll! I'm still kind of on a break but I wanted to put a pause in it to participate in this year's first ever funnybunny week! This event was created by my good friend Ann, who created this on twitter. If you wanna take part in this, whether its art or fanfics etc, you can check it out here. Anyways, I hope you enjoy day one and hopefully I'll see ya'll tomorrow! <3

.

Say my name and everything just stops, I don't want you like a best friend - Dress by Taylor Swift

.

It was just them, no one else. They didn’t need anyone else for this moment. If word got out about what they were about to do then Caine would find out, and all hell would break loose. It was best this was kept secret. Only the stars were witnesses for something as special as this.

Jax and Pomni stood outside, bare feet against the plush grass as a warm breeze floated past them. The rabbit was wearing  a white blouse underneath a black blazer and trousers, while the jester had gotten rid of her hat and changed into a beautiful starlight shimmering dress with long sleeves and her long skirts trailing behind her along with a sparkling cape on her shoulders. 

In his hands, Jax held a small black box, holding onto it carefully as if it was the most precious cargo he ever had in his life. In this case, for him, it certainly was. 

He opened the box, two small wedding rings gleaming beneath the star-filled night. “Pomni,” he started, his heart already skipping a beat at her soft smile. “I might not be able to make this nightmare of a place go away, but I can promise you this. No matter what, I will be by your side. No matter what I will protect you from anything Caine throws at us. No matter what, I will love you more than anything else in this world and the next. You are the sun and moon itself Pomni, you make my life brighter every single day and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you, will you accept this ring,” he held up the gold band, “And be my wife.”

“Yes, a thousand times yes,” a few tears streamed down her cheeks, Jax was pretty sure that he was going through the same thing. He slipped the gold band onto her tiny finger, kissing her hand and reveled in the way her pale cheeks turned into a strawberry hue. 

Pomni picked up the silver band from the box, this time it was her turn to speak. “Jax, I know that I’m not a perfect person. I get scared easily, I run when things seem dire, I become overwhelmed by the smallest things. But out of everyone, you’ve always been by my side to help me. Sure at first, you weren’t my favorite person,” she giggled at his fake offended gasp, “But over the months, I felt like you were the one who understood me the most. In a way, you were the most honest with me about this place. Soon, I got to know the layers underneath you. I know that despite your reputation as the resident jerk here, you still appreciate it when someone asks you if you’re okay. You absolutely love hugs even if you try to hide it, you turn into a real octopus whenever we cuddle at night. And when I wake up after a nightmare, you always say the kindest things to me, making sure that I feel safe enough to fall back to sleep. When we get out of here, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So please, take this ring, and become my husband.”

Jax carefully took her hand, guiding her to slip the ring onto his finger before taking both of her hands into his bigger ones, “I do, always and forever.”

“Always and forever,” Pomni repeated, her lips drifting closer to his.

Jax shivered as her breath washed over him. Unable to hold himself back, he swooped her up into his arms and pressed his lips against hers. Pomni returned the kiss with the same amount of passion, holding him tighter while he ran his fingers through her hair.

After a while, the two finally separated, laughing quietly as they pressed their foreheads together. 

It was just them, no one else. They didn’t need anyone else for this moment, this moment where two kindred spirits finally became husband and wife. Eloping under the midnight sky, away from Caine’s all seeing, prying eyes. 

Even when the sun would rise, and they would pretend that this night’s events had never happened. The warmth that the two shared could never be taken away. The love that they have will always be there.

Always and forever.

#funnybunny #funnybunny week #funnybunny week 2024 #jax #pomni #pomnijax #the amazing digital circus #fanfiction #fanfic #ao3 #dragon rambles

[phlover1844]

Omg that would be heaven Izzy in light blue pantyhose, Dawn's beautiful perfect body in those white pantyhose, and the pantyhose goddess As Adrianne in those nude pantyhose with a layer of black stockings over top. I would love to let them.dress me up in heels, a skirt, and some type of loose wrinkled lavender, lilac, periwinkle, or soft petal pink pantyhose with some white knee highs and 6" lilac strappy open toed sandles. A short jean skirt and a sapphire blue satiny push up bustier with sheer white pantyhose over the top of me. Black choker, blue lace half sleeve gloves. My makeup done in smokey finished,black lipstick fingernail polish and toenail polish. Omg that would be an ultimate fantasy by the way. Idk bout you I don't think I couldn't ever stop fucking them....what bout you?

[dresshistorynerd]

Hiya!

Love your blog! So much cool info here. I don't know if this is the kind of thing you are interested in or know much about but I'm making a cosplay of Mary from the BBC Ghosts. She supposedly died in the early 17th century but I can't find anything on the blue bodice/waistcoat she is wearing. I think it is closer to 19th century stays? Anyway, I get it's not 100% historically accurate costume, just wondering. Thanks!

Hi, Anon! And thank you so much!

I haven't watched the show, but I checked out the outfit and here it is for those who also didn't know it before:

A quick look at the Ghosts wikipage of her tells she was an English peasant.

I ended up falling into a bit of research rabbit hole (which is why it took me this long to answer). The evolution of working class garments from Elizabethan era to 1700s ended up being very interesting and surprisingly complicated. It doesn't make it easier that there's very little info on the subject, especially regarding English working class. It's much easier to find info on Dutch and Flemish working class clothing, as the Dutch golden age/baroque art was very interested in depicting working class people, the style also provides abundance of detail. English artists were much less interested in painting common people.

To make the rest make any sense I think it would be useful to outline the evolution of garments used in 16th to 18th century. In 1500s kirtle (here's a post where I talk about what kirtle is and it's evolutiona mong other things) was becoming more and more structured, eventually it's bodice becoming fully boned. Lower classes wouldn't bone their kirtles but reinforce them with several layers of canvas or buckram. In the first half of the century a short wool coat was sometimes used under the outerwear far warmed called petticoat. It was the Little Ice Age after all. Two boned or highly stiffened kirtles started to be used on top of each other, the first layer being made from cheaper materials and acting as the actual supporting layer, and the one on top of it from more expensive materials, stiffening (not necessarily boning) making sure the fabric is structured and without wrinkles. In the latter half of the century petticoat started to refer to the undergarment kirtle. Petticoats usually were a full dress like kirtle, though there's references of "petticoats without the upper bodies" so petticoats with only the skirt were also used as undergarments.

It gained the connotation of a simple and not very fancy garment, which is why the lower class kirtles started to be called petticoats by late 1500s. Lower classes might also wear two layers of petticoats, often in contrasting colors, probably in cold weather and then one layer in hot weather. The bodice and skirt also could be contrasting colors. The outer petticoat had almost always lacing in the front, but the petticoat under it might have lacing in the back or side so it's fabric could be seen under the lacing over it. At least Dutch and Flemish women would usually have a stomacher of contrasting color under the front lacing if they didn't have a petticoat under. Very wide lacing which showed off the fabric beneath was typical (but not necessary) for those and the German speaking areas. Petticoats would often have attachable or sewn-in sleeves like kirtles since Middle Ages, so that they could be worn as undergarment without sleeves and outer garment with sleeves if necessary.

An example from 1570s England. Two of the three peasant women in the front are wearing petticoats with bodices made from different fabrics.

An example by Flemish painter from around 1560s/70s. The left-most woman is clearly wearing a soft stomacher under her petticoat and the woman in the very middle has attached sleeves as shown by the bulging shift in her arm pits.

Over the petticoats though working class women would often wear a looser sleeved over-garment which wasn't laced. Around Netherlands area it was a short jacket with widening hem at waist often called waistcoat, like on the right-most woman in above painting, though I'm not sure if that is actually contemporary term for it. In late 1500s England the over-garment seemed to be more commonly a full length gown open in the front with short or full sleeves, similarly as the fashionable outer garment of the upper classes but much simpler, but by early 1600s the waistcoat is most commonly depicted in England too. There were couple of important accessories. Partlet was in 1600s most often white linen, while in the earlier century woolen black partlets were also common (the woman in the middle of the Flemish painting above is wearing both). In 1500s and early half of 1600s the partlet had high collar with ruffle like shown in the above paintings and it was usually worn over the petticoat (though sometimes under) and under the waistcoat or similar over-garment. Apron was also very important for working women, and while most often it was white linen, wool and different colors like show in both paintings above were also common. Kercief, a (most often) white linen scarf pinned on shoulders, was also common, especially in England, as shown in the first painting and the one below.

An English peasant from 1582 illustration wearing an open-fronted over-gown with short sleeves.

English peasants dancing from 1620s, while the women are wearing waistcoats.

In the fashion of the upper classes the bodice of the petticoat and the skirt of the petticoat started to appear as separate garments in late 1500s. A separate bodice was referred to as pair of bodies, or bodies, similarly to the bodice of the petticoat was referred to as upper bodies like I mentioned before. The word bodice actually derives from it. For clarity I will call the separate boned bodice as bodies. Like petticoat it was very much an undergarment, though could be used as a leisure wear in private. Like other supportive clothing that could be used as both under and over garments it also often had detachable sleeves. The full petticoat would fall out of use by the upper class by mid 1600s, but bodies wouldn't become universal as the structural layer yet, as the outer gown's bodice would often still be boned and used as the supportive layer. Working class women would use full petticoats till late 1600s, but separate bodies would become more widespread from early to mid century onward. Boning also would get adopted into working class clothing around mid century, though stiffening with fabrics or barely at all would continue to be common the whole century and still continue till early 1700s.

An example of bodies without boning on a peasant woman from the second half of 17th century Netherlands.

Working class woman with boned bodies from 1665-70, also Netherlands.

In 1680s there was a huge shift in the upper class fashion as mantua, completely unstructured garment, became extremely common and stays were developed from bodies to be it's supportive layer. Before that the boning was called stays, which alludes to the increasing distinction between outer and under clothing, as stays would be more of just separate boning rather than garment that could be used on it's own (though it could still be worn on it's own in some cases). In working class fashion the full petticoat fully disappeared by 18th century and the basic set of clothes was petticoat, supportive bodice without boning or stays (which would become almost universal during the century) and bed gown or jacket. Bed gown was short and very jacket-like, but a looser and t-shaped without the shoulder seem. Both were increasingly used regardless of weather.

Stays as outer garment from around 1780s-90s.

I think that Mary's blue waistcoat/bodice most resembles 18th century examples. Specifically, the supportive laced bodices without boning, like in the examples below. Unfortunately I haven't found any info about them. The cut is simpler than stays and actually reminds me most about jackets/waistcoats without sleeves. I've read there was laced under-jackets used in 18th century, so I'm wondering if these bodices relates to that. Maybe likelier origin is that they evolved from the previous century working class bodies that didn't have boning. Mary's bodice however is cut very differently. The neckline is high unlike these 1700s bodices, which purpose was to lift the chest.

Firstly a Dutch painting from first half of 18th century and then Italian painting from 1721.

Because supportive garments became very much undergarments or at least the second lowest layer right after shift, even if nothing was worn on top of it, it really doesn't fit Mary's bodice. Though I maybe found an exception where stays are possibly worn on top of a sleeved waistcoat or maybe bed gown, but it's hard to say and I haven't seen any other examples of that.

A 1713 Dutch illustration of Brabant, Belgium, dress. The bodice part looks like it could be a bed gown or similar loose jacket-like garment with boned stays on top of it. With little detail and no color it's hard to say though. It could be also a boned jacket or jacket on top of stays.

There is actually a fairly well documented style around this era that does have long sleeved garment beneath and sleeves garment over it. In the latter half of the 17th century and more rarely in early 18th century paintings depict Dutch and Flemish working women wearing long sleeved garment and laced bodice or petticoat over it. I haven't really seen depictions outside of them, however it doesn't mean they don't exist, since as said in the beginning there's just overwhelmingly more lower class depictions in Dutch and Flemish art than in any other art. Still, there being examples of this style from 1700s, when it's very outdated and absent in working class and peasant depictions of art from other areas, where depicting working class is becoming more common, suggests to me that it's at least somewhat regional style.

A Dutch painting from circa 1665.

In the above painting the woman seems to wear a full petticoat (the bodice and skirt are same color) with lacing on the front and what seems like a waistcoat under it. It's hard to say if the bodice is boned. This is a nice example as the partlet (the collar had mostly lost popularity by this time) is under garments unlike in most other depictions where it's on top of the bodice. We can then see that the sleeved garment is pinned and has fairly high neckline making it look a lot like the waistcoats of the time. It could be that they are not all the same garment. I would have rather guessed they were full petticoats with sewn-in sleeves before seeing this painting, but some of them still could be, especially the ones that seem more fitted. I haven't found any information about it, except one webside where it was called bed gown, which I think they definitely are not as they come earlier, are sometimes very fitted and often the shoulder seem of the sleeve is shown. Bodies and petticoats with detachable sleeves and waistcoats as over-garments are still frequently found in Dutch and Flemish paintings of the time, which makes me question why would they put especially waistcoat under the supportive layer? My little pet theory is that they need it for the warmth, but they want to protect it with a less expensive petticoat and/or bodies while working.

A Dutch 1659-60 painting. Here I think the women in red could be wearing sleeved petticoats or separate bodices under their bodies.

For Mary's outfit the issue is the peplum-type hemline on her blue bodice. It's very much absent in this era from bodies both boned and not, weather because the bodies end in waistline, which there's some depictions of like the one several pictures above, or the hem is under the petticoat. But I did find this one garment from the same era also depicted in Dutch and Flemish art mostly on older women. It has the peplum hem, but it's not bodies. All the examples I've seen are pinned close, so not supportive and definitely not boned. They are also cut differently. The shoulders are quite wide and the neckline high. It almost feels like sleeveless waistcoat. I found even less info on this style, so I can only guess.

Dutch painting from circa 1650-55. The waistcoat/bodice has a hem here that extends over the gray petticoat unlike with other garments we've looked at.

Dutch painting circa 1670. In the enlarge image you can just make out the seem of the undergarment.

I think Mary's clothing best reflects this specific style from this period of time. Her partlet also lacks the ruffle as later 1600s partlets usually do. Her apron is also gathered like those in the latter half of 1600s. Earlier aprons are usually not gathered as seen in the couple of first examples. The blue bodice I think is a mix between the sleeveless waistcoat-type garment seen in two above paintings and the separate or petticoat bodices which are not boned. It's laced and has narrow shoulders like the bodices, but it has high neckline and the hem over the petticoat like the sleeveless "waistcoats". The ruffles on her sleeves don't make sense in this time period. They could make more sense in 1700s. Over all it's actually pretty close in time and geographically to the time and place she's supposed to come from, even if it's not the way she'd actually dress if she was from early 1600s England.

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