#Cinderalla AU

[crazyk-imagine]

A Wish is a Dream your Heart makes

Pairing: Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe (Henry “Wolfman” Ruth) x Cinderella!reader

Characters:  Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe (Henry “Wolfman” Ruth), Cinderella!reader, stepmother, stepsisters, Margaret (fairy godmother), Adam (carriage driver), Lucifer (the cat), Rick “Hollywood” Neven, Sam “Merlin” Wells

Warnings: Cinderella AU, this is crack, a sort of Cinderella retelling, friends to lovers, evil stepsisters and stepmother, Hollywood the royal servant, Wolfman is an adorable dumbass, reader and Leonard have been friends for years, stepmother is a greedy and cruel woman, reader and Leonard are friends

Word Count: 3,852

A/N: Iceman and Slider are hidden in the crowd (not mentioned but I imagined them in the ballroom). Maverick and Goose were not invited because of some pranks they played on the king in the past (also not mentioned)

Top Gun: Disney AU

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“But they have dresses,” you point out to the woman you are to call stepmother. 

She nods, “so it seems you are correct.” The wheels are turning in her head, scaring you. 

Maybe informing of her dress, she will be more inclined to bring you along. “I have a dress and everything. You wouldn’t have to worry about a thing.” 

“That would be true if your dress didn’t have a tear.” 

You furrow your brows, “where?” You look down, wondering how you could have missed something that could potentially damage your nonexistent reputation. 

“Why here,” she tugs down at the side of your dress skirt. “Of course.” 

You attempt to step away from her, only for her to further ruin the dress. “Stop it.” 

“How can I? You missed such a simple mistake. I only want you to right your wrong, dear.” 

“No, stop it. Sisters, please?” 

The youngest joins in, tearing at your right sleeve. 

“No. No,” you cry out. “Why are you doing this?” 

Your stepmother grasps your wrist, pulling you closer. “You must learn,” she leans down, less than seven inches between your faces. “You are not going to capture the prince’s attention. My daughters will. His fortune will be ours, not yours. We deserve it, not you.” 

The eldest sister steps forward. “Mother, it’s time.” She was never one for conflict, but also never tried to help you. It was always hard to figure out which one was worse. 

Your stepmother smiles, pulling away from you entirely. “You’re right, dear. Let’s go.” 

Your stepsisters exit your home, heading towards the carriage. 

She turns to you with a sinister smile, one she always directed towards you. “Be sure to finish the kitchen before we return home. You know where your cleaning supplies are, Cinder.” She throws her head back and laughs all the way towards the carriage. 

Your nose burns, vision becoming blurry as you stare at the door. 

You rush through the hallways and out the back door, not at all listening or paying attention to the other servants who also work for your stepmother. 

-

You find yourself sitting on the bench, next to the tree your father loved before his sickness took him from you last year; letting the tears drip down your cheeks, under your chin where they fell into the front of your dress. 

Someone’s shoes clacking against the stone walkway alert you. 

You wipe your cheeks and chin but still find yourself crying. 

They place a large coat over your shoulders, you hadn’t paid too much attention to the weather when you ran outside to realize it’s cold. “Don’t waste your tears on that woman.” 

You lift your head and find, Margaret, the head servant who also happens to be your stepmother’s maid. “I know she doesn’t but,” you sigh, lifting a piece of the torn fabric. “Look at what they did to your dress.” 

“Don’t worry about that now, dear.” 

“How could I not? You were so kind as to lend me-” 

“This dress is yours. I haven’t been able to fit into it for a long time now,” she jokes, gaining a chuckle from you. “Look at that, there’s that gorgeous smile.” She wipes your damp, tear-stained cheeks. “I’m going to help you.” 

“How? You only had one dress hidden away so stepmother wouldn’t find it. And, we don’t have nearly enough time to fix or make a new dress. I may as well start on-” 

“No, no. We are not going to use that negative mindset that wretched old woman has brought within this home. I have a secret your stepmother or sisters don’t know.” 

Your brows furrow in confusion. “Like what?” 

Margaret leans in and whispers, “magic.” 

“No really.” 

She sighs, walking closer towards the tree, “why does no one believe me?” 

You push yourself off the bench, tugging the coat closer to you not wanting any of the cold air to touch your skin. You turn the corner but don’t find her. “Where-” 

“Turn around dear.” 

You spin around and find her in an entirely different outfit than the one she was in a few moments ago. “How-” 

“Like I said, magic. Only those are special enough to have a fairy godmother and you are one of them.” 

“I am?” 

She nods, a proud smile stretching across her lips. “You are. Do you want to go to the Prince’s Christmas ball?” 

“I do,” you quickly answer her. “You know I do. I would- all I want to do is go out there and dance. Hopefully say hello to a few friendly faces.” 

She grips your chin, “I know you do.” She waves her free hand with the wand you never saw until the sparkle and yellow glow with bits of glitter blind you for a few seconds. 

You look down and find yourself in the most beautiful dress you’ve ever seen, neither one of your stepsisters’ dresses could compare (and they always made sure they had the best of the best). “Oh, Margaret it’s- it’s beautiful.” You glance back at her, “how- how did you-” 

“Like I said,” she raises the wand for you to see. “Magic.” 

The smile slowly disappears from your lips. “How am I going to get to the ball?” 

“Oh, don’t you worry about that. Everything’s already been taken care of.” She wraps her arm around the back of your shoulder’s, guiding you towards the front of the house. 

You blink owlishly, wondering if everything that’s happened within the last ten minutes is real or not. 

-

“This is your ride to and from the ball with Adam as your driver.” 

“The stray cat?” 

“The person, you know who it is. He was recently hired to help in the kitchen a few months ago, your stepmother’s request as you know we all were.” 

“Okay.” You enter the carriage with the help of Adam. 

“Oh,” Margaret slaps her hand against the door. “One more thing, you have until midnight.” 

“Midnight?” 

“At the stroke of midnight all of this that I so graciously put together will be gone. I have magic but not enough to keep your night going, it takes a lot of energy, you know. First, we did the dress. Then the carriage and getting everyone to help you while looking like royalty.” 

“Okay, midnight.”

“Good, now that you’ve been warned. Have fun. I imagine you’ll catch the eye of many potential suitors.” 

You stare at the floor, ignoring the heat in your cheeks. “I don’t think so.” 

“Oh, you will. You have yet to find out how special you really are, my dear.” She watches as you leave your driveway. “The rest is up to you Rick.” 

The plan is set in motion. 

-

The carriage pulls you away from her and off to where you’ve only dreamed of dancing a handful of times (definitely more than a handful but who’s counting?) over the last year. 

Stepmother never allowed you outside after your father died, leaving your friends with no way to contact you. 

The carriage stops, your nerves are teeter tottering over the edge, your heartbeat is faster than normal, much faster than you have ever thought it could be. 

Thankfully, the door opens revealing Adam; he holds his hand out for you. 

You accept the assistance and nod, being sure to thank him (something no one else does other than the other servants).

-

You enter by yourself since you’ll be the one dancing and not for very long with the whole “ends at midnight” situation. 

“So many stairs,” you mutter, walking what you hope is the last staircase before entering the ball room. ‘It’s been so long,’ you think. The faint sound of a Christmas song brings a slight sense of nostalgia and a sadness to your heart. 

You can remember how your mother would play the piano while your father helped you decorate the tree since she “didn’t have the right taste”, when you were four. 

Another heartwarming memory comes to mind, the year after you mother passed, you and your father sit by one another, listening to the crackle of the fire with the feeling that your mother is there, playing her favorite Christmas tune. 

A shuddered breath escapes you; you wipe away your tears before they could fall and ruin your makeup. 

The doors open and your blinded for a moment. The bright and colorful lights are everywhere to help brighten the room, making it look absolutely- “amazing.” 

“Isn’t it?” 

You nod until you realize someone’s beside you. It feels as though you’ve jumped ten feet in the air when in reality, it was only a hard flinch. You turn and curtsey before you could see their face. 

“That’s not necessary.” 

You straighten your posture and find the prince in front of you. ‘He’s here.’  “I apologize then.” 

He smiles, nodding once. “Would you care to dance?” 

You hum, pretending to think about it. “Not yet.” 

“Really? I thought people who came to these kinds of events were here to dance.” 

“Ah,” you start to walk away, finding him to be just interesting as he was when you last saw him. 

“What was that?” He asks, you can hear the smile dancing across his lips. 

“Nothing,” you shrug, “you just seem to think that I’m still like the others.” 

“I remember now that you aren’t.” He stops in front of you. 

“And how would you know that when you’ve only just met me?” You tease him, reminding him of when you two first met. 

“I’m getting a… feeling.” 

“A feeling?” 

He nods, “yes, a feeling. Why? You don’t believe me?” 

“I never said that.” 

One of the royal servants walks up to the prince, whispering in his ear before leaving. 

He turns towards you with a guilty expression. 

“It’s alright, I understand. One’s job is never done, right?” 

“Right. Save a dance for me?” 

“You have my word.” A slight bitter taste is on your tongue at the thought of him dancing with his someone who... isn’t you. ‘Is this what he felt when it was I who had to dance?’ 

He opens his mouth to say more when he is dragged away. 

You watch as he makes his way towards his father who announces that this ball is for his son to find a wife and of course your stepsisters are first and second in line to dance with him although it looks like his attention is drawn elsewhere. 

With a heavy heart, you walk down the nearest hallway, hoping that it doesn’t lead anywhere you’re not supposed to be. You remember hearing that the king was having renovations done to the castle, hopefully no hallways were added. 

-

Leonard calls for his buddy and servant, Rick, Hollywood to a selected few. 

Once his buddy takes his place, he rushes down the same way he saw you enter. 

-

You rest your hands against the railing, staring up at the stars, wondering how you can make your night last longer. 

“There you are.” 

You gasp, surprised there was someone else here. “Oh, it’s you.” 

“Were you expecting someone else?” 

“No.” 

He stands beside you, eyes lowered staring at his hands, peeking over at you every so often. “Would you,” he clears his throat, “would care to dance?” 

“Here?” 

“Yes, it gives me the opportunity to see if you are wife material or not.” 

You raise your brows and smile, “does it now?” 

He nods, pushing himself off the railing. “Care to see to that challenge?” 

“Why not?” This reminds you of a simpler time. 

He holds his hand out for you to take, you accept in a more graceful manner than the other girls did, which he appreciates (more than you could know). 

You feel as though you could spend hours dancing with him, this is what you’ve always dreamed about... if only the universe was on your side. 

The clock chiming doesn’t click in your mind until the fifth chime. 

Your eyes widen as you pull away from the man who has begun to re-win your heart. “I must go.” You bunch the skirt in your clenched fists and run down the hallway connected to the balcony. 

He can’t let you go and does the one thing a love interest can do in these kinds of situations and chases after you. “Wait! Wait!” 

You grip the top of the staircase railing. 

He spins you around, “you have to leave now? Can’t you stay for a little while longer?” 

“I’m afraid I cannot. I have to be elsewhere.” 

“But- please,” he begs. 

You remove his hand from your arm and race down the stairs. Your grip becomes tighter after you trip, stopping yourself from falling only to lose your slipper. 

You can’t stop now, can’t let him see the torn dress or how bad your hair looks. You imagined him to be the kind of person who wouldn’t care but... your stepmother has brought on these negative thoughts. 

-

“Wait! Ella! I don’t-” He jumps down from the second to last stair and finds your carriage speeding off into the distance. 

His shoulders slump at the sight of you, staring out the window behind you looking as sad as can be. 

His buddy, Rick stands beside him. “You found her and lost her?” 

He nods. “But I do have her slipper. Maybe I can go around and ask for the women in the nearest town to try it on?” 

Rick blinks once. “How am I friends with an idiot?” 

“I take offense to that.” 

“I hope so, it just means the king didn’t pay for nearly as studious tutors as he thought.” 

“We both know you dragged me out of there whenever Archibald came over.” 

“And he would make us do an essay every time.” 

“Why isn’t my idea a good one?” Leonard asks. 

“Because,” Rick slaps his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “My naive friend, we could check the bottom of her shoe or the guest list.” 

“Oh, yeah.” 

“Come on.” He grabs the slipper off the ground and checks the bottom of the shoe to find Margaret's hidden message, “you know where to go, beware of the stepsisters.” 

“And this,” Rick smirks. “This is your ticket to your happily ever after.” 

“Yeah,” Leonard nods without listening to what he said. He stops and glances over at his buddy, “wait- really?” 

“Yep, but we’ll start tomorrow or later today since it is midnight.” 

“Are you lying?” 

“What?” Rick throws his head back and laughs. “Why do you think I’m lying, man?” 

He raises a brow. 

“Alright, alright. I get it but I’m being one hundred percent completely honest with you.” 

“Fine.” 

They make it to the top of the stairs. 

“Oh,” the prince turns back to face his friend, “send all of the ladies home.” 

The smile falls from Rick’s face. “What?” 

“Yeah, send ‘em all home. I’ve found my happy ending.” 

“Oh, come on.” He walks away, aiming for the hallway no one besides the two use. “Charming!” Rick throws his hands up, using the nickname reserved for when his friend makes the most annoying and tiring requests. “Charming, come on.” 

-

There’s a knock on the door, you don’t stop sweeping as per your stepmothers request of, she being the only one to answer the door. 

“Oh my!” She exclaims, alerting your stepsisters. 

“What is it, mother?” asks the youngest. 

“Someone from the royal family has arrived. Oh, he’s chosen one of you to be his bride and- oh my- his fortune will be ours.” She turns, glaring at you. “You have some cleaning to do upstairs. In your room. Its filthy.” 

You don’t try and argue with her, not wanting to feel her wrath this evening and begun your journey up the stairs. 

-

You sit in the specially designed seat your father had built for you as a child and stare out the window only for a furball to jump into your lap. You smile, petting Lucifer’s soft black fur. “How could they say you were a harmful cat? Hm? You don’t see that bad to me.” 

He lifts his head, staring at you with his jade green eyes, letting out a quiet meow. 

Tink! 

You furrow your brows. 

Tink! 

“Where is that-” Your eyes widen at the sight of the prince- Leonard. 

Lucifer hops off your lap, preferring to nap on your bed instead. 

You open your window, smiling down at him. “What are you doing here?” 

“I had to find you!” 

You shush him. “You must be quiet; my stepmother is downstairs talking to-” 

“Rick! Yes, he’s a distraction.” 

“A distraction?” 

He nods. 

“How do you expect me to get down without alerting anyone?” 

He stops, “good question.” Leonard looks back up. 

“And do not think of asking me to jump down into your arms, Leo.” 

“Ah, so you do remember me?” 

“How could I not? We’ve technically known each other for almost all of our lives. When did you realize who I was?” 

“When we danced at the ball but more so when were arrived outside your house.” 

“Of course, you did. But why are you here?” 

“I’ve come to realize you are the one I will marry.” 

“Will?” You giggle, he hears it and smiles even wider than he did earlier. 

“Yes,” he nods. “We will live out our childhood dream and get married.” 

“I believe that was your dream.” 

“No, if you could recall-” 

“I went along with the game. Now, find something for me to use so I can come down safely.” 

“If you look to your right, there’s now a ladder in place for you to climb down.” 

“Good, I’ll be down shortly.” 

You rush around the room, packing two bags, one with sentimental items you know your stepmother will ruin once she finds out that you’ve left and the other one for Lucifer. 

-

“You didn’t need to pack your bags. I could have-” 

“I don’t trust the woman I am to call stepmother. I was lucky to have left home and make it to the ball before the night ended.” 

His brows knit together in confusion, “did she never let you outside?” 

“I wasn’t a daughter to her; I was another servant.” 

Now he feels bad. “Why didn’t you leave sooner?” 

“And go where?” 

“You could have come to me. I haven’t seen you since your father died last year. I didn’t even see you at his funeral-” the look on your face tells him all he needs to hear. “She didn’t.” 

“She did,” you confirm his awful theory. 

“Well now, you’ll be away from wretched woman.” 

You abruptly stop, hand on his forearm. “You were serious about the marriage?” 

He nods, “I am.” 

“Are you sure you’d want to marry me? We haven’t spoken to one another for quite some time and who’s to say we will be good together?” 

He’s taking a big leap here. “Because we have a special bond. We’re talking as if nothing’s happened. I know we will be good together because…” 

“Because?” 

“I…” 

“Are you feeling alright?” 

“I have loved you since we were children, and I wouldn’t want to marry anyone else that wasn’t you!” He spits out. 

“Oh,” your brows reach your forehead, eyes widen in surprise. 

“Oh?” He repeats. 

“Yes, “oh?” What else do you want me to say? You caught me off guard and I had no idea how to properly respond other than I have had feelings for you for as long as I could remember and dancing with you just- it made me realize how much I care about you…” 

“As in, you feel same way I do, or you want to just be friends?” 

“What do you think? Do you think I’d escape my room on a ladder I didn’t know was secure or not for anyone?” 

“No,” he smirks. “But I need to hear you say it.” 

“I… have very strong feelings for you.” 

“Three words.” 

“I like you.” 

“Different L word.” 

“I loathe you.” 

“Nicer L word.” 

You take a deep breath, “I love you.” 

“Good. Now,” he grabs your hand. “We have to go tell father.” 

“What? Now?” 

He opens the carriage door, letting you take your time getting in. “Yes, now. One second, excuse me.” He sticks his head out the window and whistles for Rick. “Technically were already engaged but your stepmother stopped it from happening and now that I am aware of this, I know what I must do, and we can be together without having to worry about them.” 

You scoff, “that’s why she kept saying that.” 

“What was that?” 

“Nothing. I’m just- I’m happy to be out of there.” The bag on your chest moves. “Oh! Lucifer, I’m sorry. Come on, out we go.” 

He sits in your lap, eyes wandering, taking in all the new sights. “You have a cat,” he says in awe. He remembers you two always wanted to get a cat, but it was never the right time. 

“Yes, his name is Lucifer.” 

“Make sure to keep him near the dining hall.” 

“Why?” You ask extending the word. 

“Merlin pissed me off.” 

“My, my, the prince cursing, what a scandal.” 

“You won’t be so surprised about it later.” 

You huff at his insinuation, petting your fluffy boys head, in the spot right between his ears. 

-

Your wedding was already planned out with minor changes from the both of you; you both wanted there to be something each of you picked out and/ or wanted. 

His father had no objections to Leonard marrying you, in fact, he tried to get you two to elope but knew it wasn’t appropriate. 

“How does it feel to be the very thing you should have been years ago, wife?” 

You hum, turning to him. “And, what’s that husband?” 

“A princess… married to a handsome prince.” 

A teasing smile tugs at your lips. “Let me know when one arrives.” 

“You wound me, darling.” 

“You know I’m only playing with you.” 

“I do.” He lets Lucifer settle in the space between your empty dishes. “I’m happy we found each other that night.” Even if it was a mere few months ago. 

“Yeah?” 

He stares at you and nods, a wide smile dancing across his lips. “You know I can’t lie to you.” 

You rest your head against his shoulder. “How can you be so sweet?” 

“Because Merlin is currently seeing the doctor so he can get his allergies under control.” 

You smack his shoulder. 

“Don’t be like that darling. It’s a joke, I’m joking.” He scoots closer to you, “you know how happy I am to have found my hea.” 

“Hea?” 

“Happily, ever after.” 

He notices the look you’re giving him. “… Rick said it.” 

“Okay. Whatever you say, Leo.”

An offended noise escapes his open mouth, “he did!” 

“And I believe you.” 

He grumbles, pulling Lucifer into his lap. 

You smile and peck his cheek. 

He puts on a show, making it seem like he isn’t going to smile but loses. 

How could he not smile when he’s married the one who almost got away but managed to find your way back to him.

[slexenskee]

JJK Recs

Got a comment on this and figured I'd turn it into a post. Here are some of my favorite Gojo-centric JJK recs that basically live rent-free in my head and also very much so helped me form my own characterization for Gojo. Most of these are GoYuu bc I'm a shameless fan.

I keep the warmest truth - dehawny: Gojo/Yuuji | just adore this ace!Gojo headcanon. lowkey so torn on Gojo's sexuality bc I absolutely can see him being asexual and maybe even a bit touch-averse with the whole Infinity thing, but I also can see him being a total slut lol. This is one of my favorites and the only ace!Gojo I've found I think? The tags are just perfect and very much so aligned with my own personal Gojo heacanon 😂 "Gojou is confident about everything and that includes his sexuality", "he's also good at everything except maybe communicating"

A Duty and Responsibility - googlehome: Gojo/Sukuna this fic definitely pushed my 'bottom Gojo agenda' idk I can see this man with any sexuality I swear. Another great characterization of Gojo, and also Sukuna. I adore very serious fics with a splash of humor in the narrative. I can't imagine Gojo as a person who takes himself entirely seriously, no matter how much responsibility he accepts, or how many burdens he carries for others, or what kind of nonsense gay crisis he ends up in, so I just love his voice in this.

Countdown - Rizna: Gojo/Yuuji a fandom classic as far as I'm concerned. This is such an excellent role reversal AU - if you're into S2 teenage brat Gojo, this delivers. I love all versions of Gojo, including mouthy teenage twink Gojo deeply obsessed with his adult sensei who's Trying His Best™ to be the adult in the relationship.

Enough (A Cinderalla Story) - athena_crikey: Gojo/Yuuji in an absolutely fucking hilarious twist of irony, I actually didn't read this story for a long time because it was a rockstar AU and when I first got into this fandom I was desperate for canon stuff. Meanwhile I then go on to bust out 400k+ words of my own rockstar!Gojo AU, so I guess I'm just a fucking clown.

Heart Laid Bare - athena_crikey: Gojo/Namami incredible introspection on how Gojo handles (or rather, doesn't handle) the burden of being invincible and the strongest told in Nanami's POV. I could wax poetic about this fic and the way Gojo comes across so multi-faceted as both a man who can do everything and also a man who can't even remember to adequately feed himself. I drew a lot of the inspiration for Gojo's cursed technique in my fic from this, how Infinity is both his blessing and his curse and the parallels to his overuse of RCT being a kind of toxic spiral.

Shared Infinity - athena_crikey: Gojo & Yuuji - read the tags on this one it deals with some heavy stuff (not with Gojo) I love the way this fic showcases Gojo as a mature adult deeply protective over his students while still maintaining his kind of flippant/uncaring outer persona we see in the show. Just completely love fics that really naile the dichotomy of Gojo being both caring and yet rather unkind.

Take Two - athena_crikey: Gojo/Yuuji - specifically love how this AU fic deals with the idea of Gojo's own fame being his shield between himself in the world around him where his Infinity technique doesn't exist. I love how Gojo is handled in this one, so jagged around the edges, and just his own worst enemy when it comes to his own feelings. Also love me a Gojo who can own up to his own mistakes, look at our baby go, showing emotional maturity and everything!!

Still, More Firsts - hngr4fngr: Gojo/Yuuji man do I adore this whole series. Great porn with ridiculously excellent plot/characterizations lol like I came here for the bottom!Gojo and left with way too many feelings about how Gojo deals with his trauma and how that would effect his sex life. Also has a super interesting take on how Infinity works!

little lamb to the slaughter - voxofthevoid: Gojo/Yuuji still obsessed with the astoundingly incredible smut, just absolutely shook by how god-tier this writing is, it is so hard to write good smut, just pacing, flow, word choice... this could be a masterclass on how to write really great smut that can actually pull a visceral reaction out of a reader. I think a great deal of that ability comes from a mastery of the tone of voice of the characters, too. Gojo is just incredible in this Yuuji POV, the way he describes Gojo is just utter perfection. On a related note, in general Yuuji's voice is so fucking funny in a way that doesn't detract at all from the mood of the story. In fact I think this would be too heavy without his hilarious occasional inputs.

there is no try (but it's still going to take a while) - juurensha: Gojo/Geto I love me a star wars AU jfc. I'm not even a fan of SatoSugu but this is just *chefs kiss* Jedi Master Gojo is such a mood.

anchor - valleykey: Gojo/Geto I love this one mainly for the Suguru characterization, which I truly never thought I'd say bc I'm just not normally a fan of his character/relationship with Gojo. He's just perfect in this fic though - it just makes so much more sense for his characterization, and idk, pulls it altogether in a way I think it falls flat in canon. That isn't to say Gojo's not great in this, he's just really not the main character at all. But it deals well with Gojo's loyalty to those he deems worthy of it (even if the recipient isn't considered 'proper' by jujutsu society) and just offers a good take on supportive (and smitten) Gojo

[thegingerwrites]

trope selection tag game

Thanks for tagging me @ragnarlothcat !

enemies to lovers or friends to lovers - I really love it in fanfic but I haven't really found a good example in original fiction. I feel like the stakes are often lacking in original fiction. It's either, dang you guys are mean to each other, you should not be in a relationship (especially het couples) or you guys don't really have any reason to hate each other (I just read You're The Problem It's You and was frustrated by it the entire time). But fanfiction enemies to lovers? 10/10

coffee shop au or flower shop au - I knew flower shop aus were a thing, same with bakery aus or tattoo shop aus, but I don't think I've ever really read one? But I've read some very good coffee shop aus. They're good for a meet cute 🥰 Although writing this, I'm also thinking about travellingcircus 's a dark alley, a bad idea which starts out as a coffee shop au and takes a thriller turn which isn't exactly a meet cute but is extremely good

hurt/comfort or there was only one bed - ugh, these are both very good! And there was only one bed is such a classic for a reason BUT hurt/comfort is so adaptable and I love angst

found family or partners in crime - I love a found family. It always hurts when a piece of media brings a group of people together throughout the story and then they go their separate ways at the end, it sometimes feels like it devalues the character development they made together throughout the story. I'm a huge fan of finding love in multiple and unexpected forms

canon compliant or canon divergent - I don't think I can choose between these two especially with star wars and obikin. There is so much talent involved in creating a satisfying canon compliant fic where the love is there, it just doesn't change anything (and in fact, makes everything feel a bit worse). If there's a theme here, it's that I really do love a bit of angst. I'm thinking about @thedunesea 's The Labyrinth Song here. I read it months ago at this point and it absolutely wrecked me, an incredibly satisfying read. But I also love canon divergence. I love carving out a space where things could have gone different in canon

fluff or angst with a happy ending - This is another one where I was like, don't make me choose! But I'll go with angst here (and not just because a theme is developing) but because they specify angst with a happy ending which feels like the best of both worlds

1st person pov or 3rd person pov - I'm going with Lemon and Rag here. I don't really read any first person fic. I'm alright with it when it comes to original fiction but I still don't read very much of it.

soulmates or forbidden love - I've read a few good soulmate fics (which makes me think of Twin Suns by MmeIrene (I'm not sure if they have a tumblr!) which was very good) but I feel like I read more forbidden love (especially if we consider being forbidden by the Jedi Code or the Council or in original fiction we talk about things like class or homophobia forbidding people from being together)

roommates or fake dating - I absolutely agree with Rag, a lot of original fiction especially doesn't really give a good enough reason for why they're fake dating? Where as roommates allows for a lot of great pining 💕 And I could not answer this one without thinking of @darthwillies fic Roommates which is just soooo good

slow burn or meet-cute - I love and respect the power of a good slow burn. I'm not sure to what extent I'm capable of writing it but it owns my entire heart.

love triangle or polyamorous relationship - my answer to a love triangle is so often polyamory. I never read much of it until ofmd and steddyhands a few years ago and I love some obianidala. I don't know if I could ever write it to my satisfaction though, there's just so many moving parts 😅

royalty au or magic au - I feel like I haven't really encountered too many of either of these? Although I'm loving Rag's If the Shoe Fits which is maybe more of a Cinderalla au than a royalty au but Prince Obi-Wan is just too good in that fic. Put them in pretty outfits, give me some court intrigue, that sounds great!

high school/college au or neighbours au - This one was really hard! I like and dislike both of these. I don't really seek out modern aus in general tbh but I think I've read more high school/college aus. Though honorable mention goes to Heartbeat Drives You Mad by @renlyslittlerose an excellent neighbors au!

mutual pining or idiots to lovers - This one comes back to the angst with a happy ending possibilities. I agree with Rag, I think idiots to lovers can be a kind of mutual pining, maybe with more miscommunication and misunderstandings, but that idiots to lovers isn't a tag I would seek out or one that would intrigue me

I couldn't help but turn this into a bit of an obikin fic rec list for some of my favorite tropes 😅 No pressure tags in addition to the ones scattered about the answers: @usakostar @betweensaintsandmonsters @grapenehifics @unspuncreature @samstree

[lavender-long-stories]

Let’s play a game. Send me a potential AU and I’ll tell you five fun facts that would happen in a story.

Shikahina fairytale au (or fairytale elements au)

Hm. That actually makes me have to think.

My first thought is Cinderalla AU with Shikamaru as the uninterested prince.

He would absolutely realize it was her even if he didn't tell her

The evil stepmother would probably just be her father

Hanabi wouldn't hate her, in fact, she snuck her out of the ball

I would have them meet before the ball (like Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella)

Shikamaru's mother would be constantly pissed that she found him around the castle sleeping

[ikemenomegas]

Boreas

Haku x Reader || 11:11

(for @omeganronpa) okay, would you believe me if I said I had a hell of a time coming up with an answer for this because Haku is an outdoors kid and I couldn't figure out how to get him around a clock (or even remember if the naruto world had clocks)🤦. While laying in bed, I finally realized I could just give up on making it super ninja show accurate. The premise is that it's a sort of Cinderalla AU, which seems appropriate since Haku is basically a disney princess. Still took a super long time though He uses a pseudonym for a good long while, but any reference to "Koharu" is really Haku. All characters are aged up and are adults in this au.

This is the Midnight Ball.

Only once every few years, visitors from everywhere come to the Land of Snow, and for three days and three nights the Kazahana Castle is filled with music while the night is filled with stars.

The official festivities at the castle only last three nights, but the capitol of the Land of Snow is bustling and the inns are bursting at the seams to accommodate the influx of visitors a week before.

There was plenty to see, from Land of Frost geisha to Land of Birds musicians, and dancers and entertainers and opportunists from everywhere else.

Besides all of that, you have been wandering the town, sampling the food carts and enjoying the very nice baths in the castle as part of the Land of Fire delegation. Apparently there were perks to being friends with the person who saved the current Snow Daimyo.

The first day of the ball arrives not with a true dawn, but with the dramatic dusk that had lasted since the previous evening finally fading into a moonless night.

People flood the public courtyard of the castle in their best clothes to celebrate the winter solstice, lifting glasses to the health of their daimyo, and to the ongoing peace brought by healthy alliances with neighboring nations.

You try to pick out as many different people that you can based on dress alone. It is undoubtedly exciting, dialects and patterns flowing around one another.

You spot the figure early on in your scan of the crowd because they are objectively one of the most beautiful people that you have ever seen in your life. They are also moving around like they're looking for someone and using the way the crowd parts around them to find this person.

You point it out to Sakura and Naruto, if only so they'll notice if you go missing tonight and send a search party, because you're curious.

This beautiful stranger moves like water in a pink kimono with sleeves that fall below their fingertips. It's elegant, and also easy to conceal hand signs or a blade.

From an upper tier, they're easy to follow. You can't imagine the same would be true of trying to follow them from the crowded main floor, and indeed if you look behind the figure, there are a few who try to follow, only to be blocked by bodies closing around the gap the stranger leaves in their wake.

But for all the circles the figure weaves, they cannot pretend to have no destination forever. You mark the beautiful stranger's target, a moth flutters from your shoulder back to your companions, and you begin to make your way down to the main floor.

See, here's the thing. Even when no one hears about it, there is always one murder at the Midnight Ball. There are too many important people, too many nighttime hours, and too many looking to make their name in the shinobi world for someone not to try.

To be frank, a beauty like this trying to intercept the Wave Country architect is either an escort or an assassin. Even with the silver chrysanthemum of the Narita clan on their collar, you're not really interested in having the death of the evening happen right under your nose just because you didn't check.

It is just as difficult to navigate from the ground as you had imagined, but you finally have the architect and his son in sight. They've moved to a courtyard where there is a lot more noise - music and the guests dancing - when someone crosses directly into your path.

You pull up short.

"Excuse me."

It's not shameful to admit that for a moment you are a little breathless.

"My apologies," you say automatically.

The stranger is blinking at you with a faintly friendly tilt to their pink lips, wide brown eyes not even looking at the architect.

You had intended to intercept them mid conversation and now-

"Were you looking for someone?"

"I thought I saw someone I knew, but it's difficult to find anyone in the crowd," you said, smiling.

They turned around, looking over their shoulder, flashing that silver flower in your face. "Oh. Who was it? Maybe I could help you look?"

You shook your head. "I'll send a messenger later. They're very good at finding people."

"Oh!" Those brown eyes widened. "Have you been to the ball before?"

Practice makes perfect and your face is set in perfect calm even while inside the immediate instinct not to give any information about yourself rises to the forefront.

"A few times," you said vaguely.

"This is my first time," they said, almost shy, ducking their head. "I am Narita Koharu."

Whether this was really Narita Koharu or not, he had introduced themselves using the masculine form with a sly tilt of the head that clearly suggested how aware he was of his own appearance.

It pulled an unwilling smile from you.

As a shinobi, you had to acknowledge the skill of a well executed disguise, especially one worn in plain sight. What better disguise, after all, than the bias of the strangers around you?

Narita Koharu's lips shaped the syllables of your name carefully, like he was holding a sliver of ice in his mouth, and he smiled like you had given him something equally delicate.

"Dance with me?"

You blinked in surprise.

"You said there are others who can find what you need."

Many more than he knew.

A new song had struck up and the natural simultaneous attraction and repulsion that seemed to emanate from this ethereal figure had opened up plenty of space around the two of you.

"I would be honored, Narita-san."

He covered his mouth with his sleeve, hiding a laugh. "If we are to be companions for the night, you should call me Koharu."

You held your hand out for his. His fingers were ice cold.

Time slipped away very quickly when there was no such thing as day or night.

You danced with this stranger until you were breathless and his cheeks were flushed and when you thought it was over, he pulled you laughing into the garden.

It was much colder than inside, although he did not seem to react much.

A clock tower cast a faint shadow as your companion led you aimlessly along pathways lined with healthy green shrubs and blooming flowers.

Despite the winter weather, the gardens were as healthy as if it were spring.

You wandered at "Koharu's" side until you arrived at a quiet seating area facing the clock tower. The tension that had worked its way out while dancing was starting to creep back up.

Was this were he would try to kill you? If he was someone with a target at the ball, why else would he-

"Thank you."

He tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.

You had an irrational wish to do it for him.

"You're a beautiful dancer." You're beautiful. There were worse deaths than at the hand of a beautiful stranger, although few more ignominious.

"It's a lot more fun than I thought it would be." He looked at you through his lashes and shrugged the sleeve of his kimono. "My brother won't be very happy," he laughed, "but it was worth it."

The clock began to chime.

"Oh."

He stood, robes whipping up in a sudden wind.

"I have to go." He said your name softly. "It was nice to meet you."

Like a rabbit disappearing into a thicket, he was gone with a flash of his heel.

You stayed for a while longer, drinking in the vitality of the garden.

While you had danced with "Koharu" you had caught hints of hyacinth drifting from his clothes, but you still caught the scent, even with him gone.

Following it led you to a bed of the flowers, stretching purple and pink and blue in the starlight. On a whim, you reached down to pluck a few blossoms from the thickly clustered stalks. Their green spring sent immediately flooded the air, along with an idea.

Where were those couriers again? You turned back to the castle. You had some things that needed to be done.

Neither Sakura or Sasuke were impressed when you arrived back at the suite.

"You left us to do all the hard work," Sasuke drawled.

"Someone had to keep the target distracted," you replied, shrugging off your own party attire and getting dressed in something more comfortable.

Sakura kicked her slipper at your back and you danced out of the way, sticking your tongue out at her and side eyeing where it had left a crack in the plaster it had hit instead.

"What did you find out?"

"Well." Sasuke pulled a scroll from a hidden compartment in the dressing table. "Naruto is still in the city, but Narita Koharu is a real person."

On the scroll were a dozen names, all people suspected of being high on this year's target list. Near the middle, in fresh ink, was the Land of Waves Architect.

"This was easier," he said, putting a finger on the name. "They were one of the Leaf's escort clients this year. Kakashi was upset because they were attacked twice on the road, which shouldn't happen."

"We'll keep investigating," Sakura said, "but don't be surprised if he isn't who he says he is." She looked excited at the prospect, and you couldn't deny that a part of you felt the same. The cloak and dagger of the ball was half the fun.

Naruto's personable demeanor worked its usual wonders.

The real Koharu had indeed stayed behind in the Narita tea house and inn where he usually served. Whoever this was, was doing an excellent job at elevating the reputation of his borrowed identity.

Apparently, the architect was beinghounded by a sort of local syndicate that did not take kindly to his trying to break the Land of Waves from its years of isolation. The head of the syndicate was a notoriously untrustworthy businessman, and the architect and his family had quietly found a number of investors willing to help break his iron hold on the peninsula.

The fourteen or so hours it had taken for you and your friends to discover the motive for the attacks on the architect had also been plenty of time for you start daydreaming.

Not-Koharu's scent was so firmly fixed in your mind you found yourself shaking away the distraction even as Naruto lighted upon the windowsill and launched himself into the room.

He gave you a grave look.

"You sure know how to pick them."

You held up two fingers, giving him a tired grin. The ball was not even half over and the constant dark made it more difficult to wake up from naps taken in between all the snooping.

"Escort-" you put down one finger "-assassin."

"Well this one's no joke," Naruto said seriously. "They're passing Mist money around, and they're not alone."

"Did you get a name?"

"One of the toads heard 'Haku' -"

You didn't recognize the name.

"- but what's real bad is they're with Momochi Zabuza."

That name any shinobi who had properly memorized their bingo book should know. A mercenary without morals or limits, Zabuza's last confirmed sighting had been years ago and well away from Leaf territory.

A sense of unease came over you. "If Zabuza is working for the syndicate... He's kind of expensive."

Sasuke joined Naruto in the apparent attempt to convert the suite's largest window into it's door.

"I wouldn't bet on the syndicate paying either. They know a contract put out during the event is expensive because it's risky. There's no way they get out of here unmarked."

A wave of sudden grief washes through you. Not the horrible, and unfortunately well known, pain of losing someone you know, but the sadness in knowing that something rare and beautiful would be gone from this world.

"That expression never means anything good," Sasuke said, folding his arms and glaring right at you.

That is enough to get you off the couch you'd fell asleep on, glaring right back.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

The Midnight Ball never truly stops and the party is in its perpetual swing when you go back downstairs.

The energy is a bit less civilized and there are more people swirling about, following the path of wilder dances and drinking shimmering little cups of liquor.

It's been only a few hours, but what you've learned seems to charge the atmosphere.

"Hello."

The low voice is close and warm at your shoulder.

The shiver that goes up your spine entirely inappropriate.

If anything, Koharu Haku is more beautiful than before. Instead of the delicate pink of the prior evening, he is in a teal kimono splashed with bold strikes of gold and deep red outlines of flowers. They are hard to follow, but you know they are chrysanthemums.

It doesn't matter what they are because all you can smell is spring hyacinths.

"Hi."

He smiles faintly. Even his eyelids are lined with the same deep blue-green as his clothes.

"Will you dance with me?"

And just like the night before, you hold out your hand for his cold one.

Time flies by, less distinct that the blurred faces of the people around you as you spin with Haku. He weaves you vague answers to your questions, and you answer him the same.

It's unfair to lay all of your fantasies at his feet, but even knowing that he is lying to you, you can't help but want to know more about him, the real him.

You dance until Haku's skin is flushed and until your feet ache. If the night is to begin a pattern, he will pull you into the gardens and then bid you farewell, having successfully removed your attention from the rest of the party.

But it won't be a pattern, it will be a coincidence, because by tomorrow he will be dead.

When he leads you to the gardens, you keep a hold of his hand and even though he looks surprised, he lets you. He lets you pull him into the shadows of a gabled roof where you stop, chests heaving with dying laughter and exertion.

He's lying, about everything, but that's the job. Outside of the village, and even sometimes inside of it, deceit is a shinobi's first weapon. Of the whole team, Sai is the best at it, and then Sakura, who's gotten only better and better at saying what people want to hear. You don't fault Haku for being good at his job, or for looking the way he does. It's likely that it's brought him more suffering than happiness.

It makes you feel guilty, like you're just another person in the crowd who's fallen for his face and his attention, but you also feel like you know where the lie is. You can see little pieces of something that seems real, surely being used to reinforce the pieces that aren't, but they're gentle and fierce and brilliant. Just like all the similar endings before, he doesn't deserve a bad ending just because they took on a bad client.

"I'm glad you found me again, Haku."

Like a switch flipping, Haku's expression went completely blank. He tried to pull away, but you stepped closer.

"Don't do this."

He tugged his wrist from your grasp and you let go.

"There are very powerful people protecting the architect."

His eyes, if possible, went even colder and he began to walk away.

The scent of hyacinths went with him.

"Please." Your voice cracked.

He stopped.

"Only death comes of this. The man who is targeting the architect is using you and your partner, Zabuza, right? From what I've gathered, even if you succeed, he will find any excuse to break the contract."

The gold in Haku's kimono shimmered faintly in the starlight as a wind kicked up, shaking leaves from the surrounding bushes.

"-your name."

He spoke so quietly you hadn't heard what he had said.

"What?"

"Did you give me your name? Your real one."

"Yes, but-"

His shape seemed to blur into the shadows, he was gone so fast, before you could even blink.

You return to the suite after spending a few hours running around the castle. There is neither hide nor hair of Haku anywhere you can sense or see.

"What the hell did you do?" Sasuke asks, cross armed.

"I guess we'll find out."

The third night of the ball, the celebrations don't even attempt to stay within the walls of the castle. The whole town is a riot of color and sound, scents and lights splitting out of every building as longest night proper begins.

It's a bad deal as far as guard duty goes. Naruto and Kakashi have their eyes on the architect, and the rest of you are scattered throughout the party, tracing set routes as invisibly as possible, tense and waiting for something to happen. You're all in formal-wear purposefully designed to be easy to move in, with weapons tucked into sleeves and boots and belts.

By your calculations it's creeping up on midnight when a presence appears behind your shoulder.

Instinctually, you whip a blade from the holster on your forearm.

A firm block stops your arm halfway while a hand grabs your wrist, twisting the point of the blade to the floor instead of their face.

Haku stares you dead in the eyes, searching for something.

You don't know how long you stand there, eyes locked, arms locked. Vaguely, you register the pointed tip of a long steel needle crossed with your blade.

Haku lets go first, releasing your wrist with a wary look.

You step back, lifting your arms and dropping the short blade back into its sheath. You swear you see the faintest uptick at the corner of Haku's mouth when you do.

He slips the senbon back into his sleeve.

Distance gives you enough space to see the shimmering white and silver coat he wears tied loosely with a brown belt. Inside, it is as striking on him as all the others he has worn, but outside he will disappear in the always falling snow. His eyes are lined red.

"I have something to take care of," he says evenly. None of the previous evening's flirtation is in his tone. But he hesitates, before he carefully asks, "Will you wait for me?"

You can't speak, you can barely swallow, so you just nod.

He gives you one more all but unreadable look and then he leaves, walking until you lose him in the crowd. The pervading music plays on.

You listen for the chimes of the castle clock which has been the only mark of time since the endless nights of the ball began. It passes midnight and fireworks go off in the clear night sky.

It passes one o'clock and nothing happens and the celebrations finally begin to wind down, as though everyone finally has the permission to rest after three days and nights of revelry.

Eventually, Kakashi calls the group together, and although he and Sasuke will stand guard over the architect and his family tonight, the danger is judged to have passed as the sky ticks towards dawn for the first time in three days.

Even given permission to sleep, you find that you cannot. You stop by your rooms just long enough to get a thick cloak and the little project you have been working on in your downtime. It doesn't take long for you to realize that there is only one place where you want to wait, to see if Haku will come.

You head down to the garden to watch the dawn come after the ball.

Short winter days mean the sun rises late. You watch the tall clock tick onward while you turn a resin preserved hyacinth between your fingers.

The shadows stretch long behind you as the sun rises beyond the tower.

You don't see or scent him until he has made his footsteps known some distance behind you.

"I didn't expect you to wait up."

You wonder how long he's been waiting too.

"I couldn't sleep," you admit softly. "I wasn't sure what choice you made until a few hours ago, and then I just couldn't sleep."

The hands of the clock move relentlessly onward. The hour and the minute hand sit at an awkward angle from one another, the hour hand barely scraping past the eleven while the minute hand makes its way past the two.

Part of you isn't sure why you came down to the garden. All you had been hoping for was a chance meeting, but now the moment is here.

A deep, fortifying breath comes from behind you, and then Haku was crouching down in the grass right in front of you. He wore no makeup or fancy ornaments in his hair. Like you, he was still in his clothes from the night before, but they were not tied so tightly or carefully.

You offered him the pin you had made in two hands and after a moment he tilted his head as if asking you to place it. You slid the pin through the top of the half-bun his hair was in, carefully arranging it so the cluster of pink and lilac blossoms curled around it.

Silently, the two of you watch the hands of the clock move onward.

"I'm Haku," he finally says.

"Hello, Haku."

You gave him your name.

Haku smiled, not as wide or as energetic as the first night of the ball, but sweeter.

The clock began to play its usual song at the quarter of the hour.

Somewhere, a few ambitious musicians perhaps already nostalgic for the spectacle of the Midnight Ball struck up a chord that barely carried along the breeze.

"May I have this dance?"

Your heart was fluttering, nothing like the first night of the ball.

Haku put his cold hand in yours.

[halfthebrain]

Y’all wanna hear my Cinderalla crack AU for marvey? This literally came to me like a 10 min fever dream. I was possessed writing it out.

[ao3feed-everlark]

wildflower

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/nweQ1SH

by Anonymous

District 12 becomes the setting for the biggest ball of the decade. Every girl, be it a merchant or Seam girl are invited, each and every one of them hoping to become the bride of the 74th Hunger Games' Victor: Peeta Mellark.

Katniss Everdeen wants nothing to do with it.

Words: 1885, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games Series - All Media Types

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark

Relationships: Katniss Everdeen/Peeta Mellark

Additional Tags: In Panem AU, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Peeta won the 74th HG, Prim was never picked, Inspired by Cinderalla

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/nweQ1SH

[kloethewriter]

I’m all over the place with my fics and probably need to update the old ones instead of writing new ones. Anyway I have a lot I want to write but I’ve desided I will only post them on Wattpad (I have multiple accounts because I’m mental) for now and then after a few chapter I’ll start uploading them to A03. That way I know there will be steady updates.

Anyway I’m writing this Little Mermiad AU with Harley and Peter. Except it’s more adult and alot of sexual tension and it will follow there life after the movie as well. I’m basing it more off the live action (which I saw and it was fucking amazing!!!!) because I only really saw the  animation when I was young and only a couple of times. Plus I feel like they (the actors) had so much chemistry in the movies it made the story.

Anway Since I can’t really watch the Little mermaid online yet It’s becoming a lot less like it with the dilogie since I watched it like a week ago and just now got to writing it. Although I’m thinking about going to see it some more times. Though some dialogue changes are gojng to be good and mandatory that way it’s not a complete copy.

Anway off topic of fanfiction but I love blabbering about my life sometimes… I don’t feel I have watched a lot of Disney movies. Especially if I have I’ve only seen them like once or twice.

Cinderalla, I watch the 1965 movie live action. I think I’ve only watched the actual animated movie once. I don’t think I’ve really seen any other animated ones (Snow white once I think).

Also I watched the trailer for Elements (the new disney movie) and I feel like Disney is not what it used ot be. No offense but I don’t think a lot of there projects can beat Toy Story or the Lion King. Two of my favorite movies.

Anway you guys are probably tried of my ranting! Love you guys!❤️

-Kloe

[ao3feed-birdflash]

Cindernard

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/7dtNEZ5

by Sunflower124

BTBK Cinderalla AU with Bernard as Cinderella, Tim as Prince Charming, and Kon and Bart as Tim's 'companions' and definitely not paramours.

Written for YOTP March prompt Fairytale AU and Batfam week day 2 “please… stay, don’t go.”

Words: 2542, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 4 of Sunflower's YOTP: BarTimBerKon, Part 2 of Sunflower's 2023 Batfam Week

Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, DCU

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M, Multi

Characters: Bernard Dowd, Cinderella's Stepsisters, Cinderella's Stepmother, Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake, Wally West, Dick Grayson, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Bart Allen

Relationships: Bart Allen/Bernard Dowd/Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Bart Allen/Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Dick Grayson/Wally West

Additional Tags: Year of the OTP Prompt Event 2023, NO CAPES, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Cinderella, Homophobic Language, Homophobic Themes, Background multiverse shenanigans, Mentioned Roy Harper/Jason Todd, Marriage Proposal, technically not a main btbk focus, just bernard/tim, but it's there in the background

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/7dtNEZ5

[ao3feed-narlie]

Glass Buckles

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/IplfxNk by PansyFace22 “Are you supposed to be here?” The warm voice stops him in his tracks. He turns around and brushes some hair away from his forehead, nervously. When he looks into eyes of the most outrageous twilight hue, his curse gets the better of him in an unexpected way. “Yes,” he answers, and he’s never been more certain of anything.   A Nick and Charlie Cinderella AU Words: 8663, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Heartstopper (Webcomic), Heartstopper (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Nicholas "Nick" Nelson, Charles "Charlie" Spring (Heartstopper), OG wicked stepmother, Nathan Ajayi, Jane Spring, Victoria "Tori" Spring, Oliver "Olly" Spring, OG fairy godmother Relationships: Nicholas "Nick" Nelson/Charles "Charlie" Spring Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Magic, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Curses, Cinderalla AU, Curses with a Happy Ending, Happily Ever After, First Kiss, True Love's Kiss, Minor Character Death, Nick is cinderella and therefore an orphan after all, heartstopperpromptweek, Promise/Magic, No beta we die like the parents of an orphan destined to go to the ball read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/IplfxNk

[clown-of-rivia]

You Have Until Midnight

by @fangirleaconmigo (Descarada)

Fandom: The Witcher

Rating: Explicit

Relationships: Eskel/Jaskier | Dandelion;  Essi Daven & Jaskier | Dandelion;

Characters: Jaskier; Eskel; Lambert; Geralt of Rivia; Coen; Vesemir; Yennefer of Vengerberg; Triss Merigold; Sabrina; Essi Daven; Stregobor, Nenneke; Aiden; Tissaia de Vries

Tags: Major major found family vibes; Cinderella Elements; Jaskier is basically Cinderella; Yen is basically the fairy godmother; Pining; Fluff and Angst; Hurt/Comfort; slaps hood of this fic; You can fit so much found family in this baby; Minor Aiden/Lambert (The Witcher); Minor Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia/Yennefer z Vengerbergu | Yennefer of Vengerberg; Cinderella AU

Summary:  Jaskier works in the Kaer Morhen stables and pines for Eskel.  There is a masquerade approaching where Eskel will choose a spouse. Jaskier knows he cannot attend as a guest and would never be accepted as an appropriate match for the witcher. But then he is faced with an unexpected opportunity. One lovely night. One dance. That’s not too much to ask, right?

Eskel pushed open the door of the stable and at the sight of his dark hair and scarred face, the stableboy felt as though someone had released a thousand butterflies into his gut. A stupid, involuntary grin spread on his face.

You see, the stableboy loved Eskel.  As far as he was concerned, Eskel was more beautiful than anything else in Kaer Morhen. He was more lovely than the groves of pines surrounding the keep. He was more breathtaking than the view from the eastern balcony at sunset.

He was patient. Kind. Funny. Easy going. When Eskel was around, life felt softer. Safer. Or maybe Jaskier was just better able to bear its hard edges in Eskel’s calming, competent presence.

[matchalaatte]

Everyone say, Thank you Art🧎🏻‍♀️✨❤️

Read Explanation about this AU 

Keep reading

[t4tdrarry]

@drarrymicrofic May 7 2021 | Prompt: Caught | an: i found this in my notes?? and i never posted it apparently but i actually do like it so here it is now

At midnight, he runs. He is halfway down the steps when he’s caught by a hand around his wrist.

“Malfoy. Don’t go yet.”

He looks up from his caught wrist to his captor, gold mask glinting in the moonlight—the mask that covers that scar, but cannot hide those brilliant green eyes.

“When did you figure it out?” He asks.

Give me a reason to stay, he means.

Below that gilded mask, a smile shines.

“When you walked in.”

[sneaks-the-hammock-jockey]

From Miraculous Discordance's Adrien Augrest day 16: Ziggy!

I went with my first idea, it's a stretch since it doesn't focus on Adrien, but he is there and I told myself I'd do something else if I had time and inspiration...but I am a little short on both. But this was be my 50th insta post, so I waited for it to be my 50th here too!

[sparklinpixiedust]

Thinking of a gwevin au called "Another Cinderella AU"

So Kevin's the one who's imprisoned in his house and forced to clean and make fancy cars and stuff for his step brothers.

Max takes the place of lady Tremaine, and the step brothers are Ben and Albedo.

Ben and albedo cuz i figured since they look the same they could be twins.

Gwen's the Princess who's forced to search for a prince by her mother.

Fairy godmother is argit. He helps kevin sneak out for the ball to see gwen after ben and albedo lock him in.

[ p.s ben and gwen are NOT related in this au in any way ]

I'll to add to this when I get more ideas.....

[leossmoonn]

A Cinderella Story

masterlist

pairing - kai parker x fem!reader fairytale au

type - fluff

note / request -  “Hi! So a kai request.. how about Cinderella's story with Kai×Reader pls.. they meet in masquerade ball, she lost a shoe behind and Kai uses the locator spell to find her 😁😁tysm”

summary - prince kai tries to find the mystery woman who had left her shoe at the ball

warnings / includes - mild language, degradation from the step sisters and mother, kissing, mentions of wanting to murder your step mom (gets a lil dark for like .2 secs lol)

————

*gif isn’t mine*

“Y/n! Wake up!” You sat up immediately, hearing your step-sister’s voices yell from downstairs. 

“I’m up!” You shouted back. You got out of bed, putting your robe over your nightgown. You opened your curtains, taking in a few moments of peace before you had to deal with the monsters that were downstairs. 

You went downstairs, seeing Caroline and Rebekah painting their nails. 

“Hi, Y/n! Mind doing my laundry?” Caroline asked. 

“Sure,” you nodded. 

“My God, Y/n. Get dressed will you?” Rebekah remarked. 

“You guys would have yelled at me if I didn’t get down here quickly,” you said. 

“Hm, true,” Rebekah said, tilting her head to the side. “Anyways, do our laundry. Mother wants eggs and bacon for breakfast.” You nodded, “Alright.” You went to pick up the laundry baskets that were sitting next to them, walking over the laundry room.

“Make me some eggs, too!” Caroline called from the living room. 

“One more thing to add to the to-do list,” you muttered in distress. 

You loaded up the laundry machine with their darks, starting it and going over to the kitchen. You turned on the stove, getting a pan and a carton of eggs out. 

“Hey now, hey now. This is what dreams are made of,” you sang quietly, nodding your head to the beat that was playing in your head. 

“What have I said about singing? Your voice is retched, child.”

Esther, your step-mother, said as she walked through the kitchen. 

“Sorry, Miss,” you said, keeping your eyes fixed on the eggs that were cooking in the pan. 

“Add some salt and pepper, you know that Caroline likes them flavoured,” Esther said, sitting down and opening up the newspaper. 

“Yes, Miss,” you said quietly. 

“And speak up. No one can understand you when you mumble,” Esther said sharply.

“Yes, Miss,” you said loudly. 

You flipped over the egg, seasoning them. You got a few plates, getting ready to transfer the eggs. You cooked the rest of them breakfast, settling the plates, napkins, and silverware all on the table. You went back to the fridge, getting out an apple and two pieces of bread for yourself. You went to sit at the table, but Esther stopped you. 

“You eat in your room,” Ester said. 

“B-But I thought-”

Esther put her hand up, silencing you with her magic. “I said eat in your room.”

You nodded, turning away and carrying you food. As you went to the stairs, you passed Caroline and Rebekah who looked at you with their fangs, veins circulating under your eyes. 

“Have fun,” Caroline smirked. 

You put your head down, avoiding your step-sister’s gaze and climbed up the stairs. You closed your door quietly, slumping down on your bed. You ate your breakfast, getting up to shower and get ready for the day. 

You put on cinnamon-brown jeans, a mint-green, long-sleeved shirt, and a brown tank top over your shirt. You put on black flats and tied front pieces of your hair back with a ribbon. You put some concealer, natural-coloured chapstick, and clear mascara that your friends had secretly gave you. You had to hide them under your bed so Esther wouldn't find them. You wished you were allowed to have more, but you knew that if you did, Caroline and Rebekah would notice the makeup and get you busted, which as the last thing you wanted. 

You grabbed your purse that your mother had given you when you were a child, before she died. You then went downstairs, going down to the laundry room to transfer the washed clothes to the dryer, putting in a new load. As you were putting in Caroline and Rebekah’s lights, both of them walked in. 

“Where are you going dressed up like that?” Rebekah asked. 

“Out to the stores,” you answered simply. 

“Why? You never asked mother,” Caroline asked, leaning against the washer. 

“It's Friday, and I always go to the store on Fridays. It’s part of the routine you and the Misses had laid out for me,” you said. 

“Oh. True. Well, don’t get in trouble, Y/n, otherwise mother- or us-will have your head,” Rebekah hissed, her eyes going dark and red. 

“I know. I won’t,” you said, starting the washer. 

“Have fun!” Caroline said in a sickly-sweet voice. 

You turned around, rolling your eyes at them. You quickly walked out of the house, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the sunlight on your face. You never got out much, but when you did, you cherished it as much as you could. 

You walked into town and spotted your best friends, Elena and Bonnie, over at one of the food stands. 

“Hi!” You smiled. 

“Y/n! You made it!” Bonnie squealed, going over to you and pulling you into a tight hug. 

“Yeah, Caroline and Rebekah were asking questions about why I was going out. God, they are so dumb,” you chuckled. 

“So glad you aren't like them,” Elena chuckled, pulling you into her embrace. You hugged her tightly, a sigh of relief leaving your body. 

Your mood always brightened when you were with them, which was only once a week. Two if you were lucky. 

Elena and Bonnie lived in town, too, just a few houses away from you, actually. Luckily, their parents weren’t dead, and their mom’s loved them and let them have lots of freedom. You had met them while you were shopping for yourself, looking at new shirts. Elena worked at the store at the time, telling you that you would look amazing in the shirt you were looking at. You had met Bonnie at the supermarket. You both got into a conversation about the better type of orange juice, with pulp or no pulp. You two had decided on a friendly agreement and became friends immediately. They were the only ones stopping you from running away from home, and/or staking your sisters and killing your mother. 

“Me, too,” you smiled.  “So, have you heard the news?” Elena asked, pulling away. 

You furrowed your brows in confusion. “About what?”

“About the royal family! King Alaric is throwing a ball for his sons tonight,” Elena explained.

“Word is, Alaric wants them to get hitched,” Bonnie smiled. 

“Oh, no, I haven’t heard about that,” you said. 

“You should totally go! Bon and I are going, obviously,” Elena chuckled. 

You smiled sadly, “I wish I could go, but we all know Esther wouldn’t let me, no matter what.”

“What if you do double the chores all week?” Bonnie suggested. 

“Even if I did, Esther would always find a reason for me not to go,” you sighed. 

“Well, it’s always good to ask, even with a mother like Esther,” Elena said. 

You thought for a moment. “Maybe I will.”

Bonnie and Elena smiled excitedly. 

“If you were to get married one of the princes, who would you marry?” Elena asked. 

“I would want Prince Jeremy. He is so handsome. Plus he’s human,” Bonnie said, looking to the sky dreamily. 

“I would want Prince Damon. Stefan is cute, too, but I’m into the bad, vampire boys,” Elena giggled. “That you are,” Bonnie chuckled. “What about you, Y/n?”

“Hm, I don’t know. I think Caroline would go for Klaus, and Rebekah would go for Stefan, so probably Prince Kai,” you answered. 

“The witch? Good choice,” Elena smiled. 

“Yep. I don’t need a husband as a vampire when my step-sisters are ones,” you said.  “Well, Esther is a witch. What about her?” Bonnie asked.

You shrugged. “She’s just mean to me, she doesn’t actually terrorise me all the time like her daughters.”

“True. Well, I think you and Prince Kai would so be adorable!” Elena exclaimed. 

“Imagine you go and he picks you to be his wife!” Bonnie said. 

You laughed, “That would be… amazing. But those things only happen in fairytales and if we were living in a fairytale, my life wouldn’t be hell.”

“Well, I am hoping it does happen. You deserve a better life,” Elena said. 

You smiled at her, “Thank you.”

“You also deserve a totally hot boyfriend that is part of royalty,” Bonnie smirked. 

"I don’t care about the royalty part. I mean, yeah, it would be so awesome to be a princess, but all I want is a nice guy who supports me and wants kids someday,” you shrugged. 

“Ugh, and this is why you are amazing girlfriend material!” Elena said. 

“So are you two!” You said. 

“Please, you are by far more kind than us,” Bonnie said. 

You rolled your eyes. “You two are more kind. You befriended me.”

“Because you have awesome taste in clothes, and you are so loyal and funny. Things we all value in friendship,” Elena smiled, nudging Bonnie. 

“Ah, I am so glad I have you two,” you said. 

“We are glad to have to you, too! So, wanna shop around for dresses?” Bonnie asked. 

“I told you guys I’m not going,” you said. 

Elena and Bonnie took your hands, dragging you into a clothing store. 

“At least try something on?” Elena pouted. 

You sighed in defeat, knowing they wouldn’t stop trying to convince you. “Alright, aright! Lead me to the ballgowns.”

They both clapped your hands excitedly, walking over to the dress section. 

“Hey, El, isn’t the ball also a masquerade ball?” Bonnie asked. looking at a emerald-green dress.

“Oh, I think so! Here, I’ll get use some masks and you two look for dresses,” Elena said. 

You nodded, Elena walking over to the back of the store. You looked at a few dresses, you finding a violet-purple ball gown. It was strapless and the skirt was like a mermaid tail. You picked out a couple more: a short, red dress that had spaghetti straps, a dark-green ball gown and an elegant, blue gown. You and Bonnie waited for Elena to pick out her dresses before you went into the dressing rooms. 

You tried on the red dress first, taking the black mask and putting it over your face. You went out, seeing Bonnie in a black ball gown and Elena in a white gown. 

“Wow, you two look gorgeous,” you said. 

Bonnie smiled, “Thank you. I’m not sure if I like how it fits, though.”

“Yeah, me too. I look like the Pillsbury man,” Elena chuckled.

“I don’t think I like this one, either” you said, looking at yourself in the mirror. 

“I think it looks nice!” Elena complimented. 

“I like it, too, but we can all try on the other ones,” Bonnie said, walking back into her dressing room. 

You and Elena followed her lead, changing into your next dresses. You had changed into the violet gown, not liking its itchy material on your boobs. Elena had changed into a yellow one, not liking how it looked around her hips. Bonnie changed into the emerald-green one that looked absolutely gorgeous. 

The dress straps clasped around her neck, leaving her shoulders and back open and bare. The top of the dress had a gold and green design, it trailing down to your waist, the skirt of the dress going down and flowing out in solid green past your feet. She was wearing a black mask and black heels to match. 

“Pick that one,” you and Elena said. 

“You think I should?” Bonnie asked. 

“Yes!” You squealed. 

“Alright. Well, I guess I’ve found my dress,” Bonnie smiled. 

You went back into the dressing room, changing into the dark green dress with a gold mask. Elena came out with a fuchsia pink dress. It's neckline was a sweetheart, the dress highlighting her curves, going down and and fanning out at the skirt. She wore a light pink mask and black pumps. 

“That is your dress, El,” you breathed out, amazed by your best friends beauty.

“I think so, too,” Elena smiled excitedly. 

“You look so beautiful, Elena,” Bonnie said, admiring the dress. 

“I think I will pick this one, then. Y/n, are you gonna pick that one?” Elena asked. 

“I don’t know. I have one more, though,” you said.

“Well hurry and put it on!” Bonnie exclaimed.

“Alright, alright,” you giggled. 

You took off the dark green dress, changing into the big, light blue ball gown. You put it on, gasping as you saw how it looked in the mirror. 

The straps went across your shoulders, puffing out slightly. The stomach of the dress fit you nicely, showcasing your curves. The skirt of the dress was like a traditional ball gown, fluffy and fanned out. You put on a silver mask and white, open-toed heels. You looked in the mirror, admiring how stunning you looked. 

“Can we see it?” Elena called out.

“Oh, yeah!” You said. You picked up the skirt, pushing the dressing room door open. 

Bonnie and Elena gasped in surprise. 

“Okay, now you have to go to the ball,” Bonnie said. 

You smiled, “I really like it.”

“Oh, me, too. Wow… you look… just wow,” Elena said. “If Prince Kai saw you in this, he would melt.”

You sighed, “If only I could go.”

“Hey, remember to at least try and ask,” Bonnie said. 

You nodded. “Right, yeah. I’ll try.”

————

You waked back to the house a few hours later, carrying some grocery bags. You unlocked your front door, opening to see your sisters running around with their hair half-done, lipstick smudged, only in their underwear. 

“Um, what’s going on?” You asked. 

You heard the clicking of heels and saw Esther coming down the stairs. 

“Haven’t you heard? The king is throwing a masquerade ball tonight!” Esther exclaimed. 

“Oh, right,” you said. You lowered your gaze, thinking of a way to ask Esther if you could go or not. 

“Why are you quiet, child?” Esther asked. 

You looked up at her through her lashes. “I, um… I just wanted to ask if I can go with you to the ball.”

Esther raised her brows and looked to her daughters. “Caroline, Rebekah. What do you think? Should Y/n be able to go to the ball?”

“Only if she helps up get ready,” Rebekah said. 

Your eyes lit up and you looked to them. “Yes, yes I will. I’ll do anything.” 

Esther smirked. “Alright, you can go. Just help them get ready.”

You nodded and smiled at Esther. “Thank you.”

“Why, of course. Now get to work,” Esther said. 

You nodded, going over to Caroline and Rebekah’s room to help them get ready. You first did their makeup, making it elegant and light. Next, you did their hair. You straightened Rebekah’s har, pining it up in a braided bun. You then curled Caroline’s hair, brushing it out and leaving it down. Last thing to do was get on their dresses. 

You did Rebekah’s first. She had chosen a beautiful, light yellow dress. It had a sweetheart neckline, the top lining of the dress having jewels. The dress went down her waist, hugging her in all the right places. The bottom then flowed out and was ruffled. Caroline’s dress a white, mermaid tail dress. The dress was strapless and hugged her body nicely. The waist had a shell on it, the middle of the skirt having beads going across, and another shell at the bottom. Then the dress bottom was cut, like a mermaids tail, and then fabric came out and puffed out at the bottom. Rebekah wore a black mask and Caroline wore a baby blue one. As much as you hated them, you couldn’t deny they looked stunning.

“Thank you,” Rebekah said, admiring herself in the mirror. 

“You’re welcome. You two look amazing,” you said. 

“We do,” Caroline giggled. 

“Can I uh, go and get ready?” You asked shyly. 

Rebekah and Caroline smirked at each other. 

“Sure, go ahead,” Rebekah said. 

You nodded, hurrying off to your room. You went to your closet, finding your  mother’s old dress that you had kept after she died. It was a pretty pink dress with thrills and ruffles. You put it on, putting your hair up into a braided bun like Rebekah’s hair. You slipped on your back flats, looking to the clock to see that it was 30 minutes until the ball started. You rushed downstairs, seeing Esther with her daughters, also dressed up. 

“Alright, I’m ready to go,” you said. 

Esther looked at you, laughing. “No, dear, you’re to going.”

Your scrunched up your face. “What? What do you mean?”

“Well one, you’re not wearing a mask, two, did you think we would really let you go?”

You were at a loss for words. “I-I-”

“Ugh, and that dress is absolutely horrid,” Esther said. She lifted her hand, using her magic to tear your dress to shreds. 

Tears pooled in your eyes as you saw all the fabric land on the floor. “No! No! This was my mother’s! No, please,” you cried.

Caroline and Rebekah laughed at your crying, enjoying the scene. 

Esther stopped tearing your dress apart, and walked up to you. She put her hand on your chin, holding up your head roughly.

“You will never ever be able to go to the ball. You will never ever be able to go into royalty. You will grow up in this house and stay the maid. You are worthless and a burden. You hear me?” Esther muttered. 

Your bottom lip quivered as you nodded slowly. 

“Good. Now, clean this up. Such a mess in here,” Esther said, walking away and to the limo that awaited them. 

“Ta-ta!” Caroline giggled. 

Rebekah shot you a nasty smile before walking to the carriage. 

You fell to your knees once they left, picking up the pieces of the dress in tears. 

“Why, oh why me?” You blubbered, looking up to the ceiling. “Why is this my life?”

You gathered all the pieces of the dress, throwing it away. You went into the back garden, going over to the tree where your mother’s grave was at. 

“Oh, mother,” you sobbed, sitting down next to the tree trunk. “Why are they so mean? So… heartless?”

“They have never known love before, Y/n.”

You were about to respond when you realised someone was actually talking, someone you didn’t recognise. You looked up, seeing a beautiful, mystical woman standing in the garden. 

“H-Hi. Who are you?” You asked softly. “I’m Abby, your fairy godmother,” she smiled. 

“Oh,” you said. You stood up and walked over to her. “It’s nice to meet you, Abby. I’m Y/n. What do you mean fairy godmother?

“It’s nice to meet you, too, dear. And well, I see over you and come to you when you need me the most. I heard you are having some trouble tonight?” Abby asked. 

You nodded, “Yeah. It’s my step-mother and step-sisters. They’re going to the ball tonight and said I could go if I helped them get ready. So I did, but at last minute they said I couldn’t and my step-mother ripped my dress.” You gestured to the mess was still on your body. 

Abby nodded, “I see. Well, I have a solution.”

Your eyes widened, “What is it?”

“Close your eyes, dear,” Abby. 

You followed her order, closing your eyes tightly, biting your lip in anticipation. A few moments later, you felt a weight on your hips and material across your shoulders. 

“Open your eyes now,” Abby instructed. 

You opened your eyes, looking down and gasping. You were in a dress, the same dress from the store. Abby held a mirror up to you, to which you looked in, admiring the dress. Abby had curled your hair, pinning up the sides with bobby pins.

“Wow, how did you…?” “I am a witch, love. Magic isn’t all evil, you know,” Abby smiled. 

You chuckled, “I suppose.”

“Here’s your mask. Go ahead and go to the ball,” Abby said, handing you the silver mask. 

You tied the mask around your head. “I don’t have a ride, though.”

“Yes, you do. Look in the front of the house and you’ll see your own limo,” Abby said.

“Oh, wow. Thank you,” you breathed out.  “Of course, babe. I must warn you, though, the magic will end at midnight, so you must come home then. I hope you have fun,” Abby smiled. 

You went over to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Thank you so much, Abby.”

Abby hugged you back, pulling away and setting her hands over shoulders. “Of course. Now, go! Have the night of your life!”

You giggled and nodded, going over to the front of the house to see a limo waiting for you. You breathed out excitedly, going into the carriage. You rode to the palace, the limo stopping so you could get out. You saw the ball had already started, so you hurried to the doors. 

As the doors opened, it seemed as time stopped. You entered the ball room, all eyes turning to you. You smiled kindly, lifting up your skirt and walking down the grand staircase. As you walked down, people whispered amongst themselves at how gorgeous you looked. 

“Who is she?!” Rebekah exclaimed. 

Esther glared at you, “I don’t know, but ignore her. Tonight we are trying to charm the king and his sons. You two get to work.”

Rebekah and Caroline nodded, hurrying off to find the princes. They weren’t the only ones staring longingly at you, either. Apparently, you had caught the eye of the second-youngest prince, Prince Kai. 

He had seen you make your grand entrance, not being able to take his eyes off of you as you looked stunningly beautiful, even in the mask. 

“Eyes for her I see,” his older brother, Damon said. 

“Yes. She’s gorgeous,” Kai breathed out.

“Go and ask her to dance, son,” Alaric nudged his son. 

“No, what if she says no?” Kai asked anxiously.

“What girl wouldn’t say no to us?” Stefan smirked. 

Kai sighed, “I suppose. Wish me luck.”

“Go get ‘em!” Damon exclaimed. 

Kai rolled his eyes as his brother, going over to you nervously. As he got closer, it was clear your beauty outshined everyone else’s. He couldn’t help but smile, you looked so kind and sweet. 

“Hi there, Miss,” Kai bowed in front of you.

Your heart started to pound as you recognised him as Prince Kai. 

“H-Hi, your majesty,” you said and curtsied. 

“Please, call me Kai,” he said. 

“Alright, Kai,” you smiled. 

Kai’s heart fluttered, liking the way his name sounded in your voice. 

“I couldn’t help but notice you. You look beautiful. I was wondering if you wanted to dance?” He asked, putting his hand out. 

Your eyes widened in surprise. “You want to dance with me?”

“Yes,” Kai smiled. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I… I’ve just never been asked to dance is all,” you said bashfully.

Kai smiled at your shyness, thinking it was cute. “Well, it would be an honour to be a part of your first dance.”

You chucked. “Yes, I’d love to dance with you.”

You took his hand, feeling tingles rush up your arm and to your spine. Your eyes went up to his shining grey ones that were already looking at you. You could tell he felt what you felt, too. A small smile appeared on both your faces as Kai led you onto the ballroom floor. 

Kai put on of his hands on your waist, holding your other hand up. You put your free hand on his shoulder, intertwining your fingers. The action gave you an intense amount of butterflies.

You two started swaying to the orchestra, keeping eye contact at all time. 

“For someone who says she’s never danced, you’re quite good at it,” Kai complimented. 

“I like to dance in my room. It’s something my mom and I did when I was a kid,” you explained. 

“Me, too, before she died,” Kai smiled sadly. 

“I heard about that. I’m sorry,” you said.

“It’s alright. She was the best mother a boy could ask for,” Kai said. 

“My mom passed away, too,” you said. 

a/n- omg shared trauma, so romantic

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Kai said. 

You shrugged, “It’s alright. It’s been 10 years, so I’m okay.”

Kai smiled, “You’re very strong,”

“Thank you. So are you,” you said. 

“Why, thank you. I have to ask, are you a witch or vampire?” Kai asked.

“I’m a human,” you said sheepishly.

Kai smiled. “Ah, one of the pure ones. Lucky.” “I suppose I am. I bet it’s amazing being a witch, though,” you said, remembering how Abby made a dress appear on you out of thin air. 

“It is, but sometimes people use it for evil,” Kai said. 

You chuckled, “Yeah, I know all about that.”

Kai furrowed his brows under his mask. “What do you mean?”

“Oh. My step-mother is a witch. She treats me like garbage,” you laughed sourly. 

“I’m sorry to hear that. Here, let me show you how magic is supposed to be used,” Kai said and took his hand off your waist. 

“Alright,” you nodded. He kept holding your hand, leading you off to the back of the palace and into the garden. 

“Wow, it’s so beautiful and peaceful here,” you said, admiring the rose bushes and fountain. 

“It is,” Kai said. 

You looked to him, seeing a rose appear in his hand. 

“Wow. That’s so cool,” you smiled. 

He held the rose out for you to take. “Yes, it is.”

You took the rose gently, putting it up to your nose and taking in its sweet scent. 

“This is wonderful. What else can you do?” You asked. 

“Anything, really. Anything your heart desires,” Kai said. 

“Hm,” you hummed. “I wish I could have a different family,” you said.

“I’m afraid that’s something I can not do,” Kai frowned.

“I assumed that. It’s okay. When I’m 18, I plan on moving out and finding a job. Earn money and open up a makeup and clothing store with my best friends.”

“Ah, you have goals in life; admirable. Are your friends here?” Kai asked. 

You looked back to the ballroom, spotting them immediately. “Yes. Bonnie, the one in the green dress, is dancing with your brother Jeremy, and Elena is dancing with Damon,” you pointed. 

Kai looked with you, smiling. “It seems my brothers have found their true loves.”

You smiled with him. “Yep. So it seems.”

“As have I,” Kai said smoothly, looking to you with a glint in his eye. 

A heavy blushed painted your face, causing you to look down shyly.  “You think so?”

Kai smiled and took your hands into his. “I do.”

You smiled widely, moving in closer to him. Right before you were going to press your lips onto his, you heard the clock strike midnight. Your eyes widened and you jerked back. 

“I… I have to go,” you said, picking up your dress and running through the field. 

Kai looked at you, confused. He followed you, seeing you go out the back way and down the stairs. 

“Wait! Don’t go!” He called out. “I didn’t even ask your name!”

You turned back, “I’m sorry. It was so nice meeting you. I had lots of fun.”

You focused back on running, tripping over a step and losing a shoe. You cursed to yourself, but kept running, feeling your hair come out of it’s bounds. You went into your limo, telling your driver to hurry and drive you home. As you got home, your dress disappeared and you were back in your mother’s ripped dress and black flats. 

The limo dropped your off at home and you ran inside the backdoor quickly, grabbing a broom to act like you were cleaning the floor. You put the mask and rose in your room, hurrying back downstairs and started sweeping into a dustpan. As soon as you started sweeping, Esther and her daughters came back into the house. 

“Oh, Y/n. Did you have fun cleaning?” Rebekah giggled. 

“I did,” you nodded. 

“Wish you could’ve seen the princes. So yummy,” Caroline smiled. 

“Not Prince Kai. He went off with a wench,” Rebekah said in disgust. 

“Oh. How sad,” you said, faking your despair. But on the inside, your heart was filled with happiness. 

“She looked so familiar. Poor Prince,” Esther said. 

“Why do you feel bad for him?” You asked. 

Esther narrowed her eyes at you. “Because he could have Caroline or Rebekah, but he chose some common girl.”

“Well, she looked gorgeous, so maybe that’s why,” Caroline said.

You looked at her, your eyes softening. This was the first time you ever heard her say something nice about someone other than herself. 

“That’s a really nice thing to say, Caroline. I bet she would appreciate it if she knew,” you said. 

Caroline looked at you, a ghost smiling forming on her lips. 

“Go and get ready for bed, ladies. It’s late,” Esther said, keeping her eyes on you. 

Rebekah and Caroline went to their rooms quietly. You went to put the broom away, but Esther stopped you, putting a hold on your arm roughly.

“Don’t think I don’t know you’re up to something, child. When I find out, I will make sure you regret ever living,” she muttered into your ears. 

You nodded, keeping your head down and mouth shut. She let go of your arm, walking away and upstairs to her room. You sighed and went to put the broom and dustpan away, making your way up to your own room. 

You spotted the rose and mask on your bed, smiling immediately. You got ready for bed and set the rose next to your pillow, falling asleep with it, hoping to see Prince Kai in your dreams. 

Meanwhile you were sleeping, Prince Kai and his family were trying to figure out a way to find you. 

“And you didn’t ask her name?” Klaus asked.

“No, I was so wrapped up in wanting to dance with her and show her magic. I forgot,” Kai frowned. 

“Man, brother, you are screwed. Meanwhile, Jeremy and I have found our soulmates,” Damon smirked, putting his arm on Jeremy’s shoulder. 

“Don’t be so rude, Damon,” Jeremy said. 

“Oh, but it is true. I have met the love of my life, too,” Klaus smiled. 

“As did I,” Stefan smirked. 

Kai rolled his eyes at all of his brothers. “You all are no help.”

“You can try a location spell?” Stefan suggested. 

Kai’s eyes widened. “You’re right! How would I do one of those?” 

“You’re the only witch the family, how would we know?” Damon retorted. 

“Kai, I have your mother’s grimiore that will help,” a sweet, soft voice said from outside of his room. 

Kai looked over to see his father’s wife and his step-mother, Queen Jenna. He looked thankfully at her, taking the book from her hands. 

“Thank you so much, Jenna,” Kai said. 

Jenna smiled and put a hand on his shoulders. “Of course. I saw how you two connected. It was magical.”

“It was, wasn’t it,” Kai chuckled. 

Jenna nodded. “You'll need a map of the town, which is in your father’s study. I’ll go and retrieve it. Do you have her shoe?”

“Yeah,” Kai said. 

“Good. Meet me in the dining hall. Boys, you’ll want to come, too,” Jenna looked at the rest of her step-sons. 

They all nodded, moving towards the dining hall. 

Kai met Jenna in the dinning hall, setting the shoe and the book down on the table. Jenna laid out the map on the table. 

“Alright, so you’ll need to find the locator spell in the grimoire,” Jenna instructed. 

Kai nodded, flipping through the pages until he finally found it.

“Okay, read aloud the spell and make sure to focus really hard on the girl and her shoe. The shoe should land on the location where she’s at,” Jenna said. 

Kai closed his eyes and started to chant. “Phasmatos Tribum, Nas Ex Veras, Sequitas Sanguinem.”

As he said the spell, the shoe moved across the map and the heel stopped at your location. 

“Woah, I wish I was a witch,” Jeremy said in amazement. 

Kai opened is eyes, looking towards the map and seeing you lived in one of the small neighbourhoods. You lived about 30 minutes away from him. 

“Alright, I will go in the morning,” Kai said. “Thank you, Jenna.” 

“Of course, Kai. Now, you all get some rest. We’ll meet in the morning,” Jenna said, taking the map back to her husband’s office. 

“I’m going to find her,” Kai muttered, smiling to himself.

————

You awoke the next morning, seeing the rose next to you. A smile lit up your face, your mind replaying the memories of last night. You took the rose gently, putting it to your chest, close to your heart. You were about to go back to dreaming about Prince Kai and you when you heard yelling from downstairs. 

“What is going on?” You muttered to yourself.

You put on your robe on, tying your hair up before going downstairs. You opened your door, your eyes widened at the scene in front of you. 

Caroline and Rebekah were fighting, Esther trying to use magic to break them up. 

“What’s happening?” You asked. 

Esther looked up at you. “It was announced this morning that Prince Kai was coming over here to find the mystery girl he danced with. The girl left their shoe.”

“Did you two dance with him?” You asked. You couldn’t help but smirk as you knew you did, and they didn’t. 

“No, they didn’t, but they think the girl who did lives here,” Esther said. Her eyes widened as she put the pieces together. “You!” She exclaimed, pointed her finger at you.

Your smirk fell and your heart started to race. “I-I… What do you mean?”

Esther climbed up the stairs. “I don’t know how you did it, but you were at the ball, weren’t you? That’s why you looked so happy last night.”

You shook your head, “No, no. I was at home.”

Esther leaned close to you, backing you up into a wall. “I warned you what will happen when I figured out what you were up to.”

“No, I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-”

A knock at the door stopped your speech. You tried to get out of Esther’s grasp. 

“You will not get anywhere near him,” Esther spat. She shoved you into your room, using magic to keep the door shut until she broke the spell. 

“No, no! Let me out! This is not fair!” You exclaimed.  You pounded against the door helplessly, but you knew that she had also put a sound protecting spell on your door. 

You slid against the door, tears streaming down your face. 

“I was so close… So close,” you sobbed. 

Your eyes wandered to your bed which still had Kai’s rose on it. You sniffled as you crawled over to your bed, and took the rose in your hands. Your smelled the flower, remembering what Kai had said to you last night. 

“You’re very strong.”

You opened your eyes. “I am strong,” you said to yourself. You got up and went back to the door. 

“Alright, if I kick it in hard enough, I might be able to open it,” you said. 

You balled your hands in fists, putting your leg up and kicking the door. Nothing happened. You did it again and groaned with frustration. 

“Dammit,” you muttered. “C’mon, Y/n. You can do this.” You kick it again. And again. And again. You groaned in frustrated. 

“C’mon, open!” You yelled. As you did your sixth kick, your eyes glowed golden. An enormous amount of strength entered your body as your foot came in contact with the door, allowing it to finally break open. 

You stood in your doorway, slightly sweaty, but looking heroic. Everyone looked up at you with wide eyes.

“W-Who is this?” Kai asked. 

“Oh, she’s just the maid,” Esther smiled sweetly at him. “Go on, maid.”

“No, I-I’m not the maid,” you panted. 

“Wait you… you sound familiar. And your eyes… oh, my God,” Kai breathed out. 

“What?” You asked, not understanding. 

Rebekah looked up at you gasping. “She’s a werewolf!”

“What?!” You exclaimed. 

You put your finger in your mouth, feeling fangs grow out from your gums. 

“Oh, god,” you muttered. You decided to deal with your newfound identity later and focus at the matter at hand. 

“Let me um… Let me try on the shoe,” you pleaded. “Please. I promise, I’m the girl.” 

Kai’s eyes widened. “I… Alright. Um, come down to try on the shoe.”

You nodded, hurrying down the stairs. Kai came up to you, looking at you with those soft, grey eyes he had. He slid the shoe on your foot, it fitting just perfectly. 

“This is not enough evidence!” Esther exclaimed. 

You glared at her, then looked at Kai. “I have the rose you gave me last night. The rose you gave me while using magic in the garden. I-I go and get it.”

Kai shook his head, a smile appearing on his face. “No. The fact that you know what happened last night is enough evidence for me.

You let our a breath of relief. “Oh, thank God.”

“I… I thought you said you were human,” Kai said. 

“I am- was. When I was kicking down the door, I must have activated my werewolf gene,” you laughed. 

Kai smiled, “Well, I don’t care. I’m glad I found you. I knew I’d find you.”

“Me, too,” you smiled. 

You moved closer to him, snaking your hands around his neck as he put his hands around your waist. Kai leaned in closer, your heart rate spiking as you knew what was about to come next. 

Kai pressed his soft lips to yours, a million of butterflies unleashed in both of you. You pressed your body up to his, Kai’s hold on your waist tightening. As you kissed him, you felt at home. Safe, happy, and complete. 

You pulled away, a big smile forming on your lips. 

“Come to the palace with me?” Kai asked. 

You nodded with a laugh, “Most definitely.”

————

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