#Glad you could make it Duke!!! She’s so proud of him I just know it

[coconut530]

LEARN WHEN TO QUIT MAN

(the last pic of Pluto was me watching him try to keep this going)

[hulhudhonado]

Petty Crimes

Synopsis: Wriothesley just can't seem to get a certain journalist off his back. But to his surprise this journalist is very thorough with their work and it seems they aren't willing to give up just yet.

CW: -

HC: Reader is gender-neutral and uses They/Them pronouns, Reader does not have a vision. Reader is a journalist working at The Steambird.

Characters: Wriothesley, Sigewenne, Mentions of Neuvillette,Furina, Traveler and Paimon

Note: Ok, I promise I'm writing the Neuvillette one, it just is much longer than I expected so I apologise for that. Instead have this one which is shorter but I am still proud of it. I love Wriothesley's design and attacks and LORE but had to skip the banner because I wanted Furina so badly. So think of this as me coping with that. There are going to be some Fontaine spoilers but honestly, it is so little I don't think most people would notice it. As always please make sure to interact with the post, I love seeing the tags or comments I get in the posts, and I'm glad people like my silly ideas about characters I like. Enjoy!

The first time you ended up in the prison was by accident. You just happened to be with a kamera at the wrong place and time and ended up being accused as a stalker. Since the judgment was decided by the Iudex and the court now, the easiest solution was to throw you in prison until the actual perpetrator had come to light. At the time you were cussing and throwing hands with the guards but the minute the Duke came into your vision you couldn’t help but halt.

You couldn’t believe it, this was every Steambird employee’s dream. To be able to meet the Duke and have a proper interview with him would reach the headlines in an instant. However, to no one’s surprise, he had rejected your proposition. Before you could make any more moves to convince him, the actual culprit was found with the help of the traveller and his flying partner and you were forced to say goodbye to the Fortress of Meropide. Just like you had entered, you were kicking and screaming when they threw you out.

So you had to make a plan to somehow enter back inside. Being an esteemed journalist at The Steambird, it was no surprise they refused to let you in and casually stay in the prison. Most criminals tend to stay there even after their term is over but you didn’t have an actual reason to be there. But if you wanted to get a scoop before Charlotte could beat you to it, you needed to take some desperate measures.

- - -

“So, you were sentenced to 30 days in the Fortress of Meropide for taking a picture of Lady Furina while she was chasing her hat that was blown away by the wind?” Wriothesley could only raise an eyebrow at the statement. It wasn’t a surprise that some people ended up here for ridiculous reasons, but the amount that you had accumulated over one year was just unbelievable.

There was the time you decided to release a bunch of birds inside the Opera Epicles. It wouldn’t have been an issue to get them out, but somehow you managed to train them so they could coordinate their movements to somehow re-enter the Opera Epicles after they were thrown out.

 Then there was the time you filled all the water fountains in the district with Fonta and to this day people still cannot figure out how you got your hands on such a large shipment without any suspicions arising. 

To put it simply, the list was endless and at this point, you had probably been in and out of jail more than any citizen he had met. He honestly would not have cared the slightest about you if it wasn’t the fact HE was the reason you were acting like this.

You beamed at him in glee, notebook and pen ready in your hands. He could also see the kamera peaking out of your satchel, probably filled with a brand new film. He tried not to scowl. He couldn’t help but be a bit annoyed by your persistence.

“You know with a track record like this, everything you have done up to now is going to sound more interesting than whatever comes out of my mouth.” He sighed, dropping the papers onto his desk and to no one’s surprise, you immediately began to write down everything he said.

“Maybe for another journalist, but what point is it for me to write about my own stories? I write scoop about celebrities, not my memoirs. ” You answer, pen on your chin trying to figure out which category his statements could fit.

Wriothesley could only sigh. Every time he did all he could remember was Sigewinne’s words. 

‘ Don’t sigh too much, you’re going to end up sighing away all your happiness!’

It was a shame he couldn’t keep his promise, but honestly, the only one he could blame was the columnist who sat right across him. “ I am no celebrity. My answer remains unchanged. No interview.” He reached over for his cup of tea, which had turned cold at this point. He didn’t realise that time had passed so suddenly. It seemed you were just capable of taking over a person’s life just like that.

He tried to stand up to make a new cup only for you to halt him. “Oh did your tea get cold? Sorry, let me make you one.” Before he could react you already took his cup and made your way to the kettle. He blinked in confusion before settling back into his chair. “Are you even sure you can make it right?” He decided to humour both you and himself. He knew you were just trying to suck up to him so he might change his mind, he wasn’t dumb though. Maybe he could use it to his advantage and kick you out of his office. As he tried to wrack up another reason to kick you back outside, a fresh new cup of tea was placed before him. 

And it was perfect.

The tea was infused almost too well. It was pure black with no random additives that Sigewinne insisted were better for his health. No sugar, creamer or milk. There weren’t even any tea leaves left in the brew.

He took a sip, surprised with how it wasn’t boiling since you had just prepared it. A suitable warmth reached his lips as he took a sip of it. He had to stop himself before he could chug it down. He wasn’t an animal, he knew proper tea etiquette.

“Are you a fan of tea, Journalist?” He asked unconsciously. He wished he had shut his mouth, you already write down everything that comes out of his mouth and he didn’t need to give you any more leverage. To his surprise, you didn’t immediately go and reach for your notebook once again.

Instead for once, you looked away from him, refusing to meet his eyes. “I do partake in tea sometimes but I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite. I prefer sugary drinks usually.” You answer, sheepishly brushing your hands together, continuing to look away. Wriothesley squinted at you, unsure whether you were acting shy due to embarrassment or because you were a bad liar. “This tea is steeped far too well for you to be saying that.”

You almost immediately beamed up, your shy demeanour leaving in an instant. “Oh! That’s because I learnt how you liked to brew your tea!” Your eyes reached his and he wondered if you realized what you had just admitted to.

“Isn’t it a bit suspicious you know that?” He asked, taking another sip, it was certainly good tea. You again turned embarrassed. “Well, you tend to pick up some things when you stay around a certain place often.”

“Oh?” His curiosity getting the better of him, leaned towards the desk to fully take you in. “Please do tell me what you have collected thus far.” 

“Well, a journalist can’t show everything they have gathered, unless it’s properly published.” You mumble, trying to slowly back away from his desk. For once you were trying to get away rather than him trying to get rid of you. It intrigued him a bit, what else were you hiding? “Well, unless you do have permission, I doubt you will be going around publishing articles. That is unless you were a scandalous reporter?”

He was shocked to see how wide your eyes grew, for once your usual reporter nature had gone from your face, now looking like any normal citizen living in Fontaine. “I would never! It is unethical!” You defended yourself, you would never dare to publish articles without people’s permission. “Then you wouldn’t mind me reviewing what you have unless you have something to hide?”

And that was how Wriothesley ended up with all your documents, which were now scattered on the desk alongside your prison testaments. You only handed him the documents relating to him but he was surprised to see that you have accumulated quite a number of them. It made him wonder why even bother with an interview if you already had so much knowledge about him.

“This is everything? You have been working hard it seems.” He said. His teacup was now empty, but he needed a new brew if he had to sit all day just to read through everything that was left. You had already collected his entire existence on these papers. His best and his worst moments.

“You know, now I’m starting to doubt that your first imprisonment was a mistake.” He chuckled to himself, which only made you feel red hot with embarrassment. “This is all public knowledge. Sure some were a bit harder to find but if you know what you’re looking for it gets easier” You mumble, fidgeting with your hands. He wondered why you were so embarrassed.

Everything written here was all about him, but you acted as if you were the one on full display. He continued to flip through what you had written. The words you had articulated were quite intriguing, if you did write a scoop about him he was certain he would have had his nose in the papers as well. All your points had thorough evidence with the times and dates it was recorded. There was even certain information he completely forgot about himself.

“You know, with such extensive research you have done, you can pretty much write a whole article about me. Hell, you could even fake an interview with me and I would honestly think I did an interview with you and forgot about it.” He said, placing down your work on the desk once more so he could fully take you in.

He wasn’t one to pay attention to the little details if he wasn’t interested but when he took another look at you, it felt as if he was seeing a completely new person. Your notebook was tucked into the little front pocket of your shirt, and he could see scratches and marks on the visible part that stuck out. Some corners of the pages were dog-eared while others had little sticky tabs poking out from them. Your pen was now tucked behind your ear, it was blue, the colour that usually was smudged on the palm of your hands which you were currently fiddling with. Lastly, your Kamera, the film may have been brand new but the Kamera was fairly old, a dent was visible on the top and he could see a sticker of a Melusine on its side, the same one he would see stuck on his gauntlets from time to time.

You suddenly didn’t seem like the annoying tenacious reporter on his back. You were a journalist, a writer. You had something you wanted to work on. A passion which seemed to exceed expectations. You were not worried to ask questions over and over until you got an answer but you were embarrassed to showcase your work, afraid of the judgment that others give. 

“You know you don’t need to have an interview with me? You can just write whatever it is here and get it done.” He answered, collecting all your research together to hand it back to you.

You shook your head, sighing. You finally turned to look at him. The prison was not known for its lighting but the way the light reflected onto your eyes made it shine with a passion he couldn’t seem to grasp. It almost distracted him from your words.

“It isn’t the same. I want it to be authentic. All of this-” You pointed at your work, which was a full stack at this point. “ was just from the ‘grapevine’ as some may say. I want to hear about your experiences and thoughts from you.”

He thought about your words. It bounced in the walls of his head, like an unstoppable echo. No one up to this point had ever bothered to go directly to him to ask about certain things. It was always the rumours. 

The Duke bought his title. 

The Duke would snap your neck if you looked at him wrong.

The Duke is under a permanent sentence in the Fortress of Meropide.

And here you were, asking him directly, even though everything written in your documents was fully true with proof, whether he could give some time of his day just to ask the same questions all these papers could answer.

He could only chuckle, one that wasn’t in a joking tone. “You like me quite a lot don’t you, Journalist?”

He watched as your sincere reporter's face morphed into what he could only describe as pure embarrassment. He was only shocked with his words but your expression completely delayed his bashful reaction. Instead, he smirked, a bit satisfied for once you weren’t on your high horse.

You grabbed the documents, stuffing them into your satchel and shutting it so quickly he could hear how crumpled they were getting.

“Well, it seems since you aren’t willing to do an interview today I’ll come again another time.” You almost yell, trying your best to close your bag so none of the papers would slip out.

“You’re right, aren’t you glad you have more than 30 days to ask me again?” He retorted, only to see your eyes grow wider. He was certain if he could touch your face, it would have been burning up with how much blood had rushed to your face.

Before anything else could have been said, you turned around rushing yourself out the door. He watched as you scattered down the stairs, making sure not to fall before finally hearing the door shut loudly, the metal clamps echoing in his office. However not a second later the door hinges squeaked once more, and you peeked your head a bit from the staircase.

“Um, goodbye, for now, Sir.” 

And with that you rushed back down once more, door shutting as loud as it did the first time you left. And Wriothesley could only laugh, he wasn’t sure if he had laughed so much before his entire life. Who would have thought that the pure journalist might have a slight crush on him? It intrigued him a bit.

You were here but the only proof of your essence was in your prison statements and the teacup which you brewed tea for him. You were careful not to leave any of your documents or items around, it prevented Wriothesley from coming after you because technically he had nothing to hold against you.

However, he knew he probably would not be able to see you for some time unless you finally got the courage to come to him again. He fiddled with the empty teacup once more. Well, who knows, maybe he would finally come around to doing that interview with you, perhaps he will answer one question at a time while you brew him another cup or for a change of pace he could brew a cup for you instead. You would like sugar in yours, wouldn't you?

It seemed now he had to do his little research on you and maybe, just like you, be a little petty just to be able to see you every day during your 30-day prison sentence.

[elfboyeros]

Down Tower

Bridgehid Masterlist [Start from the Beginning?]

@jj-pines @karaboutmyart @lerenee

All Rowan could do was sulk, leaning against Elias while sitting in the little infirmary room that Georgia had been placed in after the “memory ritual,” Elias and Rowan sat on the window seat, and Maverick and Nemo sat in chairs by Georgia’s bed.

“So, the normal protocol is for me to call your parents and inform them that you have been admitted to the infirmary,” Calvin informed, entering the small room with Indigo right behind him. His words made Georgia give in a look as if to silently ask please don’t call them. “But because it is late as well as the circumstances. I won’t.”

“Thank you, Mr. Corals,” Georgia sighed, “How long do I have to stay?”

“Just for tonight,” he answered, “You’ve just used a lot of power, which means you drain a lot of your own energy. You may not feel it now, but you will feel it soon.”

“You did a fantastic job, Georgia,” Indigo praised, making the young seer girl smile.

“I’m going to put you on some fluids for the night,” Calvin commented, looking through her chart, “Just to be safe.”

Georgia nodded as he left the room, to continue doing his job, “What now?” Nemo asked, looking to the archmage for guidance.

“I honestly don’t know,” Indigo replied, “Rowan?”

Rowan didn’t answer, they only stared at the floor while leaning against Elias, their arms clinging around one of his arms. Indigo continued to say their name with no response, Elias finally nudged them after the third time without a response, making them look up to him with the most pitiful questioning glance.

“Rowan how are you feeling,” Indigo asked, pulling their glaze from Elias to her.

“I’m angry,” they muttered.

“Understandable,” Indigo replied.

“He memories for no reason…”

Indigo nodded, “The best course of action for you right now is to get you off of campus,” she thought out loud, “I have a feeling that once Duke finds out what we did it won’t end pretty. I talk to your professors about finals, see if you can take them from home.”

“If you think that’s best,” Rowan mumbled not happy about the situation.

“I’ll get started on that now, then,” Indigo replied, before turning her attention to Georgia, “you did a fantastic job, I’m very proud of you!”

“Thank you!” Georgia exclaimed before Indigo soon left the room.

Silence soon befelled the teens, before Rowan unlatched themself from Elias and stood from their seat, “I just going to get some water,” they remarked, as all eyes were on them, before leaving for the hallway that was attached to the main building, where the water fountains were located.

They did get themself water, although after they stood in the window-filled hallway staring at the double doors leading to the main building. Frozen in place fighting with their insides and the want to just sit with their lost memories that felt so fresh despite being so old, the other part wanting so desperately to get their revenge on Duke. They took a few steps towards those double doors.

“Rowan, please stop.”

Nimble fingers wrap around Rowan’s wrist, stopping her moments. Elias’ plead pulls at their heart, “I know what you are going to do, and please don’t,” he begged, before letting go of their wrist.

Rowan hung their head after turning around to face him, “I have to,” they croaked.

“You…” Elias breathed, as Rowan intertwined their fingers with his, “Ha… you make me worry… a lot.”

Rowan nodded, a silent way to say I know, “like I glad my hair is already white, because it would be turning white with all the worrying, I do.”

His comment made them chuckle slightly. He takes his free hand and puts it under their chin, tilting their gaze up to look at him, before resting his forehead against theirs. His insides are boiling, he is so flustered inside, the little people in his brain that control his actions have left their stations and are just screaming. Yet, here he is, throwing caution to the wind, hoping it will make them think just a little bit more.

“You know I care about you more than anyone, right?” He queried.

“I do know,” they muttered, “but I can’t just hide from him.”

Elias sighed, rubbing his thumb slowly across their knuckles while holding their hand, “If something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself for letting you go,” Elias lamented.

“Try not to worry about it,” Rowan said almost in a whisper.

Elias exhaled, before standing up straight and releasing their hand, “Please, dear Goddess, be careful!”

“I’ll try,” Rowan replied, before leaving Elias to return to the infirmary.

“Where’s Rowan,” Nemo asked quietly as Georgia was now sleeping and Maverick was somewhere else in the infirmary busying himself with his apprentice studies.

“Going to fight Duke,” Elias sighed.

Nemo sighed, looking at the empty chair beside him before patting at the cushion and getting his twin to sit in the chair, “Shits about to get bad,” Elias huffed.

“Yeah,” Nemo sighed, “and here we are, doing nothing about it.”

The two brothers sat in silence as Rowan ran through the halls of the college using their old memories to find their way through way to Duke’s office. Faced with his office door after running through the building. Inhaling, and exhaling before barreling into his office.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Duke mused, looking at Rowan over his shoulder as he stood in front of the large window, behind his desk, silhouetted by the moon.

“Why!?”

“Why what?” he chuckled, “Why experiment on you? Why cure you from you father’s deadly disease that would have already had you in the ground? Why test the laws of science and nature?”

There is a pause.

“No… It’s Why did I kill you mother?”

His cackling bounced off the walls and echoed in Rowan's head before he continued, “She was getting in the way! She continued to question what I was doing! She never thought that I was the one to cure you!”

“You didn’t cure, me you curse me!” Rowan shouted, feeling something bubble up inside them.

“I MADE YOU BETTER THEN YOUR FRAGILE HUMAN FORM!” He screamed, “I have given you a new chance at life, a better life, where you are healthy and strong!”

“YOU KILLED MY MOM!”

“SHE WAS IN THE WAY!”

“YOU KILLED MY MOM AND TOOK MY MEMORIES OF HER AWAY!”

Within the yelling and screaming the sensation that felt like a bowling pot of water had finally bubbled over causing them to let out a scream in agony while clinching their chest before falling to their knees.

“This is what I was hoping for in February, I was hoping I would this out of you,” Duke informed as Rowan screamed in pain.

Their body began to transform in shape, their nails becoming long and talon-like, large, demo-like, wings sprouting from the middle of their back, their pupils becoming blown out and animatic, as their whole body seemingly dripped in dark writer’s ink.

“YES!” Duke exclaimed while Rowan let out a loud, animal-like screech before charging at him sending him out his large window.

They flung Duke from his office to the entrance of the Central Tower halfway across campus. He laughed maniacally, as he entered the tower trapping Rowan’s now monstrous form outside of it. He ascended the steps to the top of the tower and could have been pummeled into the cement of the turret whilst Rowan tried to attack him when flying through the windows. His superhuman strength aided him to fend off Rowan with ease, so he could make it to the top of the tower.

“THIS! THIS IS EVERYTHING I HAVE WORKED TOWARD, FINALLY!” Duke cackled, “FINALLY! SHOW ME WHAT YOU CAN DO!”

Rowan continued to shriek, screech, and squawk at him before attacking him as he continued to chortle on top of the tower. The inhuman sound alerted those on campus and of course Indigo and everyone in the infirmary. Upon seeing Rowan was nowhere to be found, she raced out of the infirmary. She made it to one of the main campus’ back entrances, seeing the fight going on atop the Central Tower on full display. The archmage is frozen in place as Sloan and Percy join her in watching the chaos.

“What the hell is that!?” Percy gasped.

“That… That…” Indigo panted.

“What has Duke done!” Sloan catechized.

“THAT’S ROWAN!” Indigo shrieked, beginning to panic as everything unfolded in front of her.

Percy and Sloan looked at each other wide-eyed before looking back at Indigo for any kind of guidance, “What do we do? If this continues Rowan’s going to kill themself!” Sloan exclaimed.

“I-I-I don’t know,” Indigo stammered out.

“Indigo,” Percy uttered, making the mage look over at her, “what do you want us to do?”

In a moment of clarity, Indigo looks from Percy to Rowan to fight Duke in their outrageous form and then at the tower that is shaking below the clash, stones crumbling from the combat. She took a breath, actually thinking for a moment.

“Alright, that tower is coming down whether we like it or not.”

“Wonderful, I always hated that piece of Romanesque construction,” Percy jokily commented.

The turns to her long-time alchemist friend, “Sloan, gather any mage or alchemist that is still on campus, I don’t give a shit who doesn’t like each other we need everyone we have! Station throughout campus, but especially at the dorms, make sure the students are safe. No one goes out of the college,” Indigo instructed then turned to the cursed professor, “Percy go into town, get all the mages and alchemist that you can find and send them here! If they are to scared to come, keep them in town! Once that tower comes down the first thing those creatures will do head for the people, we need to make sure no one is in their path. Keep everyone inside some building… The witches have a convent in town, they can do a protection spell around town! If some of them are able send them here, we’ll need all the help we can get.”

“The witches include your family convent or not,” Percy mentioned.

Indigo paused, “Just make sure they don’t get hurt!”

“What are you going to do?” Sloan asked.

“I-I’m,” she sighed, anxiously bouncing on her toes, “I’m gonna help Rowan.”

Percy and Sloan nodded going off on their respective missions as Indigo raced back to the infirmary, “Angel eyes, what’s wrong, what’s going on,” Calvin asked as she entered the sick bay.

“It’s Rowan – They’re fighting Duke! I-I-I need to get in the forge!” She rambled, “I need the Reaper!”

His eyes went wide, she wanted him to make her the Reaper years ago just because he could, he never thought she’d need to use it, “Angel,” he cooed in a sigh, reaching for her face.

She looked with this desperate look, a pleading gaze that was asking when to not question her at this moment, even in his cognizance. A stare of pure fear, that not only makes him worried but makes him fearful.

“Leave the keys inside,” he murmured, taking hold of her hand and putting his keys in it. “It’s where it always is.”

“I have never deserved you,” she slurred.

“Shush,” Calvin whispered, rubbing his thumb across her cheek.

She leaned into the kiss, yet he didn’t allow her to, choosing to kiss her forehead, “you can kiss me when this is all over,” he mused, “Go save our kid.”

Indigo nodded, leaving the sanitorium with a heavy feeling in the middle of her chest. She hurried to the blacksmith’s forge, grabbing the large scythe that hung on the wall with all of Calvin’s epées.

The weaponry is black and enormous being triple Indigo’s size. Its curved iron blade and dark staff are endowed with onyx giving it that noir color, while also having protective properties. While it is a simple-looking piece of artillery, it was made for Indigo.

Once she made her way back outside, she was faced with the tower, where Rowan still fought Duke. Although their movements are slower, lethargic even as now Duke has started to punch back their attacks. Its structure crumbling even more than before, with some of the creatures stored in his basement coming about to cause carnage. Indigo raised her large weapon, using all of her strength and weight to slam the scythe into the earth below her feet causing the ground to quake around her in extreme fashion. The shaking made the foundation of the tower unstable, and the stone cracked into large pieces causing the whole structure to begin to crumble into the catacombs below, where Indigo raced to follow.

It is the first in this whole fight that Duke has lost his footing. Now trapped under the stone rubble of his precious tower.

“GET THE FUCK UP, WE’RE NOT DONE!” Indigo shouted, once her feet hit the limestone of the catacomb floor, the bones of a fallen soul crunching under her boots. “I KNOW YOU ARE ALIVE!”

Rowan was preoccupied with all the creatures emerging from the exposed catacombs, cannibalizing the cursed creatures, and keeping them away from Duke and Indigo. They had enough mental sanity to know that they couldn’t defeat Duke and kill him themself, but Indigo has something now that has made her more powerful.

With the stone on top of Duke now moving from his raw strength, he’s finally back on his feet, though not for too long. He is slammed into more rumble by the strength of the Reaper, the force of his body hitting the bowlders cracking them upon impact with his back. Even though Duke is down Indigo doesn’t let up, channeling lightning through the Reaper and slamming it into the ground, electrocuting Duke before he can even get up. Rowan swooped down to get a few hits and scratches before getting flung into a cluster of sandstone and being incapacitated.

“YOU HAVE ALWAYS BE A NUISANCE EVER SINCE YOU ENROLL!” Duke yelled toward Indigo.

“KILL ME THEN!” She shrieked as he charged at her.

Duke attempted to punch at the mage woman, failing as she blocked his punches with the Reaper’s large blade. She is not only attacking him with the Reaper but now using magic since he is so close to her. He does get a few punches and kicks to land, making Indigo falter ever so slightly, and after what seems like hours Indigo hits him in the right place. Now with buckled knees, Duke holds himself fatigued and defeated. His panting makes with Indigo’s as she is also tired and burning off the last of her adrenaline. The Reaper’s blade curves behind the back of his neck as his head hangs low, waiting for its last strike.

“Why are you waiting?! Kill me!” He spits out, his voice rough and croaky.

“Non… Non…” Indigo sighed, looking down at the crown of his head extending the syllables. “That would be too easy. Non, you’re living like the rest of us!”

Duke chuckled, looking up at her, still feeling the cold blade on the nape of his neck, “You’re going to lock me in a cell somewhere?!

“Oui,” she remarked, “I want you to sit with actions. I would love nothing more then to kill you here and never have to deal with you again! But I want you to rot first!”

Duke then feels something cold on the back of his skull, and the clicking of plastic and metal gun parts as it cocks behind him with the added aura of some large and menacing, “Then when I feel like I’m going to be the one to kill you,” its Sloan’s voice laced with his Jamaican accent filled with so much angry and vitriol, it a gift that he didn’t just kill the wayward dean.

“You’re going to watch the world change into something you don’t approve or recognize and when we see fit, we’re going to kill you and throw you body in the sea,” Sloan continued.

“And the best part…” Indigo mocked, getting to his down to level, “you’ll never see it coming!”

As the slowly rose, mages, alchemist, and witches in the like, make their way to the college to assess the damage. The first objective was to get the catacombs sealed as soon as possible to not have any more carnage. Luckily no one in town was killed or injured and save from a few mages and alchemists on the college campus being a few burses the public was safe. Duke was handed off to trust individuals to lock him into dungeon-like cells that were, of course on the campus.

“Careful! That’s a child!” Sloan shouted at a few alchemists handling Rowan a little roughly after hauling them out of the hole to catacombs.

Their monstrous attributes slowed disappearing and the individuals carrying them realized that it was human beings they were carrying and not one Duke’s abominations, “Take them to the infirmary,” he ordered, before helping Indigo out of the hole in the ground, “What happens now?”

“I don’t really give a shit, right now. You can handle it,” Indigo huffed out, “Je dois aller embrasser mon mari.”

She passed him dragging the Reaper behind her, dragging it and herself back to the infirmary. All of its healers clocked in and ready to work quickly attending to the unconscious Rowan. Calvin took a moment to tend to his wife, breaking away from his homeopaths to check her out, using his healing hand to heal her injuries.

“Embrasse-moi!” she demanded, as he pulled her closer to him, making her drop the Reaper at their feet.

“Les yeux d'ange, pas maintenant!” he entreated.

“I fucking alive, please for the love of Goddess, kiss me, Calvin!”

He grabbed her face and locked their lips together, like she wanted, and once he pulled away she looked at him with hooded eyes and a satisfied smirk on her face, before collapsing in his arms. 

[the-adventures-of-lydia-brown]

what have you witnessed of the dead frenchmen that you have met? what are your opinions on them?

Hmm, let me think...

I met Monsieur Bory first and I found him most agreeable. I can relate to his curiosity and scientific excitement very much. I wish him nothing but the best of luck in his future endeavours.

... Marshal Soult, the Duke of Dalmatia. As proud as he is competent, and twice as intimidating. Honestly, I was a bit afraid he'd just send me away as fast as I came when I announced I could provide musical support, especially as I wasn't exactly sure about the specifics myself. I have to say, I was really relieved that my assumption regarding this realm proved correct and my presence was actually helpful. I can't imagine how his aides maintain their cheerful attitude and continue to get into trouble occasionally... But then again, maybe I'm the one who's too easily affected by the expectations and demands of those around me...

I cannot leave out the one who stood up for me in the above-mentioned situation, Marshal Lannes.

Steady as a wall of stone, ever the shoulder to lean on (- even stand on. From this point of view, he truly is a giant -)

I really hope he has someone to share his troubles with, if or when they are too much for one man to take, I hope he has someone who truly understands him.

Someone not unlike General Duroc, the Duke of Frioul. But he, too, would and did tear himself apart to make sure everything goes smoothly and no-one else gets hurt. He lays so much weight on his shoulders - shoulders that, when last I left him, didn't even have the corresponding limbs attached. He deserves his rest. His value does not only lie in his silent, often thankless endeavours.

Thus we get to the King of Naples, to Marshal Joachim Murat, whom I didn't have the chance to meet until the mission was over. His reputation preceded him to me and is quite correct. Sparkling, flamboyant and a free spirit, he seems very wholehearted about all he does. I'm... really glad he didn't take offence when I... yelled at him. I suppose when you're accustomed to throwing yourself into danger, you inevitably tend to get a little more casual with potential hazards...

Now we get to the people who aren't exactly frenchmen and those I haven't exactly met.

First of them, the Queen of Naples, Caroline Murat. A formidable lady, confident and able to sway many situations the way she wants. But I think most often what she wants is simply whatever's best for the people she loves.

Then Louise Soult, who, when I saw her, was taking care of little Helene. She looked really proficient. I must admit the responsibility of taking care of a child intimidates me a little personally - one must have empathy, attention, think strategically and often outside the box! But little Helene did seem to be a darling, definitely taking after Duroc in her cheerful nature...

Which brings me to the last person, one I haven't exactly met, but one I can still claim to know something about - Marshal Bessières, the Duke of Istria. Reserved, passionate, sociable, reclusive, immaculate, flawed - quite aware that the world is a stage, ready and eager to play his role. To have one's demons manifest so physically... I can imagine he must have squashed them under his heel whenever they threatened to rear their heads, unsure where he can let them out, when he can be fully himself, ever vigilant, ever cautious.

I do hope one day he realises many of the eyes that regard him are much kinder on him than he thinks, at least here, in this afterworld.

I would ask you one thing, my friend. Do not actively bring this letter to anyone's attention, especially not the ones mentioned here. If they find out, they find out - I have nothing to truly hide, but still... these are just my incomplete, flawed, biased impressions. None of them are set in stone and the less words I can be held to, the better.

Take care,

Lydia

[mystical-flute]

I'll Be Home for Christmas (written for YGOU's Winterfest Event)

Prompt: Warmth/Reunion/Cuddle

Finally, it's time for Téa to return home for the winter holidays. Budding Peachshipping.

Also on AO3

New York had been a big culture shock to Téa, especially when it came to holidays. They didn’t have Thanksgiving in Japan, and since it was only a few days break, she’d been invited to celebrate with one of her roommates instead of flying all the way home. It had been at that dinner that Téa learned about Christmas, and how important it was to her roommate’s family - it was a much bigger production Thanksgiving, and her family from all over the country flew in to be together, look at lights, and just enjoy each other’s company.

It had made her homesick just thinking about what awaited her in Japan. A two week break meant she was going to be flying home to see her friends and family, and she couldn’t help but think that the Christmas her roommate and family had spun for her would be the perfect way to spend her break.

The biggest thing had been convincing the others back home that it was a good idea. Yugi, Ryou, and Serenity had agreed immediately, but Joey, Tristan, and Duke had been a little harder to convince. Téa couldn’t say she was proud of it, but a little bit of guilt tripping had been just the thing to tip the scales in favor of having a holiday party at Yugi’s game shop, complete with gifts, food, and music that her roommate had suggested.

WIth everything set, the days leading up to the break, and her flight back home to Japan, felt agonizing. Despite the messages and calls from Yugi and her parents, knowing that in only a few short days - and one very, very long plane ride - she would be back there just made her homesickness come back in full force.

At least her final exams - specifically, the one for her dance class, were keeping her mind somewhat busy, so she buried herself in her studies, determined to get passing marks and keep herself sane before she could finally get on a plane and go.

She couldn’t sleep at all on the plane, despite the long distance, to the point where she was pretty sure the flight attendants were concerned about her health, given the way they kept checking on her.

But finally, the plane landed, and Téa bounced on her toes as the line to disembark slowly lurched forward, before releasing her into the airport to look for whoever was going to pick her up.

“Téa!” she heard Yugi call.

It figured her parents wouldn’t have made it to the airport. As much as she loved them, they were always busy, and it hurt that they were too busy to pick her up after almost four months apart.

But her friends were here, and after everything they’d gone through, that was the most important thing.

“Yugi! I’m so glad to see you!” she gasped, rushing over to him with her bag clutched tightly in her hand.

They met in a mutual, tight hug, Yugi’s hands resting on her back as his shoulders shook with his laughter. “Oh boy, am I glad to see you too! How was the flight?”

“Long, Boring. Problem was I couldn’t sleep a wink so everything just felt so much longer,” she replied as she looked around the airport. “What happened to my parents? Dad said they were going to pick me up. Not that I’m upset it’s you, of course.”

Yugi winced as they walked into the cold air. “Ah, your dad got called away to Tokyo so… they won’t make it to the party tomorrow night.”

Just because she expected it, didn’t mean it didn’t sting, and as always, Yugi seemed to realize what she was feeling, and paused in their walk to the train station a few streets away from the airport.

“Hey… I’m not going to let you be home alone on your first night back. You can sleep at my place,” Yugi said, reaching to squeeze her hand, his cheeks dusted in a faint pink.

She shook her head. “I can’t ask that of you, Yugi. You’ve done too much for me already. I’ll be fine, really.”

“Téa, don’t be ridiculous. You’ve been family for so long, of course we’re offering help,” Yugi replied. “Come on. We’re heading to the shop.”

Now that she was off the plane, and reunited with someone from Japan, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, and, too tired to argue with Yugi, she simply nodded and allowed him to guide her to the train and begin the familiar journey home.

“Has anything changed much in the city?” she asked.

“Not really. Kaiba’s being Kaiba. He bought out a couple smaller companies and his name seems to be on everything. He even bought an orphanage.”

Her eyes widened. “An orphanage? And… what happened to the kids that lived there?”

“Huh? They got better beds, toys, clothes… Mokuba said several KaibaCorp employees adopted some of them too. Were you worried Kaiba would’ve destroyed the orphanage or something?” Yugi questioned.

“Well, it is Kaiba.”

Yugi wrinkled his nose. “And he and Mokuba were orphans, in the same orphanage Kaiba bought. I know you guys see the worst in him sometimes, but he’s not a complete monster. Every child under sixteen gets into KaibaLand for free, you know.”

Right. She’d known that. Still, it was hard to picture Kaiba being nice to anyone, even a kid.

“Other than that, it’s been quiet. We would have told you if anything else had happened.”

She knew that. They had huge video calls every week. “Well, I’m glad the city didn’t burn itself down while I was gone.”

Yugi laughed. “Nah, with the Items still gone, it’s been strangely quiet. But in a good way, I guess. No more being afraid that someone’s going to hurt anyone I care about, no more getting all of us into dangerous situations… you know it wouldn’t be the same without you if we had!”

“Well, I’m glad to know you’d miss me even if the city was on fire.”

“We wouldn’t be able to put the fire out without you.”

Téa smiled and felt her face heat up with a blush. “Thanks, Yugi… that means a lot to me.”

“Anytime.”

Yugi wrapped an arm around her, and she leaned against him, content in the moment with him.

[sapphireginger]

Title: Knots Are Knot for Everyone

Pairings: Stiam (Stiles Stilinski + Liam Dunbar)

Fandom: Teen Wolf

Word Count: 8,134

AO3 Link

Warnings: Brief Mentions of Non-Consensual Body Modification

Square Filled: Rivals

Written For: @anyfandomangstbingo

Summary: 

Tis beauty I have nare seen before but to admire it is no chore. I see both the inside and the out. For him I’m on my knees. To him I’m most devout. ~ Duke Gajos

Liam fidgets in his seat in front of Satomi's desk as he glances at the envelope she's examining. He's pretty sure he already knows what it says but he's learned to be patient and it's not like Satomi won't tell him what it says.

He startles when she clears her throat softly but firmly. "Are you sure about this Liam?"

"Yes, Alpha. I'm sure." He smiles. "I know I'm just a beta and he probably deserves much better but I–"

"I think that's for him to decide and you're not just anything. You are a beta in both classification and a beta in my pack, but you are first and foremost Liam." Her voice is firm but not unkind. "Now if you are sure then I will see that you have what you need to travel as well as help you with your suit."

Liam wets his lips nervously and nods. "I'm sure."

Satomi smiles and holds out the letter so Liam can read it. "Read through it while I go retrieve what you'll need."

"Yes, Alpha." He takes the letter and sinks back into his chair as he begins to read.

Beta Dunbar,

I have received your suit and find myself intrigued. I've seen your status, pack information and would appreciate it if you could travel to the city for the upcoming season. I make no promises, but your suit has been accepted into the next round.

Please be at the city by no later than October the 13th.

Cordially,

His Grace

Mieczyslaw Genim Gajos Duke of Edinburgh

Lord of Amhearst Manor of the Edinburg Estate

Liam swoons and traces each letter with his fingertips. "I intrigue him," he whispers.

Once again, he is startled when Satomi clears her throat. "All right Liam. Your bag is packed. Here is your pack symbol and your suit is in a small pocket inside the bag. Be safe and remember to be yourself. Do not try to be something you're not for you know he'll see through falsehoods."

"Yes, Alpha," the beta says as he stands and sets the letter back on her desk.

"Take it with you," she instructs. "Let it remind you that he did choose you."

Liam blushes and folds the letter up, sticking it back into the envelope. Then he walks over and takes his bag, slipping the envelope inside. "I will make you proud, Alpha Ito."

She scents him and ruffles his hair. "I already am proud, but I know you will do well. What must we also remember?"

"Three things are not long hidden. The sun. The moon. The truth."

"Good. Off with you. You don't want to be late."

Liam hurries out the door and takes a deep breath before attaching the bag to the back of his horse. He's glad he convinced Brett to help him ride better because otherwise he'd never get to the city in time. With a click of his tongue and a gentle tap of his feet the horse starts down the path.

All the while his thoughts are filled with nothing but him. The spark known round the world but also him, the boy who runs with wolves. He smiles when he thinks about everything he's read about the spark as his horse begins to gallop.

The sun is shining, the sky is clear and he's on his way to prove his worth as a mate.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Deucalion Blackwood is a stoic man and also a vindictive one. He watches his beta as he lounges sideways in the armchair. "So, you know what I'm asking of you?" he asks.

Theo tilts his head and nods. "Yep," he says popping the p.

"Then tell me."

"I'm not some stupid beta or omega who can't remember things. I'm an alpha."

Deucalion glares him into submission with a rumble in his chest. "We have one shot at this, and I won't have you ruining it. We need that spark and since the other one slipped through my fingers, I refuse to allow this one to get away as well."

Theo huffs. "Then why don't you go if you want him that badly?"

"Because he's not stupid. He knows who I am and well we already have you in place to say which pack you're from without lying don't we? Tell me Theo, who's your alpha?"

"I'm my own alpha," he sneers.

Deucalion gives a full belly laugh with a sinister smirk. "Excellent. There was no skip in your heartbeat. See it's the truth because you believe it. Now get going. I'm sure there will be others there as well who are hoping to be the lucky one to get the spark. So do what you must. Just no killing."

Theo smirks and stands up. "Of course, Alpha," he purrs as he grabs his bag. "Is Shadow ready for me?"

"You're taking Nightmare instead."

"Fine. Whatever." Theo rolls his eyes and pushes past his alpha freezing when claws grasp at his neck. "Yes, Alpha Blackwood."

Deuc smiles, tightening his hold for just a moment before releasing the beta. "Good boy. Shoo!"

Theo holds in a growl of annoyance as he leaves the manor and secures his bag to the ink black horse. He mounts Nightmare and heads off down the road. He snorts. "Nightmare. How fitting."

The alpha allows his mind to wander. He's seen the spark and the man is beautiful as fuck. He's also wickedly clever and very pretty. Theo smirks. "Such a pretty omega is he. Oh, the things I'll do when he's mine."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The Duke paces in his study, his mind racing with chaos. What if they don't come? What if they come and he doesn't want or like any of them? What if he gets a real knothead who only wants–

"You're thinking too hard about this, Your Grace."

He whips his head towards the study door and sighs. "Lady Martin. My apologies. I am just so nervous."

Lydia quirks a brow. "His Grace, the one and only Spark Gajos a Duke, is nervous about his suitors? Like this surprises me?"

He glares at her and huffs turning to face the window watching the light rain pittering against the glass. "You know I've always wanted what my mother before me had. I want love but it's time to make a choice. Love or not I must mate. I just hope one of them will at least be someone I can learn to love."

The study door closes, and the other omega makes her way over. "I know. I wish we had more time to make sure, but I've seen the ones you did select, and I just know that one of them will be the perfect mate for you."

"You really think so?" he asks, not taking his gaze from the window.

She gently places her hand on his arm. "I know so."

Stiles allows himself another few minutes to collect himself and then straightens his posture, his eyes flaring turquoise. "Let's get ready then. I have suitors to impress and a mate to meet."

"That's the spirit."

"Actually, it's spark."

He ducks to avoid her playful smack to the back of his head and lets her lead him to his room. There is much to do yet and what the hell should he wear? Thank hell for Lady Lydia Martin.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The morning of October 13th the manor and the estate itself, is a blur of activity as everyone puts finishing touches on the decorations, food and well Lydia of course puts the finishing touches on Stiles's outfit.

The stable hands receive the horses as the suitors begin to arrive and then they are led to the main room where refreshments are served while they wait for the Duke's arrival.

"I don't know if I can do this, Lyds. It's so much more daunting to see them all. Before they were just like an idea in my head and now they're actually like here and actual people."

She smooths out the collar of his coat and sighs. "Take a breath before you have a panic attack or spark out on accident."

He looks at her affronted. "I haven't sparked out in years."

"Exactly. So don't start now." She steps back and turns him to face the mirror. "What do you think?"

The Man gapes at his reflection then turns to the left and back to the right. "Holy shit," he mutters. "Damn. I look good."

Lydia stifles a laugh even as she fondly rolls her eyes. "You always look good. I just know how to bring it out. Now remember you are the Duke. You are the spark. This is your domain. They have to prove themselves. You have proven yourself to the world. Don't make it easy on them. Don't let them make the rules. This is your game. You make the rules. Act aloof and above it all but also use that sarcastic assholery that charmed me into being your best friend when we first met. Got it?"

Stiles swallows and nods. "Got it."

He adjusts his cravat and runs his hands down his front to smooth out the fabric of his black double breasted dress coat of fine wool his mother had made for him with real silver buttons. Underneath that he's wearing a light turquoise colored waistcoat over a white linen shirt. He rakes his eyes lower to admire the look of his off white tight fitting pantaloons tucked into black boots and then adjusts his black velvet cloak. "This is as good as it's going to get."

He turns and takes the black gloves from Lydia pressing a kiss to her temple. She smiles and ushers him to the door. "Good luck."

"Thank you," he whispers. He opens the door and glances back once more. "I'll tell you all about it over afternoon tea. Okay?"

"You'd better." She bites her lip and then nods. "Also remember that secondary gender should hold no bearing on your decision of them as a person. Just as your being an omega shouldn't matter either. You are first and foremost. Mieczyslaw Gajos."

Stiles smiles. "I know. See you at half past two for tea. If I am late, send Beta Lahey for me."

With a final nod they part, and Stiles pulls on his gloves. "It'll be fine. There's nothing to fear. This is my domain. I'm in charge here."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Liam looks around at the other suitors with nerves plain on his face. There's so many of them and he's just one person. One beta and how is he supposed to stand out? He takes a drink of his champagne and remembers his breathing exercises that Satomi taught him. It's not that he's afraid of losing control but they do help with anxiety.

Everyone is mingling but Theo is surveying each and every single one of them. He's seriously not impressed by any of them. There's two omegas which is absolutely ridiculous. Why in the world would the Duke want another just like him? There are several betas and they outnumber the alpha's by quite a bit. He thinks he counted like ten betas, two omegas and five alphas.

Then his eyes fall on a beta near the far side of the room who looks like she might be sick. He smirks and makes his way over. Perfect place to start weeding out the competition because that's what this whole thing is: a competition and Theo refuses to lose.

Liam has noticed the alpha who looks at everyone as a threat but also seems highly amused by them. He shakes his head and turns his focus towards the front of the room. Soon the Duke will enter, and they'll all get to see him in person. He tries very hard not to think about the book in his bag written by the spark. He hopes that even if he doesn't get chosen that he might get to talk to the man. If he talks like he writes it would be a wonderful conversation, he's sure.

The room goes quiet as a door near the back of the room opens which has everyone turning around. They had all expected him to enter in from the other side. That is probably why he didn't. They may as well learn right now that he isn't like any other omega, and he won't adhere to expectations.

A servant clears his throat. "May I introduce His Grace Mieczyslaw Genim Gajos Duke of Edinburgh, Spark, Omega and Lord of Amhearst Manor of the Edinburg Estate."

Everyone's eyes are locked on the door as the spark enters. The women curtsy, the men bow and Liam swoons. He's beautiful.

Theo can't take his eyes off of those pink pouty lips and all the dirty things they can probably do and say. Though he loathes to admit it, he should thank Deucalion for letting him put his suit in. There's no way he won't be leaving without the pretty omega.

The spark glances around as he makes his way to the front where a wingback chair is positioned next to the fire. He does not sit however but instead turns to face them all. "Please find a seat. We will be here for a while."

The alphas in the room hesitate and the spark quirks a brow at them before tilting his head. "If there is anyone here who has such a high opinion of themselves as to believe they are more important than the rest of the people here they should probably leave now. I won't tolerate discrimination against other classifications. So, if you alphas think you're too good to sit amongst us..." He gestures to the door where a guard is waiting. "Then by all means leave. You are not required to be here. You chose to put in a suit. If you don't leave now and I catch anyone with that opinion later on, you will be asked to leave and perhaps banned. My godmother Duchess Hale would have words with those of you with that opinion."

Everyone stills and says nothing.

He sees one person open their mouth and quirks a brow. "Perhaps I should call on my godfather Duke Hale. His claws are always eager for some sharpening." His tone is playful but he's deadly serious. Better they learn now he's not to be trifled with and he's not stupid and won't be treated as such.

One alpha, a curly blonde glares at him. Her tone is offended. "You're threatening us? How dare you! We are the higher biological classification as alphas. Everyone knows that omegas need an alpha. So, what is this little charade you're giving us really about?"

Stiles makes a fist but then takes a breath and relaxes it with only two people in the room having noticed the reaction. "Miss Swan is it?"

She gives a self-important nod.

"I see." He signals to his guard and then takes a seat. "Pity but then again not really. Your disrespect not just of station but lack of human decency is not wanted here. Good day Miss Swan." His gaze falls on the embers in the fireplace.

"What? That's it?! Hey! What are you–" she swears as the guard drags her out and boots her from the estate. "How dare you?! Don't you know who I am?!" she snarls.

The spark smirks. "No. I haven't a clue."

Everyone can hear her shrieks of anger as she's escorted all the way to the gate and then locked out and the smirk doesn't slip from the omega's face once. When he looks back at the room full of people he tilts his head, quirking a brow. "Take a seat and let's begin."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Lydia is just pulling the kettle off of the fire when the parlor door flings opens and a furious Stiles stalks in, slinging his tailcoat over the arm of the settee and plopping into the wingback chair with a huff.

She lets him collect himself as she pours them each a cup of tea. It takes a good ten minutes for him to relax but the tea helps a lot.

"I apologize for my countenance upon my arrival."

She smoothes out her green velvet skirt and smiles. "No worries. I suspected you would be as such. Hence why I have prepared for you your favorite."

Stiles smiles and takes a few more sips, humming pleased with the taste. "Thank you."

"So, what have they done to put you in such a state?"

"Oh well. Let's see. I had three knotheads, one of which I had to have removed and the other two I dismissed. Which leaves two alphas. I had five out of the ten betas ask to leave because they didn't know if they could handle me and then the two omegas told me they only came to see if the stories were true about my being the furthest thing from an omega. Then they left with such dramatic docility. Society's definition of omega and I had enough. So, I asked the servants to escort the remaining five betas and remaining two alphas to their rooms until dinner."

Lydia watches her friend's shoulders slump and sets her cup down. Her scent is soothing to him. So, she makes her way over and takes his cup, setting it on the table before taking a seat on his lap. His arms settle around her waist. His cheek rests against her bosom and he melts into the fingers running through his hair.

"I wish she was here," he says, his voice barely audible.

"I know. I wish she was too. She'd be better at this than me I can admit but you're not alone. We all want to see you mated but above all we want you to be happy. I can ask Peter to put the fear of god into them if you'd like. You know he'd do it for you."

Stiles snorts and purrs at her ministrations, his eyes sliding to half mast. "Yeah. We'll save that for later. I think Duke Hale is just being overprotective is all."

Lydia rolls her eyes. "If I was him and had raised you from preteen to adulthood, I would be overprotective too, but he did promise to stay out of this. Be grateful for that. Had he heard the knotheads or even the omegas hell even the betas he'd be furious."

"Which is exactly why we won't be telling him."

They sit in silence for a little while just listening to the flickering flames and the sound of each other's breathing. Lydia continues to run her fingers through her friend's hair and smiles when his breathing evens out. "You sleep. I'll keep watch."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Theo is feeling quite pleased with himself. Planting doubts in the betas's heads had worked wonders. Of course, none of them have the firm hand needed to control such an unruly omega. It's better they leave and try their hand elsewhere. They are down to seven suitors now and Theo doesn't see any of them as threats.

He strips off his blood red dress coat with golden buttons and lays it across the chair in his room. He's a bit disappointed that they are all not staying in the main house. It makes for less opportunities to run into the omega but he'll wait. The final two get to stay in the main house. Obviously, he will be one of those. He smirks at his reflection unfastening the top of his shirt to reveal a toned chest. Yeah. There's no way he won't have the omega drooling.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Liam sits in the chair by the fire in his room reading his book. His baby blue double breasted dress coat with silver buttons is hanging on a hook on the back of the door. He's made so many notes over the years of things he wants to know more about and things he wants to discuss. He feels terrible for how the spark was treated by the rest of them. Liam wonders if anyone actually sees that he's a person like them with real feelings or if they do, he wonders if they just don't care.

It makes him want to bundle the omega up but also makes him want to give the other suitors a piece of his mind. He'll do neither of course but it's nice to think about what he would do if he had the right.

They'll eat dinner with the Duke this evening and Liam is looking forward to it. The cook he met, Marie, was so quiet but she talked to him about what it's like working for the spark. Her favorite thing is when he comes down to the kitchens and teaches her to bake. It made Liam smile that the spark goes down to help and not because he's an omega but because his mother taught him and he's teaching someone else. Then again Liam isn't someone who believes in gender roles. Not one bit.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

When Stiles wakes up, he's feeling a lot better. All is not lost and there is still hope. "What time is it Lydia?" he asks sleepily.

She looks up from her place on the settee. "Half fast four."

Stiles's eyes widen. "Oh great!" he mutters.

"Why is that your response?"

"I promised to help Marie this evening. She wanted to make sure the meal was perfect, and I told her it's okay if it's just something simple, but she is determined."

Lydia smiles. "You're sweet to her. I suspect she wishes the same happiness for you that you've helped give her."

The spark's brow furrows. "What do you mean?" he asks as he fixes his turquoise waistcoat and off white cravat. Then he smoothes the legs of his breeches.

"I mean that you're the one who brought her out of the awful orphanage, taught her to cook and gave her a home. She adores you and you're like a father to her even though you're not old enough to have actually sired her. Plus, there's her brother and her mate. Both of whom you saved from an awful fate of being shipped across the sea. So, I should think it fairly obvious why she wants to make sure everything is as close to perfect as possible."

He blushes and huffs. "Well, I did what anyone would've do–"

Lydia shuts her book firmly and sends him an annoyed look. "Then tell me why the rest of the city did nothing? If anyone would have then why did no one else?"

Properly chastised he nods. "I see your point. I'll head to the kitchens to help her, and I'll see you for dinner."

"No, you won't," she says softly. "I can't be there. You know this but I will be here for more omega cuddles. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now go on and remember you are perfect the way you are."

He snorts. "So cliche but I know." He kisses her cheek and leaves the parlor.

Lydia watches him go and looks towards the fire. She wants the best for her friend. Perhaps it is time to visit the secret room so she can see just what these suitors really think.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

"Hello darling," Stiles greets cheerily as he hangs his coat up and rolls up his sleeves. "What are we having?"

Marie smiles at him with flour on her cheeks. "Honey bread with chicken and hopefully vegetables." She chews her lip. "What do you think? Too much? Too little? Maybe bread without honey?"

Stiles smiles and shakes his head. "I think it sounds perfect. You know how much I love chicken and there is nothing better or sweeter than your honey bread. Well, unless we count you."

She giggles and gestures to the fireplace. "I've heated the water for the veggies. I know you like the repetition of cutting them up."

"Indeed I do. You know me so well."

They work in companionable silence for a little while until Marie places the bread in the stone oven to bake. "Your Grace? I hope you don't think it forward of me but how did the first meeting go?"

Stiles pauses and tries to smile. "It could have gone much better, but it also could have been worse."

"Do I need to go deal with some knotheads?"

Her protectiveness makes him smile. "No need. I can handle some knotheads. It was more the others that wounded me. Hearing a bunch of betas say they don't think they can handle me and then omegas saying they just wanted to know if the stories about me were true and then leaving, that's what hurt the most. I'd rather they be sexist pricks about my biology than judgemental assholes about my personality and countenance."

Marie frowns, her heart hurting for him. "I'm sorry, Your Grace. It's a good thing I made the honey bread then huh?"

Stiles smiles and chuckles wetly. "Good thing indeed."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Dinner is served at half past six and Stiles watches as the remaining two alphas and five betas take their seats. He isn't impressed by either of the alphas but he did promise Peter to consider them even though he's pretty sure the man knows he won't choose one.

He takes his seat at the head of the table and the servants bring in the food. Marie gives him an encouraging and reassuring smile as she sets his plate down in front of him. He's about to thank her when two of the betas growl.

His gaze snaps to them. "Why do you think it is appropriate to growl? I ask for civility."

The betas huff and the raven haired one gestures with his chin to Marie. "Seems suspicious you have us all staying elsewhere and then let a pretty pair of tit–"

"OUT!!" the Duke snarls his fingers sparking and eyes black with rage. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOME!!!!"

Both betas nearly wet themselves as they bolt out the door. Marie is shaking and startles when Stiles gently touches her arm. "Thank you darling."

Marie nods and goes to leave. She nearly stumbles but an arm shoots out to catch her. "Careful," the voice says softly, and she smiles at the beta she had spoken to earlier that day.

"Thank you."

Liam nods and then turns his attention back to his food. He misses the curious and intrigued look on the Duke's face.

Theo watches the omega and has to think of unsexy things to dampen his arousal at the display of power. The man is so damn gorgeous especially when he's angry. Maybe he won't break him fully because that anger is simply breathtaking. Five left and it's only the first day.

Stiles asks them a few questions after their meal is finished before bidding them a good night and retreating to his rooms.

Liam makes his way to one of the guards and speaks softly. "May I help with the dishes? I-I know it's probably not proper, but I don't really care when it comes to gender roles and I would like to thank the cook."

The guard, a stoic man, sizes him up and then nods gesturing to the kitchen but gives a look that says he'll be watching.

With a nervous gulp, Liam heads to the kitchens with a smile when he sees the cook but freezes when he sees the Duke as well. The way the light of the moon shines on the man's face makes his skin look pale but so beautiful.

Marie stops mid sentence and smiles. "Hello Beta Dunbar."

Stiles whips his head to look at him and quirks a brow. "I thought I bid you all a good night."

Liam swallows and nods. "You did, Your Grace, but I asked if I could help with the dishes, and I wanted to make sure she was okay. The food was delicious, and I-I think it was rotten what they said but I don't want to intrude so I won't stay if you wish me to go."

The spark bites his lip to hide a smile and gestures to the sink. "Have at it. I appreciate your concern for her."

"For both."

"Pardon," the spark says.

Liam rolls up his sleeves as he makes his way to the sink. "I was concerned for both of you."

Stiles's eyes narrow but before he can say he can take care of himself the beta speaks again.

"Not that you need me to be concerned about you. I mean I should think knowing someone cares matters a great deal but I also know that you're not some damsel either. So, though I'm concerned I also recognize the difference between someone who needs to be saved and someone who wants to be cherished."

Stiles swallows thickly and turns back to the fire. He sees Marie watching him and smiles softly at her. The beta helps with the rest of the dishes and then looks around to see if there's anything else he can do. His eyes fall on the spark now sitting in front of the fire much more relaxed than he was at dinner.

He allows his eyes to wander over the man's form admiring his beauty. He blushes when he sees more of the man's chest, and it's drool worthy, but his eyes are the real treasure.

Liam is pulled from his thoughts by the spark's amused voice. "Your assistance has been appreciated, Beta Dunbar. I should think you have much better things to do than stare."

Liam's cheeks flush. "Tis beauty I have nare seen before but to admire it is no chore. I see both the inside and the out. For him I'm on my knees. To him I'm most devout."

The spark's eyes darken but with heat and his breath catches. "You've read..." he trails off. "I'll see you in the morning, Beta Dunbar."

He knows he's being dismissed but the soft smile, an almost smirk, that the spark is giving him makes his insides warm. "I hope so, Your Grace." Then he leaves and makes his way to his room.

Stiles can't help but smile, pleased with the beta and surprised at the same time. Marie hands him a bowl of fruit and smiles. "Someone seems to be feeling better."

"He's read my book. No one could quote it like that if they hadn't."

"Then I think sleep is in order so you can find out in the morning."

He stands and squeezes her shoulder gently before kissing her forehead. "Goodnight." Then he leaves.

She watches him leave and sighs hoping that he will find a mate. He more than anyone she's ever known deserves it.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The next two days see that only two betas and one alpha remain, and Stiles watches them closely. Lydia has of course given her ten cents because she doesn't give only two.

She agrees with him that Alpha Raeken is pretty to look at for sure, but he has no sincerity to him. Beta Alaksander is quiet but when he does speak it's not very intelligent. That's not to say he's dimwitted but he just doesn't keep up with Stiles in the least. Then there's Beta Dunbar and well when Stiles talks about him Lydia just knows.

By the end of the week the only ones remaining are Beta Dunbar and Alpha Raeken. The two men lounge in the main parlor as they wait for the Duke to arrive.

"So why are you here?" Theo asks.

Liam tilts his head. "I would say for the same reason as you but we both know that wouldn't be true."

Theo narrows his eyes. "Trying to imply something there? Don't be shy. Say what's on your mind."

"He'll see right through you."

"Then why am I still here?"

Liam shrugs. "Maybe he thinks you're pretty, but he won't choose you. I'm not saying he'll choose me either, but you can't fake these things. Alpha Ito says–"

"Oh, just shut up already. You're so annoying!" the alpha snaps. "He'll choose me because he knows he needs an alpha. What can you offer him that I can't?"

The two men are oblivious to the partially ajar door.

The beta tilts his head. "An equal."

Theo snorts. "Alphas and omegas aren't equal. Neither are betas and omegas. You will have no hope of a match if you can't give him a firm hand."

"Why do you think he's something to be controlled or changed? He's perfect the way he is."

"You're just a lovesick puppy, a fool and he'll see that. Tell me, does he know you keep a book he wrote with little notes in it?" The alpha pulls the book out and smirks.

Liam's eyes widen and he makes fists. "Give it back to me. You shouldn't have gotten your hands on it. It was in my room."

Theo makes a tiny tear on the page eliciting a whimper from the beta. "Yes, but it should have been my room. Tell me why did the omega let you be closer to him than me? Have you been sleeping with him to gain his favor?" he asks, making a small tear on another page.

"Stop! Please? Just give me the book back."

"Tell me the truth and rescind your suit. You do that and I'll give you the book."

Liam swallows nervously as his gaze flicks between Theo and the book. He remembers Satomi's words and almost smiles. "Three things are not long hidden. The sun. The moon. The truth." He smirks at the alpha. "I wonder how long you expect your truth to remain hidden."

"You little bast–"

The door slams open and Stiles stares at the alpha with eyes of fury.

Theo for all his bravado looks like he may wet himself. That fury isn't so wonderful when it's directed at him. "Hello Omega. We have been wondering if everything was alright since you were late."

"You should address me as Your Grace. I am more than biology and oh really? Tell me something, Alpha Raeken. What pack do you belong to?"

"I'm my own alpha."

Stiles smiles but it's not a nice one at all. "I see but you're a wolf and wolves without packs are to be brought to the city authorities. So, if you are packless, I must do my civic duty and warn them of a packless wolf."

Theo's face pales and Liam watches with wide eyes. The alpha tries to regain his composure. "I have a pack, but I am not lying about being my own alpha." He flashes red eyes at the omega and smirks. "Kneel."

Liam winces worried about the spark, but he needn't have been concerned. The next thing he knows the alpha is the one kneeling at the spark's feet and has a blade at his throat. "You can tell Deucalion that he's wasting his time. My mother never wanted anything to do with him and though he forced himself on her, he is not my father. So, you go back to him and if I ever see you again, I will kill you."

He wants to look away as the Duke mutilates the Alpha's hand as an example to those who view omegas as property.

Liam isn't ignorant to the fact that while Theo may have arrived an alpha in rank he will be leaving without his alpha spark. Blue eyes are obvious indicators of murderers.

Liam watches as the Duke's chest heaves and slowly walks over. He's not expecting to be slammed into the ground with the man on top of him, but he freezes.

"I won't hurt you. I am sorry for approaching, I shouldn't have crowded you."

The spark blinks a few times and the turquoise bleeds from his eyes leaving amber gems staring back at him. "I-I–" The spark's cheeks flush and embarrassment clouds his scent as he scrambles to get up.

Liam rests his hands gently on the spark's hips and the man stills. "It's okay. I'd react the same way if someone like him posed a threat to me or was connected to someone who harmed someone I love."

Stiles slowly relaxes and smiles but then realizes he's still straddling the beta and squeaks as he moves to sit next to him instead. "Still, I know it was intense. I knew he wasn't sincere, but I had not thought him connected to Alpha Blackwood."

The beta tilts his head. "Forgive me, but why let him stay if you did not think him sincere?"

The spark snorts and Liam finds it adorable. "He was pretty to look at."

"I admit to thinking that you would prefer an alpha over a beta."

"Now why would I want an alpha? I may be an omega, but betas are just as good. Plus, all the hype about a knot isn't my thing. They're completely overrated. I can look at something pretty and not want to fuck it or mate it." Then he glances at the lamp nearby. "See that lamp is pretty but I'm not into objectophilia. I'd prefer a perfect beta co—" he clears his throat, his cheeks a little pink. "I apologize. I'm getting ahead of myself."

Liam isn't objecting and feels a bit hot under the collar but clears his throat and shrugs. "I don't mind."

Stiles chuckles and gestures to the door. "Come with me."

He leads the beta to his own parlor and then waits until they are both comfortable before speaking. "Tell me about yourself, Beta Dunbar."

"What do you want to know?"

Stiles hums in contemplation. "Why did you put in your suit? Was it coerced, bargained, bartered, or free willed?"

Liam swallows thickly. "I-I um. So, I just joined a pack. My alpha has been helping me with control, but I still suck at it. I was coming here because I've read all your work and I've seen how you treat people regardless of status and I wanted to be able to talk to you," he growls frustrated with himself. "I thought I had my control at a place where I could try to court you. I guess it's not as good as I thought."

The spark is suddenly sitting much closer making Liam almost topple backwards. "You've read my work?" he whispers, his tone awed.

"Yes. Every word."

Stiles smiles and it's the first real smile Liam has seen from him. "Which was your favorite?"

Liam smiles. "Ses lettres d'amour."

"Est-ce que tu parles français?"

Liam nods. "A-A little. Not fluent but I would like to be."

Stiles finds himself brushing his fingers over the betas hand. "You're the first person to just make me feel normal. Other than Lady Martin or my father."

Their fingers intertwine and the beta's heart races as he meets amber eyes. "There's nothing wrong with you. You're you and shouldn't have to fit into the boxes others have made to try to control or change you."

"And you?" Stiles says. "You don't wish to change me?"

Liam shakes his head. "No. I wouldn't change a thing."

Their faces are so close now Liam's nostrils are flooded with the scent of pleased omega, and he rumbles in his chest before blushing. It makes the spark laugh and then his lips are on the beta's and nothing else matters.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Over the course of the next three months the two of them spend as much time together as they can. They share stolen kisses and exchange courting gifts. They ride horses and cuddle. Then they do Stiles's favorite. They go swimming.

They went into the water in just their braies. Stiles almost opted to go in naked but figured it was too soon for that. It felt like they were in their own little world which led to this moment.

Liam brushes wet strands of chocolate curls from the spark's face and smiles. Stiles loves those baby blue eyes, and he nuzzles into the palm cupping his jaw. They eagerly lean in and connect their lips.

They're far enough from the estate to afford them a certain measure of privacy as they make their way to the grassy spot beneath an oak tree where they press their bare chests together and intertwine their legs. The only sounds are the racing heartbeats, heavy breathing and smack of lips.

Stiles pulls back and searches the beta's face. "Be my mate," he whispers.

"Really?" Liam asks surprised but butterflies explode in his stomach as he grins.

It makes the spark laugh and kiss him again. "Yes. Really. Be mine."

Baby blue eyes widen and then soften. "Yes. I'll be yours."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

With only close family to witness they mate in April in the evening under the oak tree where Liam said yes and it's hard to breathe in the best way when they see each other under the light of the full moon.

"As long as I have breath in my lungs, I shall be yours. As a spark. As an omega. As a Duke. As a mate."

"As long as I have breath in my lungs, I shall be yours. As a wolf. As a beta. As a Lord. As a mate."

They seal their bond with a bite and then Stiles slips the robe from his shoulders leaving his body bared to his mate. "Come catch me my mate. Come make me yours." Then he runs.

A howl sounds from the beta's throat as he strips and races after the spark. Mate. Mine. Claim.

He catches him in under an hour and tackles the spark to the ground. Both are glad they are so far from the city because neither of them could have kept silent for this.

As they lay together basking in the afterglow of their mating Stiles coaxes his mate to turn and face him. Liam smiles. "Are you happy?"

Stiles grins and pecks his mate's lips. "Very."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

It's nearly July when an unwanted guest arrives. The newlyweds–they married two months after mating–are attending to their duties.

Stiles is upstairs writing letters of correspondence and Liam is downstairs in the kitchen with Marie.

A guard comes to fetch him. "Your Grace," the man says with a bow. "There is a man here and I was asked not to disturb His Grace Gajos."

Liam dries his hands and nods. "I'll see to it. Thank you."

With a nod the guard leaves and Liam makes his way to the front door. He's both surprised and not to find Theo standing there. "Alpha Raeken. You do remember what my mate said would happen if he saw you again don't you?"

Theo grimaces but plasters on a smirk. "I just wanted to be sure you were satisfying him is all. I figured if you weren't I could offer my services."

Liam gives him a look of disgust and snarls. "He's my mate and I'm his. There is no way you're going anywhere near him let alone have access to him intimately. You're insane."

"Hardly. I just think he acted rashly and figured he has to have come to his senses by now."

"You're delusional."

Theo makes fists. "Can you honestly say you fuck him and leave him satisfied?"

Liam smirks and crosses his arms leaning against the doorway. "No."

The alpha looks triumphant. "Then you need me. It wouldn't do for him to seek it elsewhere and bring disgrace to the name of Gajos. Not that much more disgrace can be brought after what happened with his mother."

With a flash of red eyes Liam slugs the other man and Theo ends up on his back on the ground wheezing. "The only one disgracing their namesake is you. Never speak against my mate or his mother's memory. Now you need to leave, or I'll kill you myself."

Theo spits blood and snarls. "Little beta has an alpha spark. You didn't earn it."

Liam grins. "Oh, but I did. I assume you've never heard of a True Alpha. Rising to the status by will of the heart. Now if you'll excuse me, I have other more important matters to attend to than further conversation with something beneath me."

"He needs a knot, and you don't have one!"

With a shake of his head his eyes take on an amused glint. "He doesn't want one. In fact, I know you couldn't satisfy him. You know why?"

Theo grits his teeth. "Why?"

"Because he fucks me, and I'm always satisfied. Every. Single. Time." He bites his lip and smirks. "I see him in the throes of passion and lust. Not you. He's my mate. Not yours."

"He knows how to find me when he needs a knot because mark my words, he'll want one. He'll crave one and you won't be able to give it to him."

Liam snorts. "Knot every omega wants a knot. Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to have my mate fuck me now." He turns to the guard. "Let Peter have him. Mieczyslaw said if he returned, he was fair game."

With a nod the guard pulls a cord, and a side door opens as the front door closes. Theo trembles at the man advancing on him. "Shit."

"Hello Theodore. This will be fun," Peter says, flicking out his claws.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The screams of pain are only slightly muffled by the door and Liam smirks, pleased with himself as he turns around but then he freezes when he sees his mate watching him. "Uh..." he says, his mind blank.

A hand stretches out and he eagerly takes it, moaning when lips capture his. Hands slip to the swell of his ass and squeeze. He groans at the harsh bite to his bottom lip soothed with a pink tongue as his mate stares at him with eyes full of desire. "That was so damn sexy."

Liam blushes and shrugs one shoulder. "I was just popping off at him is all."

Stiles squeezes the beta's ass harder and then slips one hand into Liam's breeches and presses a dry finger over his hole. "Well, it revved me up. So, we're going to go upstairs to my study where I should be writing letters and I'm going to bend you over my desk and fuck you." He nibbles at his mate's earlobe and then at the sensitive spot behind his ear. "You want that baby?" he purrs.

"Yes. God yes!"

The omega chuckles and leads his mate into the study. Lydia sees them disappearing into the room and shakes her head with an amused smile. She looks at one of the servants. "Get some towels ready. With the mood he's in they won't be coming out for a while.

She quickly makes her way to her own parlor not needing to hear the squelches of her friend's sex life. Goodness knows she knows way too much already.

Meanwhile in the study Stiles is on his back on the floor and Liam is straddling him. The omega is leaking slick like crazy, and the beta could die happy with that taste on his tongue. He pushes back against the tongue in his hole and long slender fingers stroking his hard cock.

He whines when he's told to get up and bend over the desk but the smirk on his mate's face tells him he can have full access to the omega's slick after. So, he bends over the desk and groans in pleasure when the omega easily sinks into his heat.

"You always feel so good. O-One of these days," the spark stutters out as he begins to firmly thrust. "I'll let you fuck me."

Liam rumbles at that even as he moans, unable to help the sounds he's making. He never thought that he'd actually get to have the spark as his mate but every day he wakes up next to him is a gift.

"Even if you never let me, I won't care. I could live without it just never stop doing tha–Fuck!"

Stiles purrs and covers his mate's back with his body as his hips circle and push his cock deeper. "Believe me, if you want me to fuck you I absolutely will but I do want to try it at least once." His hands grip his mate's hip tight as he snaps his hips harder. "Now cum for me baby. Let go and cum."

And Liam does.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Stiles is elected into parliament two years after they mated and then a year later, they welcome their first pup that they name Claudia after his mother. She has amber eyes and blonde curly hair. She is the apple of her daddy's eye and Liam spends every spare minute with her that he can.

The two mates are happy, and they never care that they do knot have a knot.

[oumaheroes]

Tradition

For @historical-hetalia-week

Day 3: 1000-1500: Tradition

Characters: England

Wordcount: 1K

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

‘Lord Kirkland!’

The servant announcing him did not shout but immediately the hall hushes into thick silence. All eyes turn to Arthur, crowd already parted along the sides to leave a walk way in the middle for newcomers and he steps forwards into it, feeling every bit an executioner as the man condemned.

At the end of the hall on the dais, draped in cloth of state and royal finery, sits a young woman. She is pale and drawn but composed, crown jewels glinting on her ears and around her slender neck as she breathes like a glittering shackle. Borrowed, not stolen- rightfully hers, depending on who one asks.

The Duke of Northumberland flanks her in his finest, proud and gleaming with one hand on the top of the throne. He beams when he sees him approach, whole face alight with a relief and desire which Arthur finds pathetic. He does not spare Northumberland the glance of validation and approval he knows that he seeks and instead bows low in greeting, focusing on the young woman in front of him.

‘Lord Kirkland, I am glad to see you safely returned. Spain, was it?’

‘Portugal, Madam.’

She takes him in. There is a recognition in her expression that Arthur does not like and this increases when she tilts her head in slight deference, ‘I have been told about you, Sir.’

Arthur cannot help but glance to Northumberland now. The small, smug quirk that briefly lights at the corner of his lips makes Arthur want to rip them off, ‘I’m afraid that you may have been told things that you should only hear from myself.’

‘His Majesty the King told me everything that he knew.’ Her eyes flick to focus on each of his in turn, searching, ‘He wanted all proper ceremonies to take place for my coronation, as is tradition.’

‘It was a shame that I could not have been there for him in his final hours. I was not aware of the severity of his health until it was far too late.’

‘It was a sudden change,’ Northumberland speaks for the first time, ‘His passing shocked us all.’

‘I’m sure.’ There is no disguising the contempt in Arthur’s voice and the lady holds out her hand to him, forcing Arthur to return his attentions to her.

He bows to kiss her ringed fingers, centuries of English monarchs smoothing the metal which bites against his lips.

‘Thank you for coming today.’

‘It is my honour,’ Arthur pauses. What he has to say is not for the eager crowd behind him to hear and he keeps his voice low when he speaks, the words in his mouth bitter and heavy, ‘Thank you for receiving me, my Lady.’

Lady Jane Grey’s breath catches.

My Lady.

A beat of silence, then two.

‘Yes,’ she says, so softly Arthur hardly hears her. She does not appear to be surprised.

Arthur’s refusal to use Jane’s proclaimed royal title is damning; she understands the implication.

England does not acknowledge her as his new Queen.

Her reign, and this court, will not succeed.

Northumberland understands this as well. He stiffens, hands clenching into tight fists at his sides and Arthur feels a vindictive flame of satisfaction at his reaction. He always did enjoy it when power hungry men met their cold mortality, recognised their end before them as it took shape in the day.

Jane’s hand in Arthur’s shakes, fingers stiff and cold even through the glove and the heat of summer and Arthur squeezes it gently before he rises in a futile attempt to reassure her, reminded with pained regret that it is not just Northumberland whose fate he has just foretold. The desperation of greedy men have forced this child to step to a tune of treason and she is as damned as they.

‘Why have you come here?’ Jane's face is smooth once more, voice clear and steely. She has won Arthur's respect, if nothing else.

‘It is not something I would miss,’ he says, ‘It is an event that I must remember.’

‘I hope that you remember the truth of it.’

Footsteps at the back of the hall sound a new arrival and Arthur’s time with her here is up. He steps back and bows low again and Lady Jane shifts, a sudden twitch of her whole body as if to reach for him that she forces still. When Arthur looks up again her eyes are wide and fearful.

‘Don’t let them see,’ he wants to tell her, ‘Don’t let them see that you’re afraid. Don’t let them see that you have a weakness to be used.’

He would do so, usually. To another Queen or King. Would stand behind them at the seat of power where he belongs and whisper in their ear the oldest advice they will ever hear, first hand experiences now centuries old and worth more than all the gold lost to gain them.

But the flow of English history does not lead to her, but straight through. Arthur feels the tug of influence pull him in a different direction, to a different Queen and to show allegiance for Jane would be foolish at best, war at worst. She is instead just a girl, a poor, innocent girl pushed and forced to sit atop a throne that does not bleed for her the way she will certainly bleed for it. Already, religion barks a hunting song in her name, a triumphant Catholic return after a sickly Protestant end approaching closer every day.

Arthur can do nothing for her but meet her eyes with kindness, seeing her rather than her father-in-law and husband’s ambition. Understanding and empathy are things she sees far too little of, he knows, and she will get no more in the future.

She is only seventeen.

Arthur feels sick.

He steps away from her, melting into the crowd which part to accept him, but her eyes linger on him as he goes, a keening, desperate wish clear for all to see in one quick flash: ‘I do not want this.’

‘I know,’ he thinks, as she rearranges a mask of indifference on her face and settles on her next introduction, ‘I know. But it will make no difference.’

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

AN:

A historical Hetalia fic from me that actually has some true history in it, huzuh!

(I misread the dates, I though Day 3 was 1500 onwards so I am slightly incorrect in my prompt and day here. Sorry about that!)

Historical Notes:

Warning. These historical notes contain dark historical detail.

Lady Jane Grey, 1537 – 12 February 1554, was an English Queen who ruled for just nine days and as such is known as the ‘9 Days Queen’.

Born into a noble family and related to King Edward VI (son of Henry VIII) as his first cousin once removed, she was also the daughter in law of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.

In June 1553, 15 year old dying Edward wrote her as the successor to the English throne in his will, bypassing his Catholic half-sister Mary (later Mary I- ‘Bloody Mary’) and Protestant half-sister Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I- ‘The Virgin Queen’, ‘Good Queen Bess’). Although it was likely Edward's decision, (evidence does point that he was very much in favour of this) naming Jane Grey herself was possibly instigated by Northumberland who was very much involved with Edward’s Kingship. Due to Edward's young age, Northumberland ruled on his behalf as Lord Protector and some believe this was a conspiracy to put his family on the throne.

I won’t go into the why this succession change happened too much (there’s a LOT of historical religious drama to unpack there, alongside Henry VIII’s own meddling and problems) but in short, Edward did so on the basis that religion and illegitimacy made his sisters unfit for the crown and that the next best person, of the same religion and close blood relation to the King, was poor Jane.

This was not a good idea. Regardless of religion change and regardless of anything else, Mary was the eldest surviving child of the previous King, Henry VIII, and was expected to be next in line after Edward, should her brother die without issue. Support for Mary grew quickly and Northumberland set out from London with troops on 14 July to capture her. Potentially realising that popularity for Mary was far too great, or potentially due to a sneaky coup d’état in his absence, the Privy Council switched their allegiance and proclaimed Mary queen in London, on 19 July.

Jane, by all accounts, did not want to rule. She accepted the crown with reluctance and refused to name her husband, Guildford Dudley as King as it would require an Act of Parliament. Although she did sign documents as "Jane the Quene” it is a general belief that none of what happened was her doing or choice. Little of her life seemed to be, when she was younger, she is said to have complained:

“For when I am in the presence either of father or mother, whether I speak, keep silence, sit, stand or go, eat, drink, be merry or sad, be sewing, playing, dancing, or doing anything else, I must do it as it were in such weight, measure and number, even so perfectly as God made the world; or else I am so sharply taunted, so cruelly threatened, yea presently sometimes with pinches, nips and bobs and other ways (which I will not name for the honour I bear them) ... that I think myself in hell”

Mary originally decided to spare Jane but after the rebellion of Thomas Wyatt the Younger in January 1554 against her plans of marriage with Philip of Spain, she was deemed too risky to keep about and it was decided she would be executed. This was carried out on 23 February 1554 via beheading.

I’ve been fascinated by Jane since I was small. She was so stuck, given so little choice and freedom and so young, yet paid the highest price. Maybe that cruelty really resonated with me, or maybe it was the idea of someone being so helpless im regards to having any say in her own life that I’ve never been able to forget her.

References:

Thank you for reading!

[confused-bi-queer]

I’m passing out from sleep, so I’ll drop this and leave.

Yesterday, I finally finished just writing the first chapter for my CORB. I have to say that it was a pain in the ass to get it done, but it is and I’m quite proud of myself for it.

There will be rewrites and some things might change, but I wanted to share two bits because the plot is asdfghjklñ😮‍💨😮‍💨 wow

This is all from Simon’s pov, and to refresh your memory, it’s the dark-ish/mysterious/angsty Regency AU.

After our rather slow dance, I slide Agatha’s hands to meet the Duke’s and I shiver with the touch; she has always had pleasant hands to touch, and they feel so light and delicate that it makes you want to touch her all the time.

You have no idea how much I liked this part. In case you don’t see it, I’ll tell you. You know Simon, right?? Well, his personal mark is constantly saying sweet things about Baz while “roasting him”, so he’s definitely not talking about Agatha here and it makes me happy😫🥺

And to balance things… angst… and fuck the Mage

“I have no reason to listen to you,” I say.

He huffs, still smiling. “Ah, however you do trust me enough to come here by yourself because you want to know what I have to offer.”

“This is mere curiosity.”

“I can work with that, and it doesn’t change anything. You have already doubted your family enough to believe the words of a stranger and bothered to come here. If I recall, it was a long trip; the state of Salisbury is quite far from here, even by carriage.”

I have written the bare minimum for posting, but of course I will write more before the first chapter is out, but this was all I could share because the rest is too spoilery (in case I didn’t spoil it already, which I might just have, but who’s counting.)

Writer’s blocks are thee wors, so I’m glad I’m past that complete freezing pace. Hopefully I won’t annoy even more people into helping with this au (I have already like 7 people involved in this fic, ha!)

Now tagging: @artsyunderstudy @basiltonbutliketheherb @fatalfangirl @facewithoutheart @johnwgrey @cutestkilla @gekkoinapeartree @takitalks @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @sharing-a-room-with-an-open-fire @starwarned @moodandmist @kherub @martsonmars @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @letraspal @aristocratic-otter @captain-aralias @bookish-bogwitch @excalisbury @tea-brigade @palimpsessed @bazzybelle @sillyunicorn (no pressure and wishing no artist/writer block❤️)

[dreamwritesimagines]

Elias opening the invitation to everyone just screams @ EVERYONE. LOOK AT MY FUTURE WIFE. I AM TO BE HER HUSBAND pls he’s so proud and in love with her i could cry. THE WHOLE CEREMONY I COULD CRY. also idk what it was about it and idk if you made it intentional but Anthony looking at Cherie during the “carnal lust” part of the speech i can’t stop laughing sksksk. that moment in the vestry...ugh so much love and sweetest but then longing and yearning from two different couples...the bishop is fifth wheeling so bad sksks

WHERE ARE THE MANNERS OF THESE PEOPLE???? WHY ARE THEY PROPOSING AT SOMEONE ELSE’S WEDDING???? anyways can someone drag this man out–omg lmao she said: i will break your heart so you can write more poems LMAO like “focus on my art than my wife” THIS MAN IS DENSE. Anthony has a competition for the title of Idiot Premium™️ i see

Cherie is being so dramatic omfg i can’t stop laughing this whole scene is just pure comedy. but then again, she did inspire him to write some more poems so it is horror at it’s finest. “You didn’t say yes, did you?” ANTHONY HAS ONE PRIORITY AND ONE PRIORITY ONLY. he felt his heart drop there for a second lmao. Cece throwing that “Oh yes, I’m always right” look to Anthony when Cherie said something about how people need to stop proposing until she sorts herself out sksks

ELIAS !!!! MY BOY YES !!!! SAY IT WITH YOUR CHEST !!!! CALL THEM THE FUCK OUT. i’m so glad he said that like, he is so so right and he should say it. stop making this about YOU CHERIE & ANTHONY SKSKS he’s so done with their Bullshit™️ as he should omg. also Elias throwing the Best Man Card™️ will never not be funny. i feel like he’s going to use that every single time now even when like, years had already passed since the wedding LMAO.

HUGH SKASKALK he’s so bitter that his little sister is married now and i love how Cece is just rubbing it in and Elias is just too over the moon to care about it anymore bc they’re already married so nothing you can do about that now dear brother-in-law sksksks. but we all know he’s just trying to mask how he’s going to miss her so baaad.

Cherie: Oh Anthony and I are never going to get married. Hugh & Kenneth: Sure, Jan.

she is still so set on the idea that he doesn’t love her WHEN HELLO THE NEXT SCENE, EXHIBIT A: he brought her a strawberry cake bc he remembered it was her favorite and that she gets hungry when she’s angry ugh <3 i will forever thank Cecily for Anthony’s change in behavior that was the cutest and sweetest thing. “Trust me, I’m under very strict orders.” and i am so so happy you and your one brincell are following them. “I honestly don’t care whose heart gets broken as long as it’s not yours.” he so... WHERE WAS THIS ATTITUDE A COUPLE CHAPTERS BACK ANTHONY???? he’s being cute and sweet and Cece our lord and saviour thank you.

ALSO HELP. three (3) disastrous proposals in less that 48 hours. also i disagree with Cherie about there being nothing wrong with Pierre’s proposal bc, okay it wasn’t that bad sure BUT it was disastrous in a different way given that, it was the sole reason why those words in the duke’s study were exchange. it may not have been the worst (Sinclair’s is the worst, Pierre & Anthony are closer to a tie lmao) but it indirectly left a much bigger impact to their family in my opinion.

“Oh I’d disagree, there are a lot of things wrong with me,” you pointed out. “It’s very obvious at this point. I cannot be with you, but apparently I cannot be with anyone but you.” oh there are a lot of things wrong with you but that’s certainly not one of those. The Stubbornness™️ though, darling Cherie, it’s Outstanding™️ sksksksk

LIKE A HORSE SKSKS subtle Anthony, really subtle but i also can’t blame him bc like....pure sugar???? as if this girl doesn't have too much energy already no wonder the sugar was locked it LMAO omg....throwing knives....okay you know what, they’re both so so made for each other ever since childhood. i feel like God made a conscious and careful decision not to let them grow up together bc i feel like the whole world would collapse like Anthonias™️ was already a nightmare what more if you added Cherie in the mix??? my god poor parents AKSALSKALSK “your future children”.....hmm you mean “our future children ” right Cherie?

at first i thought it was going to be a nursery or Cherie’s birthing room and that would have been oof, (but i feel like that’s coming soon? bc it was said that there’s many locked rooms in this place wasn’t it?) but this...omg. Cassandra's room, from the portrait, the colours, the design and the fact that everything is still taken care of and well kept, you just know Percy has strict orders for it to be cleaned regularly,

“I told you before,” he said. “I don’t think you know their story completely.” i mean, everyone keeps telling her, including her own brother. but she never listens, doesn’t she. like i said, The Stubbornness™️ is outstanding.

okay, ngl, i was really really Really™️ worried when Celias appeared bc they have a habit of sneaking around BEFORE they were married so imagine how bad it is now that they don’t have that boundary anymore and i deadass thought they were going to....Do The Deed™️ while Anthony and Cherie we’re in the room and i would’ve DIED WITH THEM & FOR THEM. but then i remembered what room it was so i was able to breathe again sksksksk also i feel like Anthony would’ve definitely stepped out to stop them going further and then Elias and Cece would then find out it that Chanthony was yet again unchaperoned and Elias will then go on a rant about betrayal and Anthony would see the Thames sooner rather than later and ugh, i’m glad it didn’t go that way bc...The Headache™️

ANTHONY COVERING HER EARS I SHRIEKED OF LAUGTHER. now i kinda want to know what was said bc i can picture Anthony just cringing and slowly dying inside bc he didn’t need to hear his best friend talk about how he will “show how much he loves his wife” ALSO ALSO OMG, Elias....not only was that almost in front of your sister BUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR PARENTS’ PORTRAIT?? this boy knows no bounds. love does that huh. “I don’t know, I’ve never been married.” how and why is that The Best™️ excuse ever LMAO. i mean of course he knows but technically, he’s not wrong and Cherie doesn’t have a clue so sksksks you survive another day Anthony.

“And he has no right to keep these, any of this. He exiled her and moved on with his life.” “He turned Stormview into a mausoleum for your mother even before she was gone,” he told you. “Nothing here says he moved on.”

this. THIS. thank you Anthony. the whole of Stormview is proof of how much Cassie truly did mean to Percy and i’m glad Cherie is now seeing that. i can’t wait to hear what truly went down with Cassie and Percy, bc i feel like that would be the turning point for Cherie to finally realise how her idealistic view of love isn’t the true or only definition of love. i’m sure it will finally open her eyes and see this situation of her and Anthony in a different perspective. i think the mistake she was referring to was about Percy but, i also hope she realised more than just that with regards to Anthony’s words like, he basically told her how he will never move on from her but, one step at a time. AAAAH great chapter as always and i can’t wait to see where this will lead to next!!

– TM Anon™️

Omg omg darliiiing, hi! ❤❤

Oh I’m so excited! ❤❤❤

Lolll exactly, I think Elias wanted everyone to see because he was so proud and he’s so happy so he wants to share it with people❤

CARNAL LUST PART😂 Did you know that apparently, priests and bishops and everyone made the exact same speech at every wedding back in Regency? So that Carnal lust part was said in every single wedding back then lolll😂

Lolll three proposals at the same wedding!

Idiot Premium™ still makes me laugh 😂

Cherie is so dramatic YES😂 It runs in the family but she’s the only one who makes it obvious that much 😂

Anthony lives in constant fear that Cherie will accept somebody’s marriage proposal before he can ask again 😂

ELIAS REACHED THE END OF HIS PATIENCE WITH ANTHONY AND CHERIE’S BS😁 Oh he will use the best man car and the fact that Anthony basically stole his thunder for years and years ❤ Even the Cherie thing! Like, they could be married and Elias will still talk about how Anthony went behind his back 😂

Hugh is still in denial that he won’t get to see Cecily as often ❤ But he will like Elias eventually ❤

i will forever thank Cecily for Anthony’s change in behavior that was the cutest and sweetest thing. “Trust me, I’m under very strict orders.” and i am so so happy you and your one brincell are following them. HE AND HIS ONE BRAINCELL OMG😂

Wait, you think Sinclair’s proposal was worse than Anthony’s?! 😱

Cherie might be the most stubborn person in the ton 😁

okay you know what, they’re both so so made for each other ever since childhood. i feel like God made a conscious and careful decision not to let them grow up together bc i feel like the whole world would collapse like Anthonias™ was already a nightmare what more if you added Cherie in the mix??? my god poor parents AKSALSKALSK “your future children”.....hmm you mean “our future children ” right Cherie? I LOVE THIS SO MUCH-

But like, considering how Anthonias was, and how Cherie was… Can you imagine Cherie and Anthony’s children?! 😱

Oh all of those locked room had something to do with Cassie❤ And Percy keeps them locked but he has the key ❤

OMG IF CELIAS DID IT IN THAT ROOM-

For sure Anthony would have to step out to stop them 😂

i kinda want to know what was said bc i can picture Anthony just cringing and slowly dying inside bc he didn’t need to hear his best friend talk about how he will “show how much he loves his wife” I think it was like a very playful remark but it was also pretty…out there, and if Cherie heard that😂

Anthony didn’t even think twice before covering Cherie’s ears 😂 She is unmarried after all😈

the whole of Stormview is proof of how much Cassie truly did mean to Percy and i’m glad Cherie is now seeing that. EXACTLY!

Every single corner of Stormview has traces of Cassie and Cherie is slowly going to realize maybe she didn’t know everything about their marriage after all❤

Thank you so much love, you’ve made my day with this! ❤❤ ILYSM!❤❤❤

[carewyncromwell]

24 for Carion and 28 for Jacashe

And once again…I think I’ll make both of these AUs! Here’s something each for the Cinderella AU and Haunted Mansion AU!

24. Slow Dancing // Carion

All of Florence celebrated the day their new king, Cosimo VII, wed the famous “Lady of the Glass Slipper” who had saved his life at the coronation ball. The maiden — who turned out to be the peasant granddaughter of the cruel Royaumanian lord Charles Cromwell — was quickly embraced by her new subjects for her grace, beauty, and courage. And when she was crowned Florence’s new queen, courtiers and townspeople alike rushed around her in the ballroom, eager to meet her themselves.

If Carewyn was nervous at all, she didn’t show it. She remained ever stoic and polite, though there were a few times when she spared softer expressions, for those more modest admirers. When a five-year-old girl timidly approached Carewyn to offer her the gift of a yellow tulip, for instance, the Queen accepted it graciously, asking the little girl for her name so she could thank her properly and engaging her in conversation about her family and what flowers she liked best. She even accepted a rather nervous-looking teenager’s stammered request for a dance without skipping a beat, once she’d noted the other young people on the sidelines jeering at him. (They weren’t jeering so much when they saw the Queen actually extend her hand for the immensely relieved peasant boy to take and lead her out onto the floor.)

Much of the crowd and other dancers watched Carewyn dance, charmed by their Queen’s kindness. Most charmed of all, as one could expect, was the King himself, who patiently watched from the sidelines, his black eyes sparkling with fondness. After the dance was through, Orion came up beside Carewyn like a shadow, bowing to both her and the teenage boy.

“May I cut in?” he asked politely.

The boy flushed and immediately started stammering. “O — of course, your Majesty…”

Carewyn offered the boy a reassuring smile before taking Orion’s hand and following him to the other side of the dance floor.

“I’m sorry I left you to deal with Duke Lockhart on your own,” said Carewyn lowly.

Orion shook his head lightly. “Don’t be.”

His lips were curled up with tenderness as he brought his arm around her in proper La Volta posture.

“Seeing you share a dance with that boy as if he were the richest lord in the land…I’m so very proud to now be joined with you, as your husband.”

Carewyn’s face flushed and her lips spread into a slight shy smile as her gaze fell down into their joined hands. She twirled around Orion, leaping nimbly as he picked her up in the intimate, staged choreography.

“I’m glad we get to do this again,” she murmured to him. “Properly this time.”

“I thought we danced this quite nicely, last time,” Orion said with a wry smile. 

“It was nice,” Carewyn tried to clarify. “I just mean without the danger involved...without having to worry about Rakepick or Grandfather.”

“Mm,” granted Orion. “And without you hiding your identity, as well. When last we danced this way, no one but our friends and I knew who you were. Now...everyone knows you. They know your face, your heart -- your courage and kindness.”

He tentatively leaned in, placing his face right beside hers.

“...Now the whole world,” he said, his murmur a mere breath away from her skin, “sees you as I do.”

Carewyn tilted her head up to look at Orion, trailing her lips beside his cheek in a light, yet lingering kiss. Orion’s eyes fluttered closed as he reveled in the fleeting feeling of her lips on her face. 

“And now both the kingdom you were born into and the one I was born into are as you wished they could be,” she whispered, her voice full of pride. “Peaceful and allied -- prosperous and happy. And moreover...yours is ruled by a man who treats every one of his countrymen with respect and compassion.”

She looked up into Orion’s eyes. 

“If anyone is proud of who they married...I certainly am.”

Orion’s black eyes sparkled like stars. In a moment, he’d impulsively swept in to kiss his new wife fully on the lips in a brief, but thoroughly affectionate kiss, perfectly uncaring of the audience of courtiers and townspeople around them. 

“True to your song, my Lady Greensleeves,” he said lowly, “you remain all my joy.”

28. Teaching the other something new // Jacashe

It all started when Duncan traveled back to his hometown of New Orleans and ended up right in the middle of Mardi Gras. Jacob had been absolutely thrilled by the get-together, of course, so he’d coaxed Duncan to take him -- with Madame Olivia’s chanting being somewhat constant again, Jacob was corporeal enough that he could make himself look more physically there, and most everyone would be too drunk or overall cheerful to likely pay much mind to his weird clothes or the gash across his neck. And so Duncan relented and took Jacob to Mardi Gras -- and the two ended up in the midst of a drunken fist fight for their trouble.

Duncan had managed to dodge any severe injuries, but when it came to trying to get away from the drunken idiots surrounding him, it was a bit tricky, since they kept grabbing his clothes. Duncan punched one as hard as he could to get one off him, and it did work, but Duncan was left cradling his fist in pain afterward. That was when Jacob stepped in -- in a rather clever move, he used his ghostly abilities to phase Duncan right out of the crowd and then pulled him along after him back toward their hotel room like a gleeful child.

Back at the room, once the ghost calmed down enough to notice Duncan wasn’t happy, though, Jacob immediately tried to address the issue. And considering Duncan was still massaging his wrist, Jacob decided to deal with that. 

The once-Headless Man swept around half-corporeal, grabbing the plastic bucket on the ledge by the bathroom, taking it outside, and filling it at the vending machine with ice. Then, once he’d adjusted his head after it’d nearly slid off his neck stump, he wrapped up some of the ice in a wet towel and gently applied it to Duncan’s hand. 

“There we go,” said Jacob. “Does that help?”

Duncan was flushing despite himself. Jacob’s hand was so cold, and yet once again, he found his body heat spiking, in response to his touch. 

“...I guess,” he muttered halfheartedly.

Jacob kept his eyes on Duncan’s hand as he ran the towel lightly over his hand, so that the intense cold of the ice inside was evenly distributed and wouldn’t scald him by being in one place too long. Duncan hissed lowly when the towel ran over his thumb. 

“When you punched the guy, was your thumb inside or outside your fist?” Jacob asked somewhat abruptly.

Duncan blinked. “What?”

“Was your thumb clenched inside your fingers, or was it outside of them?” Jacob recurred, undaunted. 

“...Outside.”

“Was it over your fingers, or beside your fingers?”

“Beside, I think.”

Jacob looked almost vindicated as he nodded. 

“That’s the problem, then. You should always have your thumb over your fingers, not on top of them. You’re lucky you didn’t break any bones in your hand, punching that way. Oh yeah, and strike more with your palm than your knuckles -- it’s actually much stronger, and it might keep you from hurting your fingers as much.”

Duncan cocked an eyebrow. “Speaking from experience?”

“Sometimes just telling a man politely to stay the hell away from my Wyn wasn’t convincing enough,” Jacob said very coolly. 

“Does Carewyn know you punched one or more of her suitors in the face?” Duncan asked dryly, his eyebrows cocked. 

“They weren’t suitors -- more like deviant rakes. But yes. Wyn knew about some of them, anyway. Wasn’t happy that I hurt anybody, of course...but she didn’t actually like any of those bottle-headed twits either, so it was more out of worry for me than for them...”

Duncan shook his head, but he was smiling wryly despite himself. His dark eyes drifted down to Jacob’s hand still massaging his lightly with the cold towel. Jacob’s own ethereally glowing blue eyes seemed to twinkle with something a bit more playful.

“You got the bloke good, though,” he said with a grin. “Looked like he was seeing stars, from the look of him.”

Duncan smirked in satisfaction. “Thanks.”

“Mardi Gras really is thrilling,” said Jacob brightly. “Shall we go back out tomorrow, to indulge some more?”

“As long as we avoid that particular bar and street corner.”

“I actually wouldn’t mind seeing you get another chance to capper-claw somebody,” Jacob said mischievously, “but since your hand isn’t likely to be at its best tomorrow...I guess it’d be good to put that off, for now.” 

The following year Duncan got the chance to put Jacob’s lesson on punching to good use. After all, one can only ignore sitting next to a guy following you and your ghost boyfriend around and haranguing you about your "sins” long enough before you finally have to physically make him shut up. 

Affectionate Moments Prompt!

[fadingreveries]

Bridgerton S1E2: "Shock and Delight" | Thoughts

❝ Simon's apparent courtship of Daphne angers her brother Anthony and threatens to ruin the arrangements he made. Marina opens up to a curious Penelope. ❞

Find my reactions to other episodes of Bridgerton here and to episodes from other TV shows here! 🐝

Episode 1 left me on a very interesting turn of events, so I was super eager to keep watching! Here are my thoughts while I was watching:

Poor Simon, his mother didn't even get to hold him 🥺

Not Eloise bursting into the drawing-room and asking out of nowhere how babies are made 💀

I still don't get why Anthony is so insistent on Daphne marrying Lord Berbrooke? Shouldn't he be happy that his sister is desired by so many suitors now? Surely there are other men who are better than him *cough* Simon *cough*

Young Simon crying pulled at my heartstrings, poor baby

I really liked Lady Danbury's piece of advice to Young Simon. I loved how it was written and delivered

Daphne and Simon smiling while dancing with each other >>>

I get Daphne's annoyance with Simon at him telling Anthony about what happened with Berbrooke, but shouldn't she be more glad that she doesn't have to marry him??

The way my jaw dropped when Berbrooke called Daphne "loose and damaged, not intact" 😦

BUT THE WAY HE HAD IT COMING!! I WAS READY FOR SIMON TO PUT HIM IN HIS PLACE

"You are my worst failure" uh no, your worst failure was not treating the son you wanted so badly with the utmost love and respect that he deserves

Simon's backstory makes me so sad, like I can't even imagine saying the same words that his father said to him

Berbrooke is even more of a scumbag than I initially thought he was?? Why put all so much work and effort into getting a special marriage license and preparing to blackmail an entire family just to marry a girl?? Chill out, dude. There are other fish in the sea

YESSS the scheming to send Berbrooke away is what I'm here for

Daphne and Eloise's heart-to-heart was very interesting. It must be especially terrifying in those days to know the real possibility of having your life taken from you the moment you bring a new life into the world. I don't blame Eloise for wanting a different life than the one she was given the second she was born

Oh okay, we're finally on a first-name basis 😙

The audacity of Simon's father saying how proud he is of his son and seeing the duke he has grown into?? You were not responsible for that, it was all Simon. So don't even try to pretend you're happy to finally call him your son after emotionally abusing your son 😡

I honestly don't even blame Simon for wanting to end the bloodline with him. Besides Lady Danbury, his father was the only one who could truly give him the gift of family and instead, he lived his whole life believing he was a failure that wouldn't amount to anything

[omgkalyppso]

The Unforgotten King

A Dimimari drabble that fits into Fae's post canon.

The icy winds pouring down from the frigid Fraldarian mountains were starting to upset the horses with how cold they were. Many roads this far north were impassable for carriages; even the main roads, which in many cases were the only option, were made to constrict the approach of enemies and allies alike, venturing to and from the historically chaotic northern border, and the capital to the south.

They had come first by boat and then followed the trade routes carved out by the fishing villages on the eastern coast.

Marianne held her scarf against the chill, wincing and shaking her head about Dimitri, with his scarf pulled down around his smile as he spoke about his homeland. He'd long ago let his hat fall back around his shoulders, secured by a cord about his neck, and his bound hair was a tangle as a result of the gales. He was going home, and it was as clear in his person as it was in his temperament. His nose and cheeks were pink and frozen, and his beard was gelid with frost, but the Faerghan climate suited him. Marianne even suspected that the temperature might have been harsh on another man's injuries, but Dimitri was only livelier by the mile.

Some might have said he was as a boy gone to the fair, but she knew him too well now, and could see the flit of his eye as he watched the forests. He was fighting his hauntings and his memories of war, and trusting her and their guard with his insecurities. A vast improvement when compared to the dreary state of his heart and mind during the year or two past.

Marianne had worried that despite Dimitri's growth, that returning to Faerghus was going to upset him and his friends, when he and they found him without the crown, without the armour and attire one expected of a king, and with the continued trauma of never having achieved his vengeance. She was overjoyed that it was nothing so simple.

.

"Do you see how the trees have turned from green to blue here?" Dimitri asked, gesturing to the evergreens, brightening as Marianne nodded. "They say the Goddess took pity on the verdant evergreens of Fodlan after her first ice storm, and blessed all the trees north of Conand River with a piece of her home on the Blue Sea Star, that they might from then on weather the storms."

Marianne held her scarf from her face as she replied, "They're quite beautiful. I hear they house wildlife too? I would have expected we'd only find migratory birds out in these temperatures."

"It would be wonderful to hear an owl at night," Dimitri mused. "You are right, though. There are a variety of creatures in the underbrush."

"As stubborn as any Faerghan," Marianne joked. "Although I suspect, in regards to your tale of a blessing, that similar accounts are told of the seas themselves, rather than only of Faerghan forests. Anything blue."

Dimitri had blushed and laughed awkwardly at Marianne's initial declaration, knowing that it was true that sailors in Faerghus were revered and worried perhaps even that he had misremembered his own short yarn, but then he'd smiled and contributed softly, "It is a color dear to my heart."

"Because of your house banner?" Marianne asked as if to confirm, offering Dimitri no space to argue. "Perhaps a square or kerchief could be sewn in one of your pillows? Or some other secret space? I am sorry that you're only clad as one of my guards."

Dimitri shook his head. "An honor. I am glad to ride beside you, Mari— my lady, and ... maybe with the right materials, I could try to award myself with the gift you suggest. It would be a small and challenging project for a man of my extremely limited skill."

.

Upon their arrival at the manor in Fraldarius, they were escorted to the entrance hall, where Dimitri embarrassed Rodrigue with a bow and an embrace.

"Dimitri," Rodrigue said softly, as a reprimand and a prayer, testing the name, free of title and ornamentation. "It is good to see you again. If Felix had not seen you himself, I would have assumed a ruse or extortion." He pulled away, a hand still on his once and fallen king's shoulder. "To bury you, would be as burying another son—"

"Rodrigue—" Dimitri said, meaning to interrupt.

"Humor me," he begged. "Hear me. Not only am I proud to host you, in secret, in public, but should you ever need a home in Faerghus, we will never turn you away." Rodrigue swept a tear from his eyes, "Hm. I think you'll find my lack of decorum is your fault, for hugging me first—"

"My sincerest—"

Rodrigue chuckled. "Don't apologize. Just know that I intended to be more reserved, for the sake of Lady Marianne, if not for that of my son."

"Where is Felix?" asked Dimitri, as a door to the entrance hall opened at the top of a far stair, and Felix, Annette, Sylvain and Ingrid rushed out of it.

Although Felix had been to visit him in Margrave Edmund's territory three times, Dimitri could not suppress his joy at his friend's reveal, and after Rodrigue's admission, he could either hope that Felix too thought of him more fondly, or else worry that he needed to apologize to the younger Fraldarius for what he'd inspired in his father. "Felix!"

Dimitri spared a glance for Marianne, who waved him off delicately so that he could rush to his friends at the base of the stair. She shared a far more respectable greeting with Duke Fraldarius.

.

"Wait—!" Felix started to object, but too late or with too little conviction to keep Dimitri from fitting his arms around him and Ingrid and squeezing them to his chest.

Ingrid laughed happily, and Felix scoffed when Sylvain was greeted with only a joined hand and a clap on the shoulder, though Annette then jumped into Dimitri's arms.

"I half worried it was an exaggeration," Dimitri said softly. "That you all could make it."

"Mercedes and Dedue's boat is expected tomorrow," Sylvain said to assure him.

"Ashe won't be here for a week," Annette lamented as her feet hit the floor, "but I hear that will be long enough to see you?"

"I won't leave before," Dimitri promised. "It would break my heart if his journey from Gaspard was fruitless."

"Did you know that he needed to wait for Linhardt to take up residence in Gaspard?" asked Ingrid. "To deter the Adrestians from overreaching — even now."

"As well as general rebellion," Felix supplied. "Things aren't exactly settled that far west."

"You're helping him?" Dimitri confirmed, and a part of his heart stirred to be able to have this conversation with Felix in person, rather than over a period of days by letter.

"Fhirdiad's helping him," Felix said and then frowned when the others around Dimitri looked at him more directly, and corrected himself. "Yes, I'm helping him."

Fhirdiad had been Felix's home and his charge these past few years. He had taken up the title of Archduke and wielded his role with purpose. He always intended to return to Fraldarius, imagining that there would be an opportunity to suggest another lord be honoured with the capital region, but some days he worried he had sealed his fate. His father, and Sylvain, were less subtle in their matching inquiries about his return, but it seemed all others were slowly becoming accustomed to him sitting in that place of kings in the more temperate south.

"I appreciate it," Dimitri said carefully.

"There'll be plenty of time to worry about the shadow of dissent tomorrow," Sylvain said, looking to change the subject. "What are you wearing?"

"Oh," Dimitri said in surprise, looking down at himself, dressed as a Leicester soldier in wool and armour.

"Are you warm enough?" asked Annette, turning over a side of his cloak to assess its thickness.

Dimitri chuckled. "I'm plenty warm, I—"

"How many layers is that?" Ingrid inquired critically.

"Do the rest of Marianne's escorts have hats like this?" asked Sylvain, propping Dimitri's upon his golden hair.

"Four. No, most have wool lined leather caps."

"Four? Like this? That's not enough," Ingrid worried.

"We'll warm him with drink and games," Sylvain suggested. "Maybe dancing if Annette feels like singing?"

Annette squeaked in protest, but Felix spoke first.

"You're being ridiculous. Dimitri's had a long ride—"

Dimitri's lips tightened to hear Felix call him by name, and he spoke gently, worried he might break this simple spell of friendship when he spoke in favour of Sylvain's suggestions, "I think it would be nice to drink with everyone, but I might like to bathe first. I fear as soon as I loosen my collar my sweat will thaw from where it's frozen upon me."

Three exaggerated tongues of disgust extended in sympathy.

"Do you want to stay inside?" asked Felix. "Wood fires can heat baths in the lower levels."

"Oh, no, lets show Marianne the hot springs," Annette said, as if pleading with Dimitri, though he would have agreed without any provocation.

"I would like that," he agreed, looking at Felix for permission.

With an expression of vague annoyance, Felix nodded, and then he and Dimitri each glanced to where Marianne continued her conversation with Rodrigue.

.

There was a social element to the hot springs that Marianne feared, but Sylvain made a joke that set her at ease, and challenged her to try the new experience.

Dimitri half expected Felix to return home after dutifully guiding their group to their destination, and thanked him for his continued company and conversation, such as it was, while they sat together in the steaming water. Sylvain was kind and assertive, inspecting Dimitri's right side as he stretched his arm and took advantage of the heat, to massage strong fingers into his shoulder.

Elsewhere, Ingrid and Annette had Marianne giggling as the trio raced from the spring to the snow and back again each time they grew over-red from being boiled together.

Later, they drank and reminisced, and Ingrid pulled Dimitri aside, to reaffirm that she would have been his knight and protector ... and that she still would, if he wanted to pursue his place in Fhirdiad. She saw no reason to defer to the law in Garreg Mach when Faerghus could still have its own king, and if not that, then at least he could be recognized, as the rest of them were, within Fodlan's nobility.

The shock that overtook Dimitri frightened her, when she had only meant to offer him his ancestral home, and the respect many had died to get him.

Sylvain and Felix were in listening distance, and Ingrid had known that; the four of them looked to Marianne, weaving Annette's hair in a five strand braid, while they spoke of seals and bears and other creatures that plagued the harbours.

Felix hissed about how Ingrid would throw them from one war into another, reminding her that Dimitri was hidden away precisely to avoid what she was suggesting: that there would be people willing to die for their rightful king to reclaim his place in Fhirdiad.

Everything would change if Dimitri returned, and they'd lose the trust of the Adrestians, especially Ferdinand, when they had already been caught in another lie.

"You can't come back," Felix said to finish his argument. Aggressive, nervous, cruel.

"Dimitri should be given a choice now that he's recovered," Ingrid said, firm.

"He's recovering," Sylvain insisted.

With a great expression of self control, Dimitri maintained his volume as he declared for his friends' forgotten benefit, "I am right here." He waited for the shame to silence them before he went on. "And things are not ... how I envisioned them — how I wanted them? My mind and upbringing feel ... wasteful, at times; and yet I have been consulted," he sighed, "on strategy and trade, customs and etiquette — by Felix and Marianne both. My input is heard in Faerghus and Leicester, and if I willed it, I am sure that Garreg Mach is within my reach ... even Almyra."

Sylvain raised his tankard in salute as he walked away then, seeing that a fight wasn't about to break out, and that Dimitri had their conversation well in hand. He complimented Annette's hair, and strove to further distract the ladies from the dark turn of that other corner of the room.

"If Faerghus was threatened, I would find my way back here, lance in hand. But I trust the peace that's been building. And the crown, as it was, only invited duplicity and massacres. Faerghus will thrive without me." With one arm he embraced Ingrid, pressing a kiss to her temple. "And Sylvain is right, I have been recovering. I would not risk all of Faerghus' progress, all of your work," his eyes drifted to Felix for a moment, "because I could not accept the truth of what a minister said. I still struggle. I am more comfortable with smaller challenges ... and I would appreciate your reassurance of our friendship as I am."

"Of course, Mitya," Ingrid insisted.

"Thank you."

"I miss you," Ingrid clarified. "I miss... The lives I thought I'd have by now."

"Change is painful," Felix agreed, sharp and forgiving.

"Yours is a life worth celebrating," Dimitri promised. He drank at the same time as his old friends, and then fumbled after, worried about sounding too much like his healers, but still he added, "Take time to recognize success."

Their quiet conversation was interrupted by Marianne and Annette hollering with laughter, and Dimitri could not even imagine Marianne's disappointment in him if in returning to Fhirdiad he brought a new conflict to her doorstep. He could not imagine his own heartbreak if their peoples ever returned to bloodshed. Sadly, he had imagined his horror with the possibility of witnessing another day like the tragedy, his blue love desecrated, their hypothetical children screaming, and him again, a lone survivor.

He would not speak of this in casual conversation with his friends, though perhaps in private with Marianne at some later time.

He was grateful for his anonymity.

.

It was late in the night when they made for bed, and Marianne was as drunk as he, and Dimitri worried between her state and their locale that he shouldn't have followed behind the door of her rooms. They had lain together a handful of times, but not for weeks now, yet she pressed him against the door like it was a casual thing, delicate fingers curving over his hips.

They leaned close as if they might kiss, and then she turned her face away from him with a sigh.

"I hope I haven't made a fool of myself. Did you have a good night, Mitya?"

"Beloved," Dimitri beckoned, curving a large hand around the side of her face, his scarred fingers had been mended and shattered an embarrassing number of times in the early use of his Crest. He guided her to look at him, his shining blue eye, deep as the ocean in the dark of the room.

"Thank you for bringing me here," he said, his tone deep and sincere. "The snow, the culture, my friends... I missed them more than I realized. I've had a very good night."

His last sentence was near whispered upon her lips, his thick lower lip tickling against her mouth.

Eyes closed, Marianne hummed her approval, bumping her nose against Dimitri's; narrow and then bulbous, a pretty princely feature that somehow he still maintained despite the violence in his life.

He bent to kiss Marianne, his hands finding her upper arms, her shoulders, her neck, and her twin braids, a gift from Annette that extended nearly to Marianne's waist.

"I should let you sleep," Dimitri whispered, though he felt how Marianne's hands wandered, pressing his shirt against the muscles on his chest and stomach.

Marianne looked from her bed to Dimitri. "Let me sit," she requested, "and I'll untie your hair. Stay with me a while longer." She swayed a little and Dimitri worried he would have to catch her. "Your friends are kind," Marianne confided, "but it felt a little strange as the night wore on, and maybe it's just me, and maybe it's just the building, but I know I can rely on you. Say you'll stay."

"A while longer," Dimitri agreed, drifting a thumb through her bangs as his hand rested on the side of her tightly bound hair again.

He sat between her knees while she pulled the ribbon from his fine hair, carefully carding through it with her fingers around the strap of his eye patch, and then allowing her hands to find the muscles of his neck, thick from stress and training.

One dainty foot made it's way over one of Dimitri's monstrous shoulders, and he brought the opposite one over his other side, leaning back into Marianne's space so her skirt ballooned out around him. They shared a soft laugh.

"Did you have any trouble today?" Marianne asked, gentle in her approach of his occasional visions.

"I thought of Glenn," Dimitri confided, "but I am uncertain if I saw him or imagined him today. There are many memories of him here. And ... at the gates, I ... I saw some violence that was not there, but I could not hear it. I'll write it down tomorrow."

"Tell me about Glenn? There must be a happy memory tucked into what came to mind."

"He would have made you feel welcome," Dimitri insisted with a smile. "He was very personable, and I was always glad to be in his company — though I was always closer with Felix, and so thought, like Felix, that I was in contest with him. Unless my Crest activated, I was always left embarrassed, and regardless of whether my Crest activated, I always lost. Felix was often disappointed in both of us."

.

Dimitri spoke of friends like family until well after Marianne curled up on her side. He stayed on the floor, and spoke with less frequency, though the memories didn't fade. He could picture Glenn on the opposite side of the room, a macabre spectre of the self from his memories, but it wasn't a hallucination this time, just a horrible imagining, the loss of a friend.

Dimitri kissed Marianne's forehead, and she mumbled that she was still awake, despite sounding as if she were miles away. Still, Dimitri smiled and kissed her lips, just in case, and then left for his own chamber.

[ringmyheart]

Can I request Vin Jin boyfriend headcanons and some fluff? (You don't have to force yourself)

(This and the other vin jin rq were merged!)

Honestly the way I see it, it doesn’t matter if you’re a very calm person or outgoing person. No matter what this relationship is gonna end up being considerably chaotic

He ropes you into everything he does. Doesn’t matter if u r a design student or an architecture student or if ur on the opposite side of the school from him, u r practically in his class. Dating him is like signing a contract sealing away ur own life bc he makes it a point to be ALWAYS w u

In class he doesn’t gaf if the teacher has ur seat on the other end of class, he is somehow finding a way to sit next to u against ur will or not. And when the teacher moves u two away from eachother INTENTIONALLY bc of this, he is threatening whoever happened to sit next to u to trade seats w him. He will go as far as to dress up as them to make it look like they’re them to be next to u and he’s so dramatic ab it.... being away from u felt like u were star crossed lovers whom the world was fiercely against

And if UR against this cuz ur tired of getting in trouble in class, or if you reject any of his advances, he’s gonna be really, really, really offended. He will at first sputter and be kinda shy and embarrassed about it, before he goes “fine! Have fun on your own without me, the greatest thing in your fucking life!”

He move seats back and will glare at you periodically every five minutes to pavlov dog you so that every five minutes every day, even when he’s not there, you feel the burning stare of vin jin

If you’re his s/o, he’ll buy you a matching pair of sunglasses so ur the freshest looking couple around Seoul (they’re hideous and thick but he thinks u look fly)

The glasses don’t have nearly as many layers as his does for himself so u can see, and u wonder how he managed to make them just as bulky and if he did it on purpose to sabotage u. Like “did u make my glasses purposefully ugly so no one else will want me?”

U have to dodge a punch after saying anything like that ab his fashion decisions LMAOAO

He’s rlly proud of u two matching. With the glasses and anything in general. He’ll make you wear a jacket matching his, or the same shoes and he will stop people in the hall and be like “wait. Notice anything cool ab us today?? Cooler than normal??”

And when they don’t respond he boasts “that’s right!! Me and my other half r matching. Look at us and weep, losers.” He thinks u two look so good....... if ur enthusiastic ab wearing matching things too he is elated u have to pray that tomorrow he won’t show up w another “if lost return to Vin Jin” “I’m Vin Jin” pair of jackets or anything of the like bc it happens SO OFTEN

And on the topic of sharing when it’s cold he likes to share jackets and blankets w u. Ur desks r moved by eachother by vin jin himself and u two share one blanket over u and shiver bc he just likes it, sharing w u plus he’s slightly warmer. And yes if you guys had indivizual blankets you would be warmer, but u guys have to struggle together he doesn’t care what anyone says (yes even ur protests ur sharing that one blanket wether he has to wrap it around u himself and tear up the one u brought on ur own or what”

He is so blind in love that he cannot tell when u guys suck at stuff. Like if ur in the wrong he doesnt care ur RIGHT and he’s taking that to the grave. He can belittle u and call u out but if someone else says ur in the wrong it’s on sight

Will die protecting ur name even when ur the one who was genuinely wrong

He forces u to make a beat for him to rap to. He loves rapping and wants to enjoy it w u, so ur forcefed YouTube videos of how to beatbox so u can be his bgm and eventually u probably just start to enjoy it to

And u always start a beat and he starts busting out rhymes and it’s SO BAD. It doesn’t matter if ur good at beatboxing if vin Jin is on the track w u it’s gonna sound terrible he brings the quality down immensely but u two just cannot tell

Like after a two session ur like “omg... that was so good. We should go pro?” “Fuck yea we should we’re better than those posers” “we could rlly make it in the industry fr” no u absolutely could not

During the school festival, u sang with him and it was SO bad. Half the crowd is gonna have 2 be hospitalized but u two had FUN up on the stage

Like I said, he has absolute faith in u. All u do is right. If ur driving a car for the first time, he is going to be ur little hype man doesn’t matter if u suck. U hit a curb and he went “YES babe!! Ur killing it cant wait till u hit the road bby” Ur not allowed to touch a car for the next two years now bc he kept cheering u on when u we’re doing CLEARLY wrong things

On a plane u r looking for the bathroom like pensively and u see a handle and look back and r like “is this it???” And vin jin thinking u r all righteous will go “yea babe go for it” and u open it and u depressurizate the cabin immediately

Now both on like 5 no fly lists

He loves to do things with u, like I mentioned earlier, and things he wouldn’t do alone he’ll do w u. Like drawing alone?? Boring. Drawing w Y/N??!!! Who knows what could happen..... so much fun could ensue. Maybe he will draw u cutely. Maybe he will draw u so ugly u will be forced to engage in a fight.

He likes to play just dance w u and compete for the “greats/all star!” Little titles above, and it becomes like a Friday night ritual for u two to turn just dance on and just go at it. But sometimes he’ll get too intense and suddenly he’s actually fighting for the chance to beat u. Will trip u so u lose on purpose

He makes u listen to him sing and rap to u. And u try to leave and he hugs tightly and is like LISTEN IFS FOR U, DONT BE UNGRATEFUL and now u have to listen

He makes u a mixtape of songs he made himself and they are all considerably worse than “remember the times we had”. It’s uploaded on SoundCloud and all the comments r hate and u listen to it a lot bc u know he loves u sm he made u a mixtape ya ur gonna play that but everyone else hates it w a passion

Like the comments r like:

Daniel: well.... it’s definitely a song 😅 I’m glad you love (y/n) so much!

Duke: he’s not making it out the hood 😐

Zach: never let this man in a studio AGAIN

Mary: this should’ve stayed in the CD

(Y/N): love it! 😍

Zoe: kill your producer 💀

Mira: ...

He’s overprotective too

If someone looks at u for more than a second he’ll go “what?? U think she is hot, huh? I’ll kick ur ass fucking perv.... cmon babe let’s go”

Will throw his arm around u and streer u the opposite way of any potentially good looking ppl to keep ur eyes on him

Oh Daniel is coming?? What a coincidence u and vin Jin suddenly have to turn the corner to the other way of ur classroom for some reason

Eli is near?!!! Oh no u just got milk spilt in ur eye!! Oh no now he has to wipe ur eyes and u two have to leave the cafeteria whatever will he do

It’s not that he doesn’t have faith in u, he doesn’t have faith in other men. Like he thinks they r all competition, and doesn’t doubt ur loyalty rather doubts how good he can b for u

WILL beat someone up for u. If someone smokes while ur around suddenly his fists r swinging at them cuz even if u smoke or vape urself no one else can get that stuff in ur lungs but YOU or HIM!!

If ur crossing the street and a car almost hits u, it’s the cars fault and he’s kicking the license plate and cursing it out for almost touching u “stupid fucking piece of metal”

Is the type of boyfriend to call u when he knows ur in an Uber and be like “babe u got ur gun w u right?? Oh don’t forget ur BOMB and ur MACHETE!! Yeah just left the house I killed some ppl nbd haha anyways HRU what’s ur Uber driver like” so the driver of ur car won’t even think ab kidnapping u. He has got ur back even when u do not want it

He doesn’t want u to see his eyes, so he’ll tell you to look away so he can take his glasses off and look at u in full color in all ur glory but he never tells u WHY he’s telling u to look away u think it’s a weird thing of his, or he’s insecure ab his face which is partially true but really he’s taking his glasses off and just looking at u. Adoringly.....

He hates PDA. He loves PDA. Do u see his dilemma

Like he loves PDA but doesn’t want anyone seeing him vulnerable even u.... so he’ll hold ur hand and be like “EWWW WHAT R U DOING GET YR HAND OFF MINE”

If u take the lead THATS best bc he can blame it on u and it’s ur fault he HAS to lock fingers w u cuz u did it to him first and he has an excuse to touch u and v like u started this im just sending u ur own energy back 😤

The type to be just like blind, overwhelmed in love. Always thinks ab u, always wants to be w u, worries ab u a lot and frets over u without showing it.... he hates it and loves it to death. Despises it but wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world

Eats lunch w u in the cafeteria and if u sit w someone else u r the ultimate traitor and he will trash talk u to hide his hurt to Mary the entire lunchtime. Kinda possessive.... wants u to also only think about him

WOULDNT EVER fight u for real. Play fights occur VERY often, like pillow fights, tripping ur foot when u say a joke insulting him, grabbing ur collar but he would sooner die than lay a finger on u

Verbal fights happen a lot and if he ever like LOSES it he may lash out and almost hit u and follow thru. I don’t think he’d be able to catch himself that quickly, and if he ever did he’d regret it for the rest of his life. Literally until the day dies he will take it to his grave

He may not sputter out apologieswill just look at u incredulously and then at his hands because what had he done? What did he just do? To you???????? (Y/n))))?????? His (y/n)??? Light of his life?

Will apologize probably over text or through a note or call, and if u don’t respond he is consumed by regret and tries to find u instantly like runs back to ur place

If u forgive him he feels bad still, because does he deserve it? And he might just isolate himself for a bit bc he can’t face u and if it left a scar he is dead inside. It kills him, literally

I could go on w this but I’ll probably save it for another separate pair of hcs later 😭

If u guys ever break up he will fight for u again and won’t stop till ur back together like flowers in ur locker every day, chocolate give during lunch, etc. He wont ever give up hope that he can win u over again and be w u again. He would keep trying, when he wakes up his first thought is ur name in a cold panic bc he can’t rest easy till ur his again and he will try and show off and poorly serenade u and trash his price and be corny and cheesy to get u back

Will set up a performance w the school to let him rap w a mic during lunch for u and he’s saying bars like “(read in bad rapping voice w inconsistent beat) (y/n), love of my life, uh, without you I’d die, uh. Please won’t you take me back? Yuh, without you ima have a heart attack. (Wha!). (Y/n), love of my life, yeah, without you I’m in strife, yup! Please be mine again, (babe), I can never rest till then.”

If the embarrassment doesn’t make u take him back so he’ll pls stop, and when he stands up on the lunch tables to do a little performance doesn’t do it either, then the odd sincerity of his voice and pain in his look (even tho while rapping he sticks out his lower lip in a weird pout) definitely, hopefully will

U make everything worth it !! Truly the light of his life

I hope these were what u wanted, I just had fun w them and wrote stuff that came off the top of my head when I thought of VJ!! ❤️

[omgrachwrites]

The Princess and The Duke - Chapter Four

Pairing: Sirius Black x Reader

Summary: As the Princess of Spain, you were always supposed to marry King James of England to make an alliance between Spain and England. When he marries a woman at his court for love, you are married off to his best friend, Sirius Black the Duke of Bedford to keep the alliance. However, the court is riddled with secrets and a rebel in the North starts to rise against the Throne. Royal AU.

Warnings: fluff, lil bit of angst

Words: 2547

Disclaimer: This gif and the wedding vows do not belong to me!

Translation: Mantenerte fuerte - Stay strong

A/N: Happy New Year guys! Here’s to hoping this year will be better! I used the wedding vows from Game of Thrones in this chapter hahaha! Hope you guys enjoy this part and please let me know what you think and let me know if you would like to be tagged! I love you all! xxx

Chapter Four - Spring Music

Sirius could hardly think clearly or concentrate on his work, he couldn’t concentrate on his work for King James and he could hardly concentrate on his med that were holding Calais brilliantly for him and the King. All he could think about was her, the Princess, Y/N; he couldn’t get his mind off of her proposal of marriage, even though she had explained her reasons to Sirius. He had never wanted it to be this way, he had wanted to throw a magnificent party and invite his friends and even his enemies.

Sirius had wanted to properly show Y/N off and show everyone who threated James’ rule that he had the full force of Spain at his side. But then again, he supposed his marriage would prove that, they wouldn’t have needed to have a party. It troubled him but he couldn’t help thinking that Y/N had been forced into marrying him so quickly. Whatever was going on in Cumbria had sealed their fate and perhaps the rest of England’s.

Sirius didn’t have time to dwell on anything more because the door to Sirius’ study burst open and Remus stormed in, frowning at a letter before he flopped down on a chair, rubbing his temples. Remus had avoided going back to court for a while now and Sirius was sure it had something to do with Sophia, Y/N’s lady in waiting.

“Are you alright?” Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow.

Remus looked up from the letter and sighed, stretching out his arms behind him, “apparently, there’s some powerful Lord at court and he wants his daughter to marry well. The King writes that this Lord wants to meet with me when I return to the English court,” his eyes grew sad and Sirius bit his lip.

Remus was his best friend and in an ideal world Sirius would have Remus marry someone for love. Unfortunately, Sirius knew things couldn’t always turn out that way, not everyone could be as lucky as King James and Queen Lily.

“I’ll talk to James, surely he can’t make you marry someone that you don’t want to, and I know that he’s the King but he’s also our friend.”

“He made you get engaged to Princess Y/N, she’s beautiful and considerate but you didn’t choose her.”

Sirius laughed dryly, if he hadn’t had to marry Y/N then he would have stayed an eligible bachelor for the rest of his life, “I agreed to take Y/N’s hand in marriage and to be honest, I’m glad that I did because she’s one of the good ones,” he said truthfully, “but I also knew that it would be the best course for England but it doesn’t have to be that way for you,” he cleared his throat, “speaking of Y/N, you haven’t seen her have you?”

Remus smiled and nodded, running a hand through his hair, “she’s in the library, or she was the last time that I saw her. I was talking to her about the wedding and she seems rather excited about it.”

At Remus’ words a warm and floaty feeling blossomed in Sirius’ chest, “really? Huh, well I’m pretty excited too,” the two young men shared a smile before Sirius bid his friend goodbye and he set off for the library.

Just as Remus had said, Y/N was in the library but she wasn’t reading a book. Instead, she was staring at her hands and Sirius could have sworn that a couple of tears slipped out of her eyes and slid down her cheeks. What could she be crying about? Unless, unless it was something to do with him or the wedding. Sirius got a bitter taste in his mouth as that possibility crossed his mind.

Even when she was crying she was so hard to look away from, she was so devastatingly beautiful. Something in Sirius’ chest squeezed hard as Y/N wiped the remaining tears off her face and combed her fingers through her hair. It made him sad to see her so upset, he had to try and ease her worries.

“Y/N, are you okay?” he asked, his voice echoing slightly in the vast room.

Y/N jumped slightly, her bottom lip trembling before she offered him a weak smile, sniffling slightly, “I’m fine,” her voice sounded wobbly and it seemed like she was on the verge of tears once again, “it’s nothing that you need to worry about, I promise.”

“Oh, Y/N,” he hesitated when Y/N’s eyes got more teary and her lips parted just a little bit, he gulped and proceeded to say what he needed to. He needed her to hear him, he needed her to trust him, “we’re to be married and I always want you to feel like you can come to me about any worries you may have, even if they’re about me,” he sat opposite her and lifted her cold hands to his lips, kissing over her knuckles, warming her hands with his lips and he dropped his voice to a whisper, “please Y/N. Let me in, don’t push me away, we’re in this together remember?”

Y/N gave him a weak watery smile as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Sirius shivered at the feeling of her warm lips against his skin, “sometimes I almost forget how kind you are,” she sighed wistfully and cupped his cheek, “I received a letter from my parents today, I wrote to them with news of our upcoming marriage and my father sent me one back to tell me that he and my mother won’t be in attendance,” her lips trembled and she looked just like a lost child, “the most important day of my life and my parents won’t be there. In his letter my father told me that he wanted to come but my mother fought him every step of the way. But, it’s silly,” she wiped her eyes and looked away from him.

Rage started to simmer and came to a rising boil in Sirius’ chest; he couldn’t believe that the King and Queen of Spain wouldn’t be attending their own daughter’s wedding. Y/N looked so heartbroken, he just wanted to make it better, “it’s not silly if it upsets you, and they are your parents after all. If it helps, my parents won’t be there either,” he hesitated for a second, “well, they’re dead but if they were alive then I wouldn’t let them come. My mother was a horrid bitch.”

Y/N let out a surprised giggle of laughter as she almost touched his lips with her thumb, her sparkling eyes studying his face, “I take it that you and your mother didn’t get along then? I can’t think why because you must have been the ideal son.”

Sirius let out a dry bark of laughter, he was so glad that Y/N would never have to meet his parents, “I was the black sheep of the family, the disappointment. Regulus was always the favourite, he was everyone’s favourite.”

“Not mine,” Y/N whispered, looking up at Sirius from beneath her eyelashes and Sirius felt his heart speed up, “Regulus isn’t my favourite,” her first kiss was tentative and shy. Sirius could hardly revel in the feeling of Y/N’s lips because she pulled away too soon.

Y/N bit her lip and looked at him with her sultry gaze and there was a light dusting of pink across her cheeks, she looked so beautiful and intoxicating. Her gentle fingers cupped his cheek and she pressed her lips against his more firmly. Sirius sighed against her soft lips and threaded a gentle hand through her hair as he kissed her back.

After a beat she pulled away and let out a tinkling laugh, “perhaps we should have waited until our wedding to do that.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Sirius’ lips curved up into a smirk, causing Y/N to roll her eyes with a smile, “so, tell me about your wedding dress, what does it look like?”

Y/N’s face lit up at his question but she raised an eyebrow, “isn’t it bad luck if I tell you?” she asked and Sirius shook his head.

“It’s only bad luck if you show me.”

Y/N nodded, looking satisfied with his answer, “well, it’s champagne lace lined with golden thread and that’s all the information you’re getting,” she giggled and Sirius nodded with a smile though he did feel a little disappointed.

“It sounds beautiful.”

Y/N flushed at his words, “it is, I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful dress and I’m so thankful that I’ll have a kind husband who will respect me,” she smiled and placed a hand over his.

Sirius grinned bashfully and stood up, holding out his hand to her, “come on, you must be hungry. I’ll have the kitchens make you something special. Do you have any requests?”

Y/N smiled and graciously took his hand, “hmm, something with honey and fruit,” she giggled and rested her head against his shoulder.

“Your wish is my command,” he chuckled, grinning down at her as they walked down the bright, sunlit corridor.

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

It was a warm radiant morning on the day of your wedding, the birds were chirping their beautiful song and there was the scent of flowers on the wind that was almost a promise of what was to come. It seemed like God himself was smiling down upon you today. The King himself helped you into the magnificent comfortable litter that Sirius had procured for you. The King was to be walking you down the aisle today; he was going to be giving you to Sirius since your father wasn’t coming.

The knowledge that your father wasn’t coming felt like a dagger to your heart, in all honesty you didn’t really care that your mother wasn’t coming; you just wished your father was. He had written you a second letter telling you how proud and sorry he was but his words did nothing to soothe your aching heart.

With a sigh, you uncorked a bottle of springtime wine and poured yourself and Sophia a goblet, adding liberal amounts of honey, you drank deeply sighing with pleasure as the sweet taste danced along your tongue.

Sophia accepted the goblet with a thankful smile but you could see the sadness in her eyes. The news around the chateau was that Remus had returned to court because he’d had an offer of marriage. The news troubled Sophia and you had spent many nights with Sophia crying herself to sleep in your arms. You just wanted to make her feel better.

Sophia smiled at you as she sipped her own goblet of wine delicately, “are you excited Y/N?”

You nodded, there was a fizzle of excitement blooming in your chest already, “I’m nervous too, I always knew that I would be a wife one day but I was unprepared on how it would make me feel,” you admitted, biting your lip.

Your dear friend smiled kindly as she leaned forwards and placed her hand on top of yours, “it’s completely normal to be nervous,” she spoke to you gently and you smiled at her, you were so grateful that she was by her side.

You looked out of the thin curtains of your litter to look at the surroundings as you travelled through the woods to the small grove where the chapel was. The beautiful trees and the dappled sunlight that streamed through them slowly but surely seemed to calm your nerves and you smiled, taking in one deep breath. All too son the litter came to a halt just outside the cluster of cherry blossom trees that shrouded the chapel from view.

King James helped you out of the litter and smiled at you as he took a little bow, “you really do look beautiful Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” you grinned back at him as you took the hand that he was offering you.

Your nerves increased as he led you through the curtain of pink petals and you looked up at the trees and smiled as the petals began to fall as soft as a kiss and settled in your beautiful hair. You closed your eyes as you took a deep breath of the sweet scent of the trees. Sirius had been right; the air was practically fizzing with magic. The most beautiful piano music floated outside of the open door of the pretty chapel and it seemed to diminish your nerves ever so slightly.

“Mantenerte fuerte,” you whispered to yourself, remembering the last words that your father said to you and with your head held high you walked through the front doors of the chapel, on the way to your future.

You gasped in delight as the weak sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, making rainbows in the air; you reached out a hand to the quivering beautiful light. Queen Lily also looked beautiful in robes of forest green and flowers in her hair. Biting your lip, you looked over at the altar where your future husband was waiting for you. You smiled, feeling your eyelashes flutter of their own accord. He looked so handsome and he grinned at you with a light dusting of pink on his cheeks and those gorgeous grey eyes were shining as brightly as the stars. His teeth worried at his bottom lip as you floated towards him, not even sparing a glance to the spectators, they didn’t matter. It was only him that mattered.

When you reached the altar, King James lifted your hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to it before he joined your hand with Sirius’ and he clapped his best friend on the shoulder before going to join his Queen. Sirius’ lips curved up into a nervous elated smile as he squeezed your hand gently and you smiled back before the priest cleared his throat and began the service. The priest proclaimed that Spain and England where to be joined today but you weren’t really paying attention; the only thing you could think of was Sirius’ hand in yours. You jolted slightly when it was time to say your vows.

“Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. I am yours and you are mine, this day until the end of my days,” you said together and smiled all the way through. It wouldn’t be so bad being Sirius’ wife, you knew that he would respect you and care for you, and you would do the same for him. It would be something, anything was better than nothing. Even if you never fell in love with each other, it was going to be okay.

“You may kiss your bride,” the priest prompting Sirius and the flush on Sirius’ cheeks only deepened.

Sirius took a deep breath as he cupped your neck and leaned in gently to press a chaste kiss to your lips, it was a pleasant kiss that made your lips tingle and your heart beat wildly. Before Sirius could properly pull away, you took hold of his shirt gently and tugged him back to you, threading a hand through his hair as you kissed him back, nipping at his lower lip slightly. He chuckled into your mouth and the outside world seemed to melt away until it was just you and him.

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

@smiithys​ @elayneblack​ @amelie-black​ @siriuslyjanhvi​ @pregnant-piggy​ @lindatreb​ @mabelle-cherie​ @hxrgreeves​ @britishspidey​ @mads-bri​ @classicrocketqueen​ @sxtansqueen​ @hufflepuffzutara​ @missmulti​ @bruxa0007​ @ourstarsailor​ @fific7​ @squ1dward​ @2410slb​ @sunles​

[sapphireginger]

Title: Knots Are Knot for Everyone

Pairing: Stiam (Stiles Stilinski + Liam Dunbar)

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 8,134

Warnings:  Brief Mention of Non-Consensual Body Modification  Mentions of Pase Rape/Non-Con

Summary:

Tis beauty I have nare seen before but to admire it is no chore. I see both the inside and the out. For him I’m on my knees. To him I’m most devout. ~ Duke Gajos

Created For: @afgomegaversebingo / Square Filled: Biting/Claiming

Liam fidgets in his seat in front of Satomi's desk as he glances at the envelope she's examining. He's pretty sure he already knows what it says but he's learned to be patient and it's not like Satomi won't tell him what it says.

He startles when she clears her throat softly but firmly. "Are you sure about this Liam?"

"Yes, Alpha. I'm sure." He smiles. "I know I'm just a beta and he probably deserves much better but I–"

"I think that's for him to decide and you're not just anything. You are a beta in both classification and a beta in my pack, but you are first and foremost Liam." Her voice is firm but not unkind. "Now if you are sure then I will see that you have what you need to travel as well as help you with your suit."

Liam wets his lips nervously and nods. "I'm sure."

Satomi smiles and holds out the letter so Liam can read it. "Read through it while I go retrieve what you'll need."

"Yes, Alpha." He takes the letter and sinks back into his chair as he begins to read.

Beta Dunbar,

I have received your suit and find myself intrigued. I've seen your status, pack information and would appreciate it if you could travel to the city for the upcoming season. I make no promises, but your suit has been accepted into the next round.

Please be at the city by no later than October the 13th.

Cordially,

His Grace

Mieczyslaw Genim Gajos Duke of Edinburgh

Lord of Amhearst Manor of the Edinburg Estate

Liam swoons and traces each letter with his fingertips. "I intrigue him," he whispers.

Once again, he is startled when Satomi clears her throat. "All right Liam. Your bag is packed. Here is your pack symbol and your suit is in a small pocket inside the bag. Be safe and remember to be yourself. Do not try to be something you're not for you know he'll see through falsehoods."

"Yes, Alpha," the beta says as he stands and sets the letter back on her desk.

"Take it with you," she instructs. "Let it remind you that he did choose you."

Liam blushes and folds the letter up, sticking it back into the envelope. Then he walks over and takes his bag, slipping the envelope inside. "I will make you proud, Alpha Ito."

She scents him and ruffles his hair. "I already am proud, but I know you will do well. What must we also remember?"

"Three things are not long hidden. The sun. The moon. The truth."

"Good. Off with you. You don't want to be late."

Liam hurries out the door and takes a deep breath before attaching the bag to the back of his horse. He's glad he convinced Brett to help him ride better because otherwise he'd never get to the city in time. With a click of his tongue and a gentle tap of his feet the horse starts down the path.

All the while his thoughts are filled with nothing but him. The spark known round the world but also him, the boy who runs with wolves. He smiles when he thinks about everything he's read about the spark as his horse begins to gallop.

The sun is shining, the sky is clear and he's on his way to prove his worth as a mate.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Deucalion Blackwood is a stoic man and also a vindictive one. He watches his beta as he lounges sideways in the armchair. "So, you know what I'm asking of you?" he asks.

Theo tilts his head and nods. "Yep," he says popping the p.

"Then tell me."

"I'm not some stupid beta or omega who can't remember things. I'm an alpha."

Deucalion glares him into submission with a rumble in his chest. "We have one shot at this, and I won't have you ruining it. We need that spark and since the other one slipped through my fingers, I refuse to allow this one to get away as well."

Theo huffs. "Then why don't you go if you want him that badly?"

"Because he's not stupid. He knows who I am and well we already have you in place to say which pack you're from without lying don't we? Tell me Theo, who's your alpha?"

"I'm my own alpha," he sneers.

Deucalion gives a full belly laugh with a sinister smirk. "Excellent. There was no skip in your heartbeat. See it's the truth because you believe it. Now get going. I'm sure there will be others there as well who are hoping to be the lucky one to get the spark. So do what you must. Just no killing."

Theo smirks and stands up. "Of course, Alpha," he purrs as he grabs his bag. "Is Shadow ready for me?"

"You're taking Nightmare instead."

"Fine. Whatever." Theo rolls his eyes and pushes past his alpha freezing when claws grasp at his neck. "Yes, Alpha Blackwood."

Deuc smiles, tightening his hold for just a moment before releasing the beta. "Good boy. Shoo!"

Theo holds in a growl of annoyance as he leaves the manor and secures his bag to the ink black horse. He mounts Nightmare and heads off down the road. He snorts. "Nightmare. How fitting."

The alpha allows his mind to wander. He's seen the spark and the man is beautiful as fuck. He's also wickedly clever and very pretty. Theo smirks. "Such a pretty omega is he. Oh, the things I'll do when he's mine."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The Duke paces in his study, his mind racing with chaos. What if they don't come? What if they come and he doesn't want or like any of them? What if he gets a real knothead who only wants–

"You're thinking too hard about this, Your Grace."

He whips his head towards the study door and sighs. "Lady Martin. My apologies. I am just so nervous."

Lydia quirks a brow. "His Grace, the one and only Spark Gajos a Duke, is nervous about his suitors? Like this surprises me?"

He glares at her and huffs turning to face the window watching the light rain pittering against the glass. "You know I've always wanted what my mother before me had. I want love but it's time to make a choice. Love or not I must mate. I just hope one of them will at least be someone I can learn to love."

The study door closes, and the other omega makes her way over. "I know. I wish we had more time to make sure, but I've seen the ones you did select, and I just know that one of them will be the perfect mate for you."

"You really think so?" he asks, not taking his gaze from the window.

She gently places her hand on his arm. "I know so."

Stiles allows himself another few minutes to collect himself and then straightens his posture, his eyes flaring turquoise. "Let's get ready then. I have suitors to impress and a mate to meet."

"That's the spirit."

"Actually, it's spark."

He ducks to avoid her playful smack to the back of his head and lets her lead him to his room. There is much to do yet and what the hell should he wear? Thank hell for Lady Lydia Martin.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The morning of October 13th the manor and the estate itself, is a blur of activity as everyone puts finishing touches on the decorations, food and well Lydia of course puts the finishing touches on Stiles's outfit.

The stable hands receive the horses as the suitors begin to arrive and then they are led to the main room where refreshments are served while they wait for the Duke's arrival.

"I don't know if I can do this, Lyds. It's so much more daunting to see them all. Before they were just like an idea in my head and now they're actually like here and actual people."

She smooths out the collar of his coat and sighs. "Take a breath before you have a panic attack or spark out on accident."

He looks at her affronted. "I haven't sparked out in years."

"Exactly. So don't start now." She steps back and turns him to face the mirror. "What do you think?"

The Man gapes at his reflection then turns to the left and back to the right. "Holy shit," he mutters. "Damn. I look good."

Lydia stifles a laugh even as she fondly rolls her eyes. "You always look good. I just know how to bring it out. Now remember you are the Duke. You are the spark. This is your domain. They have to prove themselves. You have proven yourself to the world. Don't make it easy on them. Don't let them make the rules. This is your game. You make the rules. Act aloof and above it all but also use that sarcastic assholery that charmed me into being your best friend when we first met. Got it?"

Stiles swallows and nods. "Got it."

He adjusts his cravat and runs his hands down his front to smooth out the fabric of his black double breasted dress coat of fine wool his mother had made for him with real silver buttons. Underneath that he's wearing a light turquoise colored waistcoat over a white linen shirt. He rakes his eyes lower to admire the look of his off white tight fitting pantaloons tucked into black boots and then adjusts his black velvet cloak. "This is as good as it's going to get."

He turns and takes the black gloves from Lydia pressing a kiss to her temple. She smiles and ushers him to the door. "Good luck."

"Thank you," he whispers. He opens the door and glances back once more. "I'll tell you all about it over afternoon tea. Okay?"

"You'd better." She bites her lip and then nods. "Also remember that secondary gender should hold no bearing on your decision of them as a person. Just as your being an omega shouldn't matter either. You are first and foremost. Mieczyslaw Gajos."

Stiles smiles. "I know. See you at half past two for tea. If I am late, send Beta Lahey for me."

With a final nod they part, and Stiles pulls on his gloves. "It'll be fine. There's nothing to fear. This is my domain. I'm in charge here."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Liam looks around at the other suitors with nerves plain on his face. There's so many of them and he's just one person. One beta and how is he supposed to stand out? He takes a drink of his champagne and remembers his breathing exercises that Satomi taught him. It's not that he's afraid of losing control but they do help with anxiety.

Everyone is mingling but Theo is surveying each and every single one of them. He's seriously not impressed by any of them. There's two omegas which is absolutely ridiculous. Why in the world would the Duke want another just like him? There are several betas and they outnumber the alpha's by quite a bit. He thinks he counted like ten betas, two omegas and five alphas.

Then his eyes fall on a beta near the far side of the room who looks like she might be sick. He smirks and makes his way over. Perfect place to start weeding out the competition because that's what this whole thing is: a competition and Theo refuses to lose.

Liam has noticed the alpha who looks at everyone as a threat but also seems highly amused by them. He shakes his head and turns his focus towards the front of the room. Soon the Duke will enter, and they'll all get to see him in person. He tries very hard not to think about the book in his bag written by the spark. He hopes that even if he doesn't get chosen that he might get to talk to the man. If he talks like he writes it would be a wonderful conversation, he's sure.

The room goes quiet as a door near the back of the room opens which has everyone turning around. They had all expected him to enter in from the other side. That is probably why he didn't. They may as well learn right now that he isn't like any other omega, and he won't adhere to expectations.

A servant clears his throat. "May I introduce His Grace Mieczyslaw Genim Gajos Duke of Edinburgh, Spark, Omega and Lord of Amhearst Manor of the Edinburg Estate."

Everyone's eyes are locked on the door as the spark enters. The women curtsy, the men bow and Liam swoons. He's beautiful.

Theo can't take his eyes off of those pink pouty lips and all the dirty things they can probably do and say. Though he loathes to admit it, he should thank Deucalion for letting him put his suit in. There's no way he won't be leaving without the pretty omega.

The spark glances around as he makes his way to the front where a wingback chair is positioned next to the fire. He does not sit however but instead turns to face them all. "Please find a seat. We will be here for a while."

The alphas in the room hesitate and the spark quirks a brow at them before tilting his head. "If there is anyone here who has such a high opinion of themselves as to believe they are more important than the rest of the people here they should probably leave now. I won't tolerate discrimination against other classifications. So, if you alphas think you're too good to sit amongst us..." He gestures to the door where a guard is waiting. "Then by all means leave. You are not required to be here. You chose to put in a suit. If you don't leave now and I catch anyone with that opinion later on, you will be asked to leave and perhaps banned. My godmother Duchess Hale would have words with those of you with that opinion."

Everyone stills and says nothing.

He sees one person open their mouth and quirks a brow. "Perhaps I should call on my godfather Duke Hale. His claws are always eager for some sharpening." His tone is playful but he's deadly serious. Better they learn now he's not to be trifled with and he's not stupid and won't be treated as such.

One alpha, a curly blonde glares at him. Her tone is offended. "You're threatening us? How dare you! We are the higher biological classification as alphas. Everyone knows that omegas need an alpha. So, what is this little charade you're giving us really about?"

Stiles makes a fist but then takes a breath and relaxes it with only two people in the room having noticed the reaction. "Miss Swan is it?"

She gives a self-important nod.

"I see." He signals to his guard and then takes a seat. "Pity but then again not really. Your disrespect not just of station but lack of human decency is not wanted here. Good day Miss Swan." His gaze falls on the embers in the fireplace.

"What? That's it?! Hey! What are you–" she swears as the guard drags her out and boots her from the estate. "How dare you?! Don't you know who I am?!" she snarls.

The spark smirks. "No. I haven't a clue."

Everyone can hear her shrieks of anger as she's escorted all the way to the gate and then locked out and the smirk doesn't slip from the omega's face once. When he looks back at the room full of people he tilts his head, quirking a brow. "Take a seat and let's begin."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Lydia is just pulling the kettle off of the fire when the parlor door flings opens and a furious Stiles stalks in, slinging his tailcoat over the arm of the settee and plopping into the wingback chair with a huff.

She lets him collect himself as she pours them each a cup of tea. It takes a good ten minutes for him to relax but the tea helps a lot.

"I apologize for my countenance upon my arrival."

She smoothes out her green velvet skirt and smiles. "No worries. I suspected you would be as such. Hence why I have prepared for you your favorite."

Stiles smiles and takes a few more sips, humming pleased with the taste. "Thank you."

"So, what have they done to put you in such a state?"

"Oh well. Let's see. I had three knotheads, one of which I had to have removed and the other two I dismissed. Which leaves two alphas. I had five out of the ten betas ask to leave because they didn't know if they could handle me and then the two omegas told me they only came to see if the stories were true about my being the furthest thing from an omega. Then they left with such dramatic docility. Society's definition of omega and I had enough. So, I asked the servants to escort the remaining five betas and remaining two alphas to their rooms until dinner."

Lydia watches her friend's shoulders slump and sets her cup down. Her scent is soothing to him. So, she makes her way over and takes his cup, setting it on the table before taking a seat on his lap. His arms settle around her waist. His cheek rests against her bosom and he melts into the fingers running through his hair.

"I wish she was here," he says, his voice barely audible.

"I know. I wish she was too. She'd be better at this than me I can admit but you're not alone. We all want to see you mated but above all we want you to be happy. I can ask Peter to put the fear of god into them if you'd like. You know he'd do it for you."

Stiles snorts and purrs at her ministrations, his eyes sliding to half mast. "Yeah. We'll save that for later. I think Duke Hale is just being overprotective is all."

Lydia rolls her eyes. "If I was him and had raised you from preteen to adulthood, I would be overprotective too, but he did promise to stay out of this. Be grateful for that. Had he heard the knotheads or even the omegas hell even the betas he'd be furious."

"Which is exactly why we won't be telling him."

They sit in silence for a little while just listening to the flickering flames and the sound of each other's breathing. Lydia continues to run her fingers through her friend's hair and smiles when his breathing evens out. "You sleep. I'll keep watch."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Theo is feeling quite pleased with himself. Planting doubts in the betas's heads had worked wonders. Of course, none of them have the firm hand needed to control such an unruly omega. It's better they leave and try their hand elsewhere. They are down to seven suitors now and Theo doesn't see any of them as threats.

He strips off his blood red dress coat with golden buttons and lays it across the chair in his room. He's a bit disappointed that they are all not staying in the main house. It makes for less opportunities to run into the omega but he'll wait. The final two get to stay in the main house. Obviously, he will be one of those. He smirks at his reflection unfastening the top of his shirt to reveal a toned chest. Yeah. There's no way he won't have the omega drooling.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Liam sits in the chair by the fire in his room reading his book. His baby blue double breasted dress coat with silver buttons is hanging on a hook on the back of the door. He's made so many notes over the years of things he wants to know more about and things he wants to discuss. He feels terrible for how the spark was treated by the rest of them. Liam wonders if anyone actually sees that he's a person like them with real feelings or if they do, he wonders if they just don't care.

It makes him want to bundle the omega up but also makes him want to give the other suitors a piece of his mind. He'll do neither of course but it's nice to think about what he would do if he had the right.

They'll eat dinner with the Duke this evening and Liam is looking forward to it. The cook he met, Marie, was so quiet but she talked to him about what it's like working for the spark. Her favorite thing is when he comes down to the kitchens and teaches her to bake. It made Liam smile that the spark goes down to help and not because he's an omega but because his mother taught him and he's teaching someone else. Then again Liam isn't someone who believes in gender roles. Not one bit.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

When Stiles wakes up, he's feeling a lot better. All is not lost and there is still hope. "What time is it Lydia?" he asks sleepily.

She looks up from her place on the settee. "Half fast four."

Stiles's eyes widen. "Oh great!" he mutters.

"Why is that your response?"

"I promised to help Marie this evening. She wanted to make sure the meal was perfect, and I told her it's okay if it's just something simple, but she is determined."

Lydia smiles. "You're sweet to her. I suspect she wishes the same happiness for you that you've helped give her."

The spark's brow furrows. "What do you mean?" he asks as he fixes his turquoise waistcoat and off white cravat. Then he smoothes the legs of his breeches.

"I mean that you're the one who brought her out of the awful orphanage, taught her to cook and gave her a home. She adores you and you're like a father to her even though you're not old enough to have actually sired her. Plus, there's her brother and her mate. Both of whom you saved from an awful fate of being shipped across the sea. So, I should think it fairly obvious why she wants to make sure everything is as close to perfect as possible."

He blushes and huffs. "Well, I did what anyone would've do–"

Lydia shuts her book firmly and sends him an annoyed look. "Then tell me why the rest of the city did nothing? If anyone would have then why did no one else?"

Properly chastised he nods. "I see your point. I'll head to the kitchens to help her, and I'll see you for dinner."

"No, you won't," she says softly. "I can't be there. You know this but I will be here for more omega cuddles. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now go on and remember you are perfect the way you are."

He snorts. "So cliche but I know." He kisses her cheek and leaves the parlor.

Lydia watches him go and looks towards the fire. She wants the best for her friend. Perhaps it is time to visit the secret room so she can see just what these suitors really think.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

"Hello darling," Stiles greets cheerily as he hangs his coat up and rolls up his sleeves. "What are we having?"

Marie smiles at him with flour on her cheeks. "Honey bread with chicken and hopefully vegetables." She chews her lip. "What do you think? Too much? Too little? Maybe bread without honey?"

Stiles smiles and shakes his head. "I think it sounds perfect. You know how much I love chicken and there is nothing better or sweeter than your honey bread. Well, unless we count you."

She giggles and gestures to the fireplace. "I've heated the water for the veggies. I know you like the repetition of cutting them up."

"Indeed I do. You know me so well."

They work in companionable silence for a little while until Marie places the bread in the stone oven to bake. "Your Grace? I hope you don't think it forward of me but how did the first meeting go?"

Stiles pauses and tries to smile. "It could have gone much better, but it also could have been worse."

"Do I need to go deal with some knotheads?"

Her protectiveness makes him smile. "No need. I can handle some knotheads. It was more the others that wounded me. Hearing a bunch of betas say they don't think they can handle me and then omegas saying they just wanted to know if the stories about me were true and then leaving, that's what hurt the most. I'd rather they be sexist pricks about my biology than judgemental assholes about my personality and countenance."

Marie frowns, her heart hurting for him. "I'm sorry, Your Grace. It's a good thing I made the honey bread then huh?"

Stiles smiles and chuckles wetly. "Good thing indeed."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Dinner is served at half past six and Stiles watches as the remaining two alphas and five betas take their seats. He isn't impressed by either of the alphas but he did promise Peter to consider them even though he's pretty sure the man knows he won't choose one.

He takes his seat at the head of the table and the servants bring in the food. Marie gives him an encouraging and reassuring smile as she sets his plate down in front of him. He's about to thank her when two of the betas growl.

His gaze snaps to them. "Why do you think it is appropriate to growl? I ask for civility."

The betas huff and the raven haired one gestures with his chin to Marie. "Seems suspicious you have us all staying elsewhere and then let a pretty pair of tit–"

"OUT!!" the Duke snarls his fingers sparking and eyes black with rage. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOME!!!!"

Both betas nearly wet themselves as they bolt out the door. Marie is shaking and startles when Stiles gently touches her arm. "Thank you darling."

Marie nods and goes to leave. She nearly stumbles but an arm shoots out to catch her. "Careful," the voice says softly, and she smiles at the beta she had spoken to earlier that day.

"Thank you."

Liam nods and then turns his attention back to his food. He misses the curious and intrigued look on the Duke's face.

Theo watches the omega and has to think of unsexy things to dampen his arousal at the display of power. The man is so damn gorgeous especially when he's angry. Maybe he won't break him fully because that anger is simply breathtaking. Five left and it's only the first day.

Stiles asks them a few questions after their meal is finished before bidding them a good night and retreating to his rooms.

Liam makes his way to one of the guards and speaks softly. "May I help with the dishes? I-I know it's probably not proper, but I don't really care when it comes to gender roles and I would like to thank the cook."

The guard, a stoic man, sizes him up and then nods gesturing to the kitchen but gives a look that says he'll be watching.

With a nervous gulp, Liam heads to the kitchens with a smile when he sees the cook but freezes when he sees the Duke as well. The way the light of the moon shines on the man's face makes his skin look pale but so beautiful.

Marie stops mid sentence and smiles. "Hello Beta Dunbar."

Stiles whips his head to look at him and quirks a brow. "I thought I bid you all a good night."

Liam swallows and nods. "You did, Your Grace, but I asked if I could help with the dishes, and I wanted to make sure she was okay. The food was delicious, and I-I think it was rotten what they said but I don't want to intrude so I won't stay if you wish me to go."

The spark bites his lip to hide a smile and gestures to the sink. "Have at it. I appreciate your concern for her."

"For both."

"Pardon," the spark says.

Liam rolls up his sleeves as he makes his way to the sink. "I was concerned for both of you."

Stiles's eyes narrow but before he can say he can take care of himself the beta speaks again.

"Not that you need me to be concerned about you. I mean I should think knowing someone cares matters a great deal but I also know that you're not some damsel either. So, though I'm concerned I also recognize the difference between someone who needs to be saved and someone who wants to be cherished."

Stiles swallows thickly and turns back to the fire. He sees Marie watching him and smiles softly at her. The beta helps with the rest of the dishes and then looks around to see if there's anything else he can do. His eyes fall on the spark now sitting in front of the fire much more relaxed than he was at dinner.

He allows his eyes to wander over the man's form admiring his beauty. He blushes when he sees more of the man's chest, and it's drool worthy, but his eyes are the real treasure.

Liam is pulled from his thoughts by the spark's amused voice. "Your assistance has been appreciated, Beta Dunbar. I should think you have much better things to do than stare."

Liam's cheeks flush. "Tis beauty I have nare seen before but to admire it is no chore. I see both the inside and the out. For him I'm on my knees. To him I'm most devout."

The spark's eyes darken but with heat and his breath catches. "You've read..." he trails off. "I'll see you in the morning, Beta Dunbar."

He knows he's being dismissed but the soft smile, an almost smirk, that the spark is giving him makes his insides warm. "I hope so, Your Grace." Then he leaves and makes his way to his room.

Stiles can't help but smile, pleased with the beta and surprised at the same time. Marie hands him a bowl of fruit and smiles. "Someone seems to be feeling better."

"He's read my book. No one could quote it like that if they hadn't."

"Then I think sleep is in order so you can find out in the morning."

He stands and squeezes her shoulder gently before kissing her forehead. "Goodnight." Then he leaves.

She watches him leave and sighs hoping that he will find a mate. He more than anyone she's ever known deserves it.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The next two days see that only two betas and one alpha remain, and Stiles watches them closely. Lydia has of course given her ten cents because she doesn't give only two.

She agrees with him that Alpha Raeken is pretty to look at for sure, but he has no sincerity to him. Beta Alaksander is quiet but when he does speak it's not very intelligent. That's not to say he's dimwitted but he just doesn't keep up with Stiles in the least. Then there's Beta Dunbar and well when Stiles talks about him Lydia just knows.

By the end of the week the only ones remaining are Beta Dunbar and Alpha Raeken. The two men lounge in the main parlor as they wait for the Duke to arrive.

"So why are you here?" Theo asks.

Liam tilts his head. "I would say for the same reason as you but we both know that wouldn't be true."

Theo narrows his eyes. "Trying to imply something there? Don't be shy. Say what's on your mind."

"He'll see right through you."

"Then why am I still here?"

Liam shrugs. "Maybe he thinks you're pretty, but he won't choose you. I'm not saying he'll choose me either, but you can't fake these things. Alpha Ito says–"

"Oh, just shut up already. You're so annoying!" the alpha snaps. "He'll choose me because he knows he needs an alpha. What can you offer him that I can't?"

The two men are oblivious to the partially ajar door.

The beta tilts his head. "An equal."

Theo snorts. "Alphas and omegas aren't equal. Neither are betas and omegas. You will have no hope of a match if you can't give him a firm hand."

"Why do you think he's something to be controlled or changed? He's perfect the way he is."

"You're just a lovesick puppy, a fool and he'll see that. Tell me, does he know you keep a book he wrote with little notes in it?" The alpha pulls the book out and smirks.

Liam's eyes widen and he makes fists. "Give it back to me. You shouldn't have gotten your hands on it. It was in my room."

Theo makes a tiny tear on the page eliciting a whimper from the beta. "Yes, but it should have been my room. Tell me why did the omega let you be closer to him than me? Have you been sleeping with him to gain his favor?" he asks, making a small tear on another page.

"Stop! Please? Just give me the book back."

"Tell me the truth and rescind your suit. You do that and I'll give you the book."

Liam swallows nervously as his gaze flicks between Theo and the book. He remembers Satomi's words and almost smiles. "Three things are not long hidden. The sun. The moon. The truth." He smirks at the alpha. "I wonder how long you expect your truth to remain hidden."

"You little bast–"

The door slams open and Stiles stares at the alpha with eyes of fury.

Theo for all his bravado looks like he may wet himself. That fury isn't so wonderful when it's directed at him. "Hello Omega. We have been wondering if everything was alright since you were late."

"You should address me as Your Grace. I am more than biology and oh really? Tell me something, Alpha Raeken. What pack do you belong to?"

"I'm my own alpha."

Stiles smiles but it's not a nice one at all. "I see but you're a wolf and wolves without packs are to be brought to the city authorities. So, if you are packless, I must do my civic duty and warn them of a packless wolf."

Theo's face pales and Liam watches with wide eyes. The alpha tries to regain his composure. "I have a pack, but I am not lying about being my own alpha." He flashes red eyes at the omega and smirks. "Kneel."

Liam winces worried about the spark, but he needn't have been concerned. The next thing he knows the alpha is the one kneeling at the spark's feet and has a blade at his throat. "You can tell Deucalion that he's wasting his time. My mother never wanted anything to do with him and though he forced himself on her, he is not my father. So, you go back to him and if I ever see you again, I will kill you."

He wants to look away as the Duke mutilates the Alpha's hand as an example to those who view omegas as property.

Liam isn't ignorant to the fact that while Theo may have arrived an alpha in rank he will be leaving without his alpha spark. Blue eyes are obvious indicators of murderers.

Liam watches as the Duke's chest heaves and slowly walks over. He's not expecting to be slammed into the ground with the man on top of him, but he freezes.

"I won't hurt you. I am sorry for approaching, I shouldn't have crowded you."

The spark blinks a few times and the turquoise bleeds from his eyes leaving amber gems staring back at him. "I-I–" The spark's cheeks flush and embarrassment clouds his scent as he scrambles to get up.

Liam rests his hands gently on the spark's hips and the man stills. "It's okay. I'd react the same way if someone like him posed a threat to me or was connected to someone who harmed someone I love."

Stiles slowly relaxes and smiles but then realizes he's still straddling the beta and squeaks as he moves to sit next to him instead. "Still, I know it was intense. I knew he wasn't sincere, but I had not thought him connected to Alpha Blackwood."

The beta tilts his head. "Forgive me, but why let him stay if you did not think him sincere?"

The spark snorts and Liam finds it adorable. "He was pretty to look at."

"I admit to thinking that you would prefer an alpha over a beta."

"Now why would I want an alpha? I may be an omega, but betas are just as good. Plus, all the hype about a knot isn't my thing. They're completely overrated. I can look at something pretty and not want to fuck it or mate it." Then he glances at the lamp nearby. "See that lamp is pretty but I'm not into objectophilia. I'd prefer a perfect beta co—" he clears his throat, his cheeks a little pink. "I apologize. I'm getting ahead of myself."

Liam isn't objecting and feels a bit hot under the collar but clears his throat and shrugs. "I don't mind."

Stiles chuckles and gestures to the door. "Come with me."

He leads the beta to his own parlor and then waits until they are both comfortable before speaking. "Tell me about yourself, Beta Dunbar."

"What do you want to know?"

Stiles hums in contemplation. "Why did you put in your suit? Was it coerced, bargained, bartered, or free willed?"

Liam swallows thickly. "I-I um. So, I just joined a pack. My alpha has been helping me with control, but I still suck at it. I was coming here because I've read all your work and I've seen how you treat people regardless of status and I wanted to be able to talk to you," he growls frustrated with himself. "I thought I had my control at a place where I could try to court you. I guess it's not as good as I thought."

The spark is suddenly sitting much closer making Liam almost topple backwards. "You've read my work?" he whispers, his tone awed.

"Yes. Every word."

Stiles smiles and it's the first real smile Liam has seen from him. "Which was your favorite?"

Liam smiles. "Ses lettres d'amour."

"Est-ce que tu parles français?"

Liam nods. "A-A little. Not fluent but I would like to be."

Stiles finds himself brushing his fingers over the betas hand. "You're the first person to just make me feel normal. Other than Lady Martin or my father."

Their fingers intertwine and the beta's heart races as he meets amber eyes. "There's nothing wrong with you. You're you and shouldn't have to fit into the boxes others have made to try to control or change you."

"And you?" Stiles says. "You don't wish to change me?"

Liam shakes his head. "No. I wouldn't change a thing."

Their faces are so close now Liam's nostrils are flooded with the scent of pleased omega, and he rumbles in his chest before blushing. It makes the spark laugh and then his lips are on the beta's and nothing else matters.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Over the course of the next three months the two of them spend as much time together as they can. They share stolen kisses and exchange courting gifts. They ride horses and cuddle. Then they do Stiles's favorite. They go swimming.

They went into the water in just their braies. Stiles almost opted to go in naked but figured it was too soon for that. It felt like they were in their own little world which led to this moment.

Liam brushes wet strands of chocolate curls from the spark's face and smiles. Stiles loves those baby blue eyes, and he nuzzles into the palm cupping his jaw. They eagerly lean in and connect their lips.

They're far enough from the estate to afford them a certain measure of privacy as they make their way to the grassy spot beneath an oak tree where they press their bare chests together and intertwine their legs. The only sounds are the racing heartbeats, heavy breathing and smack of lips.

Stiles pulls back and searches the beta's face. "Be my mate," he whispers.

"Really?" Liam asks surprised but butterflies explode in his stomach as he grins.

It makes the spark laugh and kiss him again. "Yes. Really. Be mine."

Baby blue eyes widen and then soften. "Yes. I'll be yours."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

With only close family to witness they mate in April in the evening under the oak tree where Liam said yes and it's hard to breathe in the best way when they see each other under the light of the full moon.

"As long as I have breath in my lungs, I shall be yours. As a spark. As an omega. As a Duke. As a mate."

"As long as I have breath in my lungs, I shall be yours. As a wolf. As a beta. As a Lord. As a mate."

They seal their bond with a bite and then Stiles slips the robe from his shoulders leaving his body bared to his mate. "Come catch me my mate. Come make me yours." Then he runs.

A howl sounds from the beta's throat as he strips and races after the spark. Mate. Mine. Claim.

He catches him in under an hour and tackles the spark to the ground. Both are glad they are so far from the city because neither of them could have kept silent for this.

As they lay together basking in the afterglow of their mating Stiles coaxes his mate to turn and face him. Liam smiles. "Are you happy?"

Stiles grins and pecks his mate's lips. "Very."

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

It's nearly July when an unwanted guest arrives. The newlyweds–they married two months after mating–are attending to their duties.

Stiles is upstairs writing letters of correspondence and Liam is downstairs in the kitchen with Marie.

A guard comes to fetch him. "Your Grace," the man says with a bow. "There is a man here and I was asked not to disturb His Grace Gajos."

Liam dries his hands and nods. "I'll see to it. Thank you."

With a nod the guard leaves and Liam makes his way to the front door. He's both surprised and not to find Theo standing there. "Alpha Raeken. You do remember what my mate said would happen if he saw you again don't you?"

Theo grimaces but plasters on a smirk. "I just wanted to be sure you were satisfying him is all. I figured if you weren't I could offer my services."

Liam gives him a look of disgust and snarls. "He's my mate and I'm his. There is no way you're going anywhere near him let alone have access to him intimately. You're insane."

"Hardly. I just think he acted rashly and figured he has to have come to his senses by now."

"You're delusional."

Theo makes fists. "Can you honestly say you fuck him and leave him satisfied?"

Liam smirks and crosses his arms leaning against the doorway. "No."

The alpha looks triumphant. "Then you need me. It wouldn't do for him to seek it elsewhere and bring disgrace to the name of Gajos. Not that much more disgrace can be brought after what happened with his mother."

With a flash of red eyes Liam slugs the other man and Theo ends up on his back on the ground wheezing. "The only one disgracing their namesake is you. Never speak against my mate or his mother's memory. Now you need to leave, or I'll kill you myself."

Theo spits blood and snarls. "Little beta has an alpha spark. You didn't earn it."

Liam grins. "Oh, but I did. I assume you've never heard of a True Alpha. Rising to the status by will of the heart. Now if you'll excuse me, I have other more important matters to attend to than further conversation with something beneath me."

"He needs a knot, and you don't have one!"

With a shake of his head his eyes take on an amused glint. "He doesn't want one. In fact, I know you couldn't satisfy him. You know why?"

Theo grits his teeth. "Why?"

"Because he fucks me, and I'm always satisfied. Every. Single. Time." He bites his lip and smirks. "I see him in the throes of passion and lust. Not you. He's my mate. Not yours."

"He knows how to find me when he needs a knot because mark my words, he'll want one. He'll crave one and you won't be able to give it to him."

Liam snorts. "Knot every omega wants a knot. Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to have my mate fuck me now." He turns to the guard. "Let Peter have him. Mieczyslaw said if he returned, he was fair game."

With a nod the guard pulls a cord, and a side door opens as the front door closes. Theo trembles at the man advancing on him. "Shit."

"Hello Theodore. This will be fun," Peter says, flicking out his claws.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

The screams of pain are only slightly muffled by the door and Liam smirks, pleased with himself as he turns around but then he freezes when he sees his mate watching him. "Uh..." he says, his mind blank.

A hand stretches out and he eagerly takes it, moaning when lips capture his. Hands slip to the swell of his ass and squeeze. He groans at the harsh bite to his bottom lip soothed with a pink tongue as his mate stares at him with eyes full of desire. "That was so damn sexy."

Liam blushes and shrugs one shoulder. "I was just popping off at him is all."

Stiles squeezes the beta's ass harder and then slips one hand into Liam's breeches and presses a dry finger over his hole. "Well, it revved me up. So, we're going to go upstairs to my study where I should be writing letters and I'm going to bend you over my desk and fuck you." He nibbles at his mate's earlobe and then at the sensitive spot behind his ear. "You want that baby?" he purrs.

"Yes. God yes!"

The omega chuckles and leads his mate into the study. Lydia sees them disappearing into the room and shakes her head with an amused smile. She looks at one of the servants. "Get some towels ready. With the mood he's in they won't be coming out for a while.

She quickly makes her way to her own parlor not needing to hear the squelches of her friend's sex life. Goodness knows she knows way too much already.

Meanwhile in the study Stiles is on his back on the floor and Liam is straddling him. The omega is leaking slick like crazy, and the beta could die happy with that taste on his tongue. He pushes back against the tongue in his hole and long slender fingers stroking his hard cock.

He whines when he's told to get up and bend over the desk but the smirk on his mate's face tells him he can have full access to the omega's slick after. So, he bends over the desk and groans in pleasure when the omega easily sinks into his heat.

"You always feel so good. O-One of these days," the spark stutters out as he begins to firmly thrust. "I'll let you fuck me."

Liam rumbles at that even as he moans, unable to help the sounds he's making. He never thought that he'd actually get to have the spark as his mate but every day he wakes up next to him is a gift.

"Even if you never let me, I won't care. I could live without it just never stop doing tha–Fuck!"

Stiles purrs and covers his mate's back with his body as his hips circle and push his cock deeper. "Believe me, if you want me to fuck you I absolutely will but I do want to try it at least once." His hands grip his mate's hip tight as he snaps his hips harder. "Now cum for me baby. Let go and cum."

And Liam does.

🔥💛•👑•💛🔥

Stiles is elected into parliament two years after they mated and then a year later, they welcome their first pup that they name Claudia after his mother. She has amber eyes and blonde curly hair. She is the apple of her daddy's eye and Liam spends every spare minute with her that he can.

The two mates are happy, and they never care that they do knot have a knot.

[beyondd-dazedd]

EPISODE👏 REVIEW👏 hsmtmts season 2 episode 10: get ready for some enthusiastic writing and a little too much looking into details

first off seb doing the intro made my heart happy i love him

ok i know everyone has been saying it but there is no way in hell they’re winning the menkies. unless the writers just go with the main character favoritism route, there’s just no way. however for the sake of comedy, watching ashlyn give us everything in the transformation scene and ricky being an absolute disaster is SO funny to me. like shout out to joshua because that scene made me laugh so hard. also a trio i need more of is kourt, red and ej. i just feel like they would be dramatic gossipy bitches and i love that for them.

normally i think ms. jenn’s reactions are over the top but after seeing the shit show that just occurred 2 mins before... i think her reaction is very valid because oh god.

continuing with the theme of friendship dynamics we haven’t seen a lot of but we absolutely need more of, ashlyn and ricky!! that scene was so sweet and wholesome. i’m so so so glad the writers didn’t fall into the trap of making characters take sides after a break up. i just feel like it’s been done a million times before. but seeing ashlyn being so genuine when checking up in ricky made me so happy. the caswells remain being the superior characters (including gina obvs)

ms. jenn and mr. mazzarra are cute don’t get me wrong but they should’ve spent more time developing that relationship instead giving ms. jenn like 3 random love interests and that’s all i’ll say on that.

i love imagining what characters are saying when they’re just ad libbing. like what could ej, gina, ricky and red be talking about before carlos shows up to start the scene?? my guess is they’re all gushing about how amazing ash is and no i don’t take criticisms on that.

alright i’ll say it. the seblos drama is weak at best. they didn’t spend enough time developing it and kind of pushed it to the background so when it was one of the main focuses of the episode it was kind of like ok?? HOWEVER i did love the resolution to it and the deeper look into their individual characters. (i’ll talk more about this later)

carlos calling ms. jenn mother and everyone immediately knowing who he was talking about sent me omfg. but also who the fuck let these high schoolers try to figure out this transformation scene by themselves?? they collectively have 2 brain cells and they just bounce around between the 9 of them depending on the scene. but playful sleepover competition!! also gina nudging ej when he goes a little too ej 1.0 was everything.

i hate lily and i love sassy red. that’s all.

(im going to talk about the boys/girls sleepovers like they’re each one continuous scene respectively because it’s way easier than switching back and forth)

fun new friendship dynamics!! the boys!! sebbie and the girls! iconic. i know that the show is meant to be in a mockumentary style so we only see parts of the characters lives but i would give my left arm to see the boys getting closer and becoming friends. this is also the first scene where i really noticed ricky’s shirt. ricky is queer disney are just cowards. i’m not a big ricky/ ej shipper but the pretty boy had me feeling some type of way. carlos being worried about seb and their relationship and then red being like well this is why. bc he’s got a spy on the inside was peak friendship. but seriously disney?? just say gay. it’s not a bad word. now imma freak out about PORTWELL OMFG I WAS ALREADY FREAKING OUT DURING THIS SCENE SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW WELL I WAS DOING LATER ON. but ej just being like im not ready to put myself out there because of nini i don’t wanna get rejected... again. my heart went out to him. you can really see how much he’s grown as a person. but sure ej y’all are “buddies” also him saying the one thing i’m proud of from my time with nini was letting her go and ricky’s reaction to that hurt me to my core.

alright let’s talk about the girls and seb. first off i love that they’re actually working and the boys are doing fuck all LOL. seb actually talking about how he feels?? good for him. i hate that he thinks that carlos is only with him because there’s limited options but at least he’s talking about it. a moment of silence for ash’s scissor bucket (i won’t make a gay joke. i won’t make a gay joke. i won’t-) anyways... i really thought that maybe ash would know about portwell but it’s fucking EVERYONE. like y’all are that perceptive about other peoples relationships but not your own?? that’s why all y’all have relationship drama. gina not wanting to put herself out there because she’s afraid of getting hurt?? ouch. gina thinking ej is just being nice?? ouch but also gina, sis?? what. also nini reacting that way to the chocolates is so out of pocket. like 1) y’all aren’t dating anymore so what’s got you so pressed? 2) gina made it clear that they weren’t actually from ricky 3) nini you know they had some sort of chemistry before you and ricky got back together so this really shouldn’t be that surprising.

anyways the scene with ricky and carlos broke me. the decision for ricky to not show nini the song was so mature. despite wanting to get her back, he KNOWS that that would only drag her back and that’s not fair to her and he knows it. but his awareness of seblos’s relationship and wanting to help carlos work things out with seb was so wholesome and so sweet and is kind of a big moment of character development for him this season. like he was generally very selfish this season (again i’m a ricky apologist til the day i die but he was so selfish) and seeing him take the focus away from his problems to help carlos out was so sweet. also i need more ricky/carlos friendship moments.

kourt talking about howie learning her love language?? bitch you mean espionage?? i mean me too but that’s so fucking funny

ALRIGHT THIS IS THE PARAGRAPH WHERE I SCREAM ABOUT PORTWELL!!! i am so so so so happy right now about this. the fact that ej asked about risotto but for real was so satisfying and was blatantly like him saying i know we faked being in a relationship but what about it not being fake and omfg that’s so amazing. also gina being skeptical and asking if ash put him up to it and him saying not that i know of?? THE PARALLELS?? also gina this whole season has been talking about signs and finding reasons to stay, finding signs to know if someone is right for her and you can literally see the moment she realizes she said the same thing about the duke sweatshirt to jack. SHE KNOWS THIS IS HER SIGN and that’s so special to me. also ej’s nervous laugh after she says yes?? omfg. let’s look at ej’s character. historically he’s confident, cocky and generally puts on this facade of having his shit together but gina makes him nervous (in a good way). he doesn’t feel like he has to pretend to be confident around her. he’s showing her that he’s just as nervous as she is about this and that is just *chefs kiss* honestly not to be an andi mack stan but ej’s little nervous chuckle and ok after she says yes sounds like he’s letting out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding which seriously parallels tj after the tyrus confession. i’m just saying. ALSO GINA’S LITTLE EXCITED WALK BACK TO THE GROUP AHHHHHH

the seblos song?? i have no notes. it was incredible. frankie killed that shit. it was such a good song. so sweet. so wholesome. also ricky and carlos’s hug was so fucking meaningful to both of them and you can tell. ricky was absolutely beaming because he helped the two of them and it feels like a little bit of season 1 ricky shining through.

WHO THE FUCK LET A BUNCH OF HIGH SCHOOLERS RIG A KID IN THE AIR COMPLETELY UNSUPERVISED?? of course ricky fucking fell. that group shares 2 brain cells. obviously some dumb shit was going to happen