#Cinderella’s Departure for the Ball

[paul-archibald]

Fairy tales

Fairy tales have stimulated generations of composers to write some of their finest music. With a rich source of characters that includes dragons, dwarfs, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, monsters, talking animals, trolls, unicorns, witches and wizards, it’s no wonder these stories have captivated the imaginations of compsers and audiences alike. Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921)Hansel…

[princesssarisa]

Disney's unconventional "Cinderella" (1950) (long)

Having watched most of the many adaptations of Cinderella, I've come to realize what a unique adaptation Disney's 1950 animated classic really is. Unlike Snow White, which only had a few stage and screen adaptations before Disney produced its groundbreaking film, Cinderella had already been adapted many times before Disney's turn came, and Disney's version makes a surprising number of departures from the standard Cinderella "formula." It was definitely a fresh, creative Cinderella when it made its debut, and it arguably still is. Yet because it's become so familiar in pop culture, and today so often serves as our childhood introduction to the tale, it's easy to overlook its inventive storytelling choices. The 2015 live action remake uses several classic Cinderella adaptation tropes that the original 1950 film actually subverts!

Here's a list of the often-overlooked ways in which Disney's Cinderella stands out from earlier adaptations, and from many later ones too.

Cinderella herself. Disney's Cinderella isn't a traditional Cinderella in personality. The "traditional" portrayal of Cinderella, seen in virtually every adaptation before Disney's and several afterwards too, is the portrayal I call "The Waif": a very young, fragile, melancholy girl, dressed in pathetic rags and smudged with ashes, who makes the audience want to rescue her and who wins the Prince's heart with her wide-eyed innocence and artless charm. But whether chiefly to set her apart from earlier screen Cinderellas or from Disney's earlier delicate ingenue Snow White, Disney's Cinderella is none of those things. She comes across as older, or at least more sophisticated. Nor is she waif-like, but instead combines down-to-earth warmth with ladylike dignity, even at her lowliest. She doesn't sit in the ashes ("Cinderella" is her real name in this version), and her servants' dress is humble yet clean and only slightly tattered. She's gentle and kind, yes, but also intelligent, practical, playful, sometimes sarcastic, philosophical, optimistic, genuinely cheerful when she's with her animal friends, and yet angrier and stronger-willed than virtually all earlier Cinderellas. She doesn't beg to go to the ball, but asserts her right to go, and then sets to work fixing up an old dress of her mother's for herself. Only her stepfamily's sabotage, first by keeping her too busy to finish the dress, and then by destroying it after the mice and birds finish it for her, prevents her from taking herself to the ball without a Fairy Godmother. To this day, she stands out as a complex, unique Cinderella, which pop culture too often forgets.

Lady Tremaine. Some critics today complain that Disney makes Cinderella's stepmother a total monster instead of giving her "nuance" and call her portrayal "sexist." But can't we agree that her sheer cruelty enhances the film's dramatic power? And compared to earlier portrayals of Cinderella's Stepmother, it definitely makes her stand out. In most pre-Disney Cinderellas and many after, the Stepmother is a pompous, vain comic antagonist. Once again, Disney was innovative by portraying Lady Tremaine as a dignified, manipulative, and truly sinister villain, who takes quietly sadistic pleasure in abusing Cinderella and will stop at nothing to prevent her from going to the ball or marrying the Prince. As far as I know, she's also the first Stepmother to realize before the slipper-fitting that Cinderella was the lady at the ball and to take action to prevent her from being found. That's a commonplace plot device in more recent adaptations, but in 1950 it was a creative twist!

The mice and other animals. Viewers debate whether Cinderella's mouse friends, Jaq, Gus, et al, and their misadventures evading Lucifer the Cat are a welcome addition or take away too much screen time from Cinderella herself. But there's no denying that the presence of the mice and birds is an inventive storytelling choice, which makes Disney's Cinderella stand out! And I can provide a long list of reasons why they're more than just "filler." (1) They add liveliness, humor, and appeal for younger children. (2) They gave the animators an outlet for the type of character animation they did best, rather than binding them to the harder work of animating realistic humans. (3) They give Cinderella someone to talk to besides her stepfamily. (4) They give her a way to demonstrate her kindness. (5) The struggles of the mice with Lucifer parallel Cinderella's abuse by her stepfamily, and Cinderella's undying optimism not only keeps her from despair, but inspires them too. (6) They arguably provide a further reason why Cinderella stays with her stepfamily – not only does she have nowhere to go, but an entire community of small sentient creatures relies on her for food and protection. (7) They reward Cinderella for her kindness. From the start, her friendship with the mice and birds makes her life easier to bear, both by easing her loneliness and because they do helpful deeds for her, like mending and cleaning her clothes. They fix up her mother's dress for her to wear to the ball – only the stepfamily's last-minute cruelty requires the Fairy Godmother to step in. And in the end, they're directly responsible for Cinderella's happy ending by freeing her from her locked room. They do all these things because Cinderella has protected them, fed them, made them clothes, and been their friend. Therefore, Cinderella's good fortune never feels "just handed" to her: her kindness directly earns it.

The Fairy Godmother. It's always varied between illustrators whether Cinderella's Fairy Godmother is portrayed as a grandmotherly old woman or as youthful, regal, and beautiful, but screen and stage adaptations before the Disney version virtually always took the "youthful, regal, beautiful" approach. That is, when they didn't change her into a wise, fatherly male magician-advisor, as in several opera adaptations! At any rate, seriousness and dignity were the norm for this character in most adaptations from the 19th century through the 1940s. Making her a sweet, comforting, grandmotherly figure, with a comically and adorably absent mind, was another of Disney's fresh choices.

Cinderella's entrance at the ball. We all know the classic image of Cinderella's entrance from other adaptations. Cinderella appears at the top of the grand staircase that leads down to the ballroom, and a hush falls over the assembly, as not only the Prince, but all the guests and members of the court are amazed by the unknown lady's beauty and magnificent dress. Even in versions without a staircase, Cinderella captivates the room the moment she enters. Adaptations both before and after Disney's, including Disney's own 2015 live action remake, play her entrance this way. But the 1950 animated classic subverts it! The grand staircase leads up to the ballroom, not down to it, and Cinderella's entrance isn't a triumph at first, but a vulnerable moment as she makes her way up the stairs alone, dwarfed by the splendor around her. Then, when she reaches the ballroom, no one notices her at first, because the other ladies are being presented to the Prince and all eyes are on him. But then the Prince notices her in the shadowy background as she quietly marvels at her surroundings, and leaves his post to approach her and invite her to dance. Only then does the rest of the assembly notice her, because she's the one the Prince has singled out. It's more understated and it feels more realistic than the traditional entrance, as well as more clearly symbolic of Cinderella's venturing above her station, then both literally and figuratively being led out of the shadows by the Prince's unexpected attention.

The slipper-fitting plan. Over the years, it's been fairly popular to mock the idea of using the glass slipper to find the Prince's love, as if there were no chance it would fit anyone else. Disney's version is creative by having the slipper-fitting search be the comical, hot-blooded King's idea, not the Prince's, and making it clear that it's not, nor is it meant to be, a foolproof plan to find Cinderella. The Duke points out that the slipper could fit any number of girls, but the King doesn't care if they find the right girl or not: he just wants to hold his son to his pledge to marry "the girl who fits this slipper" and force him to marry the first one who fits it. This also means that Disney doesn't do what most adaptations do and have the Prince conduct the search himself, but follows the original Perrault tale by having a gentleman, in this case the Grand Duke, do it instead. This prevents audiences from mocking the Prince for relying on the slipper instead of knowing his beloved's face.

Cinderella breaking free and asking to try on the slipper. Even though in Perrault's original tale, Cinderella asks to try on the slipper, she almost never does in adaptations. In most versions other than Disney's, including Disney's own 2015 remake, Cinderella's presence in the house (and/or the fact that she has the other slipper) is either discovered by accident or revealed by Cinderella's allies, not by Cinderella's own initiative. In some versions, she even tries to hide from the Prince and/or the search party, either out of fear of her stepfamily or because she feels unworthy of the Prince in her rags. But not Disney's animated Cinderella! First of all, she has an assertive emotional breakthrough when she calls on her dog Bruno to chase Lucifer away and free Gus to slip her the key to her locked room. Earlier on, she urges Bruno to try to get along with Lucifer, lest the stepfamily not allow him to sleep in the house – it's clear that Bruno represents her own rebellious side, and in that scene she's really talking about herself, revealing that she tolerates her stepfamily's abuse so she won't lose her own "nice warm bed" and be homeless. But in the climactic scene, when she finally sees a way out, she gives up playing nice and seizes her chance. First she unleashes Bruno on Lucifer, and then she runs downstairs and directly asks to try on the slipper, not caring how her stepfamily will react, or what the Grand Duke will think of her shabby dress, or whether the audience will accuse her of gold-digging or not. This isn't a common breakthrough in other Cinderella adaptations, but it fits perfectly (like a glass slipper, you might say) with the Disney Cinderella's stronger-willed and more self-assured characterization.

"I have the other slipper." We can probably all safely assume that when audiences first saw Disney's Cinderella in 1950, they all expected Cinderella to try on the glass slipper she lost, with her identity revealed by its perfect fit. They never would have expected Lady Tremaine to trip the footman and break the glass slipper... only for Cinderella to calmly reveal that she has the other one. It's yet another clever and unexpected twist, not seen in any other version. Not even Disney's own 2015 remake.

Disney's Cinderella deserves far more credit than it gets for being unique among the myriad versions of the tale, especially compared to the versions that came before it.

[comparativetarot]

The Chariot. Art by Nara Lesser, from Neurotic Owl’s Faerytale Tarot.

Y’all, I spent at least 5 minutes sitting and thinking through stories wondering what on earth could be the chariot AM I DUMB.

Ok, ok, but real quick first, if you like art and tarot and weirdness and whatnot you have two days left to get in on the Alleyman’s Tarot.  I do not read tarot; as I think I said back when I started the first deck, I enjoy the cards as art objects and symbolism puzzles, but that means that getting 137 cards by different artists chock full of weird art and puzzling meanings is IDEAL.  Also, one of the booster packs Seven has added is going to include a happy squirrel card.  A HAPPY SQUIRREL CARD.

So, back to the Chariot.  I mean look, it’s a very famous fairytale carriage, how could I not, BUT ALSO she is so victorious in this moment!  She is going to the ball, dammit!  She is going to have a BLAST and she is all dressed up and feeling fab, and her whole situation is getting ready to be upended.  This is a departure from what I’ve been doing in that it’s closer to the modern tellings than the Perrault; among other things, her slippers were originally fur, not glass, and I’m pretty sure fur would be waaaaaay comfier for dancing in.  Of course, the older story is where you get the vengeance angle that’s a possibility in the card – when at Cinderella’s wedding the two wicked stepsisters get their eyes plucked out by birds which is definitely exactly the kind of heartwarming scene you totally want at your royal event.  Love means ignoring when really fucked up shit happens to your new stepsisters implying that your lovely bride may have some kind of terrifying bird control powers, I guess.

Also, I’m messing with the period by not having her in stockings, but nobody wants to see stocking toes squished into glass slippers, and also whatever, she’s sitting on a giant pumpkin phaeton harnessed to mice. Come at me, authenticity snobs.

[daily-rayless]

As the moon rises on Halloween night, Cinderella prepares to depart for the ball, pausing only for one last kiss from her fairy godmother.

I suspect that with its iconic pumpkin carriage, Halloween Cinderella's been done many times before, but I wanted to give it a try. In many tellings, Cinderella's magical night only comes about because she's been praying tirelessly to her dead mother. So in that way, an undead godmother makes perfect sense to me, as does the skeletal horse she raised to speed Cinderella along her way -- a devoted old family horse that once enjoyed apples and scritches from her parents.

I love the combination of oranges, reds, and purples, so we took a departure from the classic blue-gowned Cinderella. She got a fancy black stocking to show off her glass slipper. As well as a mask, because a) Halloween, and b) also it gives her prince some kind of excuse for why he can't recognize her unless her shoe fits.

And while I was drawing her and positioning everything, the idea of a prosthetic left leg suggested itself. So there is actually only one glass slipper. In some tellings, when the prince is toting around the glass slipper for everyone to try on, the evil stepmother deliberately breaks it to thwart Cinderella from getting her chance. This Cinderella will either have to be faster than her tormentor -- or rely on some other means to make her true identity known.

[bloodstained-ballgowns]

prokofiev and saint-saëns out there making the most missy-coded pieces of music gotta love 'em

[hotshotblackburn]

Three Artifacts in the Museum of Injustice

The Sun’s Prince and the Moon’s Daughter: A Romance in Four Seasons An extended series of twelve related illustrated tales, published in the now-banned Viric Fairy Book (despite evoking their work, there appears no authorial connection to Andrew or Leonora Lang). Describes the courtship and growing romance between the human youngest son of the Sun and the crescent-winged, sickle-headed eldest daughter of the Moon over the span of a year, from their first meeting in “Sun’s Prince and Moon’s Daughter” to their final elopement in “The Liberation of Night”. Notable for its mixture of classical motifs and contemporary political themes: “The Spider and the Starry Ball''s inclusion of an impossible task (listing all the noble families of the stars), supernatural helper (the nebula-weaver) and loss of an identifying object (the ring which keeps the prince from being burnt by his family) will be familiar to any child who has heard Cinderella, but they will likely be less familiar with the commentary on the relationship between subject and ruler noted by the daughter in “The Silver Farmers’ Moon-Song”. The series ends with a drastic departure from older tales, when the prince chooses defiance against his father and abdication of the throne to be with his beloved; the engraved illustration of her flying him away from the Sun’s castle is considered to be one of the standout artworks of the book as a whole.   

The Peasant’s Tapestry A deliberately unfinished mixed-materials embroidery (despite the name, it is not a tapestry), multiple anonymous creators, currently hanging in the Museum of Injustice’s Aeons Collection. Oral documentation indicates a long and fragmented history, with multiple contributors adding on to the piece over time: the current version measures at least eighty meters long with individual contributions ranging from years to millenia old. Despite the patchwork nature of the fabric, age, and artwork, the tapestry is unified in its subject: generations upon generations of working laborers and serfs, at once struggling and yet still supporting the future generations to come. Figures gathering reeds and laying bricks prepare tables of beer and sweet-fungus in one embroidery for people farming maize and tanning hides in the next, who in turn come to lay out bandages and herbs for the horse-groomers and personal servants of newer additions. The tapestry - according to the Museum’s curator - represents a side of Neath history not acknowledged by those that have ruled and rule it: a class solidarity that has survived across both centuries and Cities. 

The New Farmer’s Almanac Book copy found in the possession of an American immigrant to London, originally surrendered to the Ministry of Public Decency but recovered prior to burning. No authorship is attributed, but colophon indicates publisher as the Pennsylvania Carillon (possibly fictitious: no official records of such a company have been found). Both the appearance and contents of the book appear to be heavily derivative of the popular North American Old Farmer’s Almanac, with content mainly revolving around weather predictions, the positions and movements of the stars, planting and gardening advice, and animal husbandry tips. There are, however, a number of unusual additions: notes on the trends of recent developments in chess-match strategies, charts for observing and predicting degrees of darkness, and times of year when certain caves will be flooded or dry are just a few. Some of the advice given for farming and gardening are similarly strange, in some cases bordering on the superstitious: how to identify sick animals by the patterns of firefly movements, which crops to only grow by the light of the moon, and notes on what to do if Sirius begins to glow brighter than normal.  

(catching up with @fl-revs-appreciation's prompts for days 2, 3, and 4! Moonlight, Melancholy/Comfort, and Stars [with a hint of Chess] respectively)

[monkeyssalad-blog]

When the bell chimes, it's too late, Japan, April 1977 by jp.ads Via Flickr: This poster, which depicts Cinderella rushing from the ball at the stroke of midnight, is meant to warn passengers against the danger of trying to rush into the train after the departure chime sounds. Part of a vintage Tokyo subway manner posters series. Via pinktentacle.com/

[jk-keno]

Hiral (23sjccc031)

CINDERALLA

Let’s consider “Cinderella”. In the original fairy tale, Cinderella attends the royal ball, loses her glass slipper and the prince searches for her, based on how the slipper fits her foot

ALTERNATIVE ENDING:

After Cinderella’s hurried departure from the ball, she realizes she dropped her other slipper in the carriage. She writes a letter to the palace the following day outlining her

circumstances and expressing her wish to see the prince once again.

Her honestly touched the prince arranges a way to meet all the women in the kingdom not just those whose feet fit the

slipper. He finds Cinderella, recognizing her by the kindness in her by the kindness in her letter and her genuine demeanor.

This ending highlights the prince’s commitment to finding true love beyond physical appearance. It emphasizes communication, honestly and the importance of the character, adding depth to their eventual union.

Their love story becomes an inspiration, a testament to the belief that true connections are based on the essence of one's character rather than material things or appearances.

And together, they embark on a journey that celebrates empathy, understanding, and the power of genuine love.

PERPESTIVE:

The alternative ending underscores the idea that true connections are built on more than just a perfect fit or external appearance.

It highlights how important sincerity and communication are in relationships, enabling characters to connect on a deeper level than just surface-level than just surface-level attributes, this shift promotes the idea of mutual understanding and genuine connections as the foundation for a meaningful relationship.

[drleeladevi]

@ofdoesnoharm

{I briefly shut out everything that was happening around us as Devon and I shared this pivotal moment together on the dance floor. As silly as this sounded, I knew this was like some kind of Cinderella moment. No, I don't mean the fairytale cheesiness of that story, but what I was referring to was how fleeting the moment would be. I was here for Devon's special recognition... To cheer him on and support him as he was honored with a well-deserved award, but after this ceremony ended, it meant my departure from Baltimore too. Just like Cinderella went into the ball knowing it would all end at midnight, I was now feeling that same sense of dread at my own connection to that realization. I silently considered as the two of us continued to remain flush to one another as we swayed in sync to the music. I smiled softly up at him when he confessed that he knew I was meant for greatness. Words couldn't describe just how much I appreciated his support, and also knowing that he believed in me. He gave me a shot to prove myself when nobody else at that hospital would have. If Conrad or Bell had learned of my disability, they would have immediately fought to have me cut from the program. Just as AJ intended to do after I failed him in the OR. Devon though... He was different. Instead of thinking the worst of me, or claiming that I was a fraud, he figured out why I learned differently than the others, and gave me a chance to prove that I could do this. I would forever be grateful to him for all of that. We began as colleagues, over time became friends, and before I knew it, I was madly in love with him. Then life happened, you could say. Devon got the opportunity of a lifetime in Baltimore and given that it was in the midst of us having trouble in our relationship, Devon took the job. I was crushed, of course, and was still kicking myself for not asking him to stay, but deep down, I knew I couldn't ask him to stay. It wouldn't have been fair of me to ask him to give up such an amazing and deserving opportunity to me. Maybe he would have stayed or maybe he still would have left, but I'll never know the answer to that. What I did know was that I couldn't take the risk that if Devon did stay, he'd have regretted it, and ultimately resent me because I was the one he stayed for. I couldn't do that. It would have been fair to Devon or our relationship. All in all, Devon left and he was happy here, so yes, although I missed him, I was happy to see him so happy} Okay, we can talk more afterwards if you're able to. {Knowing we were catching a flight back later tonight, so we wouldn't have much of a window to talk, but I was open to it if the opportunity presented itself. By now the chief started to speak, so everyone left the dance floor in order to take their seats. At that I reluctantly released my hold from Devon so we could return to our seats with everyone else}

Continued

@drleeladevi

Time moves, yet feelings sometimes never do. Devon knew he made mistakes when it came to Leela, when it came to how easily he had walked away. He wasn’t proud of how he abruptly ended to relationship. He knew his research was the escape patch of healing. The offer came when it was becoming difficult to be around her; to pass her in the hall and fight the urge to reach for her hand. To look her in the eye and feel like we were tainted. Devon was a fixer; he wanted her to be family; and at the time our wants didn’t line up with each other. 

His heart still ached for her, He thought about her everyday, it was obvious how often his heart beat for her in this instinct. In the instinct he saw her; in that gorgeous dress. She was breathtakingly beautiful. I tried to fight it but instantly I felt the smile tug at the corners of my lips. I invited her because in the best night of my life being honored on my cancer research there’s only one person I wanted by my sider; her. It always came back to Leela. I was surprised she came; she never called or texted not that I had either; so it probably would’ve been awkward if we did have a message exchange. But in this moment; I felt myself walk towards her. I wanted to be close enough where I could smell her strawberry perfume she loved to wear, where I could feel the skin on my arms crawl from how close we were. 

Kit and Bell were talking to other honorable people; probably from the research lab, not that I cared to glance backwards. Because my focus was on her; until I found myself inches from her. 

Tension in the air; two people who cared so deeply for the other, yet felt like strangers. Devon used to know how to speak, but once Leela was in reaching distance, he felt himself fumbling, he wanted to blame it on the look. The dress, her hair down over her shoulders. He suddenly felt like a fish out of water; until she spoke. Her voice was like a wave calling him home. Not to mention the way her hand felt against his tie, he swore he couldn’t think on his own. Swallowing the lumb that formed in his throat; the male managed to find the right way once her hands dropped back to her side. 

“ Thank you, you look remarkable. That color did always look great on you.” Compliment; it was probably the best route to go. Lifting his arm to extend towards the brunette; he hoped she’d take it. “ I’m happy you came, you kept me on my toes making me believe you had declined the offer.” A soft safe conversation; maybe we’d make it through tonight; and who knows perhaps it’ll open the deeper conversation the one we had spent so much time avoiding.

[cielrouge]

YA SFF Books by Black Authors 

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow: About the strength of black sisterhood set in Portland, OR, best friends Tavi and Effie discover their true supernatural identity when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical siren voice during a police stop.

A Chorus Rises (A Song Below Water #2) by Bethany C. Morrow: Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw is an Eloko, a person who’s gifted with a song that woos anyone who hears it. Everyone loves her — well, until she's cast as the awful person who exposed Tavia’s secret siren powers. When a new, flourishing segment of Naema’s online supporters start targeting black girls, however, Naema must discover the true purpose of her magical voice.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown: Inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess, Karina, and a desperate refugee, Malik, find themselves on a collision course to murder each other, despite their growing attraction.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that she has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer.

Akata Warrior (Akata Witch #2) by Nnedi Okorafor: Now stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny Nwazue, along with her friends from the the Leopard Society, travel through worlds, both visible and invisible, to the mysterious town of Osisi, where they fight in a climactic battle to save humanity.

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis: For fans of Us and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes a witchy story full of black girl magic as one girl’s dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future.

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi: After he eats the sin of a royal, Taj, a talented aki, or sin-eater who consumes the guilt of others whose transgressions are exorcised from them by powerful but corrupt Mages, is drawn into a plot to destroy the city, and he must fight to save the princess he loves and his own life.

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray: Two Black teenagers, talented Beastkeeper Koffi and warrior-in-training Ekon, must trek into a magical jungle to take down an ancient creature menacing the city of Lkossa, before they become the hunted.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton: In the opulent world of Orléans, where Beauty is a commodity only a few control, Belle Camellia Beauregard will learn the dark secrets behind her powers, and rise up to change the world. 

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney: A whimsical and butt-kicking Alice in Wonderland retelling featuring a black teen heroine who battles Nightmares in the dark and terrifying dream realm known as Wonderland. 

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves: 16-year-old Hanna reunites with her estranged mother in an East Texas town that is haunted with doors to dimensions of the dead and protected by demon hunters called Mortmaine.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury: Set in near-future Toronto in which, after failing to come into her powers, 16-year-old Black witch Voya Thomas must choose between losing her family’s magic forever or murdering her first love.

The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley: Set in Victorian England, African tightrope walker Iris cannot die; but soon gets drafted in the fight-to-the-death tournament of freaks where she learns the terrible truth of who and what she really is.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi: 17-year-old Zélie and companions journey to a mythic island seeking a chance to bring back magic to the land of Orïsha, in a fantasy world infused with the textures of West Africa.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2) by Tomi Adeyemi: After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But with civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron: 16-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia flees, hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Crown of Thunder (Beasts Made of Night #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Taj has escaped Kos, but Queen Karima will go to any means necessary--including using the most deadly magic--to track him down. 

A Crown So Cursed (Nightmare Verse #3) by L.L. McKinney: Alice is ready to jump into battle when she learns that someone is building an army of Nightmares to attack the mortal world, before she learns of a personal connection to Wonderland.

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron: In Jim Crow South, black teen Evalene Deschamps finds her place among a family of women gifted with magical abilities, known as jubilation - a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: The Civil War is over, but mostly because the dead rose at Gettysburg—and then started rising everywhere else. Fighting the undead is a breeze for Jane McKenne, an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. But the fight for freedom? That’s a different story.

Deathless Divide (Dread Nation #2) by Justina Ireland: After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler. But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to Nicodermus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880’s America.

A Dream So Dark (Nightmare Verse #2) by L.L. McKinney: Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates) Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends and stop the Black Knight once and for all in Wonderland.

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds: Jamal’s best friend Q is brought back to life after a freak accident … but they only have a short time together before he will die again.  How can Jamal fix his friendship without the truth?

Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley:  Before they can save the world from the monstrous phantoms, four girls who have the power to control the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water must first try to figure out how to work together. 

For All Time by Shanna Miles: Tamar and Fayard, two Black teens, are fated to repeat their love story across hundreds of lifetimes, from 14th-century Mali to the distant future, as they struggle to break the cycle.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna: Inspired by the culture of West Africa, a feminist fantasy debut traces the experiences of 16-year-old Deka, who is invited to leave her discriminatory village to join the emperor’s army of near-immortal women warriors.

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. When Clementine accidentally kills a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape to find freedom, justice, and revenge.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron: Set in a West African-inspired fantasy kingdom, Arrah comes from a long line of powerful witchdoctors, yet fails at magic. When Arrah trade years off her life for magic to stop the Demon King from destroying the world—that is if it doesn’t kill her first.

Legacy of Light (The Effgies #3) by Sarah Raughley: After Saul’s strike on Oslo—one seemingly led by Maia herself—the Effigies’ reputation is in shambles. Belle has gone rogue, Chae Rin and Lake have disappeared, and the Sect is being dismantled and replaced by a terrifying new world order helmed by Blackwell. If the Effigies can’t put the pieces together soon, there may not be much left of the world they’ve fought so desperately to save.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: In this King Arthur retelling, Black teen Bree Matthews infiltrates a secret society of powerful magic wielders to find out the truth behind her mother’s untimely death.

Mem by Bethany C. Morrow: In alternate reality Montreal (1925), a young woman’s personality is the result of a startling experimental procedure, leaving her to struggle with the question of who she really is.

Miles Morales, Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds: But Miles Morales accidentally discovers a villainous teacher's plan to turn good kids bad, he will need to come to terms with his own destiny as the new Spider-man. 

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard:��Half-mortal teenager Helen Thomas goes to live with her father—who is Zeus, masquerading as a university professor—and must do her best to keep the family secret intact.

The Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds: After falling for Kate, her unexpected death sends Jack back in time to the moment they first met, but he soon learns that his actions have consequences when someone else close to him dies.

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith: Set in a futuristic, hostile Orleans landscape, Fen de la Guerre must deliver her tribe leader's baby over the Wall into the Outer States before her blood becomes tainted with Delta Fever. 

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney & Robyn Smith: When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all—her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class—to become the hero society tells her she isn’t.

A Phoenix First Must Burn: 16 Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell: Filled with stories of love and betrayal, strength and resistance, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron: In this contemporary fantasy inspired by The Secret Garden, Black teen Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants with a single touch. Up against a centuries-old curse and the deadliest plant on earth, Bri must harness her gift to protect herself and her family, when a nefarious group comes after her in search of a rare and dangerous immortality elixir.

A Psalm of Storm and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) by Roseanne A. Brown: As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires.

A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) by Amanda Joy: After learning the truth of her heritage, Eva is on the run with her sister Isa as her captive, but with the Queendom of Myre on the brink of revolution, Eva and Isa must make peace with each other to save their kingdom.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko: In a West African-inspired empire, Tarisai is raised by The Lady and sent to kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

Redemptor (Raybearer #2) by Jordan Ifueko: For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar's throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer.

The Ravens by Danielle Page & Kass Morgan: The sisters of Kappu Rho Nu share a secret: they’re a coven of witches. For Vivi Deveraux, being one of Kappa Rho Nu’s Ravens means getting a chance to redefine herself. For Scarlett Winters, a bonafide Raven and daughter of a legacy Raven. When Vivi and Scarlett are paired as big and little for initiation, they find themselves sinking into the sinister world of blood oaths and betrayals.

Rebel Sisters (War Girls #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Though they are working toward common goals of helping those who suffered, Ify and Uzo are worlds apart. But when a mysterious virus breaks out among the children in the Space Colonies, their paths collide.

Reaper of Souls (Kingdom of Souls #2) by Rena Barron: After so many years yearning for the gift of magic, Arrah has the one thing she’s always wanted—at a terrible price. But the Demon King’s shadow looms closer than she thinks. And as Arrah struggles to unravel her connection to him, defeating him begins to seem more and more impossible.

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy: A North African-inspired feminist fantasy in which two sisters, Eva and Isa must compete in a magical duel to the death for the right to inherit the queendom of Myre.  

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves: In Portero, Texas, teens Kit and Fancy Cordelle, daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, bring two boys with similar tendencies to a world of endless possibilities they have discovered behind a mysterious door.

Siege of Shadows (The Effigies #2) by Sarah Raughley:  After Saul reappears with an army of soldiers with Effigy-like abilities, threatening to unleash the monstrous Phantoms, e-year-old Maia and the other Effigies hope to defeat him by discovering the source of their power over the four classical elements, but they are betrayed by the Sect and bogged down by questions about the previous Fire Effigy's murder.

The Sisters of Reckoning (The Good Luck Girls #2) by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The blockbuster sequel to an alternate Old West-set commercial fantasy adventure.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow: Set in the near-future, in which a captive teen human and a young alien leader—bonded by their love of forbidden books and music—embark on a desperate road trip as they attempt to overturn alien rule and save humankind. 

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi: Set in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria, sisters Onyii and Ify, separated by a devastating civil war, must fight their way back to each other against all odds.

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst: When the goddess Bayla fails to take over Liyana's body, Liyana's people abandon her in the desert to find a more worthy vessel, but she soon meets Korbyn, who says the souls of seven deities have been stolen and he needs Liyana's help to find them.

The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum: After a horrific accident brings loners Ryann and Alexandria together, Ryann learns that Alexandria's mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system.

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: Black teen Marigold and her blended family move into a newly renovated, picture-perfect home in a dilapidated Midwestern city, and are haunted by what she thinks are ghosts, but might be far worse.

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle: Black teen Rue, from a poor neighborhood who, after learning she is half-human, half-goddess, must embrace both sides of her heritage to unlock her magic and destroy the racist gods poisoning her neighborhood with violence, drugs, and crime.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Thomas: In this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut, two witches from enemy castes—one seeking power, and one seeking revenge—will stop at nothing to overthrow the witch queen, even if it means forming an alliance with each other and unleashing chaos on their island nation.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood: An Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling in which an unlicensed debtera, or exorcist, Andromeda, is hired to rid a castle of its dangerous curses, only to fall in love with Magnus Rochester, a boy whose life hangs in the balance.

Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson: Black teen Andre Cobb undergoes a liver transplant and as a side effect winds up slipping through time from present-day Boston to 1969 NYC on the eve of the Stonewall riots, delivering a story that is part romance, part gay history, and part time-travel drama, exploring how far we have and haven't come. 

[nyxshadowhawk]

Dark Royalty Core Playlist

People seemed to really like the Beltane playlist so I thought I’d post more of my playlists! I started making this one when I learned that the Dark Royalty Aesthetic was a thing, and I am so happy that it is a thing! It’s now one of my favorite aesthetics, and it got me into more traditional classical music. This is intended to be a “master playlist” -- some of these pieces are taken from oliviaalee on youtube, but many are favorites of mine.

“Masquerade - Ballet Suite: 1. Waltz” by Aram Khachaturian, London Symphony Orchestra, et.al. “Expectation” by Herold Kittler, Nikolai Sergeyev, et.al. “Leopoldine” by Ez3kiel “An Extraordinary Tale” by Peter Gundry “Ghost Waltz” by Abel Korzeniowski “Dance of the Damned” by Peter Gundry “Lestat’s Recitative” by Elliot Goldenthal “Amur Waves” by Max Kyuss, Nikolai Nazarov, et.al. “Gnossienne no. 1″ by Erik Satie, Alena Cherney “Tocka” by Оркестр "Классика" “Midnight Waltz” by Adam Hurst “The Secret Garden” by Adrian von Ziegler “The Second Waltz” by André Rieu, Johan Strauss Orchestra “An Embassy Waltz” by Mickymar Productions Ltd and Failbetter Games  “Tonight Ve Dance” Peter Gundry “Gramophone” by Eugen Doga “Merry-Go-Round of Life” by Joe Hisaishi “Cinderella, Op. 87, Act 1: No. 19, Cinderella’s Departure for the Ball” by Sergei Prokofiev, André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra “Valse sentimentale, Op. 51, No. 6″ by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Josef Sakonov, et.al. “Wood Carving Partita” (cover) by Tim Stoney “Danse macabre, Op. 40: Poème symphonique d’après une poésie de Henri Cazalis” by Camille Saint-Saëns, Rudfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, et.al. “Legacy of Sorrow” by Nox Arcana “Nocturnal Waltz” by Johannes Bornlöf “Incantato” by Adam Hurst “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61: Scherzo No. 1″ by Felix Mendelssohn, Staatskapelle Berlin, et.al. “Serenade for Strings in E, Op. 22: 2. Tempo di valse” by Antonín Dvorák, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, et.al. “The Shadow’s Bride” by Peter Gundry “Nocturne No. 20 In C Sharp Minor, Op.posth” by Frédéric Chopin, Alice Sara Ott “Ghost Bride” by Adrian von Ziegler “Suite Gothique, Op. 25: I. Introduction et choral” by Léon Bollëmann, Michael Phol “2 Romanian Rhapsodies, Op. 11: Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major” by George Enescu, Heinz Rögner et.al. “Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor, "Für Elise", WoO 59” by Ludwig van Beethoven, Lang Lang “The Nocturnal” by Peter Gundry “Piano Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 -"Moonlight": 1. Adagio sostenuto” by Ludwig van Beethoven, Daniel Barenboim “Insomnies” by Ez3kiel “Dance of Gold” (cover) by Tim Stoney, Kristin Naigus, et.al. “Parliament of Owls” by Agnes Obel “An Amalgamation Waltz 1839” by Joep Beving “Dance of Pales” (cover) by Tim Stoney *** “Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 (Episode de la vie d'un artiste) : II. Un Bal (A Ball)” by Hector Berlioz, Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra et.al. “Ritual” by Adam Hurst “Forest Tale” by Wilhelm Becker, Nikolai Nazarov, et.al. “The Awakening” by Peter Gundry “Ceremonial Spell” by Adrian von Ziegler “Autumn Moon” by Eternal Eclipse  “Phantastic Dance No. 1″ by Dmitri Shostakovich, Christian Funke, et.al. “Waltz of Souls” by Adam Hurst “Agnus dei” by Samuel Barber, Roderich Kreile, et.al. “14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 14, Vocalise” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jan Vogler, et.al. “Holberg Suite, Op. 40: IV. Air” by Edvard Grieg, Staatskapelle Dresden, et.al. “Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55: No. 3, Scarbo. Modéré in B Major” by Maurice Ravel, Cecile Ousset “Waltz” by Eugen Doga “Dorian’s Theme” by Charlie Mole “Children's Corner, L. 113: IV. The Snow is Dancing” by Claude Debussy, Peter Rosel “Duo in G Major: II. Air” by François Couperin, Barbara Sanderling, et.al. “No.9 - Finale - Swan theme (Andante)” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  “Organ Sonata in C Minor: I. Grave - Larghetto” by Julius Reubke, Michael Pohl “Requiem for the Gods” (cover) by Wayne Strange, Chad Schwartz “Death Waltz” by Adam Hurst “Lacrimosa” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lisa Beckley, et.al. “Weeping Willow” by Gabrielle Aapri “Eternal Slumber” by Yonder Dale “Midnight Masquerade” by Nick Murray “The Vampire Masquerade Organ Version” by Peter Gundry “Cloak and Dagger” by Eternal Eclipse “Appassionata” by Rolf Lovland, Secret Garden “String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden": II. Andante con moto - Arr. Gustav Mahler” by Franz Schubert et.al. “Reflections” by Toshifumi Hinata “Mariage d’Amour” by Jacob’s Piano “Carnival of the Animals: XIII. The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saëns, Yo-Yo Ma “Victor’s Piano Solo” by Danny Elfman “Sofia’s Waltz” by Carvajal “The Nutcracker, Op.71, TH.14 / Act 2: No. 14a Pas de deux: Intrada” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Mariinsky Orchestra, et.al.

Spotify Link:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3yFvAGB5xdoOELbmiJ136U?si=1d1f15e826ac445b

[the-clockwork-three]

i listening to the first couple seconds of every song from the cinderella ballet (because they never label anything correctly in the albums IM JUST LOOKING FOR THE PAS DE DEUX) and one of the leitmotifs just awoke a deep ballet memory holy shit. the exact song as i remember did not show up but the Waltz Coda and Departure for the Ball are very similar

also some of these just have silly names. Skinny's variation??? Grasshoppers and Dragonflies??? also like you have the Spring Fairy. Then you have the Summer Fairy. then some bugs come out. Then the autumn fairy shows her face. the prince has THREE gallops at the start of act 3

[allaglow]

It’s such an unbelievably romantic notion that two people of such different walks of life with such different motivations and personalities, like Cinderella and her Prince, should meet at a simple dance, disengage from all the distractions around them, and find love in the silent solitude. And to think, this quiet, steady love should give way to the Prince becoming so delirious, so his own father would trap him into the convictions of his lovesick heart (marrying whichever girl the slipper would fit, since his father didn’t care much who his son married, so long as he consented to marry and, by way of this arrangement, produced grandchildren to the King).

Just to imagine the scene that ensued upon Cinderella’s departure from the Royal Ball. How flushed the stepfamily must’ve been for this scene to have ended and for there to be a path for Drizella and Anastasia to inject themselves upon the Prince. How the Duke must’ve been so nervous to give his nightly report to the King! How the Prince must’ve been inconsolable, wanting to marry only the girl from the glass shoe- only, the girl is now evaporated. Not a soul in his kingdom knows where she lives, who she is. Never, in his wildest dreams, would he picture his beloved as a tattered orphan, walking barefoot with a sparkling slipper in her hand and surrounded by a menagerie of a starved bloodhound, an old horse, and a colony of mice. And yet, such circumstances would mean nothing to him, if only he had her back.

[princesssarisa]

Cinderella September-through-November: "La Cenerentola"( Italian opera by Gioacchino Rossini, 1817)

Because I want to explore my Cinderella adaptations in chronological order, I'm starting with the earliest adaptation on the list: Gioacchino Rossini's Italian comic opera La Cenerentola, ossia La bontá in trionfo (Cinderella, or Goodness Triumphant), libretto by Jacopo Feretti, which was first performed in 1817.

This has been one of my favorite operas for a long time and I've seen at least eight or nine different filmed productions of it. But the production I've just rewatched is my personal overall favorite: the 1981 studio film version directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, based on his La Scala stage production, starring Frederica von Stade, Francisco Araiza, Paolo Montarsolo, Claudio Desderi and Paul Plishka, and conducted by Claudio Abbado.

Nearly two centuries before the movie Ever After, this opera takes a slightly similar approach to the Cinderella story by telling it "realistically," without magic. In place of a fairy godmother is Prince Ramiro's wise tutor, a man named Alidoro ("golden wings"). He disguises himself as a beggar to test the virtue of his pupil's potential brides, and is impressed when Cenerentola treats him kindly while her stepsisters scorn him, so he secretly provides her with finery and takes her to the ball.

There are other departures from the standard tale too. Instead of a stepmother, Cenerentola is abused by a buffoonish stepfather named Don Magnifico, an excellent comic role for a bass. Prince Ramiro, like many princes in subsequent Cinderella adaptations, first meets his future bride before the ball, disguised as a commoner: in this version, he switches clothes for a day with his valet, Dandini, who creates much comedy with his pompous impersonation of the prince, and whom Cenerentola turns down at the ball despite thinking he's royalty because she prefers his "servant." (This opera has clearly been a strong influence on the standard Cinderella Christmas pantomime in the UK, as the character of Dandini and the identity-switch have become stock elements of the panto.) Because it was considered immoral for a lady to show her ankles onstage in 1817 Rome, the glass slippers are replaced by a pair of matching bracelets – and rather than accidentally lose one, Cenerentola deliberately gives one to her beloved "valet," promising that he'll find her wearing its identical mate, to test whether or not he'll love her in rags as well as in riches.

This is one of the shining examples of comic opera in the Italian bel canto style of the early 19th century. To call Rossini's music "sparkling" is probably an overused cliché, but there's no better adjective to describe it. Its blend of liveliness, elegance, hummable melodies and florid virtuosity is infectious. So is the witty, rollicking comic atmosphere of the libretto, yet at the same time this opera has more poignancy and heart than many others in its genre. It takes its central morality tale seriously by emphasizing that the heroine's innocence and kindness are what earn her rise in fortunes and her prince's love, not just beauty and luck. This culminates in an especially satisfying outcome for her stepfamily, when, having been humiliated, given a righteously angry tongue-lashing by the passionate Prince Ramiro, and facing financial ruin, they finally approach Cenerentola to beg her forgiveness, and are moved to tears when she wholeheartedly grants it.

Having made all these positive statements, I'll admit that the opera has its flaws too. The libretto is sometimes messily structured, since it was written quickly to meet a deadline. For example, the ball seems improbably long, as the characters head to the palace in the morning yet come home in the wee hours of night, and because the theatre Rossini and Feretti were writing for had only a men's chorus available, Cenerentola and her stepsisters inexplicably seem to be the only female guests. Nor are the characterizations very deep, and the action is so heavily padded with the comic antics of Don Magnifico, Dandini and the sisters that Cenerentola herself almost gets lost in the shuffle, her presence becoming more of a series of effective brushstrokes than a constant focal point.

Still, the role of Cenerentola, real name Angelina, is an outstanding showcase for a young mezzo-soprano. (Rossini tended to write most of the heroines' roles in his comic operas for mezzos instead of the conventional soprano voice, but for this heroine the lower voice fits especially well, given her lowly circumstances.) Her music perfectly reflects her journey from oppressed waif to princess, as she begins by singing a simple, melancholy folk tune by the fireside, but by the end blossoms into a dignified, confident lady capable of magnificent flights of coloratura.

There are other Cinderella operas too, but this one is by far the most famous and most often performed, and understandably so. It never fails to bring a smile to my face when I listen to it.

@ariel-seagull-wings, @superkingofpriderock

[tiaragqueen]

Alien

✂ Pairing: Yandere! Prince! Rengoku Kyōjurō x Reader

✂ Word Count: 2,8k+

✂ Trigger Warnings: Possessiveness, implied abuse

[Edited]

***

I've seen a lot of people wrote Cinderella au, so I want to try my hands on it.

If you like my writing, please support me on ko-fi!

“I've never had clouds follow me each day. Years of sun that never went away. I lie here awake but I'm not one to pray. Everything's changed and now I'm not okay.” - Bring Me Home [G Flip]

Compared to some people down the streets, your living situation was much better than they could ever wish for. You still had a roof over your head, clothes – regardless of how dirty and rugged they were – to cover your body, food to sate your hunger, and a room to sleep in. You knew that, and that’s why you endeavored to seek a silver lining in your life. Anything to give you hope that miracles did exist, and everything you’d done all this time wasn’t meaningless.

But there were some days where gratitude was hard to practice, and you felt as if the agony you experienced would never end. You wanted to give up, and at the same time, you couldn’t afford to allow pessimism to dominate your life. Today was one of those days, unfortunately, where your stepmother seemed to act crueler and more sadistic than you could handle. Perhaps it was the stress of picking the right dresses for her daughters or the excitement at the prospect of the prince noticing them and the luxury they’d get to experience in the palace.

Nevertheless, your ‘family’ was overjoyed with the invitation despite the – honestly unnecessary – agitation they displayed over the preparation.

“Ma, it’s too tight!”

“Hush, now.” Your stepmother scowled as she proceeded to tighten the corset on Junko's back. “A sacrifice has to be made if you want to attract the prince.”

The younger sister whined again, while the older one, Ryōka, admired her polished appearance in the mirror.

“My, I certainly look ravishing tonight.” she puffed, caressing her sides sensually. “I’m sure I’ll be the one the prince chooses later. I mean, who doesn’t want this kind of body?”

“No! It’ll be me, instead!” Junko interjected vehemently, clenching her fists.

“Be quiet, both of you!” Your stepmother growled as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “If I see any of you causing a ruckus at the party, I swear I’ll spank you.” The sisters fell quiet from the threat, but the older woman ignored their blanched faces and snapped her head towards you. “[Name], don’t just stand there like an idiot. Make yourself useful and clean this mess!”

You hurriedly nodded and scampered to grab the broom. As disheartening as it was to watch them fussing with themselves and chatting excitedly about the party, you still had work to attend to. Work that never ceased and always piled up on an invisible desk. On one hand, you were happy with their departure. You finally had some time left for yourself at home!

On the other hand, however, you wanted to join them, too. You wanted to see the palace from up close. You wanted to see what the prince and his family looked like. You wanted to wear a gorgeous dress and meet new people.

You wanted to… you wanted to be free, for once.

“What’s wrong, dear? You look disgruntled.” A playful voice asked. Looking up, your eyes widened when they landed on a beautiful yet tiny woman with wings fluttering on her back. Black locks that faded to purple flowed behind her, tied into some kind of a unique style. Large, pupil-less eyes that reminded you of an insect's stared down at you patiently. Occasionally, long eyelashes would caress her pale features when she blinked. Despite her overall cute looks, you sensed mischief in her aura. “Hello!”

You blinked in surprise, and hesitantly returned her hearty greeting. “H-hello…” you murmured and glanced around as if hoping someone would explain to you who the heck this woman was and how did she get here without your knowledge. Maybe she managed to slip inside when your stepmother opened the door earlier? But, shouldn’t any of your sisters notice her? It wasn’t every day you got to witness a fairy in person, after all. “Um, who are you? And how did you come here? All the windows are locked, you know?”

The diminutive woman clasped a hand over her rosy lips and chortled. “Worry not, sweetheart, I’m not here to hurt you.” she chirped, effortlessly dodging the questions. You weren’t sure if you wanted to know her answers, either. Her presence was already hard to swallow, anyway. “Believe it or not, I’m here to help you!”

You frowned in bewilderment. “Help me?”

She nodded merrily, beaming. “Yes, I’m here to help you go to the palace and get the prince!”

You sputtered and frantically flailed your hands as though it could change her opinion. “N-no, you got it all wrong! I’m not–” Your cheeks heated up when she leaned forward and hummed in mock questioning, urging you to continue with your nonsensical rambling. “I-I don’t like him that way, alright? I don’t… I don’t even know what he looks like.”

“And that’s why I’m here to realize your dream.” She finally glided back once she had enough teasing you with her knowing stare. “To start it all, you need a beautiful attire to complement your features and body!”

She waved her wand, and immediately, sparkles surrounded your body and changed the rags into the prettiest gown you’d ever seen. The straps hung loosely on your arms, while the bodice hugged your body perfectly and revealed the right amount of cleavage. A silver necklace dangled on your neck, glittering in the dim moonlight that passed through the windows. The color of the dress darkened from bright yellow to fiery orange, whereas your gloves were pearly white. The fairy merely smiled at the confused glance you shot her. It wasn’t as if you disliked the color, but you suspected a hidden motive somewhere.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she inquired, hands clasped behind her.

You opened your mouth to question her singular choice before sighing. “Yes, it is. Thank you very much… fairy.”

Her amiable smile widened as her eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re welcome~!”

The next few minutes, she completed your looks with a pair of glass shoes and transformed a mere pumpkin into a magnificent carriage. She explained to you that the magic would disappear once the clock struck twelve, and you needed to leave before the predetermined time. Despite the crushing realization that your ‘freedom’ was only temporary, you still heeded her warnings nonetheless. There was no reason for you to disregard the consequences just because she’d helped you. At least, you could try to appreciate her assistance, even if it came out of thin air. And because a simple thank you just wasn’t enough to describe your gratitude.

“Bye, [Name]! I hope you have a delightful night!”

You chose to bite your tongue from asking about how did she know your name when you didn’t remember giving her and waved instead. Slowly, her figure grew smaller and smaller with each distance the carriage took until she was merely a sparkle among the fireflies. You smiled sadly as you rested against the plush couch, musing about how lucky you were to meet such a kind woman. Maybe God finally took pity on you for once? Whatever it was, you thanked her from the bottom of your heart and hoped you could talk to her again.

Hopefully, as a friend.

Unfortunately, your little praying session was cut short when the horse suddenly stopped in front of a humongous building. The coach opened the door to your left and extended a hand. You tentatively accepted his help, unaccustomed with the gentlemanly gesture, and climbed out of the carriage. You gawked at the extravagance, the guards that stationed in every door, and the elegant guests. Gripping the skirt of your dress, you wondered if it wasn’t too late for you to return to your home. You felt so out of place, like an alien. What if someone noticed your ineptitude and kicked you out?

But going home meant wasting the fairy’s hard work, and although you doubted the probability of your second meeting, you refused to disappoint her.

Swallowing the ball of nerves that clogged your throat, you steeled yourself and shakily entered the palace. You thought you caught a couple of guards sending suspicious glances in your direction, but you quickly shook your head to dispel the image. Don’t think about unpleasant things, and you should be fine.

At least, that was what you hoped until someone approached you.

“Hello, hello!” Your heart nearly leaped out of its cage when a trenchant voice boomed. Was it just your suspicion or were you being jumpier and more airheaded today? A tall man with yellow hair and red streaks stood in front of you, smiling widely. “You have a unique dress there, Miss. I like it! It reminds me of my hair color.”

His hair…

Did that meant this person was–?

“T-thank you...!” Almost instinctively, you bowed to hide your flaming cheeks. That cheeky fairy…! She should’ve told you earlier! How would you suppose to act now?! “I’m… I’m glad you like it, Your Highness.”

Oh, great. Now you acted as if you were trying to grab his attention. At this rate, you wouldn’t be much different than your sisters.

The princess laughed exuberantly, but you detected no mockery of your apparent nervousness. Only genuine amusement and… interest? You shook your head and clenched the dress. He must be interested due to your striking garment, not because of who you were. The thought both dismayed and relieved you.

“You’re quite an entertaining one, Miss.” Extending a hand, he beamed. “May I have this dance?”

Dance?! Oh, no. How could you forget about this important detail? Don’t accept, don’t accept, don’t accept –

“… S-sure.”

Darn it. Now you were going to embarrass yourself in front of him, you just knew it. How could you expect an ordinary girl, whose job was housekeeping, to suddenly be able to dance flawlessly?

But it wasn’t too late. You just… you just needed to follow his lead. You were going to make a lot of mistakes, but as long as you appeared to focus on his movements, he’d surely overlook your clumsiness. Hopefully.

The prince ushered you to the center of the ballroom, and only now did you realize that the guests had long stopped doing their activities and were staring at you. The sheer intensity, ranging from envy to curiosity, encumbered you. However, he squeezed your hand gently as a sign of reassurance and smiled cordially.

“Just focus on me,” he whispered as he wrapped an arm around your waist and brought you close to him. You knew it was part of the dance, and yet, you couldn’t help the way your heart thundered at the seemingly intimate gesture. “and you’ll soon forget them.”

You weren’t sure if it was that easy to disregard the plethora of guests standing on the sidelines – you weren’t him who was used to the attention – but you nodded anyway. The fact that the prince of Rengoku had gone out of his way to invite you to dance was flattering enough, so you just had to humor him in return.

“May I know the name of my partner?” he inquired after a short period of adjustment. He chuckled when you accidentally stepped on his foot and dismissed your flustered apologies.

“[N-Name], Your Highness.” you murmured bashfully, the minor flaw mortified you beyond belief.

“Now, now, no need to be so formal. Just call me Kyōjurō.”

You stared into his dilated eyes, mentally inquiring the reason behind the abrupt informality. Wouldn’t it be rude of you to call a prince by his first name? But he didn’t seem to mind, so that should be fine… right?

“Ah, alright… Kyōjurō.”

His already wide smile expanded as he squeezed your hand, satisfied with your immediate albeit reluctant compliance. Kyōjurō knew, the moment he laid his eyes on your skittish figure – so foreign yet precious – you were quite the meek one. The way you constantly looked around, alert at the slightest hint of disturbance, suggested that this was the first time you attended a party. And, probably, his home itself.

Kyōjurō wasn’t a fool. He’d studied too many books about body language to know that you didn’t belong here, that you acted far too nervous for the typical noble. You were probably a peasant that somehow got invited, and regretted coming once you saw the environment.

Though, it didn’t mean that you couldn’t familiarize yourself. Given enough time, he was certain that you’d be accustomed to the royal life and its benefits.

The rest of the night was spent with an impromptu dance lesson, laughter, and small talks. Due to his easy nature, you almost forgot that he was still a prince underneath; someone that you wouldn’t have the courage to talk to otherwise. And, for a moment, you were led to believe that he was some kind of a long-lost friend. The kind of friend that you always wished to have.

Until the clock struck, shattering your fairy tale that he silently weaved with his persona.

“I-I’m sorry, Kyōjurō, but I need to go.” You tried to release your hand from his grasp, but shockingly, he refused to budge. “Kyōjurō, my mother is waiting for me at home.”

No, she didn’t. But a tiny voice told you that something was wrong with him, and of course, your stepmother would definitely blow a fuse once she learned about your disappearance.

“I can send a guard to relay her a message that her daughter has been chosen as my future wife.”

You faltered, and Kyōjurō took this as an opportunity to pull you towards him and hug you as tightly as he could.

“W-what are you talking about, Your Highness?” Perturbed, you’d unknowingly reverted to the formal title, much to his displeasure. “I don’t… I don’t understand! What do you mean by ‘chosen’? I’m not… I’m not going to marry you, am I? That’s just impossible.”

“[Name],” For the first time in his life, Kyōjurō faked a smile. Not that you’d be able to differentiate it from his usual demeanor, though. “don’t you know what the purpose of this party is?” When you shook your head, he grinned knowingly. Every guest knew, except you. And that just proved his theory right. “It’s to find a perfect candidate for my future spouse. And I’ve picked you, among these women.”

You balked at him and attempted to claw his hand had he didn’t catch your wrist.

“No, I refuse! You can’t just… decide something without my permission!” Despite your ardent rejection, your voice wavered as desperate tears gathered in the corner of your eyes. You wondered why nobody rescued you from him, or if his status intimidated them too much. “Your Highness, please…! Let me go. I want to go home, please! Just search someone else instead, please!”

“So you could return to your ordinary life?”

You gaped at him, and you both watched as the dress that flattered your body reverted to its normal rugs. Somewhere in the outside, you could hear the guards shouting about ‘a carriage that turned into a pumpkin’ and ‘a rat’. The events that occurred were too much for you to bear, and for the first time in your life, you broke down publicly.

In the balcony of Rengoku palace, you collapsed right before his eyes and bawled. Your hair was a mess, bruises discolored your body, and your eyes were bloodshot, but you didn’t care. You couldn’t bring yourself to care about anything anymore. Why should you, when you’d revealed to him that you were merely an imposter? An alien that could never fit in this stately environment. A peasant whose skills were only housekeeping and surviving.

No, you sobbed. You really didn’t fit anywhere, did you? Not even your closest family, who instantly rejected you once your father died. Why did he have to die? Why did your parents have to leave you alone at their vicious hands? This was unfair. You wanted to go with them, too.

“Sssh… it’s okay, it’s okay.” Kyōjurō crouched beside you and patted your back as though it’d magically fix everything that ruined you. “Everything’s going to be alright, now.” No, it didn’t, but you couldn’t utter that. The tears had yet to run out, after all. “I’ll ensure that you live comfortably with me.”

You didn’t respond, but the fact that you no longer opposed him and accepted his affection was enough for him. Caging you in his tender embrace, Kyōjurō closed his eyes and relished the proximity.

Searching the culprit to your abuse should be the first step to establish your new life, but he could do that later. For now, he needed to bring you to your shared room so you could have a proper rest. He knew just how exhausting crying could be to your body, and he didn’t want you to fall asleep during your ‘heart-to-heart’ conversation later.

Junko: 順子

Ryōka: 良華

[queenmevesknickers]

Love and Wine

Series Timeline

Ever After

Summary: When Meve shows a lack of enthusiasm for a masked ball, Gascon proposes a scheme that will allow her to cast off the responsibilities of her crown and enjoy a night of fun. But concealing her identity quickly becomes even more complicated than she anticipated, when she discovers an unexpected new side of an old friend...

A Cinderella-inspired chaptered fic (Explicit, Meve/Reynard, complete, 34k)

Falcon’s Flight

Summary: As peace reigns in Lyria after the Second Northern War, Gascon feels the need to stretch his wings and soar beyond the confines of Meve's court and the gilded cage of his duchy. But Nilfgaard will not lick its wounds for long - and when the armies of the north and south collide once more, he must decide what's worth fighting for.

Chaptered fic following the series of events from Gascon’s departure from Meve’s court to the formation of the Iron Falcons mercenary company and their involvement in the Third Northern War (background Meve/Reynard, WIP)

Breaking Point

A short prequel to Blood is Thicker Than Wine - Meve and Reynard have a difference of opinion...

Blood is Thicker Than Wine

Summary: After three wars, there is peace at last in the North; Gascon is finally ready to head home to Lyria and make the most of it with his old friends. But Meve's unruly son Anséis soon draws them south to the fair duchy of Toussaint - where much is not as it seems...

Thronebreaker/Blood & Wine crossover sequel set during the events of the DLC. Mystery with fairy-tale elements and appearances from several familiar faces (Meve/Reynard, Gascon/OMC, complete, 22k)

At First Sight

A missing moment from Blood is Thicker Than Wine, this time from Chapter 1 - Sir Henri’s first impressions of the Duke of Scala.

Between the Shelves

A missing moment from Blood is Thicker Than Wine Chapter 4, from Reynard’s POV.

Hunters, Prey & Strays

Summary: Hunting bandits, competing in tournaments, crossing paths with old friends - and foes. A year in the life of a charming but deadly former bandit and his dashing and devoted knight errant.

Bridging the gap between BITTW and Homecoming, some of Gascon and Henri’s adventures in Toussaint (Gascon/OMC, slice of life, WIP).

“You’re so beautiful.” - a tiny bit of Gascon/Henri fluff.

Homecoming

Summary: It's been a year since Gascon travelled to Toussaint with his friends and his life changed in more ways than he could have imagined. But some things remain the same - there are some demons that cannot be outrun...

One-shot taking place in-between Blood is Thicker Than Wine and Of Time and Tides; Gascon is forced to confront the demons of his past (Gascon/OMC, angst, hurt/comfort, 7.3k)

Sparrowhawk and Swallow

Summary: Love is never easy, when witchers are involved - and being a queen certainly doesn't make it any easier, either. 

A little slice-of-life/domestic fluff one-shot featuring the Queen of Skellige and her favourite witcher, set immediately before Of Time and Tides (Ciri/Cerys, 2.4k)

Of Time and Tides

Summary: A royal visit to Skellige with his old friends Meve and Reynard is just the sort of adventure that a hard-working former bandit and his knight-errant need after several trying months in an increasingly uncertain Toussaint. But when the Queen of Skellige requests their aid, they soon find themselves drawn into a mission far more dangerous than they bargained for...

Sequel to Blood is Thicker Than Wine - join Meve and Reynard, Gascon and Henri and Villem as they head off to Skellige for more adventures! (Meve/Reynard, Gascon/OMC, Ciri/Cerys, complete 37.5k)