#will I ever finish my own Beauty and the Beast? only time will tell

[harleiquina]

The Lady of the Well

Some time ago, I got so angry at Disney remaking their movies (with a lot less heart than the originals) that I started to write my own versions.

So far I’ve just finished my Cinderella, but there are many others to come.

Keep in mind that English isn’t my native language and I tried to translate it as best as I could.

-I hope you are not trying to steal anything- said an authoritarian but warm and playful voice that echoed through all the gallery.

-No. ¡No! Of course not- the young girl rushed to answer nerviously since she hadn't noticed that the men in uniform was joking. -I... never... I didn't even touched anything- she was trying to find his eyes to make her case stronger but the mirrored mask prevented her from finding his gaze. Feeling observed without knowing exactly from where made the intimidation worse.

-Don't be afraid. I didn't mean it- she sighed loudly with relief -Still, it is odd that you are here and not in the Great Hall. Don't you want to enjoy the ball?-

-It's just... -she contained herself -I don't belong there-

-However, here you are. That implies that you were invited-

-You could say that. But if I have to be honest: I sneaked in with a big family that didn't noticed my presence-

The man laughed -If you wanted to be in the ball so badly, why are you wasting the night in the art gallery?-

-I just wanted to see the Palace and this was my only chance-

-I can give you an invitation, in case anybody asks-

-An invitation arrived home. It's just that I didn't came with them-

-Them?- he noticed a certain absence in the young girl's voice.

-My stepmother and her daughters-

Once again there was a fraction of bitterness on the way she spoke and that made him realize that something wasn't right. So he asked to confirm if his suspicions were true -Your family?-

-I guess- the girl noticed that she was letting her true feelings show so she tried to brush off the whole situation. She got closer to the next painting on the wall, the one that caught her attention more than the others -Those flowers are beautiful, do you know their name?-

-I'm sorry, no-

-It doesn't matter. Maybe some beauties should remain unnamed-

He smiled.

-Sir- one of the guards called, he was wearing the man's exact same outfit -Do you need us?-

-No, General. Thank you-

-Are you sure?- he wanted to check after examining the girl before him.

-I'm sure. You may all go- once the sentence ended other twenty men left their positions from all over the hall

- So many guards?- the guest was surprised after seeing them walk down the hallway.

-It's a palace. There is a guard every six feet or so- he answered amused. Many past events paraded in his mind and in all of them the excess of men was more than justified.

-Are you their captain?

-I guess- he smiled -What's your name?

-My name?

-There is nobody else here, right?-

-No- she was genuinely surprised and ashamed for the whole situation -I am not used to be called by my name-

-Then... how do people call you?-

-It depends on who's speaking. Kids call me "the lady of the well" because I always help them when they need to retreive water in buckets that are bigger than them. And I also hold them in my arms when they want to toss a coin to ask for a wish-

-Sounds nice. Alas there is no well here, so I cannot call you like that- both laughed.

-Those who were our servants still call me "little miss" "child" or "missy" when I find them in the market. It doesn't matter how hard I try I cannot convince them that I'm not 4 years old anymore- her voice now was filled with warmth and joy.

-I don't know you enough to call you like that. But now I'm curious about the servants that no longer work for you. Are they very old?

-Not that much- she started pacing between the statues at the center of the room. She just realized the mess she got herself into by mentioning that but it was too late. She took a deep breath and fought the tears that started swelling in her eyes at the memory of her last nickname -Cinderella, that's the name my stepmother and her daughters use to call me. I'm always covered in cinder from the fire they make me keep always alive... so I can cook for them, prepare their baths and carry around tje house in winter to keep the whole house warm -a single tear escaped from her eyes all the way down her cheek but she caught it before it could hit the floor -I even have to do it in Summer, because those are the Lady's orders-

-What about the servants?

-There is none. Just me...- she dried her tears again, this time with a handkerchief he offered her -...Marielle-

-Marielle?- he was surprised -Then I believe that some beauties should be named- the attempt to make her feel better seemed to work

-Don't you have something better to do than taking care of a stranger's feelings?-

-Honestly? No. I do not like parties and this kind even less-

-What kind?-

-The ones to find a girlfriend for the prince- je sat down in a couch nearby and asked her to join him -That's why we are all dressed the same: women just try to expose themselves, or their daughters, to him. The night won't be long enough if he had to dance with all of them-

-So none of you say who is the prince, you hear them, get to know them and then give a report of who is the most adequate, right?-

-Exactly-

-I can't imagine how tedious it might be to deal with that-

-We take turns, another good reason to have so many guards nearby- she laughed -Of course, whoever tries to get any kind of advantage for themselves is removed. Usually will end up guarding the stables or the park-

-Still, it might be tough on them. Who says that a soldier can't fall in love with one of the girls?

-In that case they should say the truth-

-Has it happened already?

-The night is still young-

-If it's not a bother to you... may I ask you a question?- he nodded -Why a ball? I thought that the prince is meant to marry another kingdom's princess to strenghten commercial relationships, increase the lands and such-

-You are very smart, Marielle- she couldn't help blushing after hearing her name -Yes, that would be the most sensible and traditional way, so to speak. But, believe it or not, prince Jean has been rejected by many kingdoms both close and far away-

-Rejected?

-Yes, you'll see: the prince is blind- he said while removing his mask so she could see his clouded eyes -That's why the other kings don't want to take a chance on having grandkids with the same weakness- there was no reaction from the girl -Please don't pity me. I've had enough of that up until now. Speak to me, it is still me-

-It's just... I don't understand. You are the prince?- she stood up and started to nerviously pace.

-Yes-

-Don't lie to me-

-I know that I said that some soldiers might take advantage but I did so thinking I've already earned your trust... that I could speak freely with you-

-But... what are you doing here? The ball is in the other wing!-

-Have you noticed that there's a slight inbalance in your walking? As if one of the legs was a few milimeters shorter than the other-

-I broke a leg when I was thirteen. It didn't heal well-

-You used to climb trees?

-No-

-A horseback riding accident then?

-No-

-Maybe you were running around the hallways in your home?

-I will answer only if you give me a good reason why you are wasting your time with me instead of enjoying your party-

-I am not wasting my time, but go ahead-

-I didn't clean the main dinning room window well enough and my stepmother punished me for that- she could feel the indignation on his silence so se rushed to add -She never did it again. She realized that I couldn't do much with a broken bone-

-You were a child-

-Which means that it happened a long time ago and it's not worth remembering it-

-Did she continued to hit you? Does she do it now?-

-That is not important. I already answered your question. Now answer mine-

His frustration became evident however he always kept his word. In first place, I'm exhausted of hearing "I am the perfect woman to become queen because..." and, in second place, General Batiste, the man that spoke to me a while ago, told me that there was a girl in a rather peculiar dress walking around the hallways. He didn't know if she was lost or if she had something else in mind. In other words, you spiked my curiosity- Marielle sat down again -Why your dress caught the good General's attention?-

-Probably because it's old... it was my mother's so it is probably way over twenty years old-

-A heirloom?-

-It's all I've got left of her. My stepmother got rid of everything else- she stopped so he couldn't notice her voice cracking -It was in a forgotten chest on the attic, that's why moths got it. I took some scraps of an old dress of mine, one made of silk and pink tulle that I used as a child, with that I made flowers to patch up the holes- she left one of the flowers that hanged from her sleeve on his hand so he could feel them -I used beads from my stepsisters' many broken necklaces to make the center of the flowers-

-I admire your skill and I am certain that you look beautiful. Even so I cannot stop feeling pity over your situation, you should not live like that-

-If I do not pity you for your blindness, you shouldn't pity me either-

-That's fair. However I would like to help you-

-Nobody can-

-I can have them arrested-

-Or you could marry one of my stepsisters and take all of them away from here-

-I thought we were friends, now you want me to suffer?- he laughed.

-They would never hurt you-

-And why they do hurt you?

-I don't know, I stopped asking myself about it a long time ago. I guess I'm an easy target-

-You just have to ask and I can make my guards drag them to the dungeons-

-No, please, no. They will hate me more if I do it-

-They will never come out. You would be safe-

-My father wouldn't approve-

-Oh, he lives with you? And lets them treat you like that?

-No, he died about 17 years ago. But if he chose to marry my stepmother, there had to be a good reason why-

-Well, for what it's worth... if it wasn't for your situation, we would've never met-

-That's true-

-Who was your father? Because if you all still live in the same house there might be a chance that he was a friend or aquaitance of mine-

-Yes, my father worked as an administrator for the King. George Reinauld-

-I can't say that I know the name, as a child I had nothing to do on my father's bussiness. However I can tell you that I know every inch of this palace thanks to the many hits and falls I had during my childhood. That's why I always have so many guards around me, my mother never where could I ever need inmmediate assistance-

The clock started to announce midnight just like the bells on the closest cathedral.

-Oh, no- Marielle worried -It's late-

-What are you talking about?-

-The ball ends at midnight, I wasn't expecting to stay for long. I won't be able to arrive before them- explained halfway to the exit.

-Wait, please-

-I can't-

-Yes you can, stop- he was next to her and held her arm -Batiste! -the man and a companion appeared almost magically, ready to receive orders -Make one of our coaches take her home and ask for the ball to be extended. Would an hour be enough?-

-Yes, yes it'll be enough. Thank you!- the young girl kissed his cheek and started to run following the soldier guiding her.

-Don't look at me like that and do as I said- he ordered again while hiding a smile from his General's complicit gaze.

Everybody in the Great Hall rejoiced after finding out that the very Prince asked for the party to continue. The ladies thought that they still had a chance to get him because if he did found someone then there was no need to go on with the ball; the men just focused on the food and wine still left to enjoy. Little they knew that the prince never joined them again for the rest of the night.

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-Good morning, son- the King said when he saw him in the garden -I see that you've had a good time. You are still using yesterday's clothes. Is that why you asked for the party to continue?-

-Honestly, father, I barely was in the ball-

-You are joking, right? You know fair well why we did it and why it was necessary for you to be there-

-I know, I know. But you would've not lasted that long in my shoes either-

-It couldn't be that bad to dance with so many beautiful young girls-

-Most of them couldn't stop talking about their virtues and others thought that I was a soldier and tried to bribe me so I could pinpoint the real prince. And lets not mention a few missteps I gave transforming them into drunk sailors. I even think that I might've learned new curse words thanks to them- the King couldn't hold his laughter -However, I wasn't alone either. All the time I was away I spent it with one of the guests that was snooping on the Art Gallery. We talked. She is very nice. I told her who I am, the reason for the ball and, aside from a brief moment of incredulity, she didn't even blink-

-Well, maybe the ball wasn't such a bad idea. And who is this misterious girl?-

-Marielle- he felt his heart lighting up by saying her name -Marielle Reinauld, daughter of George Reinauld- he added in a serious tone to try and hide his happiness.

-George Reinauld, sounds familiar, ah, yes! Now I remember him. A good man, honest and smart. Such a pity that he died-

-What do you know about his wife?

-I didn't have the chance to meet her, she died when he started to work for me-

-I mean his second wife-

-All I know is that your mom didn't liked her. I cannot say much, I never met her-

-Marielle told me about the mistreatments she got from her. She's basically a servant since she was twelve-

-Why? That family has enough money to live a comfortable life for at least three more generations-

-I do not know. But I'm worried. I need to know that she's fine-

-We'll send someone to her house-

-Yes... but no. First I need someone to make sure that she's fine. She told me that she came to the ball hiding from her stepmother, if all the sudden someone from the palace shows up at her door, she'll know-

-What does it matter if the girl marries you? She'll be safe in the palace-

-If she accepts me-

-Why wouldn't she?-

-The fact that we had a conversation doesn't mean she will-

-But it is a good start-

-Father, please... I just want to be sure that she is fine-

-Fine. I'll send someone to observe the house-

It was late in the evening when the messenger came back with his report. He didn't see anybody resembling a maid, just the mother and her two daughters would come and go from the rooms he could see through the windows.

Without second thoughts, the prince called his General and asked him to gather a few men to go to Reinauld's house.

Once there, the Lady of the house thought that good news were coming but after seeing the soldiers getting into her home to search the rooms her face changed completely. Her yells stopped once the King and his son walked through the door.

-Your Majesties!- the well dressed and old woman celebrated them with fake cheer -To what do I owe the honor of your visit?

-We have been told about a girl missing from your house- answered General Batiste, hiding from any sight the prince behind him.

-A girl? Missing? Nonsense! I live with my daughters here, nobody else. They are not here because they left to visit a friend, countess Montreaux. These girls, bless them, they want to keep on talking about the wonderful ball-

-How many daughters do you have?- asked Jean coldly with his face fix in the window that showed the street.

-Two: Fleur y Claire-

-And what about Marielle?-

-I'm sorry?- despite her surprise, it was rather clear that she knew of whom he was talking about-

-Your stepdaughter, Marielle-

-Mar... ah, yes... she left with her father, when he left us-

-George Reinauld worked for me. At the time od his death I sent my condolences and a medallion as a token of appreciation after so many years of service to his country- the King seemed offended after the woman's lame attempt to get rid of the situation.

-Fine, I was lying... I should've take her to a convent, poor thing, her mind wasn't quite right. She's the family's greatest shame-

-She seemed fine last night- the prince provoked her .

-Last night?- a slight biterness took over the woman's voice.

-She went to the ball- silence -we talked. Don't worry, she didn't dare to say much about you... but her story didn't need many words to be understood-

-As I said, she had issues-

-Had?- he turned towards the woman for the very first time but before he could walk to her one of the soldiers called Batiste from the kitchen. The General helped him get down the stairs that would lead them to him.

At the moment he crossed the door he could tell that Marielle spent most of her time in there. The whole place smelled like her, or viceversa, with a faint smell of oregano and other spices mixed with the scent of flour and salt.

-What did you find, soldier?-

-The fire died many hours ago but it would seem that something was burned before- Batiste reached to get the piece of burnt cloth the soldier was giving him

-This looks like a silk flower- said the General so everybody could listen.

-You burned her dress?- even though he knew the kind of person she was, he couldn't help but feel a stab on his heart for witnessing such heinous act.

-She deserved it, for disobeying-

-You keep on talking in past time- a shadow appeared in his thoughts -Where is she?- he tried to sound harsh and menacing but his coice cracked before he could finish his question.

-Where she belongs-

The prince couldn't breathe anymore and he was shaking enough that his friend and General guided him by the shoulders outside, to the backyard where there was a chicken coup and an orchard.

-Batiste, please, make your men search every inch of this property. Inside and out. We must find her-

-Yes, sir- he retired to communicate his orders to his men.

-Son, are you alright?- the King's voice came from behind and he felt his hand on his shoulder.

-What can you see from here? How is the house and it's surroundings?

-Well, it's a beautiful house... pity it didn't have the propper maintenance. It has three stories aside from the attic and the basement with the kitchen. Stone facade, big windows, balconies... is almost as big as our summer house in the beach, do you remember it?- there was no answer, so he continued with his description -I can see that some of the roof tiles fell off and there's a hole getting bigger and bigger in the attic. There are even doves coming out of it!- he saw his son still lost in his thoughts -The orchard is really nice, the pumpkins are about to be harvested. There are tomato plants and chard... I think... yes, those are onions. Its a very good job, madmoiselle Marielle has a very good green hand-

-What else?- asked Jean.

-There's a chicken coup, I can count three chickens and a rooster. They are pecking the floor looking for food-

-Probably she had to feed them in the morning- added the Prince with biterness -I hear voices afar, is there anybody else aside from the soldiers?-

-There are some kids playing on a hill, they are near a well. I hope they don't try to climb it, they might fall-

-The well- remembered Jean -She helps kids to get water from it and to toss coins when asking wishes-

Batiste came out of the house.

-We searched everywhere, there is not a trace. I'm sorry-

-General, lets go to that hill, to the well- his heart started pounding he was certain they would find her there. Batiste checked the orders with the king, he nodded.

The men were carrying torches, the night already arrived and regardless how much they tried to illuminate the well, they couldn't see anything.

A young soldier asked his friends to hold him while he tried to get as far as he could inside the well to try and see anything. But he wasn't counting his ticklish nature and his friends touch made him toss the torch to the water. He shrieked when, before the fire was extinguished, he was able to see a face in the water and what seemed to be a white dress floating.

Without confirming their orders, the soldiers started to dig with whatever they had available at the time. The neighbours got closer and offered their help and tools. With the effort of 50 people, they were able to dig to the bottom of the well. The water started to rise and it made it near impossible to keep on digging, but the thought of miss Reynauld captive in it helped them fight off the elements and the tiredness.

Todos conocían a Marielle, la niña que siempre tenía una sonrisa en los labios a pesar de tener una vida dura junto a su madrastra. Aquella que ayudaba a quienes lo necesitaban y se preocupaba por cada uno como si fuera de la familia.

A couple of women delivered bebrages to the workers and every now and then bursted in tears worried for the fate of the girl they loved so much.

-Do you know her?- asked the prince when he felt them near him.

-Since her birth, Your Highness. She was such a good child- answered one wiping her tears with hee sleeve.

-She was like a daughter to us. She even carried provisions in her sleigh for us during a winter we fell sick. She was a little girl, she was 10! Y she took care of us without any kind of binding obligation to us... a couple of peasants way below her- added the second one.

-And when her stepmother started to mistreat her we wanted to help her... but the Lady threatened us with jail. We were very scared, Your Highness... we should've done something... look where we are now!- the first woman reproached herself.

Every story the prince heard pierced his soul, but a victory scream from one of the men brought some hope back into him.

Everybody approached his location and rushed to help him rescue the girl from the water. Carefully, three of them took her out to were the King was standing next to his son. The early morning lights allowed them to see the young girl unconscious, pale, soaking wet and with some bruises on her face and arms.

Many soldiers improvised a bed with their capes on the grass so she could rest. The town's doctor was also there and jumped into action to try and find her vitals.

-They are too weak, but they are still there- everybody sighed in relief as a carriage got closee to them.

-Ladies- Jean called the women that spoke wirt him earlier -We will take her to the palace. Could you watch over her?-

-Of course, Your Highness! We'll do it with pleasure, the poor child needs love an care. We will give it to her- answered the first one while Marielle was being carried to the carriage. The doctor also climbed in it followed by the two women.

-Batiste- he called his General -Lets go back to the house. Father, go back to the palace and make sure that the doctor has everything he needs-

-I'll call the royal doctors as well, I assure you son that everything will be alright-

-I hope so- he said his goodbyes before his friend helped him to return to the Reinauld's family house.

-Your Majesty!- the screeching voices of the Lady's daughters pierced his ears -Such a pleasure to see you here!- both spoke at the same time and that was even more annoying.

-Has your mother told you the reason for my visit?-

-Yes- all courtesy was gone and their voices were now poisonous.

-I must inform you that we have found your stepsister, miss Marielle Reinauld- nothing but silence -She was in the bottom of the well abpve the hill-

-As I said, Your Highness, her mind wasn't in great shape. She probably fell or threw herself chasing a toad... she always got those nasty creatures to torment my girls, wasn't that so?- the homeowner intervened looking for her daughters approval.

-She is still alive-

-What? I mean... it is good news but I'm less than excited to see her again after everything that happened.

-Don't worry, you won't. Batiste, arrest the lady for attempted murder-

-As you say, Your Highness-

-Don't you dare to touch me! I did nothing.... it was them, they threw her down the well like a broken plate-

-Mom!- Claire got offended.

-We only threw her because you told us to!- added Fleur.

-Fine, take the three of them- Jean ordered without thinking it twice.

The soldiers tried to be polite with them showing them the way but the women refused to follow them, so they had to grab and drag them against their will. Their indignation was silenced by the yelling of their neighbours, still covered in mud, that went to the house to see the pathetic scene.

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Many weeks passed until Marielle was able to get up from the comfortable bed with silk sheets. Her good neighbours Carlotta and Vivianne helped her to eat, dress and wash herself the whole time. She didn't liked to be pampered with so much devotion, but she also knew that she couldn't do any of that alone.

Now it was a wonderful spring morning and she wanted to walk around the garden before goinf back home.

She found the kings having breakfast in a gazebo. After many pleas, she joined them.

-I am so glad that you are alright- started the Queen -Do you have everything you need? What about the dresses? Should we fix them in anyway?- she observed that Marielle had folded the cuffs since they were too long.

-No, Your Highness. It's not worth it. I have mine at home. I'm not planning on keeping any of these, they are just a loan-

-My girl! There's no need to return anything, these are gifts- said the King.

-I don't want you to think that I'm taking advantege of you. You did enough for me-

-And we would do it again- reassured the Queen -After hearing your neighbours' testimonies and your stepfamily's nonsense, I can't stop thinking that I should've followed my instincts that time and take you away from that house as soon as your father died. I always knew that that woman wasn't good news, but he was in love... I guess-

-Lets not speak more about the past, especially now that we know there are brighter days ahead. What are your plans, Marielle, now that you're free?- the king asked.

-I never made plans-

-And what would you like to do? Now you're not just the Lady and homeowner of the Reinauld House, you also possess your father's fortune.

-I have to do something for those who rescued me, both soldiers and civilians... but I do not know yet what it could be-

-That's a good start and we will support you in anything you might need- smiled the Queen while lovingly tapping her arm.

-There is no need, as I said, I don't want to take advantage of your generosity-

-You'll be the first one- laughed the King -Now I see why you caused such a good impression in Jean-

Marielle blushed, and that wasn't a secret for the other two.

-Have you talked to him? I think he's at the fountain. He enjoys the sound of water moving and the birds that sing over there.

-The Prince visited me many times and showed me the other pieces of art in the palace. He says he enjoys how I describe them- she smiled to herself -I hope I was a good friend to him-

-Why do you speak as if you are about to leave?- asked the Queen.

-Well, the doctirs told me that I am fully recovered. I must return home. I'm sure there's a lot to clean- she added laughing.

-Well, that's a shame... you know what I mean. All of us enjoy your company and it's sad to see you go away-

-I completely understand, don't worry. I know that you'll never wish any kind of evil upon me- smiled Marielle.

-Have you told Jean already?- asked the King.

-Well, the Prince knows how I think... but no, I haven't told him yet-

-You should, as we told you, he's at the fountain-

- Now?

-It is better to rip the bandage quickly- his comment was shut off by a hard stomp from his wife.

-If I may, Your Highnesses- Marielle stood up hiding her desire to laugh at the Queen's reaction.

As she was told, the prince was sitting in the grass under a tree's shadow, with his eyes closed focused on all the sounds around him. His face, just like everything near him, transmitted peace and warmth.

-Marielle- he called her softly while opening his eyes.

-I'll never be able to surprise you- she chuckled while helping him to stand up.

-You are a surprised by yoursel- he presented his arm to invite her to walk with him. She accepted.

-Why didn't you had breakfast with your parents?-

-I've been awake for hours. I had breakfast a lot earlier-

-Oh, did you have a rough night?-

-You could say that. Every day that goes by is a day closer to the day you'll leave- Marielle felt a strong pinch on her stomach -I know that you will... there is nothing to stop you-

-I'll visit you often, if you ask me to-

-You musn't base your actions in what I want but in what you want. I've enjoyed the hours that we spent together but if this were, in anyway, a duty or an obligation you set yourself as a payment for helping your escape, I do not pretend to let you continue with them-

-I would never think in that way. In any casa it's me who's embarrassed. I shared the darkest moments of my life with a complete stranger and because of that I dragged you with me. My apologies, Your Highness, if you've felt in the obligation to assit me in any way-

He smiled -Call me Jean, I've told you to do it before-

-I can't, it's disrespectful-

-I call you Marielle-

-I am a nobody-

-Don't say that- the prince noticed that his voice turned too solemn so he decided to switch the conversation tone -I have noticed something in the last couple of days: I've never danced with you-

-Maybe in the next ball-

-Or maybe now- he could feel Marielle's stranged look while he moved, still holding her hand, making her twirl to position her in the starting pose for a waltz. Jean carefully placed his hand on the center of her back while still holding her right hand. He felt foolish for a second but his worry disappeared once he felt Marielle's delicate touch on his left shoulder. She giggled and both started to dance in the grass. There, in each other's arms, they didn't needed music -There's no need for you to say anything, I know you'll be leaving tomorrow- he whispered in her ear.

-I'm sorry, I can't stay here any longer. I am recovered, I have no excuse to stay-

-I understand-

-Won't you ask me to stay?- there was a faint dissapointment tone in her voice.

-I would never be selfish enough to impose my wishes to yours- he could feel her beating heart with his fingertips and his own heart was hammering in his ears. They seemed to be synchronized and both got louder once they, unconsciously got even closer to each other -You are free- they stopped but didn't separate from the embrace.

-I no longer know what that means. It's been a long time-

-More reasons then to enjoy your freedom. You can do as you wish- a delicated kiss on his lips took him by surprise. He couldn't deny that he imagined this moment hundreds of times, but he never expected this reaction coming from her. Shyness turned into certainty and with it passion arrived. Jean didn't fight back the need to lose himself in her scent and and the warmth that came from Marielle's body. For the first time in so many years he forgot his blindness and the pain it caused him. Nothing else mattered, only that moment -Marielle- he whispered when everything was over -Don't hurt me like this-

-That's not my intention-

-You have a good heart, but pity and compassion can lead to even major cruelties if they are not measured-

-I love you- she held him tight and pressed her forehead to his -Jean, I love you-

-Still hurts seeing you escaping from an iron cage to get into a golden one-

-At least I'll have company-

-Quite a partner- he sighed -You deserve someone who can enjoy your smile, the blush on your cheeks and your eyes full of love-

-No- she caressed his face -You've asked me not to feel pity upon you, then why can you speak like this?-

-Because I want you to have a good life, even if it's not with me. Get out to the world, explore the cities, meet people. Do not waste a single more minute locked down in a house... or a palace-

-I'm not going anywhere unless you come with me-

-Marielle...- he begged.

-Jean, do you love me?- her voice was warm but there was still a shadow of uncertainty in it.

-Nobody in this world, in an individual or collective way, has loved any other person as much as I love you-

-Then, respect my decisions. I'll stay with you. Not out of compassion, not as appreciation for having saved me... but because you are a good man: you've trusted me when you didn't have to, any other person would've vanished me from the ball for snooping around where I shouldn't be. You took care of me and accompanied me without expecting anything in return. You've became the reason why I started to laugh again, you gave me hope: I never thought about the future before and now all I want is to be with you every day, every night, with children or without them, in the throne room or in a farm away from everything, I don't care as long as we are together. Please, don't ask me to be alone again-

-I'll never do that-

-So, do you accept me?

The only answer she got was a brief smile before a kiss that awoke in her chest the heat of a thousand suns. Jean held her tight and started to spin on himself. They laughed together and some tears were still running down. Their embrace was so strong that it was impossible determin where one ended and the other began. They were one. They were happy. They were everything they ever dreamt of.

#working #cinderella #retelling #fairytale #reimagined #aspiring author #my writing #writing #does this even count as a fairytale? it doesn't have fairies... or magic #beeing bored watching Disney's remakes might be good for the creative mind #will I ever finish my own Beauty and the Beast? only time will tell #tw physical abuse #tw physical violence #harleiquina's retellings #my art #english is not my native language and I translated everything on my phone while if there are any kind of mistakes that's why

[clavissionary-position]

(Translation) Gilbert's Beast Manual His POV Story

The final installment in Gilbert's current party event.

Spoilers. I'm not a translator, I just throw stuff into online translators, so expect errors. Case 1 | Case 2 | Case 3 (I recommend you read these beforehand for the full experience.)

Please be aware that this installment contains some heavier emotional content as well as sexual content later on—MDNI. As a final note, I recommend you have read Gilbert's proposal event beforehand. Just in case. (Technically I'd also recommend you have read his physical exam event too, but not to the same degree.)

—

I couldn't tell the little rabbit the real reason I had her accompany me on official business.

I'd most certainly earn a scolding and remonstration if I did.

I felt like I wanted to be scolded at least once though, since the little rabbit was the only one who could truly rebuke the conquering beast. However...

"I want the little rabbit to be able to survive in Obsidian even if by some chance I were no longer here."

Those were not words I could simply tell her, because I knew just how devastating they would be for her.

(That being said, today's been worse than ever.)

Crimes of the older generations continuing to go unchecked, signs of rampant bribery within the military...

The little rabbit's beautiful eyes were exposed to so many of these things.

(What is it about this country that when one rotten thing disappears, three more take its place?)

(Maybe everyone's got a death-wish. Yet they still beg for their lives once they're weeded out.)

(...It's incomprehensible to me. If only they'd all just die to save me the trouble.)

Emma: Gil, are we done with official business for the day?

My darkening thoughts must have breached containment; as the little rabbit walked beside me she entwined her fingers with mine.

Her warm hand permeated the cruelty staining across my heart.

Gilbert: I don't have any plans, but is there anything you'd like to do?

Emma: Is it alright if I come to your room? I feel like your bookshelves are calling for me.

Gilbert: Of course it's alright.

(...You probably have a lot to think over.)

Her face only spelled out joy. There was no deceit to be found.

She didn't change her usual demeanor, not even when faced with an irritable beast.

(I've known Walter and Roderic for a long time and even they're prone to checking my complexion on days like this.)

Of course that certainly didn't mean she hadn't noticed a thing.

In fact, the little rabbit, with her keen insight into other people's emotions, should have already pinpointed mine.

[flashback to Case 1]

Gilbert: Anyhow... was it written on my face?

Emma: ...Yeah, it was.

Gilbert: Hehe, well that's no good.

Emma: Isn't that what I'm here for?

Emma: To help give you even a little peace of mind?

[end flashback]

(That's what you said this morning, right?)

(...Truly, you're so gallant for a baby rabbit.)

The little rabbit immediately leapt at the books once she arrived in my room.

Although she'd probably learned by now that concentrating on the books alone would make this troublesome beast very jealous.

So she picked out only one before walking over to the bed and sitting down beside that beast.

Gilbert: ...What's this? Political science?

Emma: I felt like doing some studying today.

(Oh, I see...)

(Someone with a truly pure heart doesn't get tainted after experiencing filth. But rather, they lament their own helplessness.)

(...That's just so like the old me.)

A young boy who'd once learned about corruption and then tried desperately to change the status quo.

And after he'd finished reading all the books available within the country, he'd asked a book dealer to regularly procure ones from other places so he could vigilantly instill the knowledge into himself.

That was back when I'd still foolishly believed that no matter how corrupt a person was, there was an alternative to killing them as long as you engaged with them sincerely.

(Things didn't work out so nicely in the real world though.)

(...But I want the little rabbit to stay like this, just as she is.)

Gilbert: [smiling as he watches her read] ...

Emma: ...

Gilbert: ......

Emma: ......Gil.

The little rabbit looked up from her book, appearing as though she might cry.

Emma: Are there any easier political science books?

Gilbert: Ahaha... I knew it.

Gilbert: The book you're holding is so philosophical that even I found it difficult to understand.

Gilbert: Would you like me to recommend something aimed at beginners?

Emma: Yes, please, if you wouldn't mind!

Gilbert: And what should you do when begging me?

Without hesitation, the little rabbit placed her hands my shoulders and kissed my cheek.

Emma: ...Please, Gil.

Gilbert: It's boring if you do the same thing you always do.

Emma: Then how about...

When I sensed her trying to bite my ear, I pulled back.

Gilbert: Really now... So that's what you're gonna do.

Emma: Aren't you always biting my ear? It's a show of my affection.

Gilbert: But you're already aware though, of how sensitive my ears are?

Emma: ...

Gilbert: Oh, I almost forgot. I still have to discipline you.

Emma: ...W-what are you talking about?

Gilbert: Are you playing innocent? You still haven't made up for sneaking medicine into my food during lunch.

Emma: Um, I did make up for it!? Didn't you have your fun teasing me for it?

Gilbert: That was just a bit of playing around. You see, my real punishment—

I grabbed the little rabbit's hand as she tried to run and forced her onto the bed in a roll.

Just like that I gathered her wrists above her head and bound them with a nearby cloth.

(I hadn't really planned to do something like this...)

(But the little rabbit's been a bad girl, so I've got no choice.)

Emma: I was... going to study...

Gilbert: I'll have a beginner's book picked out for you by tomorrow.

Gilbert: Or rather, if you're interested, I can teach you myself? After all, training people is my forte.

I undid the collar of her dress and ran my fingers directly over her bare skin.

The little rabbit's cheeks turned as red as the sunset when I placed my hand over her breasts.

Emma: But don't you have things to do, Gil?

Gilbert: It's up to me how I choose to use my limited time.

Gilbert: You really don't have to be so overly anxious. If I can't manage, I'll say so.

(Although there's nothing that should be getting higher priority over the little rabbit's requests.)

The little rabbit started rubbing her legs together as I caressed her over and over again.

Purposely ignoring her mounting frustration was, of course, all part of the plan.

Emma: In that case... Thank you, Gil.

Gilbert: You've certainly got funny tastes to be saying thank you at a time like this.

Emma: That's not what I mean... mn... ah...

She suddenly let out a lewd cry when I lightly poked the hardened tip of her breast.

Emma: This afternoon, too, you...

Gilbert: I let you have your release right away this afternoon, didn't I? I wouldn't call that a punishment.

Emma: ...

Gilbert: It's no use being wistful either.

When I turned up the hem of her dress, I didn't even have to touch her to uncover the stain on her underwear.

Just a light swipe up the thin fabric and my fingertips came away damp.

Gilbert: Now then, you're going to have to suffer a lot.

Emma: ...At least... let me take my clothing off please.

Emma: I can't bear to... ruin the dress you made for me.

(Jeez, you truly are...)

Gilbert: I'm not listening to you.

Emma: Ah...

I thrust my fingers into her wetness as if I was trying to scrape out every last drop of nectar.

The dress pinned underneath her quickly became sullied.

Emma: Gil... mn...

Gilbert: If the dress gets dirty, you'll be just be reminded of something embarrassing whenever you put it on, won't you?

Gilbert: This is punishment, so you've got to resign yourself and accept it.

Emma: .......You're so mean.

Gilbert: And who exactly do you think I am?

(For the world's greatest villain to let you off with meanness and nothing else... that just means you're special.)

After the punishment, the little rabbit, thoroughly sullied, headed for the bath.

I honestly wanted to chase after her, but there was still work to be done today.

Roderic: Pardon me, sir.

Gilbert: I figured you'd come.

When I got to my office desk, Roderic immediately selected a document from the stack and handed it to me.

Roderic: ...I thought I might be turned away.

Gilbert: I'm in a good mood right now so I'll forgive you.

Roderic: That's surprising. I thought a storm would have been raging these past few days.

Gilbert: Ahaha, everyone has the little rabbit to thank for that.

Roderic: ...They can't thank her enough.

Gilbert: Neither can I.

I briefly glanced over the document before picking up my quill.

[I'm not gonna paste all the cutaways from the CG like I did in Case 3]

Gilbert: I see. So they've already completed their draft. Excellent, excellent.

Roderic: It seems experiencing your wrath this morning made them respond accordingly.

Gilbert: I'd like for them to submit the draft before it ever gets to that point next time.

Roderic: It's only because nobody can come up with out-of-the-box ideas like you.

Gilbert: They're all conclusions one can arrive at rationally. It's not like I'm making unreasonable demands of anyone.

(We're in trouble if they can't grow to the point where they can keep the older generations in check even without me.)

While talking, I read through the document and noted down points of concern.

Gilbert: ...Also, the draft was poorly-constructed. With this there's too gaps for us to drive that old man into a corner.

Roderic: Then I'll have it returned to you in such a way that we can.

Gilbert: I only appreciate haste. You help them too, Roderic. I'd like to have the contents finalized before our next regular meeting.

Gilbert: If we leave that old man unchecked, he may soon start a losing battle against neighboring countries.

(Up until now I'd left him to go and self-destruct on his own but... it was a promise to the little rabbit.)

Roderic: ...Understood, sir.

After completing my review, I handed it back to Roderic.

Gilbert: What's the next document?

Roderic: It's here, sir.

Gilbert: ...I know I keep asking, but is there more still?

Roderic: There's a mountain of things I'd like you to look over.

Gilbert: I thought I'd delegated my authority out.

(And it's not like they're even required to check in with me before proceeding.)

Roderic: This just means that Obsidian needs you.

Gilbert: That's certainly a problem.

Roderic: No, sir, it's not.

(I've got no intention of dying now that I've decided to live, but...)

(The everyday life that's persisted until today may not necessarily continue on tomorrow.)

(Because of the position I'm in, I have to assume the worst and act accordingly.)

Gilbert: ...[sigh] Unless we can get everyone past the idea that failure is some sort of capital crime, won't it be difficult for you and I to manage all this work on our own?

Gilbert: It seems like my presence is a hindrance after all.

Roderic: Please don't say that!

Gilbert: Fine, fine. If you don't like it, then go give out this PSA.

Gilbert: "As long as there's no fraud or corruption at work, I won't kill you over a simple failure. So please rely on your own judgement more."

Roderic: ...Very well, sir.

(Even so...)

I'd felt someone's passionate gaze trained on me even while we were talking.

The person in question may have believed they were well-hidden.

But I couldn't help but notice the hem of her negligee flickering from her hiding spot.

Roderic: ...Sir, let's deal with the rest of this tomorrow.

Roderic may have noticed as well since he was giving up on the rest of the documents.

Gilbert: Hey. You definitely didn't see anything, right?

Roderic: I saw nothing and I noticed nothing.

Gilbert: Is that so? That's fine, then. Thank you for your hard work.

(Narrowly escaped death, didn't you...?)

The door closed behind Roderic and I stretched out my arms as though to relax.

Gilbert: Now, then, little rabbit.

Emma: ...So you'd noticed me after all.

Gilbert: Well that's a given.

Once I beckoned, the little rabbit understood my request exactly and climbed onto my lap.

Gilbert: You were throwing Roderic such a passionate look.

Emma: I was looking at you!?

Gilbert: He was positioned in the same line of sight.

Gilbert: As you know, you have a very troublesome man on your hands. So you're aware of what you should do at a time like this, right...?

Emma: ......

The punishment from earlier seemed to have taken effect as the little rabbit kissed my lips instead of my ear.

I lightly bit her lip on her way out, imparting a bit of pain.

But rather than get angry, the little rabbit's eyes only seemed to soften with joy.

(Looks like I was able to soothe you after all.)

Emma: ...Did I interfere with your official duties?

Gilbert: [pouts] Roderic's the one who interfered. Showing up at this hour with documents for review.

Emma: That's probably because you were busy during the day.

Gilbert: [grins] Hehe... I showed you a lot of things I don't like about Obsidian today.

Emma: ...And I want to know about even more of those things from now on.

Emma: Because I'd like to be able to assist you as well.

Gilbert: Ahaha, that's reassuring.

(...Hm?)

The little rabbit had begun to frown as she spoke.

(Have I said something wrong?)

I hadn't the faintest idea what it could be, so I settled on comforting her for the time being by stroking her cheek, still warm from her bath.

Gilbert: You're pulling such a long face even though your words are so reassuring,

Emma: ...I wasn't lying.

Gilbert: I know that. So what's eating at you?

Emma: ...I can't really put it to words.

Emma: It's just... I'm envious of Roderic.

(......)

Emma: He's able to assist you more than me, and he knows everything...

(...So that's what was on your mind while you were eavesdropping.)

(The little rabbit is jealous of Roderic.)

(The sweet little rabbit of all people.)

Gilbert: Wow... I'll have to give Roderic a bonus.

There's no way I wouldn't be happy to be shown such love to the point of jealousy.

This was an event that completely overturned all the depressing stuff from today.

It was practically a miracle.

Emma: ...I get it now. So this is what you've been feeling all this time.

Emma: Hehe... What do I do? I'm really jealous here.

Jealousy was supposed to be a negative emotion by nature yet the little rabbit took it in as though it were a good thing.

I felt like she'd gotten a glimpse of how this beast dealt with his jealousy on a daily basis.

Gilbert: Serious jealousy is nothing like this though, you know?

Emma: Are you saying there's more to come?

Gilbert: Yeah. Your jealousy's in the early chapters.

Gilbert: The more and more you come to love me, the less you'll be able to contain that kind of adorable jealousy.

Emma: I'll work diligently then.

Gilbert: Hehe... I can't believe you've cheered up this much just from turning into a jealousy fiend.

(It's just like Roderich was saying. I definitely shouldn't have been able to show any kindness toward my surroundings these past few days)

And yet, what occupies my heart now at the end of the day is pure happiness.

(The reason I had Emma accompany me on official business was in preparation for a day that might possibly come...)

(At least that's what I'd thought, but perhaps in reality I'd only wanted to be healed.)

(...Nothing in this rotten world can change a thing about the beautiful world that Emma brings.)

(Maybe I'm just spoiled by the comfort in that.)

(...I may be a lot more dependent on Emma than I realize.)

When I laughed despite myself, Emma began to gently stroke my hair.

Gilbert: Taming the conquering beast is difficult, isn't it? But it might be easy for you.

Gilbert: Because I'm so madly in love with you.

(I'm sure I could cherish you endlessly.)

(That's why... I wish this daily life could go on forever.)

----------

Translation references: 無理矢理 1 | かと 1 2 | 感謝してもしきれません 1 | あなたなら 1

#ikemen prince #gilbert von obsidian #ikepri translation folder

[mxtxfanatic]

Gossip Following the First Siege (and Where They Are Directly Debunked)

1st Lie:

“Rejoice, rejoice! Say, which hero dealt the finishing blow to the Yiling Laozu?”

“Who else could it be? His shidi, Chief Jiang Cheng of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan!

–Chapt. 1: Rebirth, fanyiyi

Debunked:

“But that’s not what I heard. I thought one of his evil tricks backfired and he was shredded to pieces by those ghosts of his. Some say that they bit and tore at him so viciously that by the end of it, his body was no more than a slurry of flesh and bone dust.”

–Chapt. 1: Rebirth, fanyiyi

“Jiang Cheng, Clan Chief Jiang, brought people to encircle and besiege the Burial Mounds. He killed you, sir.”

“I have to clarify this. He didn’t kill me. I died because one of my techniques backfired.”

–Chapt. 43: Beauty I, fanyiyi

2nd Lie:

“Exactly! He thoroughly deserved it! If the Jiang Clan hadn’t taken him in and raised him, that Wei Ying would have spent his whole life as a worthless vagrant. What else is there to say? The old Chief Jiang raised him like his own son, yet he betrayed them and made an enemy of everyone. Not only did he humiliate the Jiang Sect, he killed nearly all of the Jiang Clan! He’s the definition of an ungrateful, treacherous bastard!”

–Chapt. 1: Rebirth, fanyiyi

Debunked:

Wei Wuxian was the son of a servant of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, Wei Changze, and a wandering cultivator, Cangse Sanren. Jiang Fengmian and his wife were both close acquaintances of his mother and father, but Jiang Fengmian had never reminisced about his old friend in front of Wei Wuxian, and Jiang Fengmian’s wife, Yu Ziyuan, had never been interested in having a conversation with him at all. If she didn’t whip him a few times and tell him to get out, kneel at the ancestral shrine, and keep far away from Jiang Cheng, he already considered that pretty good.

–Chapt. 29: Morning Dew II, fanyiyi

Jiang Fengmian nodded, “Well done.”

[Wei Wuxian] was able to kill a four-hundred-year-old beast at the mere age of seventeen. It was much more than a ‘well-done’.

–Chapt. 56: Poisons, exr

Jiang FengMian stared into his eyes. Suddenly, he reached out. Only after pausing in the air did he finally touch Jiang Cheng’s head, slowly, “A-Cheng, be well.”

Wei WuXian, “Uncle Jiang, if anything happens to you, he won’t be well.”

Jiang FengMian turned his eyes to him, “A-Ying, A-Cheng... you must look after him.” ... In his heart, Jiang Cheng knew clearly that back in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter at Dusk-Creek Mountain, even if Wei WuXian hadn’t saved Lan WangJi, the Wen Sect would have found some reason to come over sooner or later. But he had always felt that, if the whole thing with Wei WuXian didn’t happen, maybe it wouldn’t have been so soon, maybe there would’ve been some way to turn things around.

—Chapt. 58: Poisons, exr

3rd Lie:

“Not only that, Jiang Cheng tolerated that arrogant, up-jumped servant for ages... Even if you grew up with them and loved them like a brother, you can’t show people like him any mercy. ”

–Chapt. 1: Rebirth, fanyiyi

Debunked:

Chapter 13: Elegance III – Chapter 18: Elegance VIII, fanyiyi (no I will NOT be writing down every instance of storm cloud Jiang Cheng appearing to darken Wei Wuxian’s mood in the Cloud Recesses arc. Too many quotes; you gotta read it yourself)

Gradually, [Wei Wuxian] grew deathly frightened of all manner of dogs, big or small, and had endured no small amount of Jiang Cheng’s mockery for it.

–Chapt. 20: Sunshine II, fanyiyi

Not a single lenient or merciful word left Jiang Cheng’s mouth if he could help it, nor was he ever willing to offer charity and kindness.

–Chapt. 23: Malice I, fanyiyi 

4th Lie:

“...Don’t you remember when he annihilated more than 3,000 high level cultivators?”

“Wasn’t it 5,000?”

–Chapt. 1: Rebirth, fanyiyi

Debunked: here

5th Lie:

“It just goes to show that cultivators have to stay on the proper path. Taking up demonic cultivation, ‘free spirit,’ pah! Sounds to me like he was arrogant and egomaniacal. Heh, and what was the result?”...

...“But it wasn’t only demonic cultivation that killed him. At the end of the day, it was also his horrible personality and rotten character...”

–Chapt. 1: Rebirth, fanyiyi

Debunked:

“Aye, this Wei Wuxian...back in the day he was a promising cultivator from a good background, and not without high merits. When he was young—what a glorious, free spirit! ...”

–Chapt. 1: Rebirth, fanyiyi

In [Wei Wuxian’s] previous life, because he couldn’t let people chatter on about how he hadn’t been brought up properly, there were certain limits on how far he could take his mischief.

–Chapt. 3: Feral II, fanyiyi

Wei Wuxian had always considered himself protective and caring of women, so seeing her state, he moved to create space for her and went to bother the donkey.

–Chapt. 6: Pride I, fanyiyi

Even if the Yiling Laozu’s reputation was bad, people had to admit that prior to Wei Wuxian’s defection from the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, he had been famous far and wide for being a gorgeous man, cultured, sophisticated, and proficient in all the arts of a gentleman. Among the young masters of all the clans of cultivation, his appearance and personality were considered the fourth best, and he was described as “bright, clever, and full of life”...

–Chapt. 10: Pride V, fanyiyi

#human reads mdzs: take 2 #don’t know why i never posted this

[nonsensical-axobott]

Season 2 thoughts and notes. Part 1. Now with pictures!

• There's a whole dungeon under the castle, that the royal family is not fully aware (they're still exploring those). With tombs, jewelry and artifacts.

This can be useful for plot ideas

• This season start strong with Arthur being a jerk towards Merlin. We went from "you have to polish my armor" to "I'm going to literally step on Merlin"! ?!?

Arthur is brutal

• Anyone can infiltrate the castle with enough luck. They give a job there if you save someone important. They don't even ask twice.

• Gwen sleeps Morgana's next room, to be there when she has a nightmare.

• Forget the pacing with Gwen, in chapter 2 they kiss. It still seems like they developed feelings for each other, but my bloody heart, that was fast.

Still, it's nice to see that he's becoming a better person and a better king thanks to her.

• A freaking camera is what Merlin needed to solve almost any problem.

• In this season Merlin knew that it was a bad idea to tell things to Uther. He also developed some brain, and he actually started to make plans

• Merlin eye's are brighter this season when he uses magic.

• People can send a missive to the castle saying that a beast is attacking a town from Camelot (on Camelot's domain), and the King will send some Knights or Arthur itself to solve the problem.

• Season 2 is way funnier and more entertaining.

• I hate the beauty and the beast.

• Merlin has 2 and a half jobs. Gaius assistant, Arthur's servant and dealing with everything related to magic and destiny. It's not weird that he was seen as a poor servant and that he was tired all the time

• Uther gives reward if you offer a sorcerer/magic creature. He was going to buy Freya ಠ⁠︵⁠ಠ

• When I was young I always thought that it was a cute romance/something between Merlin and Freya. I just rewatch the episode.... It's still so cute.

Freya was a cursed druid, rejected by her own kind. It's so cute to see that Merlin didn't just try to help her, but showed his magic to her without a second thought. It always felt like love at first sight. THEY EVEN KISS, I DIDN'T REMEMBER THAT PART. He was willing to leave Camelot and Arthur. This hurts so much.

• Freya and Merlin's mother are the only things that made Merlin consider leaving Camelot and never came back.

• Arthur reached Merlin, and comforted him after Freya, not as a King, but as a friend. He sat on the floor next to him, asked what was going on and tried to cheer him up (it actually worked). I'm not going to believe that he's a prince with no emotional intelligence whatsoever, that's baloney.

You cant tell me that even if he was a men that wouldn't accept a hug from another men, he still have some men ways to confort his friend

• Also, season 2, EP 9 has the first joke of fat Arthur that Merlin ever did.

More thoughts soon, once I finish season 2.

#merlin #merlin bbc #arthur #arthur merlin

[the-sky-the-stars-the-sea]

So I’m again on my Once Upon A Time rewatch and I just finished watching season 4, and y’all, this season is sooooo chaotic. And so freaking funny.

Like:

Introducing Frozen but no one in Storybrooke knows anything about Frozen

Elsa almosts kills Emma in the ice castle and instantly feels bad about it

RUMPLE AND BELLE HAVE A BEAUTY AND THE BEAST MOMENT AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL

trying to find the author of a magical storybook

“I knew there was a good reason why you kept me locked in there for all those years, waiting for the time you needed me most.”

Regina puts Sydney back in the mirror

Anna meets Charming who has long hair

“I’m not bossy, I’m the queen.”

Basically any time Kristoff and Elsa are on screen together

The Snow Queen and Elsa coexisting AND ARE RELATED

Sooo many moments that are references to the original Frozen movie scattered throughout the Arendelle plot making it feel like one big inside joke that we are let it on

“You’re the mayor now.” “I am?”

“STOP SAYING LETTERS”

The stunned silence at Mary Margaret finally losing it

“Can I have ice cream, Mommy? REGINA let me get ice cream.”

Will Scarlet. Just. Will Scarlet.

“You seem like a decent sheriff. I trust you’re not the sort to shoot a man in the back.” “What…?” *starts running*

“TWO sheriffs?? That’s just bloody unfair.”

Belle frantically calling Emma because a drunk man passed out in her library and she has absolutely no context and is definitely freaked out by it

“I may be a thief, but I’m not a liar. Let me show you.” *immediately starts trying to break in* *fails to break in* *EMMA BREAKS IN INSTEAD* “Neal taught me a few things.”

ANNA BESTS RUMPLESTILTSKIN WHEN SO MANY OTHERS FAILED

The character arc of Hook’s left hand

Emma finding her parents waiting eagerly for her to return home + Mary Margaret who wants to hear EVERYTHING about Emma’s first date vs David who thinks that some details are okay to be left out

Mary Margaret finding Will Scarlet and thinking that David set it all up and Will being So Confused

“I’m the sheriff’s wife.” “You’re married to the blonde?” “No that’s my daughter. I’m married to the other one.” “What now?”

“So…the sheriff’s wife can pardon me?” “I’m also the mayor-” “He did it.”

“I’m an idiot.” “Finally, something we can agree on.”

“Regina, I was hoping we could talk.” “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m about to storm an evil ice cream truck.”

“It’s bad enough that I’m stuck with you and Captain Guyliner making eyes at each other.” “We don’t make eyes.” “Ready love? 😃”

“Have I ever told you the story of how I met Marian?” “Only about 3 dozen times.” *starts recounting the story* “3 dozen and one.” *tell the story together*

“My whole life I have stuck to my code of honor.” “So why are you here…?” “Today is not one of those days.”

Mary Margaret telling Regina to button her shirt before she goes to check on Henry

“Wow you royals REALLY go through exhausting lengths to ignore your issues.”

Frozen Hans in the closet

“I think it’ll be easier to break into the library now since I’m not drunk and taking punches!” *Robin opens door with ease* *points to sign* “Open till ten.” “Well that’s generous.”

“Guess what! You’re my oldest friend!” *rips Hook’s heart out*

“Now it’s Elsa trying to find her sister that’s screwing us all!!” “…Coming from you that’s terrifying.”

“Kristoff!” “David!” “You cut your hair!” “So did you!”

Ingrid convincing Emma to stay in the foster home instead of running away by encouraging her to terrorize a kid with rubber spiders

THE SPELL OF SHATTERED SIGHT

…The spell of Shattered Sight, and all Snow and Charming do is roast each other

“I AM NOT HAPPY!! 😡😡😡”

“Sealed in My Own Vault?! UGH!!” *looks at outfit* “what the hell am I wearing??” -> the evil queen is back!!

“Emma, you’re prickly, but I don’t hate you.” “…I’m prickly??”

I’m sorry but Regina just has THE most comical face when she realizes Emma is coming, and any time she’s acting like the evil queen in this episode, all of it is just over the top and such a caricature and comical and I can’t take it

Poor Anna trying to make everyone feel love

*sing song-ish voice* “Snow White is a murderer. I killed the evil queen’s mother. And I said I was sorry when I wasn’t.” …Snow??? What???

“YOU said you could keep a secret!!” “I! Was!! TEN!!!!!!!”

Basically all of Snow’s and Regina’s sword fight

Plus David watching uselessly (except for when he teams up with Snow briefly to disarm Regina)

Henry making Hook trip on marbles when he enters the mayor’s office

Will wants another go at Hook, charges, misses, Hook knocks him into the wall, Will crumbles

Anna: *hits Kristoff over the head* *reads note* “*gasp* Kristoff! Do you have any idea what this is?! *pause* Oh, right, I knocked you out. *moves closer* wake up! We have to take this to Elsa. *kisses him* I love you! You’re amazing! …You’re unconscious. *gets up* I’ll be right back, okay? Stay there! I mean I know you’ll stay here but I’ll be back anyway!!”

Ingrid sacrificing herself and the music going on in the background at that point OH MY GOSH

WHEN THE SPELL IS UNDONE THEY LAUGH AND THEY HUG AND IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL 😭😭

*very confused* “…what am I wearing?”

Regina, David, and Mary Margaret laughing, like,, authentically laughing, like so much that it almost looks to me like they’re Lana and Josh and Ginnifer just having fun, and they’re all falling over laughing too, and it’s almost a blooper reel

“I’m sorry I tried to kill you.” “With a cross bow! You tried to kill me with a crossbow!”

“The door to Arendelle must be around here. It’s just a matter of finding it.” *magic broomstick finds it instantly* *silence* “…there it is.”

Maleficent, Ursula, and Cruella DeVil’s first entrance like wowie that is cool and ahhhh they look so good

BELLE STANDING UP FOR HERSELF AND COMMANDING RUMPLESTILTSKIN TO GET OUT OF STORYBROOKE LIKE YEAH THAT WAS PAINFUL BUT HOOO ALSO WELL DESERVED AND IT WAS DEFINITELY BOUND TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT

They just. Released Chernabog. From the hat. Freaking Chernabog was just. In the hat.

Regina and Emma’s phone call with Ursula and Cruella

*Chernabog turns to Maleficent* “I knew it.”

“I hope you choke on my bones.” THAT IS SUCH A RAW LINE WHAT THE HECK ASFJJJGJDS

“The Chernabog was looking for the heart with the greatest potential for darkness…but it was not looking for Regina. It was after Emma Swan.” AHHHH CHILLSSSSSS

“If you say a word about this to anyone, especially Emma, you won’t have to worry about Regina. I’ll rip out your hearts myself.” …SNOW??? WHAT??? DUDE??? HUH???

Snow finding out she and Maleficent will both be mothers and she’s straight up like “nah, I don’t wanna work with you. I won’t darken myself by associating with you.” And Maleficient is like “you…wouldn’t want to make a better world for our children…just because you don’t like me??”

Regina crushing the glass after taking the shot as if it was a heart, like. What. Regina how did that prove you are villain it just proves you have a strong grip (you’re lucky you were wearing gloves or else your hand would be pretty messed up)

“First one to save us loses.”

Basically Regina is trying to join a gang

“I said we needed to meet covertly! You brought the whole Charming Softball Team and their pirate mascot??”

*Regina without warning possesses Mary Margaret to communicate where she is and what she’s doing*

Robin Hood stealing a horse in New York

Actually right before that as the camera is panning into the scene you can hear someone shout “I’m walkin’ here! I’M WALKIN’ ‘ERE!”

…I don’t even wanna get into the Zelena is Marian plot because that’s a really icky part of the plot

Ariel: *sees Hook* *immediately slaps him*

The Apprentice putting Isaac in the book without warning

Pinocchio being turned back into August

August being wood and then being a person again but then his nose grows

“We have a lot of questions.” “I bet you do.” *brings down curtain ONTO A WOUNDED MAN and runs away*

It looks like Cruella is going to get a heartbreaking traumatic backstory to show why she is how she is…but really she’s just a bad person

Emma and Regina go on a road trip

The wolf making them crash, giving everyone watching déjà vu to season one (including Emma)

“You know me from the diner, right? Smile and hold my hand and walk around the block for a little bit and you get free burgers for a week.”

*teen Emma is depressed on the bench waiting for a bus* Lily: “heyyyyy 😁😁”

The Apprentice thinking it’s just Okay to sit next to a teen girl and address her by a name she didn’t tell you. Like. My guy. I know YOU mean no harm but you REALLY gotta think about what it looks like to HER

Lily’s conspiracy board

Lily steals Emma’s bug -> Emma grabs a wrench, smashes a car window, and steals a car

Regina looking freaked out when Emma starts talking like she herself would

Regina holding on for dear life when Emma is angrily chasing Lily

*spreads arms out* “go on. Kill me. Put me out of my misery. Put an end to this.”

“There have been many authors, from the first cave painter […] to a man named Walt.” *1966* “Our last author…he passed away recently.”

Rumplestiltskin almost dying (again) (you know, just his seasonal near death experience even though he’s immortal)

Seeing Isaac write “Once upon a time…”

THE LAST TWO EPISODES OH MY GOSH I COULD WRITE A WHOLE POST JUST ABOUT THE CHAOS OF EPISODES 4x22 AND 4x23

Henry standing up to Isaac

Rumplestiltskin the light one.

RUMPLESTILTSKIN THE LIGHT ONE.

“This does not come with a price!” THAT FREAKING BROKE ME

EVIL SNOW

Charming saying “I will always find you” but it sounds Wrong

The dwarves do in fact whistle…but it is Unsettling

Regina is the outlaw with a bow and arrow instead of Snow White…and she’s aiming at Henry

“My name is Henry. I’m your son.”

Regina and Robin’s meet cute that is just like the first time they met and AHHHHH I LOVE IT

Zelena is Robin’s … fiancée

Episode 22 ending with Emma locked in the tower

HOOK BEING A TIMID LITTLE MAN

Henry breaking into the castle using a Star Wars reference

“Why isn’t it rum?” “Rum? I’m allergic to that stuff.” “Of course you are.”

Hook is jealous of himself AGAIN

“Now you’re down to six. Would you like to make it five?”

Regina and Emma meeting again

“What does your heart say? I know what my heart says. But what if his doesn’t say the same thing?” “Isn’t that a risk you’re willing to take?”

Emma confronting her parents with such a brilliant speech and amazing expression…but if you watch in the background you see Hook holding the sword above his head, pointy end going being him, gritting his teeth, bouncing forward and backward, trying to look brave but actually just looks like a scared doofus (in the most endearing way)

Hook sacrifices himself for Emma

They all go to crash a wedding

REGINA SACRIFICES HERSELF FOR HENRY EVEN WITHOUT FULLY KNOWING WHAT HE MEANS TO HER

Henry becoming the author

Hook scaring Emma because he’s not where they left him

Henry breaks the Author’s pen

Rumplestiltskin isn’t doing so hot

Belle storms into the shop yelling at Rumple but is immediately concerned when he falls to the ground

The Darkness overtaking the Apprentice

Regina is about to be taken by the darkness

Emma becomes the Dark One.

I’m pretty sure I’m missing a few things too.

Anyways, like said, this season is chaotic as HECK.

#once upon a time #ouat #ouat s4 #i love this show

[landwriter]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Tagged by @tiltingheartand <3 thank you!

How many works do you have on Ao3?

11!

What's your total Ao3 word count?

129,874. Brevity evidently is not my strong suit! Which is also why the rest of this is under a cut.

What fandoms do you write for?

The Sandman! I also just watched Dead Boy Detectives and think I might write a couple little things for it too.

Top five fics by kudos:

Saint Morpheus (11,882 words) - My first fic! Saints and worship

The Death of Translation (10,968 words) - the Language fic

Oaths (60,443 words) - Tam Lin AU and my precious baby. I'm so proud of this one. It's got so much of me in it. Def the first fic I would consider a full send

Border Country (6,100 words) - Clothing, the inherent body horror of being alive, and self-denial. Have always meant to do a sequel for this and may do for S2

Black Shore (3,962 words) - Monsterfucking :-) Weird little beast of a story that came out of nowhere fully formed

All Sandman, all Dream & Hob, haha. Doubt that will change with new fics unless I find a more popular pairing in a more popular fandom to write for

Do you respond to comments?

I do! I love discussing characters and theeeeemes and sharing enthusiasm with people. I love hearing what I've inflicted and I'll thank you for telling me <3 Once I started getting busier I found it a lot harder to keep up, but I treasure all my comments so if you suddenly get a reply like, a year later, you know why!

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

It's for sure The Many Lives of Hob Gadling. Everything else I've written except Border Country has ended, like, tooth-rottingly kind and optimistic and love-filled. But lbr Dream is a man of tragedies. There'll be more

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

It's such a personal thing, but Oaths has the happy ending I would consider most wonderful sort of happiness. It's not the fluffiest or most fairy-tale (having written just that also), but this specific flavour of joy and peace in terms of experiencing the beauty of the world around you and being just shot full of love. The happiness of growing things and sunrises. Or Just Like Love. From the Corinthian's perspective. He's so happy with the state of things at the end.

Do you get hate on fics?

Only the once! Fortunately everybody else who has hated a fic of mine has been able to find the back button and gone off to read something else or grouse about it in private, which is the correct way of things. There's no reason, ever, to tell an author you disliked their story. They will not be grateful for it no matter how certain and correct you feel in your criticisms. Nobody wins! Sorry! Go tell a friend instead.

Do you write smut?

You betcha I do! The first time I wrote it for Saint Morpheus it felt so unnatural and I was just making a :| face the whole time but now sex scenes are among my favourite things to write. I feel like I've really cum come into my own with them more than any other kind of scene.

Craziest crossover:

I've never done a crossover! I love reading them though.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so! I mean, not great, etc., but personally I also deeply don't care. I imagine having a job where what I am actually creating & selling for money gets stolen often sort of skews my perspective on my fic getting stolen. It's not a commercial product. It isn't paying my mortgage. I give these words for free and with love. If they end up places I never put them, so be it! Such is the internet.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! 【授權翻譯】翻譯之死 The Death of Translation by Ethiseth. Legitimately one of the highest honours I think a fanfic writer can ever receive <3

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No!

All time favourite ship?

Hob / the world :-)

What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

My very first WIP for Sandman! I started writing it then joined tumblr the next day, saw some of @messmonte's art, and was off writing Saint Morpheus in short order. Sorry 1989 canon divergence fic! Maybe one day.

What are your writing strengths?

Five dollar words. Long sentences. Big sweeping feelings. Instilling my personal values, i.e. love is real, you are surrounded by beauty at every turn, you deserve the things you want, monologues are a normal and practical form of communication, etc.

What are your writing weaknesses?

God, actually finishing and sharing things, I think. I haven't had enough time in my life lately and it kills me! But it's also such a me problem because I love to worry at and chew on WIPs forever. Writing fast would be so cool. Pew pew pew! New fics left and right. You guys would be buried in them. Man, I wish.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

Can run gimmicky but also I love multiple languages in one conversation as subtext so much - I'm torn. Same as accents in that I suspect it's most cases better to just note it in the speech tags, unless you're willing to go through the trouble of inline/hovertext translations, and then at that point it's a bit If You Give A Mouse A Cookie for me where I'll want translator's notes too, maybe some metatextual payoff, etc.

First fandom you wrote in?

Technically FMA, but that's a story for another day hahaha. Sandman, really.

Favourite fic you've written?

Oh golly. Oaths. I did so much for the first time with that story. But it's hard to choose, which is such a nice problem to have. I think it's easy when you've never written fic before for each new thing to mean something different to you!

No-presh tagging @wordsinhaled, @moorishflower, @tj-dragonblade and anyone who wants to do this too - just tag me so I can be nosy <3

#tag games #fic questions #my process #my horrifying horrifying process #the sandman #fic writing

[raibebe]

g: fluff, wk: 1.006, p: prince Jeno x female reader, w: mentions of arranged marriage req: castle by anon, a/n: written from Jeno’s POV

“Your majesty?” Sighing, Jeno looked up from the play he had been reading, a tragic love story where two star-crossed lovers had to fight fate herself to be together because he was a hopeless romantic without even an ounce of love in his own life. “I’m sorry to disturb you, my prince,” the servant spoke quietly, bowing deeply to show his remorse, “The guests arrived and your father has requested your presence.” “I see,” Jeno nodded, gently placing his treasured leather bookmark into his book. He’d have to finish it later, “I’ll retrieve my crown and hurry along.”

With a flick of his wrist, he dismissed the servant, hurrying to his bedchambers to pick up his crown, the weight of the metal a reminder of the burden he had to carry for the people of his country. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he sighed again. He was sure that whoever was important enough to visit the king had a very pretty daughter very much fit to marry Jeno and produce an heir to the throne. He just hoped whoever his parents chose for him to marry in the end would be a kind person.

“There you are, son,” the king greeted Jeno when he stepped into the saloon where his mother liked to welcome their special guests, the room decked out with expensive cushions and fabrics. Jeno only bowed politely before taking a seat next to his mother who lovingly sorted out some strands of his hair and straightened his crown. “Who are the guests?” He whispered to his mother, giving her a soft smile. “A lord from the north. He’s bringing his daughters with him,” she answered with a smile that mirrored his. “I figured,” the prince sighed. “We’ll find the right one for you,” she tried to reassure him, briefly cupping his cheek. “I’m sure you will,” he mumbled under his breath, sitting up straighter when a servant knocked on the door to announce the arrival of their guests.

The lord was- something to say the least. He was talking loudly and with a boisterous voice but Jeno had been told that this was how the people up north were like with the long winters and icy winds. He sure had brought a lot of pelts with him. Neither Jeno nor his mother would ever be cold in the winter ever again. And his daughters were beautiful enough, the eldest was almost as tall as her father and had gentle eyes, the middle one had a piercing gaze that honestly creeped Jeno out a little bit, it felt like she could see into his soul and the youngest had hair the same color as gold, something so rare Jeno had to stop himself from staring. But even though Jeno enjoyed listening to the Lord’s story about hunting beasts in a blizzard, he would much rather curl up in the library again and finish his book, immersing himself in a love story he’d never get to experience himself.

“Father?” Jeno gently interrupted the king before he could start to tell the story about how he had killed a giant boar in the fall, “Our guests must be tired from their long journey, we should give them a chance to rest before we will meet again for supper.” “Aaah, yes, my son. Always so considerate of the needs of others. He inherited that from his beautiful mother,” his father laughed loudly while the youngest daughter of the lord sent him a grateful smile. After all, she had already tried to stifle a handful of yawns. “A servant will show you to your chambers,” the queen smiled, ringing the little bell sitting on the coffee table to call upon the maid waiting outside. “I will see you at supper,” Jeno also excused himself, eager to hide himself away in the library again, forgetting that time existed and that he indeed had a mortal body with basic needs besides knowing how the characters will finally end up with each other.

Just when the prince had gotten settled in, his crown abandoned on one of the shelves, his shoes messily thrown at the foot of the canape and his vest loosened and a couple of pages along from where he had been forced to stop reading, a gentle gasp pulled him from his immersion. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” the oldest daughter of the lord whispered, “I didn’t know this was your library.” “It’s not,” he consoled her, “You’re not sleeping in your chambers?” “It’s so warm here, I’m not used to that,” she smiled, “I thought some reading could tire me out. May I sit with you?” “You’re free to join me,” he graced her with a smile when she timidly sat down next to him, straightening out the skirts of her dress. She seemed to be nervous in his company if her fiddling hands were anything to go by and she hadn’t even picked up a book to read. Jeno couldn’t help himself but find it rather adorable.

“Would you like me to read to you?” “W-What?” She stuttered, looking at the prince with wide eyes. “You didn’t pick up a book. I can read you my play if you’d like to,” he explained himself with what he hoped was a gentle smile. “Yeah. I mean yes, my prince. That would be nice.” “No need to be so formal,” he waved it off, “You can call me Jeno.” “Okay, Jeno,” she repeated and the prince found the sound of his name on her tongue quite lovely. “I hope you like love stories.” “They’re my favorite,” she reassured him but despite saying that, Jeno felt her head fall onto his shoulder not even five pages into the play. Fondly shaking his head, the prince slowly angled his body so the lord’s daughter wouldn’t have to strain her neck as much, going as far as to stroke her hair from her face before he continued to read the play out loud from the beginning.

#jeno #lee jeno #nct #nct dream #neowritingsnet #jeno fluff #nct fluff #nct dream fluff #jeno imagines #jeno scenarios #nct imagines #nct scenarios #nct dream imagines #nct dream scenarios

[myriad-miscellaneous]

vignette dump

i’ve got all these brain worms that i want to share but will probably never be finished own full-fledged stories. the first one of these is already at 3.2k words and it doesnt feel remotely finished omg

i'm never going to get past my mental hurdle to actually write smut, am i?

"If a demon can achieve godhood like you, then tell me," he growls. "Is there a chance that, demon and monster that I am, could I be like you? Can I find purification in the wake of your vaunted flames, Professor? Will I find salvation if I were to follow your lead — as I so blindly did a lifetime before?"

  A sliver of his heart still capable of hope prays that her cold, soft-spoken voice tells him that he can, that he is deserving, that all his sins could be forgiven and swept away as easily as the clouds before the breeze. But, as always, his prayer is a useless gesture — a testament to his ineptitude that he dares to hope at all. She does not tell him any of those things. She does not tell him anything at all at first, meeting his plea with only silence.

  "...Dimitri," she says finally, as if that is her answer, and he bites his tongue to stop himself from shouting that the fool who once went by that name is dead.

  Her sea green hair rustles with a sad shake of her head, and she crouches down to meet him, searching for a gaze that turns fearfully away from hers. "I am neither, Dimitri," she whispers, and the sound is too loud, nearly deafening against the vast emptiness of the cathedral. Hearing her voice rattles him like thunder, shakes him like a Thoron cast through his racing heart.

  "I am and I have only ever been human," Byleth tells the walls behind him, averting her eyes to avoid spooking him any further. "I was your professor for a time, but now not even that. Now, I suppose, I am no one at all…"

  "Ha!" he barks. "Do you claim to be a ghost, then? Do not be so delusional, Professor." He spits the title like a swear, the title that he used to exclaim with such joy, such excitement, such — don't-say-it-don't-fucking-say-it-you-wretch — love — fuck — once upon a time. His voice grows harder, harsher, from his self-directed fury. "As long as that heart of yours beats, pumps blood within your whole, hale skin and bone, you cannot contend to be one of the many spectres that haunt me. You have said the same yourself."

  "Then take it."

  He lifts his aching head to behold the piercing glow of green in her eyes, searing with hurt and something that does not look like wrath, which would be what he rightfully deserves. Behind her beautiful, haunting visage is a blend of resignation and determination, and it bores into his soul more powerfully than even the memory of her bewitching smile.

  He is mesmerized all over again when she pledges herself, heart, body, and soul to him, as if he is the god and she, the believer.

  "If you need a heart, Dimitri, then I will give you my heart," she says. "If you need a sword, then I will be your sword. And when you need someone to show you the way, then I will become that person to guide you back. Ghosts and gods should not dictate the paths of the living."

  And he laughs, oh, how he laughs, cackling like the madman that he is — not from the sheer blasphemy of her words, though she would likely be put to the stake had she told anyone actually devout, but from the idiotic notion that she believes he deserves her help or anything at all. He is a man steeped in sin.

  …He is a man steeped in sin, he realizes, and the flash of greed that flickers to life in his mind seems like a mere speck against his mountains of misdeeds.

  "If—" And he stumbles over the words; he's indignant, outraged, in disbelief at what he's about to say, but that is Dimitri feeling all of those human foibles, and he is a savage beast.

  "I-if your words ring true, then kneel. Offer your body to your king."

  She leaves him.

  That is — she should be leaving him; that's what she's supposed to do, but, oh goddess, she's not; she's staying; she's kneeling, and what in the eternal flames was he expecting when he explicitly ordered her to do that?

  He curses himself, but the thought is drowned in the cacophony of screeches from his dearly departed. His step-mother hangs her head in despair, even as it hangs by a flap of skin to her neck. His father is all outrage, assaulting him with a flurry of questions: What do you think you're doing? Will doing this bring you any closer to our murderer's head? How could I raise this as my son? 

  Glenn clicks his tongue in disgust and doesn't even face him. I can't believe that I died just for you to get your dick wet.

  Glenn's comment stings most of all, and Dimitri prepares himself to send her away — tell her that it was just a tasteless joke, just like his joking not-joke at the Goddess tower.

  But then Byleth, obeying the spirit of his law but not the letter of it, begins to strip, and the words disappear with all his ability to think.

Bits of metal clang against the stone floor, and he swears that he can hear the goddess laughing cruelly at him through the echoes. Illuminated in the moonlight pouring down from the broken rooftop, her vessel looks every inch divine, soft curves and sinuous muscle, and he is helpless, pathetic, weak. He is a mortal, a man, and (he tells himself that) instinct possesses him the moment that she casts off her shirt. With only inches in between them, the hem of her clothing grazes against his gauntlet.

The new archbishop had brushed away the dust coating the headstone, plopped her bum onto the grass, and spoken aloud to the frigid air. In hindsight, a living confidant might have been better, but sharing the news with her parents first just seemed right.

  So she told them, or what she had left of them, about the proposal. About how her betrothed made her really, truly, happy, despite having every possible reason to languish in abject misery for eternity. About how he was the same, charming man who originally taught her what happiness was supposed to look and was supposed to feel like, a short lifetime ago. And about how he was to be crowned king of the United Kingdom of Fodlan in just a few hours' time.

  And only after she finished her impromptu briefing — for just a fleeting moment — Byleth had heard her father's gravelly chuckle, stretching all the way down from his space in the heavens.

  It is a preposterous thought, to be fair. Jeralt would've laughed and laughed and then drank himself into a stupor to cope once he realized that she was serious.

  After all, the lifelong mercenary Byleth Eisner AKA the life-shortening Ashen Demon doesn't know a damn thing about nobles and noble etiquette, much less royal etiquette. The daughter of the Blade Breaker grew up using knives as forks and her hands as spoons and only bothered learning otherwise after a scandalized Lorenz blockaded the door to her quarters with etiquette textbooks.

  Reading his disciplinary book report had been more punishment for her than it had been for him, come to think of it.

"Well, what are you waiting for, my king?" his beloved asked, cupping her breasts in a way that just barely — inadequately — protected her modesty. "Come and conquer me."

  Dimitri awoke with a start, falling off his bed in his panic. "Professor!"

  Sylvain awoke to the sound of a violent thump.

"It's not just revenge that I'm fighting for, Dimitri. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I choose to fight for what I believe in."

  He scoffs. "And what might that be?"

  Her lips quirk in what resembles a rueful smile, but it can't be counted as a smile — not with the crushing, despondent pain that wells up behind her eyes. "It's for a wish that I made long ago. Our wish."

  He hasn't the patience for these games of vague words and masked intentions, but perhaps once upon a time he did, when he was still playing prince atop a stage of pretty words and ugly ambition. 

  "It's clear that you don't remember," she says, too quickly. "Maybe another time, then."

"I fight to create a world where no one will be unjustly taken from us again. That is my wish — to see yours brought to life."

"Even if you didn't remember it anymore; even if you didn't believe in it anymore — this has been the path that I've chosen for myself, Dimitri."

#dimileth #fe3h #dimitri alexandre blaiddyd #dimitri x byleth #byleth fire emblem #fire emblem: three houses

[selfshipping-shapeshifter]

Ignoring all the serious stuff that happened recently, here's a few nice little updates that also happened:

I can't remember if I ever mentioned this but I've been writing a self shipping fanfic that's a Beauty and the Beast AU for Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarves where Prince Average is the Beast and I'm Belle and so far I have the prologue fully written (but depending on how I write something later I might change the end of the prologue a tiny bit to add something for later) and I have a lot of Chapter 1 written (I'm at the point where Gaston appears)

I have to completely rewrite my Hazbin Hotel fanfic (for the Helluva Hotel fanfic I've mentioned before) but I have multiple ideas that incorporate the show and I started writing a bit of Chapter 1 but I need to completely change my demon design because I don't want the whole "shapeshifter" thing to be too op since the only other shapeshifter is Lucifer and I don't want people going "ummm your self insert is a Mary Sue... :/" (not that there's anything wrong with Mary Sue ocs as long as they aren't badly written but I don't want people to say my oc is too op or something (also making demon designs for my self insert are fun)

I hung up some posters on my own and cleaned up my room a bit and felt ✨responsible✨

I've been playing Animal Crossing New Leaf a lot recently (ever since the beginning of January and I skipped a few days so now it's sometime in March) and I've gotten a lot done which include:

- Upgrading the museum to have a second floor and also donating a bunch of bugs and fish and fossils (and paintings whenever I get them) and I got the silver tools for the fishing rod, shovel, net, and slingshot

- Opening a cafe, becoming a regular there, and starting a part-time job there (Brewster likes me! :D)

- Upgrading my house a bunch and buying all the rooms, having a secret storeroom, expanding a few of the rooms, and upgrading the outside to have a castle exterior

- Got the froggy chair everyone's obsessed with when one of my villagers gifted it to me a few days before moving away (I missed her so I built a bench where her house was)

- Opened up Kicks, Shampoodle, the Garden Shop, the Dream Suite, and Club LOL and expanded Nookling Junction to T.I.Y. (I'm in the process of trying to get the fortune telling shop open to finish town square)

- Dyed and cut my hair every day for two weeks straight so I unlocked all the boys hair styles so I can have the hairstyle (and color) that matches my real hairstyle as close as possible

- Got a perfect score on my town so I built a flower clock to celebrate

-Got all the Pavé furniture which was annoying as hell cause I had to play all day just to catch a bunch of stupid colored feathers but hey I got a bunch of bells out of it

- Got a bunch of fruits from the island tours and made it so the island is easier to catch expensive bugs

- When the villagers first moved in I sent them all a welcoming note and a gift and I managed to convince all but one villager to stay in town (though today one of my villagers told me he was moving for the second time after I convinced him to stay so I won't convince him to stay again (and also I want to see a new face in town) so he'll probably be moving unless he changes his mind again)

And I think that's it really

#amber ranting like a nerd #prince average my beloved <3 #amber's works: helluva hotel #amber plays a game: animal crossing (new leaf)

[plutodetective]

I finished my Gothic Heroine Support Group Featuring Jonathan Harker fic! :) It’s extremely self-indulgent, but I hope you like it. ^^

Content warnings: Jonathan does not remember what happened after he swooned, and fears he may have been raped. There’s some internalized victim blaming and biphobia, both of which Psyche shuts down. And there are mentions of canon to the other stories incidents of adults preying on teenagers (Erik on Christine and a fairy on the Beast.).

As goddess of the soul, Psyche has soothing abilities, especially towards abuse victims, because I said so.

Yesterday, for I now sleep during the day in fear of what horrors may be awake in this horrid place by night, my mind has made a strange attempt to soothe my fears. Terrified as I have been of three monstrous women, the last time I managed to get some rest I dreamt of three much gentler creatures.

I was lying on the ground, only semi-conscious, and they were grouped around me, but there was no threat in their voices. Instead they sounded alarmed by my presence, and concerned for me.

“A gentleman! He looks as if he’s been through a war.”

“There has never been a gentleman here before, has there?”

“No, but that doesn’t mean anything. Gentlemen can be prey and, for that matter, ladies can be predators.”

“You are right, Belle, I’m sorry. Oh, look! He stirs!”

I opened my eyes and saw before me three young ladies, one dressed in clothes much more ancient than those of the three demons that had attempted to suck my blood, and two in what appeared to me to be French fashion. Of these, one was a child of no more than 15, while the other, as well as the one in ancient clothing, appeared to be close to my Mina’s age.

Harmless as they seemed, I have had no reason to trust in strangers lately, and so my first impulse was to put as much distance as possible between myself and these strange new visions. They exchanged concerned glances, and then the one in ancient clothing began to approach me slowly, crouching as if to convince a startled animal that she represented no danger.

“Please, do not fear,” she said, and there was some power in her voice that went right to my tense nerves and appeared to somewhat soothe them. “You are safe, among friends. Won’t you tell us your name?”

“Jonathan Harker,” I faltered, my voice still weak and distrustful.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jonathan. My name is Psyche, and these are my friends, Belle and Christine.”

I was surprised to hear that Belle was the child. What had she seen of the world, to know at such a young age so much about predators and prey?

There again, how could I know that she truly was 15, and had not simply been maintaining that appearance for centuries, like the monsters I encountered but a few nights ago? The thought made me fearful, and I once again backed away from them.

“You’ve been through much, I can see,” said Psyche, her voice once again managing to somewhat soothe me. “So have we. Won’t you sit down and let us tell you about it, my friend?”

I saw not what else I could do, so I reluctantly took a chair. They pulled other chairs close to mine into a circle and all sat down.

“I’ll begin, since I’m the oldest.” Said Psyche. “Once upon a time, I lived with my parents and sisters, and through no fault of my own men would worship me as I passed.”

That I could believe, for (forgive me for noticing it, Mina!) she was indeed of a surpassing beauty. She continued, in her ever soothing voice:

“But time passed, and though men told me I was more beautiful than even the goddess of love, no proposals came. Worried, my parents took me to an oracle, who said I was to be bride to a terrible monster.”

At this, I cried out.

“Am I dead?!? Is this where the souls of those devoured by terrible beasts come to find their rest?”

“You are not dead,” Christine rushed to assure me. “We are not certain what this place is. We only know that we sometimes find ourselves here in our sleep, and that here we meet those who have been through troubles similar to ours.”

“I believe it to be the work of fairies,” said Belle, “but they will neither confirm nor deny that.”

“You… Communicate often with fairies?”

“All in due time, Jonathan. It’s still Psyche’s turn.”

I nodded, for I knew not how I could refuse their wish to explain everything in the manner they were accustomed to, but with the talk of fairies I began to fear terribly for my sanity once again.

Psyche kept talking, telling a wondrous tale of an invisible husband and a house with invisible servants, and of how, through her sisters’ treachery, she found out that her husband was Eros, the god of love. At this I made a face, and she smiled at me.

“I take it that you believe only in one God?”

“With all due respect, I do.”

“That does not matter at the moment, as long as you can believe my husband was far more than a mortal man.”

How could I doubt that, given all that I myself had recently experienced? I nodded, and she continued, talking of how her husband abandoned her while expecting a child, and of the trials her mother in law put her through so she could be reunited with him and ensure her child’s safety. I was horrified. How could a man thus treat the woman he claimed to love?

“I know,” said Christine, correctly reading the expression in my face. “We have told her that Eros does not deserve her, and that she was justified in wanting to know who she was married to. It’s… An ongoing process.”

“He has recognized his wrongs,” said Psyche, “and admitted that his desire to keep me safe from his mother’s jealousy did not justify the misery he initially kept me in. He has also apologized for leaving me at my most vulnerable. He is a god, and that means he didn’t grow up with the best examples. Given Zeus, I think my Eros grew up relatively well.”

“We agree to disagree on that,” said Belle. “I believe exchanging these experiences and giving each other perspective is why the fairies set up these encounters.”

“Why do you believe so strongly in fairies?” I asked, for her insistence on the matter was driving me insane.

“I believe it is my turn,” replied her, and began her own fantastic story. She spoke of how her father set off on a business trip and returned talking about a horrible Beast that had demanded one of his daughters in return for a rose the father had plucked from the monster’s garden. I gasped in awe of her bravery when she spoke of deciding to sacrifice herself to save her father, for the monster had threatened his life should he not send one of the girls. Internally, I judged her father for not dying himself, but the child seemed to love him so much I held my tongue on the matter.

She spoke of her fear when she first saw the Beast, and believed she would be devoured, and of her even stronger fear when he first proposed to her, and she believed her honor was to be lost. I trembled to hear it, my own fears taking over my interest in the story for a moment, but Psyche laid a gentle hand on my shoulder and I focused back on Belle’s words.

She spoke of a handsome Prince that would visit her in her dreams with words of love, and of how the Beast’s kindness, combined with her father’s words when the Beast allowed her to go home for a visit, convinced her to accept the monster’s proposal. And of how he then transformed into the very Prince from her dreams!

“And that is when the fairies enter the story.”

She spoke of how her Prince had been raised by a fairy, who began advancing on him once he was 16. Of how she turned him into a monster when she realized she would never have him, and how everything he had done since had been under the instructions of a good fairy that was helping him fulfill the extremely convoluted conditions to break the curse.

“Once I heard the story, I fully forgave him. How could I not? He was but a plaything of the fae.”

“And all of that at only sixteen!” I said, horrified.

“Precisely,” she replied. “But the fact that I forgave him does not erase the horrors I went through. It does not erase the time my family thought I was dead, or the nightmares I still have about the Beast turning out to be what I at first feared. I blame the evil fairy, not him, but those things still happened. And I believe this is why we are all here. Perhaps as a compensation for what I went through, the fairies, who did, after all, have the power to send me the Prince in my dreams, are sending me companions who I can share experiences and identify with.”

“But if that is the case, I’m afraid your fairies made a mistake. There are indeed similarities between your stories and mine, but I have no intention to be with my captor! My heart belongs to another, and Count Dracula has committed atrocities for which there can be no justification.”

“That is where I come in,” replied Christine. “I am sorry for your troubles, Jonathan, but I must admit I am glad to hear you speak so, for it means I am no longer alone. I have not stayed with my captor either, and I have achieved a happy ending with another. Let my story be a comfort to you in your time of need.”

She then told me of how her father, a musician of high talent, used to tell her tales of an Angel of Music, and of how he promised in his deathbed to send the Angel to her. Of how a man who spied on her innocent prayers pretended to be this Angel and thus acquired influence over her naïve youthful self.

“He taught me how to sing like the angel I thought he was, and I became a sensation at the Parisian Opera. But then, when a rival appeared, he kidnapped me.”

And there it was, the similarity between all of us. We had all been kidnapped, kept in captivity by monsters from who we feared harm and who- God help me!- seemed to desire us.

And who, by the way Christine spoke of her captor shopping for groceries, all seemed intent on overseeing our domestic wellbeing, for so had been the case with Psyche’s invisible servants and Belle’s animal ones.

But such a terrible tale was Christine’s, made all the more horrific by the fact that her tormentor was a mere man! All of our other stories were so fantastic in nature that there was something abhorrent in the fact that one as mortal as I could have put a poor girl through so much.

And yet, somehow it ended happily, for she managed to escape and be with her Raoul, and oh, how I hoped to achieve the same and see Mina once again!

“And now, dear friend,” concluded Christine, “it’s your turn. Tell us why Belle’s fairies have sent you our way, and how can we be of help.”

And so I poured my heart out to their gentle souls, telling the story from the moment when Mr. Hawkins called me to his office to inform me of the business trip and keeping from them nothing but that which was not fit to discuss in front of ladies. They heard me with much consternation, and all three gasped when I spoke of the monstrous women’s terrible meal.

“You are right, Jonathan. There can be no excuse for this monster.”

“Is it in your power to help me escape?”

“Unfortunately not. But we can give you solace and comfort, as we do for each other, and be a reminder that escape and happiness are still within your reach.”

My heart sank at the negative, but I nodded my appreciation for the help they were able to give.

“But Jonathan,” said Psyche softly, “I believe you are keeping something from us. We would not force you to talk, but if speaking of it could ease your heart, we would be glad to hear, no matter what it is.”

I startled. How could this woman be so perceptive? I believe firmly in one God only, but I had seen proof that there are beings that are more than human, and though I could not believe her a goddess, I could easily believe she was not simply what she appeared to be.

“I would not trouble you with this part of the tale,” I said resolutely, and she seemed pensive.

“What if the other girls left? Would you be able to confide solely in me?”

I was surprised to realize that suggestion did not strike me as absurd. A lady she could be, yet that something about her that seemed to make her more than human made it so that confiding in her didn’t appear to be as sinful as speaking to the other two. I nodded hesitantly, and Belle and Christine rose without any hint of disappointment for being excluded.

“Call us when it is alright for us to return,” said Belle, gently, and they left the room. I turned to Psyche, beginning to tremble.

“Your secrets are safe with me, Jonathan,” she promised. “You may think of me as an older sister, if it helps.”

It did. Looking at her in this light, it suddenly became easy to unburden myself to her.

“The night after I met the women… I do not remember much of it, but I have some flashes, and I fear the Count may have… Used me.”

Anger flashed in her eyes, immediately replaced by concern.

“Jonathan, that is a line none of our captors has ever crossed. I am so extremely sorry. I hardly know what to say… I wish I could kill him.”

“But that is not all…” I faltered, feeling I had come too far not to say all. “I… I must admit I felt drawn to him. So I am partially to blame.”

I waited for her concern to turn to disgust, but instead she appeared more compassionate than ever.

“Jonathan, listen to me carefully: nothing you could have done or felt makes what may have happened your fault, in any way.”

“Did you not understand me?” I asked, confused. “I find him attractive! Dear God, how can a man think that of another man?”

“Very easily,” she said, and although her tone was still gentle, it was also closer to stern than I imagined it could be. “There is nothing wrong in a man feeling drawn to another man, or a woman to another woman. Once you are safe and sound, and therefore in a better place to hear tragic tales, I will make you weep with the story of the love between Achilles and Patroclus. Believe you or not, the factual truth is that I am married to the god of love, and am therefore somewhat of an expert in these matters. I am sure that if you truly look through your sacred texts, you will find that your god doesn’t condemn any form of love either. You committed no sin, Jonathan. Were you not engaged, it would not have been wrong even to have voluntarily lain down with him, if you so desired.” Here anger returned to her features. “But you did not consent, and for that I curse that fiend. His is one of the worst crimes one can commit.”

Her compassion broke through my fragilized nerves, and on the next moment I found myself sobbing in her gentle arms.

“I was saving myself for Mina. Some might laugh at me for that, but I always believed in waiting for true love.”

“And you have waited, and still are,” she said, using the full power of her soothing voice. “You may return to her feeling as pure as you left. Nothing was your fault, and you have done and felt nothing to be ashamed of. It is not wrong to find people other than your betrothed attractive, regardless of their sex, as long as you don’t act on it. And you haven’t. Mina is a very lucky woman.”

“Thank you,” I gasped, pulling away from her. “I wish I could fully believe you, but even though I don’t, your words are still soothing.”

“You will believe them fully in time. This won’t be our last meeting, Jonathan. Belle’s fairies, if that is truly the reason for these strange meetings, won’t stop arranging them for as long as we can bring comfort to each other, and as long as there are new people entering our group.”

“Is it common for new people to appear? Has… Has anyone ever just stopped appearing?” I asked, fearful that someone in the same place I was might have met a dreadful fate.

“Only one girl, and it was not for the reason you fear,” Psyche assured me. “Her name is Jane. She found herself newly employed under circumstances very similar to yours, working for a man not without resemblances to your Count. But Jonathan, she married him. She recognizes he has done wrong, but believes a physical injury he suffered has been atonement enough, while he continues to treat her with condescension and think of her as something belonging to him. I believe she stopped appearing because she simply did not wish to continue to hear us, which I am sure will not be the case with you.”

I nodded. It was so comforting to be around these women, so opposite in every way to the last feminine trio I had encountered, that I could not imagine myself ever not desiring their friendship.

“Now, would it be alright for me to call the girls back in?”

I said yes, and she did. Belle and Christine entered giving me concerned looks, that turned into sympathetic smiles. Even without knowing what had happened, it was clear I had their full support.

“I’m afraid this meeting is drawing to a close. The time to awake approaches,” said Belle.

“Jonathan, think of us and despair not. I am sure you will escape, as I did, and live happily with the one you chose,” said Christine, taking my hand. I nodded, and suddenly, all three hugged me.

It was far from being unwelcome. I would describe it as sisterly, for its chaste nature, but the word does not sound correct. There was between the four of us a connection that ran even deeper. I belonged with these women, I realized, I was the same as they were, and the thought brought me a peace I hadn’t known since the Count had thrown my mirror out of the window.

“We will be here whenever you need us,” was the last thing I heard in Psyche’s gentle, soothing voice before my eyes opened and I found myself once more in the chamber of horrors my host called my room.

Encouraged by my new friends, imaginary or not, I decided to spend the day thinking of a plan. I must escape, like Christine did. Wait for me, Mina! I will find my way back to you.

#dracula daily #Gothic heroine Jonathan Harker #in this house we protect the og Beast #arg why is posting in a new fandom always so nerve wrecking

[theteaisaddictive]

Fic Writing Review 2023 🌈

thanks you @jimmyandthegiraffes for the tag!!! and listening to me being so unhinged about A Certain Story in discord dms <33

Words and Fics (on ao3) 📚

words posted: 26,837!! holy fuck i didn't expect it to be that much but when it's all laid out like that i actually achieved this year lmao

fics posted: 2. would've been 1 but i added found what i was looking for to ao3 as a christmas bonus

first fic/last fic 😅: as always, it's Roses and Lavender (Beauty and the Beast 2017/Cinderella 2015)

Ships and Fandoms ⚓

i mean. roses and lavender is entirely about my belle/ella kit/adam agenda. but also i did post that belle/adam christmas oneshot.

Top 5 Fics by Kudos 🏆

considering that i only wrote one fic all year, roses and lavender wins by default; my all time fics by kudos, though, are as follows:

my heart has long been given to you (Cinderella 2015)

Ever Just the Same (Beauty and the Beast)

A Rose's Thorn (Beauty and the Beast 1991)

so near, nothing between us (Beauty and the Beast 2017)

As Long As You Hold My Hand (Cinderella 2015)

Top 5 Favorite Fics 💖

i do genuinely love roses and lavender, and since it's all i've posted this year it once again wins by default. i do have some fic that in my personal opinion is underappreciated, and those are:

pink in the night (Beauty and the Beast 2017/Cinderella 2015)

In A Crowd of Thousands (Beauty and the Beast, Anastasia 1997)

tightly knotted to a similar string (Beauty and the Beast)

tell me you can't bear a room that i'm not in (Jane Eyre)

hooked on all these feelings (Beauty and the Beast)

Fandom fic events

none lmao. i don't engage with the remaining batb fandom enough so it's my own fault dfglkj, that and spending three years writing a niche crossover

Projects for 2024

buckle up boys

NUMBER ONE: FINISH ROSES AND LAVENDER: i am so serious on this one. i love this fic dearly but the end is within my sight and i've been writing for so long.

the divorce fic: i've mentioned this in fits and starts already but basically the premise is thus: Belle realises she doesn’t love her husband. Slowly, he begins turning back into a Beast. working title MOUNTAIN GOATS NO CHILDREN DOT MP3. i have a playlist for it here. inspired by me watching the fairytale season of d20 and seeing gerald of greenleigh's whole deal.

finally start as the sun will rise: i've been wanting to write this for a while now, and i think 2024 might be the year for it? who knows. but i'm very excited to go back to the ejts universe.

hey what about the kitella gbbo au: YES I'M GETTING TO IT AT SOME POINT

i'm going to tag @cinderellasfella (unless you've already done this, in which case no pressure lmao) -- everyone else, if you see this and write fic, consider yourself tagged!

#asks #(for filing purposes) #jimmyandthegiraffes #beauty and the beast (2017) #cinderella (2015)

[xxsycamore]

𝐵𝐼𝑅𝒯𝐻𝒟𝒜𝒴 𝐹𝒪𝑅 𝒯𝒲𝒪

A/N: Happy Birthday, dear @queengiuliettafirstlady !! This is my gift for you, a person who not only happens to share a birthday with her ikepri best boy, but also is just as big of a sunshine as him. I've already sent all my wishes to you, but I want to tell you once again that you're one of the nicest, strongest, most loving, most creative people I know - I LOVE YOU JULIE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

luke randolph x reader (who shares the same bday as him)

rating: G

tags: Surprise Birthday Party, Birthday cakes, fluff, humor, featuring also Leon, Yves, Jin as well as the other princes!

wordcount: 1,482

masterlist

It's a new day in Rhodolite and you welcome it with a lazy yawn, stretching out the luxurious 9 hours of sleep from your well-rested muscles. You snuggle closer to your boyfriend Luke, caressing him gently in order to wake him up.

You've been told by Leon to go into the garden first thing in the morning today… Well, judging from the position of the sun which is seeping in warm rays through the window's curtains, it's a little before noon already. But, you're sure the ever-so-thoughtful Leon has already taken Luke's laziness into consideration. And, just because it is highly contagious, your own as well.

The mass of entangled sheets and amber hair locks produces a deep bear-like rumble. Instead of disturbing the slumber of a beast, you feel like you're merely teasing a cute napping bear cub, so you continue.

Luke opens his gentle green eyes at last, droopy and heavy with sleep, and eyes you with the cutest pout on his lips. You can't see how his expression changes when he shoves you close to his chest in a cuddle, but you're guessing that pout is fast to melt away to a content, lazy smile.

Only for the pout to return anew when you remind him that you two have to get out of bed and get ready.

After helping each other get dressed and nearly dozing off a couple of times in the meanwhile, you and Luke are entering the sunny garden at last. Leon has instructed you to head towards the resting area with the sofas, so that's exactly in which direction you tug Luke by the hand. Seeing the bright smile on your face as you walk by his side, he is hardly able to complain about being dragged into everything as long as it includes you.

The idle conversation you have with him soon gets forgotten because of the sight in front of you. You blink in confusion, and from the corner of your eye you catch Luke being equally as puzzled.

The resting area in the garden has been transformed into some kind of party venue - colorful garlands hanging from the surrounding tall rosebush-lined fences, tables with food and drinks placed around….and, a mini-crowd. A mini crowd of princes.

Leon is first to notice you approaching and claps his hands with a smirk on his face. Amidst the sudden chaos you failed to notice the two chairs-no, thrones?!- situated right in the middle. Until Leon drags you to them, and respectively, Luke gets dragged as well.

He prompts you to take a seat on the makeshift thrones and as he does, the mini-crowd starts singing the familiar lines of Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You!

You gasp in realization and turn your head to Luke, who is gasping as well. When it sinks that it is, indeed, your birthday today, which means it is Luke's birthday, too - you stand up from your throne to throw your arms around your boyfriend. Under the sounds of the cheerful tune, Luke's excitement gets the best of him and he gives you a quick kiss on the lips - which earns a round of applause to finish the song with, along with a whistle that you recognize as Jin's.

Yves barely waits for the song to finish until he adapts that painfully familiar but always funny expression of utter shock on his beautiful features.

"Both of them? THEY BOTH FORGOT?!"

Jin pats Yves' shoulder soothingly through laughter. "That's what we are for, isn't that right?"

Your gaze is shifting from one person to another, still fairly surprised.

"Would anyone explain what is happening here? Why are we sitting in this?"

While you're busy asking, Clavis has snuck behind you and you only catch a glimpse of what looks like a paper crown being lifted and then placed on your head, Luke receiving the same treatment in another second. Leon is quick to answer, rolling his shoulders at you like it's obvious.

"Just preparing you two for the life of Rhodolite's King and Queen. The celebrations are going to be much more lavish that that, you know."

Similar to your initial reaction before, this time you and Luke sigh in unison. Is this really necessary? With the coronation ceremony being just behind the corner, there are already enough reminders of the busy times that are ahead of you. Luke reads the good intentions behind Leon's humorous explanation, and smiles.

"Maybe we can get away with much less hassle… if I'm a King I should be able to change the rules-"

"Luke, no."

Everyone laughs at Licht's sudden concern expressed in a flat voice. Jin finishes off where Leon started while helping himself to a drink from the table.

"We figured you two would prefer a celebration held in a more narrow circle. A quick talk with Sariel and he let us prepare this for you." Seeing that you're just on the verge of exploding in gratitude, Jin raises his hand to tell you to hold on.

"If I were on you, I wouldn't hurry with the thank-you's before I've seen it all. Service, please!"

Despite Yves' obvious displeasure about being bossed around, upon Jin's signal he pushes a food cart into view. On top of it is one of the most beautiful pastries Yves has created so far - and you're definitely not exaggerating because of the sudden realization of what exactly it is. It's a two-tier cake - not just a cake, a honey cake, the best cake flavor known to humankind, at least according to you and the man sitting next to you. Somewhere between the fascination of the mouthwatering aroma and the cute little edible bumblebees on top, you don't know just when did you get up from your seat to give Yves a big hug, not letting him finish the verbal presentation of the cake. Soon, the weight of Luke is on Yves' shoulders as well, sending the poor fifth prince through a whirlwind of emotions, his ego being stroked but his cheeks turning pink with all the attention.

Behind your back, you can hear the bunch throwing a fit about Yves taking all the love and gratitude for himself… though, they should've seen it coming when honey is mentioned in front of the royal couple.

Feeding Luke cake is a delight to your heart. And Luke feeding you cake in return is equally as such, as it is a delight to your belly. Even if it's a little embarrassing in front of the guys, you feel comfortable in Luke's presence as it almost feels like it's only the two of you when he looks into your eyes like that - the rest of the world is quick to blur away. The party seems to be just beginning, because music comes to your ears and an invitation for dance is quick to come - from none other than Leon. You turn to your boyfriend to ask if it's alright, and he mutters something among the lines, "you're lucky that I'm still busy with the cake." But that's only for show, you figure, because he leans in close to your ear to whisper something.

"I want you only for myself later…"

Cheeks starting to burn on an instant, you stare at him for cues - is this about dancing? Or is he trying to say something else…?

Your boyfriend is only giving you his most adorable expression, fork in his mouth, as he prompts you to go.

Leon's gentlemanly lead clears off your mind just a little, and Jin whisking you away right out of his grasp for another dance is putting laughter in your mouth. Having fun from the bottom of your heart, the only reason that you'd ever want this party to have an end could possibly be in order to be alone with Luke again. To slow dance in some more private part of the garden, when the sun drops low and the soft candlelight is all around you, or even later on, when smiling faces bid you goodnight and Luke takes you by the hand, leaving the garden in the same fashion as you came there.

Or, even later than that, much later, when you're done fighting the nervousness and the excitement, and you present your gift to Luke, revealing that truly, you've remembered what day it is all along. And maybe the curious little you who had accidentally found his own gift for you a few weeks prior but kept quiet, would manage not to cry out of happiness a second time. The tightening of your belly on the thought of all those strong emotions that your boyfriend, soon-to-be-husband evokes in you, makes you question how such happiness is possible. For now, you decide to breathe in deeply, and let your heart be light as you enjoy yourself to your heart's content today.

Taglist: @arsnovacadenza @ale-teodora @kimi00twin @otomelady @privilegedpancake @g-kleran @pumpumnnnp @thesirenwashere @ravenarld @kimmy-banana @devonares @animeworldsposts @randomanimatedhusbandoseeker @galaxyprison @sadshaxk @starshards26 @pro-cat-stination @acethephoenix256 @ikevamp-shrine-2 @nad-zeta @crystal13unny @keen19thcenturygoatsstudent @lordsister @ikemen-banshou @ikemenlover24 @themysticalbeing @canaria-blackwell @otome-scribbles @rhodolitesrose @fun-ghoul-neela @salty-fed-up-bitch @cilokgoang @kpop-and-otome @queen-dahlia @kisara-16 @chaosangel767 @ikemenlibrary @queengiuliettafirstlady @aurora-morning @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess @gilbertvonobsidian let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

#Ikemen Prince #IkePri #Ikemen Prince Luke #IkePri Luke #Luke Randolph #ikemen prince fanfiction #ikepri fanfiction

[palimpsessed]

✨WIP Folder tag game✨

Thank you for tagging me for this and for WIP Wednesday which I’m using this for since anything worth sharing from my SAE outline would be verrryyyy spoilery @artsyunderstudy @ivelovedhimthroughworse @facewithoutheart @cutestkilla @johnwgrey @martsonmars @mostlymaudlin @bookish-bogwitch @ionlydrinkhotwater @nightimedreamersworld I haven’t been able to look through anyone else’s posts yet, but once I have time to dig in, I will! ❤️

Rules: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have wips. I have deemed that this isn’t just for writing either. Sketch titles? Comics? Dnd campaigns? If you have an unfinished project, it counts!!

aka: pal answers the age old question “okay, this is good but what if: snowbaz?” about literally every piece of media ever :DDDDDDD

active/drafted/outlined:

slings and eros (currently posting and roughly 2/3??? finished)

bond au (outlined)

ssaelissatmmtsdaunoaf (outlined/started multiple times - next on the docket)

val-un-tine's day (terminated with extreme prejudice)

and there was only one bed! *gasp* (unlikely)

from my fic prompts channel:

troop beverly hills au (likely)

a modest proposal (likely)

hamlet au (unlikely)

beauty and the beast (likely)

penny/shep x-files au (i did a comic for this instead and also have never watched the show, so unlikely)

just like heaven au (?)

much a stag do about nothing (?)

the holiday au (likely)

the mage from c.o.v.e.n. (?)

easy a au (?)

practical magic au (unlikely)

intimacy and ikea (?)

hunchback of notre dame au (this would require me to remember anything about this movie or rewatch it, so unlikely)

bank robbery/hostage situation choose your own adventure (unlikely but would be fucking epic)

smut! tail edging! tail spit roast! (if i ever write smut again, so ???)

baz as the hooter and simon as the second hooter (?)

amol sequel (?)

galaxy quest au (likely)

fuck it. a-team au (?)

Is it obvious I just really love to figure out au casting/characterization? Because I fucking do! If anyone ever wants to chat about au potential please please please come scream at me. I am very limited in my media knowledge, but if I know the thing, I will have opinions about the thing :)

Feel like I’m late to this one, too, even tho I think it’s new? Anywayyyyy I’ll tag more folks in (not matching my number of wips tho) and we’ll say it’s for this or a regular wip day post or just to let you know I appreciate you<3: @angelsfalling16 @aristocratic-otter @bazzybelle @basiltonbutliketheherb @bloodiedpixie @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @captain-aralias @confused-bi-queer @excalisbury @fatalfangirl @fight-surrender @foolofabookwyrm-activated @frjsti @gekkoinapeartree @im-gettingby @jbrrring @krisrix @letraspal @moodandmist @nick-eyre @ninemagicks @otherworldsivelivedin @otherpeoplesheartachept-2 @prettylightsbigcity @raenestee @stillmadaboutpetra @subparselkie @shemakesmeforget @stardustasincocaine @seducing-a-vampire @sillyunicorn @scone-lover @thehoneyedhufflepuff @twinkle-twinkle-up-above @tea-brigade @takitalks @themandilorian @urban-sith @unseelieseelie @wetheformidables okay tumblr has cut me off. whatever. :/

#tag game #wip wednesday

[royal1asset-if]

Late Story Part 2

Another late story, sorry about that just finished my exam today and I'm so happy that I got a good score and still happy to write this snippet😁😁.

Continuing with were we left off, MC recounting the events.

(Before, MC's Story)

You hear the birds chirping and rooster crowing, signaling a new day has arrived.

You groaned in annoyance due to the sun is blasting your eyes with it's blinding light, you turned to your other side and raised your arms to hug your wife.

But only emptiness and the soft foam of the bed is all you feel, you prod along the edges maybe your wife is at the far-end of the bed but still not feeling her smooth skin.

Opening your eyes, you saw that no one is there and that your all alone.

Then your remembered that the children has class today and maybe your wife is the one who took them to school.

Well, your sleep gone and deprived the touch of your wife, you got off from bed and freshen up a bit.

Getting and wearing clothes fit for this sunny day, you exited the bedroom and arrived at the hallway.

It's very quiet, alarmingly quiet or maybe you're just paranoid because the kids are at school right now.

You past the kid's bedroom doom and descended the staircase.

Going straight ahead to the kitchen to calm the beast that is your stomach, your eyes landed on the oaken table finding a note and a plate covered with a another plate.

You pull the chair and sat down and pluck the note to read it.

Dear, Firefly

I woke up early and prepared the kids for school, I also noticed that your sleeping soundly and I did not want to disturb your slumber.

There is pie on the table but it's cold as ice but I think you can manage to warm it on your own ;)

Also, Serena and Elrick drop by telling that we should have get-together this evening and should meet at the "Bullseye"

And don't forget to pick up the children after school!!!

With Love, Moonpie

Dropping down the note, you made a mental reminder to not forget the kids because the last time you did that.

It did not bode very well for you, who would have thought that the combined wrath of kids and your wife will spell the apocalypse, for you at least.

Gaining the kids forgiveness is easy because they have a great time watching your ass get whooped by your wife but you can't say the same for your wife.

You chuckle remembering all the hard work she dropped down on you as punishment for your negligence.

Working hard and begging her forgiveness she started to come around and finally forgave you but did not really forget your transgressions.

Rising up from your chair and getting the pie to reheat it on the fire.

Up to this day, you're still trying to wrap your head around the fact that your wife who is and vicious and relentless assassin loves pie and that one of her childhood dreams is being a baker.

Ah yes, you still remember how you try your best stop laughing when she confess.

Honestly speaking you really did your best and mustering up your strength to stop from falling over but it's just to much to bear and like a dam bursting off you exploded.

You laugh and laugh, you only stop when you felt a shiver went down on your spine and noticing that she is glaring at you and it's the most terrifying glare you have ever seen.

Gulping because you know that this particular glare is different from her default stare and preparing yourself for the worst.

Yet, your still breathing and what she did next made you think that you're going insane.

She is laughing and is the most beautiful thing you have seen, sure others might call you dramatic but to you is the most heart moving scene you have ever scene.

Maybe you can say that it outrivals the joy that you felt when you hold your kids in your arms when they are still an infant.

Times sure is fast and you start to think that maybe you're getting old.

Nose wrinkling and smelling that something is burning, you look down and saw that your pie is ablaze.

(Intermission)

"HAHAHAHAHA!" A familiar and annoying laughter interrupted your story.

You glare at your companion and clearing your throat hoping that he will get the hint.

He continued to laugh and others laugh with him, you cleared your throat again and this time you really want to punch his face very much.

"Alright, Alright I stop!" Elrick wipes the tears from his eyes and gathering his composure.

"But you have to admit MC it's kinda funny!" Serena says in a mocking tone.

"HEY BE QUIET YOU TWO!" Garry The Barkeeper saves your pride and dignity.

You looked at him and tip your imaginary hat to him to which he in response raise a mug in your honor.

"So let's continue shall we?" so that no one can further disrupt your story and preventing another rounds of laughter from your audience.

(Resume Story)

Managing to avert the disaster of burning the house down because you know deep down that the blazing flames is no match for the hellfire that is the wrath of your wife when she learns that you burnt the house and burnt her pie.

So you took a spoon and bite the pie to which your surprise that is still delicious even after it's ordeal.

Finished eating and washing the dishes, you went with your daily activities such as cutting wood for fire, feeding the chickens and milking the cows.

The day went on without any further incident and the sun is starting to go down.

You clean yourself up and preparing to pick the children from school, you started the journey.

It's a little far away because your wife preferred the quietness and company of Mother Nature rather than the bustling town.

Maybe this is her way of coping from all the gruesome work that both of you have done when you were active in duty as the "Royal Assets" of the King.

Arriving at the school grounds and seeing your children waiting for you at the school's gate.

Something is wrong you can feel it in your gut, you can almost feel it as a father intuition.

Why is your children not running towards you? So you walk towards them hell bent on wanting to know to what is causing this.

Getting closer you can see that Nick head is cast down and not quite looking you in the eyes.

This is what they usually do this when they feel that they have something done wrong and feeling ashamed of their actions.

"What's wrong?" you inquire him with worry.

Nick remained silent and still not looking at you, Richard is the one who gave you an answer.

"Dad, Nick got into a fight with a bully and the principal wants to talk to you if you have free time." he tells you the news with shaking in his voice.

Your hand balls into fist on instinct, your child is being bullied and have been hurt, you knelt down to Nick's level and put your finger under his chin.

You tilt his head up so that you can meet eye to eye and you want Nick to be the one to tell the truth.

"Is it true Nick?" you steel your voice but it cracked under the pain seeing that your son has a bruise on his cheek."

"Luna will not like this, not like it at all!" you ponder worriedly.

The last time someone hurt those people who she held dear is lying 6-feet underground or some is too wounded to stand up.

Let's say that Luna tend to loose control, more like go berserk. You still remembered that night, when you and her just talking a walk after having dinner.

You saw two silhouettes at the far end of the road that you were currently walking, noticing that they are drunk evident by the way they stumble and walking swaying side to side.

You didn't pay it no mind focused on your date but when the 2 drunks got nearer they sucker punch you on your gut.

Knocking the wind out of you and dropping to your knees, you can't defend yourself and your date.

You looked upwards to your attacker and saw that he is winding up another punch but your date intercept the attack by punching him in the throat.

The drunk's friend got pissed and charged at your date and raising a fist.

Your date dodged to the side and evading the attack then she delivered a kick to the shin and you swear that you remembered that you heard bones breaking.

The friend sunk down to his knees and crying loudly, your date hold the head his head like a bull and slam her knee to his face.

Leaving a ugly look on his face plus a broken nose to go with it.

She offered her hand to help you to which you accepted gladly, standing to your feet albeit still wobbly.

You have to hold her back to prevent her from killing the two and have to beg her to return to her senses, that is the day you knew that Luna tend to be vengeful and murderous.

"Dad?" the voice of Nick brings you back to the present.

You looked down at a worried and scared Nick, holding onto the hems of your clothes.

"Wil Mommy be angry?" he ask you and eyes starting to tear up.

You hug your child knowing that he needs this the most right now, you calm him and rub his back to soothe him.

"No Mom will not be angry." because you know that her fury will be directed at the antagonizers and you know this will not end peacefully.

You hoist Nick to your arms and wrapped your arm on Richard's shoulders and getting him close to you.

"C'mon let's go the bakery and get you two Mom's delicious pies!" you try to divert the worry and attention of the 2 but to no avail they remained quiet.

Leading the way and thinking how can you gently break this news to your bloodthirsty wife.

"No rest for the wicked!" you murmur tiringly.

TO BE CONTINUED

#Luna #royalasset #First Blood #War Is COming

[mellifloraa]

Thoughts on Celeste

So I just beat Celeste.

It was goddamn beautiful. Oh my god. Playing this game over the last few days has been an experience I don't think I'll forget for a long long time, and one that I'm so glad I pushed myself to finally have. The level designs were unique and (mostly) fun, the controls were tight and responsive, the soundtrack was godly, and the visuals were so well done despite maintaining the blocky pixelated feel.

That was unquestionably the most challenging game I've ever played. I didn't try and collect every strawberry, and I didn't try and collect every B-Side, so I'm definitely not 100%'ing the game anytime soon, but... holy shit. I don't think I want to say it was unfairly difficult, though, because I think it wasn't. I solved a lot of the stages through trial and error, as well as simply taking a step back and assessing each room as its own little beast. Moving forward like this created a real sense of satisfaction when you did beat one of the rooms, despite the growing sense of frustration brewing within. I can't tell you how many times I had to remember that feather (great concept that I will be using moving forward btw) and just... step back and take a deep breath to realign myself and try and look at each level from a different angle. The level design was challenging, and the fine motor controls definitely took a while to perfect, but it wasn't unfair. Games like Getting Over It or Dark Souls are brutally difficult, but I think the key distinction is that sometimes those games feel so difficult to the point of unfairness. Celeste wasn't like that. I tried my absolute best to learn from each death, figuring out exactly what happened and where it went wrong and what I could do to prevent it in the future. On top of that, I absolutely adored how positive the game was in spite of the challenge. The characters were nice to you about your struggle, supported you if you were having a hard time, and reminded you that you are capable of climbing this mountain and finishing the quest. The game even tells you just as you start: "You can do this," knowing that you might know little about the game itself, but you probably know it's challenging as shit. The devs took the time to remind you that, yes, it will be difficult, but you can do it. You can make it through this, as long as you stick with it and take it slow. I love that. I absolutely love that.

In the end, I suppose, the gameplay was challenging, but the sense of reward afterwards and the intrinsic fairness of each room prevented the puzzles from ever seeming unsolvable and prevented me from burning out. Each one just took a little exploration and creative thinking, and in the end, a game can only benefit from that.

Fuck the wind levels in Chapter 4, though. Holy fucking shit.

I knew going into this game that it dealt heavily with the topic of mental health and depression, as well as intrusive thoughts and self-criticism, so that wasn't a surprise to me. Seeing them portrayed the way they were, however, definitely was. There were a few moments where Badeline really genuinely unsettled me, because I could tell exactly where her thoughts were coming from and the illogical reasoning behind them. I've fallen into many of those same fallacy pits and suffered from disordered and illogical thinking for years. That's why, when we finally began to confront these thoughts and instead work together on facing them at the end of Chapter 6, it really impacted me. I spoke a little about it in my other posts, but a lot of the lessons from the game were things that I had to learn myself back in 2019 and 2020, with the help of someone who's no longer in my life. Emotional regulation and self-acceptance is one of the hardest things to do for someone suffering from depression and anxiety, but it's so necessary to work on moving forward and healing regardless of how your illness manifests. Though we may not all be haunted by the literal manifestation of these thoughts like Madeline was, learning to accept all parts of yourself, even the icky ones, can lead to you becoming a more centered and logical person, able to fight back with the coping mechanisms that work best for you, and able to set boundaries for yourself regardless of what other people might expect from you. That's something I myself am still struggling with, but I'm lightyears ahead of where I was three years ago. It's not easy, but it's rewarding. Just like the entire game itself.

I fucking loved this game. I will most certainly be replaying it at some point(s). Holy shit.

Everyone, if you haven't, please play Celeste. It's a wonderful little game that is absolutely worth every bit of effort you put into it.

Now to speedrun it.

#celeste #celeste review #i guess? idk what the fuck this was #anyway i'm gay and i liked this silly game #now off to stick my fingers and wrists into a bag full of ice cubes because holy SHIT i'm sore lmfao

[stardust-ghoul27]

Beauty and The Vampire

| Chapter One

| Dracopia x OC!

A/N: Hi there! This is my first time posting a fanfic on here and in general lol so please creative criticism of this work is encouraged! I'd love to hear your guys thoughts and ideas :)

Summary: A mysterious legend about a vampire that spreads around her small Italian town leaves young Liliana to question and wonder if it's even real. Little does she know that this mysterious beast of a vampire would change her life.

Her friends told her not to do it. They warned her and told her about all of the myths and legends of the strange old beast that lurked in the large castle up north. Where the snow was so thick it went up to your neck.

 And the biggest rumor was that the old beast was a vampire who trapped anyone who came within 10 feet of his kingdom.

 There were tons and tons of stories about him and for some strange reason Lucia was intrigued about this strange old beast that everyone talked about.

"Liliana you must be mad!" 

Her mother chidded her only daughter as she grabbed her black leather boots and pulled them on.

 "I don't want you going out there and freezing to death dear. Please don't go. Youd be better of here helping me with the chores."

 Her mother begged and warned against her daughter leaving out to brave the harsh barren cold up north just to find the "myth" that their small town in Italy gossiped about.  Lucia adjusted her satchel and tugged on her blue scarf, sighing as her mother continued on her rant.

"Please mama...just let me. I promise I'll come back in one piece.

" Liliana said as her mother grabbed her wrist, stopping her from leaving the small house. 

"In one piece lilian-" "no mama...I'm leaving and that's final. You haven’t let me out of this god forsaken house since papa died." Liliana said as she tore her hand away from her mother's bruising grasp tears pricking her eyes. 

Ever since Lucia was a small child she was always so adventurous and wild. Wanting to see the world with her own two eyes just like her father. Her papa always encouraged her to explore and go out and learn more about the world that was in her hands. That was until he died when she was 13 leaving just her and her mother. They slowly started to stop leaving, only going out to get supplies or go to church and the house had grown unfamiliarly quiet and blue without her father around.

As fast as she opened the door she was gone, leaving her mother to sit in her own bitter depression and rage from her daughter's "silly" and "outrageous" actions.  

Storming down the steps and heading into the small Italian town she had grown to know and recognize less and less over these cold years.

As she ran down the small and narrow allies and passageways leading to the docks she ran into someone. “Umph…” Liliana huffed out as she fell to the ground with a loud thud. Rubbing her head and looking up, she saw her “friend” Gulia. 

“O-oh Guilia i'm so so sorry I-”  

“my dress! YOu just ruined my dress! Look it’s all muddy now….well it's fine I suppose since daddy headed off to the markets to get me a new one. She smirked devilishly. “ Why are you in such a hurry anyways you fool!”  Gulia asked her face a steaming red as her red curls came down and framed her perfect face   almost   perfectly. 

“I-I was on my way to the docks to go up  North.” Liliana said getting up and dusting herself off as her “friend” scoffed at her. 

“Don’t tell me you're trying to go find that wretched…beast up north….oh wait you probably are!” She enunciated the word beast spitting it out as she finished her sentence laughing some more.

 “Come Gabriella I must tell you this.” 

Gulia said, motioning for her older sister who had the same red curly locks minus for a few gray strands  to come  to her side. Once Gabriella was there Gulia whispered into her ear snickering afterwards. 

Liliana stood there face red in red hot anger and shame as she took in fistfuls of her dress. 

“Well  I do wish you the best of luck Liliana.” Gabriella smiled at her softly, not laughing at all unlike her cruel and spoiled younger sister. 

Gabriella Esposito, a well admired sibling in their town's church . She was kind, charitable, and pretty everyone fawned after her or wanted to be like her. But that was besides Liliana’s point. “Thank you sister.” Liliana said, smiling at the slightly older woman's comment. 

“Now off you go Liliana or you wont get there on time.”

 Gabriella said, smiling and making a slight shooting motion with her hands. “Goodbye sister! And Guilia!” Lucia yelled out as she ran across town to get down to the docks in time, her leather boots clicking loudly against the stone pathways and roads of her small Italian town of Giuseppe. 

Just as liliana got down to the docks a man in a small carriage was packing away crates and bags preparing to  leave. 

“WAIT! WAIT SIR! I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK YOU!”

 Liliana shouted as she ran in her heeled leather boots trying not to trip or worse run into someone again.  “Ah yes signora what tis it that you needed?” The old man asks as he hops onto his horse as Liliana approached him. “I-I was just curious as to where you were headed sir. I-If you'd like to know I've been trying to head up  North near the old roman cathedrals.” Liliana said looking up at the old italian man who had gray and white hair with hope burning like a hot flicker of flame in her gaze. 

“Ah-sei solo fortunato mio caro . I was just heading near there. I could drop you off. That is if you'd like.” He smiled down at Liliana, the wrinkles on his face creasing even more. 

“Oh thank you so-so much! here.” Liliana said, fishing 10 gold coins out of her brown and green embroidered satchel to give to the old man. 

“oh no need to pay me signora just hop on. The name is Tommaso a proposito.”

Tommaso said as Lucia picked up her skirt and hopped into the small carriage that was attached behind his large and almost midnight black murgese horse who was tugginging the old black wooden carriage around

“So signora…non mi riguarda but I couldn’t help but have the urge to ask why you want to head up  North near the cathedral?” Tommaso asked in a curious tone. 

“Well…heh heh…i might sound a bit silly for saying this but I-I actually wanted to go see the place for my own and discover the myths and legends about that place that everyone talks about so much.”  Liliana said nervously, picking at the edges of her nails.

“Ah….I see I've been up there once myself. It was a fine and beautiful place but there was something off putting about it the entire time I was there. Now that I recall…It felt like someone was watching me the entire time I was there.” 

Tommaso said scratching his white beard as he started to get lost in his thoughts. “Well miss…I suggest that you get some sleep now before we arrive at my first stop by lake  Varese. 

“Ok…And thank you so much again Tommaso for taking me up  North.” Liliana said, sitting back in the carriage. As she laid down she thought about the cathedrals and the supposed beast of a man that lurked in them. Besides, maybe the man wasn't a beast after all. or as bad as they sought him out to be. 

Lucia stirred to the bouncing and rattling of the old carriage  on what she assumed was a brick road. Sitting up she rubbed the sleep from her tired eyes. Looking around she could tell that this was a different and new town. The town of  Varese. 

The old carriage then winded down a dirt road that quickly led away from the large town, obscuring what little of a view that she already had of the place. The Dirt pathway led up to a steep hill that was far off in the distance.  The dirt pathway was lined by a thick coated deep green forest and smelt of pine and Earth, 

“Ah, you're awake back there.”  Tommaso said as he guided the horse through the dirt and muddy terrain. “yeah where are we?” Liliana asked, rubbing her face of sleep. “Just headed out of town. We should be up north in about a few hours or so.” Tommaso said as he pulled tightly on the horse's lead. 

The further they went up the hill the colder it got making Liliana shiver a bit. Far in the distance of the thick fog that now surrounds them Liliana could make out a tall cathedral building. “We aren’t far from the cathedrals signoria.” Tommaso said as he pulled up the steep hill onto level-ish ground. The woods around them seemed to be ever ceasing as it covered most of the darkening afternoon sky.

As Liliana sat in the carriage she looked out at the thick forest at all of its tall trees and branches until something strange and slightly off-putting caught her eye. A dark shadowy figure up on one of the branches Peering down at them. Liliana felt her stomach turn and remembered what Tommaso said earlier about someone watching him when he visited last time. 

Blinking her eyes she looked back away from the forest sighing as she waited to arrive near the cathedrals until something caught her eye once more. 

The same shadowy dark figure had seemed to have gotten closer. Or was that just her imagination? And was that a tail!? Liliana thought as she watched the figure stand there by a tall deep pine tree before disappearing off into the thick dense forest. 

Liliana shook her head as she decided that she might have just been tired or something right. But she had just taken a nap a few hours ago. How could she be so tired? Tommaso had to be more tired than her after all he was driving the carriage. 

“Tommaso? About the time you said you felt people watching you. Umm…what did they look like? If you seen them.” Liliana asked, biting her lip nervously.

 “Oh I never really got to see the-” Tommaso started but was cut off by the dark figure that had swooped down from the treetops and pushed him off the horse sending the carriage into a ditch as Liliana bounced around inside until she hit her head on the roof knocking her unconscious.  

groggily blinking her eyes open looking around. She was in a room. A very fancy and expensive looking room at that. The fireplace in the middle of the room cracked and burned the strong smell of citrus and fruit incense drafting around the room. Sitting on the ground Liliana had realized she had lost her boots and her dress was torn. Sitting up she was quickly pulled back down against the floor. 

Looking down over her shoulder she saw that she was chained to the floor. Shit. Liliana thought of pulling hard on the metal chains to try to break them to no avail.

“Help! Help me!” Liliana cried out as she heard the large wooden door to the left of her creak open revealing two…people? All Liliana knew was that they kinda resembled the shadow person from earlier. 

The taller burlier man wore a shiny silver mask with devil horns, a black button up with suspenders, tight black dress pants and dress shoes. As Liliana looked him up and down she realized that he did not look human. He had gray almost black skin and a whipping tail behind him. 

The shorter man looked the same as he cocked his head to the side and analyzed Liliana carefully, his dark gaze piercing her soul.

Pulling on her chains in a try to escape the taller man came over with a key and unlocked them. “Hey, Hey no need to be scared of us. I know we may not look all human but we won't hurt you.” He said, sticking a hand out for Liliana to take. 

Hesitantly taking his hand Liliana let out a shaky and scared breath from her cold lips. “The names Aether and that little shit over there is Sodo or Dewdrop call him either he doesn’t care. And he won’t bite as long as I'm here.” Aether said kindly reassuring Liliana as she looked between the two ghoulish creatures shaking slightly with fear as she watched Sodo stare into her soul his bright ember eyes burning holes through her. 

Liliana had only heard of these creatures in myths or in the bible talking about how they were Lucifer's helpers towards sin.

“W-what am I doing here? What even are you guys? Where...W-where am I?” Liliana stuttered out. “Oh don’t worry our boss just wants to see you after he heard that Sodo over there spotted you and that man out in the woods. “O-oh.” Liliana said more scared now. Who was their boss and what did he want?  Where was Tommaso? 

#cardinal copia #copia #papa copia #ghost copia #dracopia #vampire #ghost bc #the band ghost fanfiction #the band ghost #aether ghoul #sodo ghoul #dewdrop ghost