#Lady Bird Lake Walk

[thorsenmark]

Of All the Many Happenings, Only the Flower Can Bring Such a Simple Beauty by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: An image captured walking along a path in a grassy meadow with wildflowers like the firewheel in bloom. My thoughts on composing this image was to find an angle using the LCD LiveView screen on my Nikon SLR camera with the flowers and have a balance across the image.

[bumblesimagines]

‘i never thought i'd ever see you again.’

‘i never got your name.’

w/ milly’s rhaenyra and male! reader ? like maybe male reader ends up being her betrothed rather than laenor xd

Pronouns: He/Him/His

CW/TW: Typical GoT/HOTD warnings, Alicent and Viserys marriage, arranged marriage trope, not much tbh?, some lying by omission, some mentions of rhaenyra's complicated relationship with gender

Rhaenyra's veins buzzed with anger, irritation, and exhaustion, the reins tightly gripped in her hands leaving imprints along her palms as she rode through the forest. The wind lashed at her face, her silver hair whipping behind her; the closest thing she could get to mimicking the feeling of flying with Syrax. Her father's words echoed in her mind, reminding her she'd never be the son he always longed for. Always just the princess, always just the daughter meant to marry some noble arse and have a million of his babies, even as the heir to the throne. 

A furious groan escaped her lips, her eyes beginning to sting with tears. She rapidly blinked them away at the sight of another person up ahead by the lake and tugged on the reins, bringing the horse's speed down to a trot. Her chest heaved with pants and her hair had no doubt lost the pristine style her handmaidens had brushed it into, the bright color of it being the only telling part of her royal blood. The stranger crouched by the lake looked over his shoulder at her and stood, wiping his dripping hands on his pants. 

"Princess Rhaenyra," He bent at the waist in a bow, his boots leaving prints in the mud as he approached his grazing horse. He wrapped his hands around the reins and swept his eyes over her, his lips curling playfully. "Which fool has upset the heir of the Iron Throne so soon into the day?" 

Rhaenyra released a dry, breathless laugh. "My father." She answered, half-expecting him to trip over himself to take his words back but he hummed and nodded, heaving himself up on the saddle of his horse. The horse huffed softly and raised its head, chewing on the last bits of grass in its mouth.

"Fathers make the worst fools." He said, gently tugging on the reins in her direction, the calmness in his demeanor reminding her of her uncle in a way. There he stood in the presence of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and he seemed as if he were speaking to an old friend. Rhaenyra relaxed at that, used to most trying to suck up to her or being intimidated by her titles, but she couldn't help eyeing him with a hint of suspicion.

His clothes lacked any specific coloring symbolizing one of the Great Houses for they were mostly brown and akin to what the smallfolk typically wore but even the most confident of peasant men were prone to stuttering or stumbling over themselves. The stranger simply smiled at her, dipping his head as his horse walked past her and back into the forest.

"I never got your name," Rhaenyra called, pulling on the reins and pressing her heels into her horse's sides. The horse complied and moved after him swiftly, slowing down once they were walking side by side on the small natural trail leading back to the Royal camp. With a better look at him, Rhaenyra had to admit he was handsome, especially with the mystery surrounding him. 

"Surely my name is unimportant to a lady such as yourself, Princess." He spoke with a hint of a playful tone, his head tilted back to watch the birds fluttering about overhead.

Rhaenyra hummed quietly and looked forward once again, dread beginning to bubble up in her stomach. She'd made a bit of an outburst after her and King Viserys's little spat in the main tent, and she hardly had the patience or desire to face her father or the other nobles who'd witnessed it. "You claim fathers make the worst fools." She glanced at him. "What makes yours a fool?"

"He's stubborn, as most old men are." He sighed. "He never allows his mind to shift from his opinions, even if it may cost his family. Though, I suppose when my mother is the one making the actual decisions, he desires to show his fellow men he's in charge."

"I'd like to meet your mother." Rhaenyra chuckled softly, the words repeating in her mind and making her throat tighten with intense longing. Nothing would ever be able to replace the immense gaping hole in her heart left behind by her mother's passing and her father's decisions afterward. The vultures circled and circled until her body had been reduced to ash before they swooped down to peck at the leftovers. Otto... Alicent. 

Rhaenyra inhaled deeply through her nose and plastered on a polite yet fake smile, turning to look at him once more. (Y/N) finally dropped his attention away from the sky and turned toward the princess, arching a questioning brow upon noticing the look on her face. "What is it, Princess? We must make haste if we wish to return to camp before nightfall." 

She groaned. "I do not wish to return to camp. I... I wish I were someone else, frankly.. someone nobody would be able to sell off to some fancy man like a mare and made to live the endless cycle of falling pregnant and producing child after child until my husband is content. I am a princess and the heir to the throne yet- yet I am treated no better than your common lady." 

"Us men do have more freedom, though I am afraid you'd be forced to marry regardless of being of either sex, Princess. It is what's expected of the highborn folk." He shrugged lightly, glancing over the branches above and scanning the sky for the position of the sun. "I suppose we may ride through the forest for a while longer but if anyone were to search for us, they'd be... far from thrilled seeing us unchaperoned and alone together. They may even have us wed." He winked playfully.

"Is that not what lowborns dream of? Marrying royalty?"

"Aye, some do. There's many a tale of beautiful lowborn daughters being swept away by a handsome dashing knight. You cannot fault the imagination of the desperate." He spoke and tugged gently at his reins, directing his horse off the path and further into the Kingswood. Rhaenyra followed, pleased to hear the bustle and chatter of camp drift further and further away. 

"Where are you from, man with no name? A distant land?" She questioned teasingly, taking note of the way her thighs began to ache. It'd been too long since she last took to a saddle, she realized. Rhaenyra would remedy that quickly when she returned home. The stranger laughed softly, a pleasant-sounding thing, and gave her a grin. 

"If consider The Reach a distant land, then yes." He responded.

Commonly known for being the home of chivalry and where knighthood was greatly esteemed by its residents, the Reach was perhaps one of the wealthiest regions in all of Westeros. Rhaenyra had heard plenty of it from Alicent back when they exchanged more than forced pleasantries. Her former friend oft' spoke of showing her around Oldtown, the home of House Hightower and the most notable city in the Reach. There were many houses, many places her newfound friend would live and work near. She tried recalling all the houses from the Reach that'd attended the hunt.

"And whom may your lord be? Lord Hightower?" 

"Lord Tyrell." He answered. "He believes I am too young to not be wed with children by now. He is a kind man, if not perhaps rather daft at times. I'm fond of him, truly, even when he becomes aggravating."

"It's rather surprising to hear you are close with Lord Tyrell." Rhaenyra's brows raised. Sure, plenty of lords and ladies favored the servants who took care of them frequently, but they hardly ever got close enough with them to speak so freely.

"Oh," He chuckled. "He's known me since I was a babe."

By the time night fell, they'd strolled through part of the Kingswood in avid conversation, only putting an end to their riding when it was deemed better to collect some wood for a fire. Rhaenyra leaned back against a fallen log and listened to the comforting sound of fire crackling, the embers rising and spinning through the air with each delicate breeze that swept by. She watched them dance with the breeze while her thoughts drifted elsewhere, to what life may have been if she'd been born as her father's desired prince. 

"You should sleep, Princess." The Tyrell boy spoke from his spot beside her, his arm perched up on the log and hoisting up his head. His eyes remained closed but his body seemed alert, fingers twitching with each distant crunch or animal cry. "We'll rise with the sun and return to camp lest anyone realize you spent the night away with a stranger. I'd rather remain off King Viserys radar."

"Is that so? What if I wish to tell my father of how I met an odd man out in the woods? That'll surely garner his attention." Rhaenyra giggled softly and turned to look at him, watching the corner of his lips twitch upward. 

"It certainly would, Princess." He murmured and lifted his head, gently rubbing his knuckle over his eye and glancing over the dark woods around them. The fire illuminated his face in a warm, near-golden glow. Rhaenyra thought of her father's insistence that she wed someone, anyone. What would he do, she wondered, if she told him of a lowborn she liked? 

"You never told me your name."

"It is of little importance, as I said. You will return home to King's Landing soon and all this will become a distant memory in days to come." His eyes slid over to her, and she hummed quietly, her lips parting to insist otherwise but she knew the life of court would sweep her up and she'd only recall him late at night when her thoughts stopped running. "Sleep."

"I do not plan on forgetting you." She told him in a surge of confidence and some rebellion, planting her hand on the forest floor beneath them and leaning forward to press their lips together. Not her first time kissing someone, for she and Alicent had exchanged curious kisses during their youth but her body nonetheless tingled with excitement. 

"Princess," He sighed but she placed her other hand on his cheek before he could draw back and scold her on whichever societal rule they broke. "You-"

Rhaenyra tilted her head back slightly, swiping her tongue over her lips and giving him a small smile. "I wish to be free for a moment. Will you help me?" She asked softly, staring into his (E/C) eyes hopefully, otherwise it'd be a rather awkward night. 

"Whatever the princess's desires."

The time had finally arrived when her father had grown tired and displeased with the lack of progress in their combined search for a suitable husband. He'd strongly considered Laenor Velaryon in hopes of mending what'd been broken when he chose Alicent over Laena, but the rumors of the young Velaryon preferring boys over girls reached King Viserys ears fast enough for him to change his mind and choose another strong contender. 

"I believe you'll be quite content with Highgarden, Rhaenyra," Alicent spoke softly, her words directed at her but eyes distant as she bounced little Helaena in her arms. Her handmaiden remained silent as she attempted to wrangle a wiggling Aegon and Rhaenyra could only grimace at the struggle. "It is.. a beautiful place. My mother was friends with Lady Tyrell in her youth and oft' spoke of the beauty of it." 

"I see." Rhaenyra sighed. "I am.. certain it is as lovely as you claim. But I will reside in King's Landing, as it is my duty as heir, is it not?" She lifted her brows at her father.

King Viserys sighed deeply and opened his mouth to speak but the carriage lurched to a stop and their names were called into the air, signaling their arrival at the seat of House Tyrell. Rhaenyra inhaled through her nose and held it to calm the irritation simmering in her veins, reminding herself there was a chance at seeing the mysterious stranger from Kingswood. Her legs shifted under the skirt of her beige-colored dress, thighs pressing together as she felt the ghost of his lips roaming over her shoulders and the touch of his hands when they cupped her face. 

"The Princess and heir to the Iron Throne, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen!"

Rhaenyra gathered her skirt in her hands and stood up from the cushioned seat, moving toward the door and carefully stepping down. Her eyes first wandered over the large white stone castle surrounded and protected by three rings of stone walls. Many of the outer walls were covered by sparse greenery, from ivy vines to beautiful roses. She could hear the delicate sound of a harp playing coming from the open doors leading into the castle. Everything felt... calming in Highgarden. 

"King Viserys," Lord Tyrell greeted eagerly, bowing as far as his frail bones allowed him to while his wife gave a short curtsy and regarded them with an air of coolness. Rhaenyra liked her already. Lifting his arms and offering a pleasant smile, Lord Tyrell said, "Welcome to Highgarden. It is an honor to host our King, Queen, and Princess."

"What a beautiful home you have." Alicent complimented, her elbow subtly bumping into Rhaenyra's arm. 

"Yes," Rhaenyra nodded and Lord Tyrell's features brightened with the praise. "It is... incredibly soothing being here already."

"You flatter us with your praise, My Queen, My Princess." Lady Tyrell offered a polite smile, her hand rubbing along the subtle bump in her belly, soaking in Rhaenyra with her eyes before she turned sideways and nodded up the flight of stairs for someone else to join them. "And we are incredibly flattered you answered our proposal. May I introduce my son, Ser (Y/N) Tyrell."

Rhaenyra's gaze flickered away and her eyes widened into near saucers. The stranger from the Kingswood grinned mischievously back at her, no longer clad in dirty clothes and instead in dark green with the sigil of House Tyrell. (Y/N) Tyrell... what a sneaky bastard, he was. Rhaenyra clamped her teeth into her bottom lip and forced herself to be silent under the watchful eyes of everyone around them. Her heart fluttered, a million questions and playful complaints flying through her mind.

"King Viserys, Queen Alicent," (Y/N) bowed in greeting to the two, a fond smile gracing his lips when he gazed upon her half-siblings before a playful twinkle appeared in his eyes once he turned to her. He scooped her hand into his and raised it up to his face, brushing his lips over her knuckles. "Princess Rhaenyra, what an honor to finally meet you." Rhaenyra finally smiled. 

"Now with the pleasantries aside, we've hosted a feast in honor of your arrival and this beautiful betrothal." Lord Tyrell said and eagerly beckoned them within the castle as servants swiftly took their belongings into the castle and to their temporary bedchambers. Her father and Alicent followed, the two men chatting blissfully and sharing laughter while their wives walked idly side by side. 

"Would you like a tour of the gardens? They're in full bloom this time of year." (Y/N) offered her his arm and she took it, giving a nod and allowing him to guide her into the castle where the sound of the harp grew closer and louder, the gentle music filling the bright halls. 

"I never thought I'd ever see you again," Rhaenyra admitted, gazing over the light-colored walls. Everything in Highgarden seemed bright and warm, especially welcoming and calming. The Red Keep oft' felt dreary and cold but Highgarden seemed vibrant with life and more open with large windows allowing the light to pour in. "Why did you keep this hidden? I would not have cared if you were a noble."

"I never said I was a lowborn, Princess. You assumed I was." (Y/N) reminded her lightly, guiding her down a flight of stairs and into a large vibrant garden with a gorgeous fountain in the middle spouting water in a continuous flow. He plucked a bright red rose from a bush and offered it to her. "It appears the Gods had plans for us regardless, though."

Chuckling, Rhaenyra took the rose. "It appears so."

[grugruel]

Bad News 1 |

Parts: 1/2, read part 2 HERE

Parings: dbf!bucky x f!reader

MDNI/NSFW

Masterlist

Inspired by, Call me by your name

Summary: Your fathers best friend accompanies you and your family to your summer house in the country. Sparks ignite as you grow closer, secretly spending one-on-one time together at night.

Words: 3.7k

Warnings: plot with smut, secret-relationship, angst, choking, praise kink, petname (doll), oral sex (f recieving), pinv sex, fingering, creampie, c*ck warming.

AN: Ill make it into a series if yall like it, please enjoy!

Baring Throats

I leaned onto the windowsill, one arm stretched into the cool night air, holding a half smoked ciagrette as I rested my head in the crook of the other. A song filled the empty night, small birds and morning doves serenaded me beautifully, the occasional cranes interuppting with their paired cries.

I took a puff, exhailing slowly as I admired the view overlooking the garden, the vast grass plains surronding the house and the tree line in the distance. It separated us from the forest, obscuring the lake behind it and hiding all things wild. I glanced down the long road leading up to the house, and found a man walking along it.

Bucky, heading back from another venture into town. Perhaps he had visited a lady friend, which he had a good number of, perhaps it wasnt any of my concern. It shouldnt bother me, yet, it did.

I found my mind drifting, painting a picture of him in a bed, sweaty and naked, laying next to another woman and a spark of jealousy flared up inside me. The sound of footsteps on a gravel path approached, bringing me back to the moment, I blinked the images away and rebuked myself.

Looking down to the ground, my eyes met his. Smiling, I greeted him amd leaned over the sill. Nothing on but a thin t-shirt and a pair of panties, goosebumps prickled my skin. He smiled back at me. We looked at eachother in silent understanding, our business remaining our own. Wordlessly we communicated, I took another drag of the cigarette and he gestured for me to give him one, I held my index finger up, indicating for him to wait a second as I grabbed the pack and lighter from my nightstand, in turn tossing them down to him. Graciously he caught them and lit up, I nodded my head inside, asking him to join me. He took a long drag of the cig, considering me carefully, but he shook his head. Smiling increadolously, he pointed at me as if saying, "youre bad news" then snuffed his cigarette and went inside.

I heard him walking up the stairs, toward my room, the footsteps stopping just outside my door. Please knock, I begged, he seemed to be considering it, but a moment passed and then another, and at last he left. Entering his own room instead, opposite mine.

This had been our routine for the past few weeks, both being night owls, we'd sometimes encounter eachother on the premises. Coming from our separete affairs, but never asking the other where they'd been. We'd share a snack, talk in hushed voices, hold in laughs and shush eachother when we inevitably were to loud. It became our little secret, not because we did anything innapropriate, but simply because it were a few moments that belonged to just the two of us. Talking about things we couldnt talk about with anyone else. It had been innocent at first, but at some point had that charming smile of his begun to make me blush, at some point had his touching become more tender and at some point did our night time talks stop being accidental, but rather sought out. Last night, we'd come dangerously close to kissing and I think alarm bells sounded for the both of us, which is why we kept our distance tonight.

Dissapointed I went to bed, falling asleep with unseemly images of my fathers best friend clouding my mind.

I slept late into the next day, the sound of heavy rain battering the roof roused me from my sleep. As I got ready to go about my day, I found a note slid under my door, my lighter was inside, along with a few written words "Smoking is bad, you know. I'd better finish them for you :)" Chuckling, I saved the note, tucking it into my nightstand. Wiseass.

Due to poor weather and lack of outdoor activities, the family + one was gathered in the livingroom. My parents on one sofa, dad holding an arm around my mom as they read from the same book, my brother in the armchair and Bucky on the other sofa, everyone reading a variety of something. They all looked up as I entered the room, feigning surprise that I had finally joined them.

'Good afternoon stranger.' my father chuckled. I kissed my mothers cheek in greeting, she smiled sweetly and squeezed my hand in response as I passed them.

'About time you graced us with your prescence' Bucky teased, making my brother and mother join in with the cheerful joking.

I smirked and shook my head, waving my hands dissmissively, 'Very funny, I blame the weather.' I said and gestured toward the sky, sitting down on the empty seat next to Bucky. I laid my legs in his lap and leaned back against the armrest, propping my head up on a pillow. A conversation was struck up, talking about what I had missed, discussing resent books and making plans for tomorrow, it seemed like we'd go to the beach. Ocasionally, Bucky would grab and squeeze my legs when talking, in the same way some people gestured to get their point across.

As the chill of the evening drew closer, we lit a fire in the hearth and grabbed blankets. But a shortage occured, so I had to move closer to Bucky, he laid an arm across my shoulder as I curled up intill him so one blanket would be enough for the both of us. We grabbed a few bottles of wine, dusted off the old board games and got down to business. A heated game of monopoly ensued, followed by a short dinner break, eventually resulting in very drunk charades. Bucky and I teamed up, two versus three and we won regardless. Were all very competitve people, safe to say that none of us went to bed feeling very sportsmanlike that night. As the evening wound down, so did our energy, the wine was taking its toll. My legs were tucked against Buckys chest as I leaned my head against his shoulder, he circled his arms around my legs and rested his chin on my knees. Lazily the five of us talked for a while longer, enjoying the pleasent atmosphere of the night while we were still contious to do so. Eventually though, as laughs turned into yawns, Bucky and I offered to stay behind and clean up while the other three departed. Tidying went by quickly, we made a good team. As I discarded the last of the dishes in the sink, he put his hands on my shoulders and kissed my forehead, trying to keep his focus on my eyes, 'Go to bed, doll. I got the rest.' He said, smiling sweetly, attempting to act sober and rubbed my shoulders tenderly.

I looked at him with hazy eyes, 'If you say so.' I answered, smiling lazily, then went upstairs. Between our rooms, there was a french balcony. It stood wide open, my parents had presumably opened it in a drunk hot-flash to let air in. I was headed for my room, but my mind drifted to the crisp, sublte wind calling my name. My feet changed direction by themselves, and magically I appeared in the opening.

Leaned against the doorframe, I fell half asleep, the rain had devolved into a drizzle, but the air was damp and pleasantly chilly against my skin. Involuntairy shivers took over my body, but I was to tired to move. I heard distant footsteps behind me, coming and going, and eventually coming back again. The steps approached and strong arms circled around my shoulders, a warm body pressing up against my back. He'd covered himself with a blanket, holding the ends in his hands and gift wrapped me into his embrace. I held onto his forearms, a smile kn my lips as I basked in his warmth.

He rested his head on my shoulder, 'You were gonna freeze.' He explained himself, whispering against my ear and sending a cold shiver through my spine. I leaned my head back against his chest, sighing happily as we stood silently, appreciating eachothers presence. I drunk his scent in as our breaths matched up, the birds singing for us once again.

'I want my cigs back.' I complained, drunkenly disturbing our peaceful moment.

Bucky chuckled, 'I dont want you to get cancer.' He protested, half-joking.

I turned around, alcohol causing the bounderies of a long friendship to blur. I placed my hands on his chest and met his eyes, looking at him through my lashes, making them as big and pretty as a puppys 'Please?' I asked kindly.

He looked at me with adoration in his gaze, removing the blanket from himself and covering my shoulders with it. A smirk curved his lips as he looked at me, shaking his head in defeat. Wordslessly his manmersism spoke for him, 'Youre bad news." they told me, and this it would get the better of him. He grabbed my hand and led me into his room. Once inside he let go of me, opened his window and began rummaging around his dresser. I leaned my back against the windowsill, grabbing the lighter from my pocket and crossed my arms, wrapping the blanket tighter around me as I waited, watching him with a smile on my lips. His arm shot up into the air, displaying the packet proudly as he found them, 'I'll give you, one.' He told me quietly, a stern expression on his face.

My mouth fell open in disbelief, 'I payed for them!' I exclaimed, forgetting myself. Bucky put a finger to his lips in a shushing motion, and walked up to me. He took a cigarette out of the pack and opened his hand expectantly, I gave him the lighter and he lit his cig, taking a puff and leaving it between his lips. He rested his elbows on the windowsill behind me and leaned forward, leveling his head with mine. Moving past my head, gracing my cheek with his as he blew the smoke out of the window, then leaned back. He had one arm on each side of me, crossed behind my back, he had me pinned between him and the window. Our faces were inches apart, both painfully aware that this wasnt appropriate of a daughter and the family friend, but the wine had pushed out any reason or logic of our minds. I couldnt help but look away, suddenly shy. Luring a smile from him as he observed the way a blush crept its way up my cheeks. I took the cig from him, my fingertips acidentally grazing his lips, and placed it between my own. I took a puff and faced him again, our eyes locked, sharing hidden thoughts through transparent gazes.

Energy sizzled in the air, building onto the tension between us, magnetizing it, pulling at the invisible string that connected us. 'Let me taste.' He whispered, inching closer. I hesitated, before slowly exhaling the smoke as he breathed it in, sharing the toxic cloud between us, poisoning our judgement. I felt myself drawn closer to him, the string pulling taunt on both ends, his lips a mere ghost over mine. Temptation coarsed through our veins, causing heavy breathing as we fought our urges. But we both gave in, in the end.

Our lips met in a soft kiss, he moved his arms from the windowsill and grabbed my waist. I was taken off guard, but welcomingly so. Complicated feelings bounced through my mind, but I couldnt back down now. I hurridly snuffed out the cigarette against the sill and snaked my hands around his neck as I kissed him back, pulling him closer. His hands found their way under my shirt, sliding up my torso until his fingertips touched the plush flesh of my breasts. He inhaled sharply, the oxygen returning to his brain as common sense flooded back to him. He shook his head in an attempt to clear it, this was his best friends daughter. He tore free from the claws of desire, grabbing my arms and unhooking them from his neck, he backed up. I reached out for him, but he pulled away, sitting down at the end of his bed, he laid his head in his hands, a labored sigh leaving him.

'We cant, you know we cant.' He whispered, voice muffled against his palms. I did know, but I couldnt help it. I sat down next to him, wrapping my arms around his, grabbing his bicep as I rested my head against his shoulder. He sat straighter, letting one of his hands fall to my knee as the other stroked my hair, he kissed the top of my head.

'I just- Why did it turn out this way?' I asked him quietly, my voice quivering 'I know we cant, but. . .' I paused, thinking of the right words. His hand slid from my hair to gently caress my cheek, then tracing his fingers finger along my jaw until they found purchase under my chin and tilted my face to meet his. I searched his gaze for something unknow to me, 'I need you.' I whispered foolishly, my eyes watering, 'This is all your fault you know, your stupid smile and caring words.' I laughed mirthlessly, keeping my eyes locked on his, as a tear threatened to fall.

He cupped my face with boths hands, looking at me with a sorrowful expression as he leaned his forehead against mine.

'Bucky, please.' I whispered, leaning into his touch 'If you cant have me, stop this.' I pulled one of his hands from my face, clasping my own around it and kissed his palm softly before letting it fall to my lap.

'I cant get stuck. . . Wanting your love if you cannot give it to me.' I told him quietly, squeezing his hand as my voice broke, I leaned back, meeting his eyes again, pleading, 'Please say something.'

But he remained quiet as his eyes welled, admiring my blushed, tear streaked face.

My eyebrows furrowed, not understanding how he could be so cruel. A tear finally rolled down my cheek and my chin quivered in disbelief, I was nothing more than a naive girl to him.

I looked away, not wanting him to see the pain he caused me. I took his silence as a rejection and moved to stand, but he grabbed my wrist, stopping me from leaving, 'Let me go.' I cried silently, unwilling to face him as tears streamed down my cheeks. I stood again, pulling, trying to unclasp my hand from his grip but I could not, 'Please Buck, I cant do this.' I croaked, looking up at the ceiling as I tried to blink my tears away.

'Look at me.' He ordered softly, but I refused. 'Doll.' He whispered in warning, but hearing his name for me only made my cry harder, I pulled on his grip again but he was unrelenting. 'Sit, please.' He asked this time, desperation burried in his voice.

'No.' I answered, resolute.

As I was not cooperating, he took matters into his own hands. He pulled me back down and cupped my face as kissed me harshly, I fought him out of anger, but quickly melted into his touch, all was forgiven, it had always been.

He deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue into my mouth, moaning from just the taste of me. My hands found their way to his brown locs, burrying themselves, while his hands felt their way down my body. We fell backwards onto the bed and he cilimbed on top of me, pushing his knee between my legs to separate them. His lips found my neck, trailing kisses from my jaw to collarbone as his hand kneaded its way up my thigh, my skirt catching on his wrist. His lips left my skin as he sat up, scaring me for a moment as I thought he changed his mind. But he climbed down to the foot of the bed, knees on the floor and hooked his hands under my kees, pulling me to the edge of the bed. His hands found my panties and ripped them off, I gasped from the sudden gust of cold air hitting my wet core. He kissed my thighs, licking and nipping as he worked his way inwards, panting inbetween pecks, desperate to taste me. He looked up at me, meeting my eyes as he hovered over my core, his breath fanning over my clit, he looked like a crazed mad man. The anticipation was overflowing, I bit my lip, nodding for him to go ahead and he dove in. Lapping at my clit, tasting me. I almost screamed from the sudden sensation, but covered my mouth at the last second. I rutted my hips against him, hoping for further friction, but his hands grabbed my hips, holding me down so he could please with intention. I whined, grabbing at the sheets, pulling on them for support, It wasnt enough.

'More, more.' I moaned, and he obligingly latched onto my clit, sucking as two of his fingers found their way inside me, thrusting and curling at my pleasure. Breathy moans escaped me as I was getting closer to cumming.

'Close, real close' I managed with a mumbling voice, he squeezed my hip in reassurance, telling me it was alright. I hummed as the knot in my stumache pulled tighter, he pushed another finger inside me and im convinced I saw the light. I came tumbling over the edge, stiffling another scream by shoving my face into the bed. And as I was catching my breath, he kissed his way back up to me, climbing on top once again, he snaked one arm under my back to pull my shirt off, freeing my breasts, then lifted my hips to take my skirt off, followed by his own shirt and sweats. He was huge, no surpise there.

'You okay?' He asked, and I hummed in response, cupping his face and pulling him back up to my lips, kissing him with a burning passion. He pulled back, 'Use your words girl.' He said sternly.

'Need you.' I whispered, kissing him again.

'You sure doll?' he asked against my lips, I nodded enthusiastically.

'Please, Ive never wanted anything more.' I assured him. He hooked my leg onto his knee, raising it to get better access to my opening. I circled my other leg around his hip and he lined himself up with my entrance.

'Look at me.' He ordered again, and I met his eyes, gazes locked deeply as his tip teased my entrance. I admired his beautiful face as I circled my arms around his shoulders, preparing for whatever was to come. Suddenly he slid inside me and we gasped in unisome, he didnt move for a second so I could get used to his size. He stroked a strand of hair behind my ear as he admired my face, 'My beautiful girl.' He whispered, making my heart beat faster.

He pulled out of me and thrusted in again softly, setting a slow but intent pace. Each thrust took my breath away, all the while he was grunting in my ear. His hand found its way to my throat, closing around it and squeezed, putting slight pressure on it and stealing another moannfrom me in the process. He graced his nose against my cheek, kissing my jaw as he thrusted deeper, and I met them with desperate ruts, 'C'mon doll, just like that.' He encouraged me in a breathy voice, that alone couldve been enough to make me cum. He trailed kisses down my chest and latched onto my breast, taking it into his mouth, sucking and nibbling at my nipple as his hand found the other, kneading it intently.

'Getting- closer.' I hummed, but his thrusting slowed, eventually stopping completley. 'Buck?' I questioned, and he let go of my breasts, pulling out of me completley, pleasure and confusion mixed my mind into a strange mess. He backed up, grabbed my legs, raising them and in one solid motion hooked them onto his shoulders and thrust into me again, deeper than ever before. A loud moan tore through me, to blided by the feeling that I completley forgot about being silent. His hand quickly covered my mouth as he began a ruthlessly deep and hard pace, rocking my entire body. His mouth quickly replaced his hand, kissing me deepley, passionateley, in rythm with his thrusts.

'Almost there, doll.' He mumbled between kisses, I nodded, not able to for words, but I was close to. The knot in my stumache terribly close to coming undone once again. His thrustingbecame rougher, harder as he closed in on his orgasm, hitting that sweet spot every time. Our breaths were nothing more than frenzied moans, his pace faltered, giving it all he had for a few last thrusts before we both came undone. Warm liquid spurting into me as he collpased on top of me, resting his head in the crook of my neck and kissing my skin softly as we cought or breath, 'Good girl.' He whispered, 'My good, good girl.' He panted, still inside me as his seed slowly, sippered out of me.

My heart fluttered at his words as I fought to keep my eyes open, the alcohol and exhaustion from the day along with the bliss of our secret activities were catching up to us. He laid an arm around my ribbcage, pulling me closer to him, I hooked my leg over his hip and curled up to him. I gave him a quick peck on the lips as he kissed my forehead, and we fell asleep in eachothers arms.

I woke up later in the night, but in my own room. I wouldve thought I had dreamt it all if it wasnt for the blanket tucked tightly around me, still smelling of him.

Read part two HERE <3

[sigh-tofm]

currently watching a reality/docu show about game wardens and i despise putting these men in us based scenarios but imagine…

… working in a 24/7 diner and regularly getting all sorts of law enforcement throughout the night, looking for a pick-me-up before they head back out again. your favourite is the big captain with a silver star and everything, who doesn’t really go on a patrols or calls anymore but still stops by your diner as often as he can. he’s ridiculously handsome in the rugged, brutish way, with a smiling lines around his eyes and impressive facial hair. always gets coffee and a slice of pie, always asks for a refill so he can watch your broad ass as you walk away when you retrieve the coffee pot. you kinda know what he’s about when he does that, but you don’t mind in the least letting him have his fun and wiggle your hips a little extra - he’s otherwise polite and a good tipper too. you don’t know it yet, but one of these days he’ll be waiting by your car for you to finish your shift and convince you to take him home with you.

… spending a summer day out on the lake, tanning in the back of bowrider you borrowed from your friend when you hear another boat coming up, motor idly working as the driver lets the waves bring him closer to you. you prepare to be annoyed at yet another guy who finds it hilarious to make fun of a fat girl in a bikini, but when you sit up you see it’s a game warden boat and aboard is the single most handsome man you have ever seen in your life, even though his face is shaded by his cap. he asks you all the important questions about boating licenses and life jackets, and you answer them all with a wavering voice, made a little nervous by this god of a man. he mistakes (on purpose) your hesitation as being under the influence and makes you do a breathalyser test. looks you straight in the eyes while you lock your lips around the tube to blow and taps your nose with his finger when the machine beeps and proclaims your innocence.

… being out hunting on the first day of the season and being stopped for a control by a game warden. you’re a good girl, you have everything in order, you tell him as he checks your gun, sticking his finger into the tube magazine to make sure that you don’t carry too many shotgun shells. he gives you a wry smile and asks for your hunting license and you pull out your wallet, only to find that you forgot it at home. he returns to his truck to check with dispatch to see if your story is true, if you really do have a hunting license in your name. proceeds to tell you your license is from last year and that you’re breaking multiple laws here. no license (even though you know you have one), lying to an officer (even though you’re speaking the truth) and hunting on private property (even though you’ve sure you didn’t see any signs about that coming in here). but you can’t prove any of that of course, not out here. seems you’re got yourself in quite the pickle, little lady. luckily warden mactavish is willing to let you make it right without giving you any fines.

… calling in about an owl that has gotten inside your house in the middle of the night. waiting in trepidation at the door so as not to agitate the animal further, only wearing your short dressing gown when there’s suddenly knocking. you open to find the biggest man you’ve ever seen standing on the porch, and you’re about to slam the door on him when he puts his foot in the door and announces he’s here about a bird. you nervously open the door again and he steps inside, having to turn sideways to fit his massive shoulders through the entryway. you point him to the living room where the owl is perched on your curtain rod. in less than three minutes he’s located it, caught it with his skeleton-gloved hands (not minding the talons at all) and taken it outside to release it. you’re ready to thank him and bid him adieu, but he shoulders his way back inside to straighten up the curtains again and sweep up the feathers, a service you didn’t know they provided. at last he stands up to his full height and looks you up and down, from your messy hair to your thick thighs. ‘now, about that bird…’

[thedivineart]

Confirmation Signs To Determine Your Future Spouse

ꕀ ׅ࣪ ꒰ ✮ ꒱ links : navigation. send love.

pacs. paid services.

one

wishing well, a fountain, throwing coin and wishing in fountain, unexpected meeting, receiving the most special gift from someone, a lost purse/wallet, climbing alone in mountain to reduce stress/ hangout, being alone without feeling lonely, a dog coming towards you, small home in forest, cross roads, being happy in other people relationship, going to building/institutions to fix legal documents, a friends to lovers trope, visioning your past life, a gallantry from someone, aiming financial achievement, lucky money wins, a nest eggs, flames, mutual feelings with someone, being flirt, co-worker, a new friend, ships, a little home/cottage, new house/places, moving to a new place, soulmate connection, meeting perfect person/ ideal lover, seeing lots of abiding love, wedding, wedding rings, hurt/painful feeling, hospital/doctor, unrequited love

⋆ feel free to ask question you didn't understand in this reading

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two

changing location whether it is for work or residency, when you heal from the past, starting a new, stork, a invitation for a event, gifts ( receive or give ), helpful advice from someone, receiving lots of good news, a clock/time, your hate and fear towards someone, a handshake, a journey ( travel ), birds, sharing ( partnership), food, restaurant/ fast-food places, notice of correspondence from important bills, writer/ journalist, financial loans/help, being at your lowest point such as feeling trapped/tired/staying at home/unhealthy situation, a friend betrayal, older than you, foreign, lawyer/authority, being attack, an enemy, invitation in weddings or engagements, church, cemetery, thinking negative/ having negative thoughts, a large body of water such as beaches, pools, fountains etc, night, cold weather/winter, locks, fishes, physical union with someone, a mending of broken friendship/ex love, party, clubs

⋆ feel free to ask questions you didn't understand in this reading

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three

younger, foreign / leader, bad girl & boy image/personality, unexpected kiss, feeling lonely, a new lover/person, family oriented, lady and moody, soulmates connection, unexpected friendship with someone, horse/sagittarius, a good news coming, an artist/poet, student of arts, athletic body or an athlete, lack of focus in commitment, receive or give gifts, fountains, generous, wears uniform that symbolize their position at work, a friend, co-worker, a peer, taking time to heal the wounds of the past, in park, in forest, walking around and meeting someone new, having time alone, wandering in woods, in the big trees, travel, achievement, lucky breaks, successful moving up ( at work or something), the space, distance, someone is far away, delay, receiving love letters and bouquet of flowers, country side, simple life, money surrounds them, professional person, workaholic and less focus on love, a bank; good at handling finances, provides good advice in finance, a happy family, fire/burning, summer, evening, warm weather country, good judgement, social

⋆ feel free to ask questions you didn't understand in this reading

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four

authority, can be foreign, arrogant, weddings, older, negative emotions, large body of water such as beaches, pool, fountains, lake, pond etc, night, cold weather/winter, a dog, a friend, a church, a purse, money, financially stable/ wealthy, office, jewelry box, a social butterfly, enjoy clubs and socializing, likes to be busy and active, wine, travel, trips via water, clouds, heavy rains, good partner, sensual, good at financial advice, an expensive wedding of a friend, children, financially secure, fixing cars, lily, workaholic, trying their best at difficult situation, lion, a Leo sign, quite, electric, jealous and possessive, like to give great advice, streets of gold

⋆ feel free to ask questions you didn't understand in this reading

‹𝟹 leave like 🙵 re-blog when you love it !

© thedivineart. do not plagiarize any of my work, translate or repost it on other social media platform.

[live-love-be-unique]

Weekend Away

Summary: A weekend away camping with your friend Soap leads to the start of a new relationship.

My submission for @glitterypirateduck #CoDVacationMode challenge. The prompts I used were:

12. Camping

32. Friends to lovers

34. First time seeing each other naked

Parings: Soap x f reader

Warnings: MDNI, smut

It had been a rare weekend of downtime after you had finished the last mission and after an offhand comment that you were going to do absolutely nothing except crash into your bed and move only just enough so that people didn’t mistake you for being dead, Soap had declared you to be his camping partner. When you agreed to join Soap on a camping trip you didn’t realize how thorough his preparation was. It started with his sending you a joint Spotify playlist “we’ll be needing good road trip music bonnie” along with a detailed list of your favorite road trip and camping snacks as well as a list of “things you need to pack to survive”.

The day the two of you set off, Gaz left you with some of his words of wisdom: “If you hear banjos, clench your buttcheeks!”

“Really Gaz? You’re referencing Deliverance now? If I get killed in some back woods somewhere I hope you fall out of another helicopter” You snap as Gaz smirks. That little shit.

You jumped as a deep Scottish accent sounded from behind you “Relax bonnie, if I wanted to kill you I wouldn’t tell anyone where we were going” Soap smirked as you got into his jeep.

“Not comforting MacTavish!” He laughed and pulled out of the parking spot “you haven’t told me where you’re dragging me yet”

“Relax, would you! You’re going to love it”

For the next three hours of driving you had been treated to Soap belting out his favorite songs, which mostly seemed like The Proclaimers on repeat and drumming on the steering wheel, both he and the radio at full volume.

“…When I wake up, well, I know I’m gonna be

I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you…”

You were almost ready to kick him out of the moving vehicle and head back to base when Soap pulled onto a dirt track. He stopped the car near the small forest and jumped out.

“We made it? Finally!”

“Not quite lass”

“What do you mean ‘not quite’? We’ve been driving for hours”

“Little bit of a hike to get there but I promise it’s worth it”

He’d of course been lying when he called it a ‘little bit of a hike’. You’d been walking for ages, enjoying the scenery of the area, you did have to admit it was a beautiful spot. You watched a flock of birds fly over the lake, not watching where you were walking and crashed straight into Soap’s back.

“Careful there bonnie” he chuckled as his arms braced you from falling flat on your face.

“Thanks” you muttered. Blushing, you extracted yourself from Soap’s arms and brushed yourself off.

“We’re here!” He announced with a flourish, throwing his arms out with a giant grin on his face. You look around and see what Soap is gesturing towards. You look in awe at the ruins of a castle, the crumbling stone walls overgrown with vines as nature slowly took over throughout the years “I found it when I was out here last and you were the first person I knew who I had to show this too”

“Me?” You ask, tearing your eyes away from the ruins.

“You love all those stories set in castles with ladies and knights and stuff so I just thought you might want to explore it and…” Soap rambled, suddenly nervous.

“I love it!..Wait, we’re camping here?!” You interrupted him, almost squealing with excitement.

“That was the plan, I thought we could set up the tent over by that wall there” he spotted you taking your camera out of your bag “I can set up the tent if you want to take a look around” he chuckled as you started admiring the sights through the lense of your camera.

You’d been exploring and photographing everything you could set your eyes on when you turned back to thank Soap for bringing you here but the words died in your mouth when you spotted Soap setting up the tent you’d be sleeping in tonight.

Dressed in a t-shirt and cargos, you watched as his arms flexed and moved as he pulled a support rope taut. You knew he was attractive, and might have been sporting a little bit of a crush, but as he lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe sweat off his face you’re pretty sure he could ask you to run away with him and you’d happily go.

“Why don’t you take a picture” he smirked childishly “it’ll last longer”

“Maybe I can take a picture of you like one of my French girls” you laugh back.

“Come on you numpty, we need firewood” he bumped your shoulder with his as he passed by.

The two of you worked quietly setting up the remainder of your little camping spot, the setting sun casting shadows through the stone window frame that would have once held a beautiful stained glass.

Soap lit the campfire while you started preparing your food, pleasantly surprised Soap had packed everything to make hamburgers, he laughed at your little happy smile “couldn’t drag you somewhere and not pack your favorite food”

You leaned back against your rucksack, relaxing into the quiet night air, you could get used to this you realize, beautiful scenery, no technology, sharing burgers and beers with Soap as you told each other funny stories about your friends and family and the rest of your team.

Soap stopped his current story and glanced up at the sky “come here” he gestured for you to sit next to him. You made your way over to his side as he dragged you down to lay next to him, both of your heads resting on a fallen log “look up”

You turned your eyes towards the night sky and gasped in awe, the entire sky was full of stars, you could see every single constellation.

“It’s beautiful” you whisper “I wish I could stay here forever”

“Told you you’d love it here” you glance over and meet Soap’s eye.

You stared into his eyes for what seemed like hours before you felt him shuffling closer until he was nose to nose with you. You’re not sure who made the first move, perhaps you both did, but Soap’s lips found yours as his hand moved from his beer to the back of your head, holding you closer to him.

You yelped in surprise against his lips as his other arm wound around your waist and pulled you onto his lap “I’ve got you bonnie” he smirked as he left open mouth kisses along your jaw and down your neck, his hand resting underneath you jaw, tilting your head to allow him more access to your neck. You throw your head back as a giggle erupts from your throat as Soap’s lips find a ticklish spot on your neck, you feel him smile against your skin as he continues his journey down your throat.

You reach down and take hold of Soap’s shirt and pull it over his head, his lips leaving your skin for the briefest moment as the shirt is pulled over his face. He leans forward and rests his forehead against yours as you catch your breath, blue eyes shining in the light of the campfire.

Soap curses as the boom of thunder breaks through the air, looking up at the sky as the first large raindrops land on your skin, he maneuvers you in his arms and carries you to the tent.

Setting you down in front of him, he wraps his fingers in your hair and pulls you against his lips, kissing you. His hands find the buttons of your shirt and makes quick work of them before he slides the fabric down over your arms and throws it over his shoulder.

The wind howled outside the shelter of your tent as you slowly undress each other, eyes and fingers tracing over each newly exposed area of skin, committing every single thing to memory “fuck lass, are you trying to kill me?” Soap smirked as his eyes practically devoured you. Standing in front of each other, dressed only in your underwear, both suddenly overwhelmed by the thought of being naked in front of each other for the first time.

Soap laid you down on the mattress he’d brought for the base of the tent “Do you want me to stop?” He asked as he positioned himself between your legs, resting on his forearms as he hovered over you.

“No” you whisper, fingers trailing through the coarse hair covering his chest. Soap shivered as your nails drag their way down his chest towards the waistband of his boxers “do you want me to, stop I mean?”

“If you stop I think might die” he claimed dramatically.

“Is that so?” You grin.

“I’d perish” Soap grins playfully back down at you “slowly and painfully in fact”

“Well, we can’t have that”

He leans back and kneels between your legs as lean forward, hands dragging his boxers down over his hips, Soap’s hands cover yours helping to remove the boxers down off his legs as your eyes wander over the length of his body, you unconsciously lick your lips as your eyes roam over his cock and he grins as your eyes meet his again “see something you like?” that cocky little shit.

Soap wraps his arms around you and lifts you up onto his lap as skilled hands make quick work of undoing your bra and throwing it to the other side of the tent. As he lays you back down you raise your hands to cover yourself, suddenly shy under the heat of his gaze.

“Come on now” he smiles softly “don’t tell me you’re going shy on me” You find yourself smiling back as you slowly lower your hands. His lips find yours “lift your hips for me love” he mutters against your lips.

“Christ” he mutters under his breath as his eyes roam over you “can’t tell you how many times if imagined you like this”

“You have?”

“Mhmm, seeing you now, definitely didn’t do justice to the real thing” you feel yourself blushing as you reach between your bodies to guide him towards your pussy.

“Soap…please” you grind yourself against the head of his cock.

“Please what love?” Soap grins, knowing he has you exactly where he wants you.

“Are you going to fuck me or what?” You sass.

He finally pushes into you with a single thrust “there she is” he smirks as you gasp. His forehead rests against yours as his crystalline blue eyes watch over every emotion that crosses your face. He hikes your thighs over his hips as his thrusts become more forceful, hands scrambling to feel every inch of exposed skin they can.

He lays kisses across your chest, blindly finding your nipple as his fingers graze your clit. Your thrust grow more frantic as you both begin to approach your climax. You cling to his shoulders, crying out his name Johnny as you as you come. Soap follows soon after, his own orgasm hitting him with a final thrust. He comes with a grunt as he collapses on top of you, you hold him tightly as you catch your breath. You hear yourself whimper as he pulls out of you, he wraps his arms around you tightly as he buries his face against your neck.

The next morning you find yourself curled into Soap’s chest as he lays on his back, one leg thrown over his and your head resting on his chest. Your stomach rumbling with hunger “What do you want to eat?” He asks, his morning voice made thicker by his accent.

You pretend to think, resting your chin in your arms over his chest “bacon and eggs”

“Oh aye, my girl wants bacon and eggs?” His arms tighten around you, holding you close. My girl, he calls you like it’s the most natural thing in the world “and what do I get in return?” His eyes glint as he smiles.

“Round two?”

Soap rolls the two of you over, laughing as he starts to lay kisses all over your face and neck “works for me”

[pigeonpeach]

The perfect date!

Prompt: Genshin men and women’s ultimate idea of a date by their standards!

Fem reader

Characters: Diluc, Shenhe, Jean, Cloud retainer, Arlecchino, Kujo Sara, Furina

Jean

Jean ,despite her upbringing and high class education, isn’t very picky. What she values most is the effort and thought put in. To earn her heart is relatively easy. Just be a cute little thing and offer her gifts and flowers to cheer her up. Compliment her and overall just look at her with eye contact and a smile as she chats your ear off about the latest romance novel and how disappointing it was.

For you? Your best shot is to go out of your way to pick her favorite flowers, and dress yourself up enough to show you care then she wouldn’t mind where it was even if it was a picnic. In that scenario you would also have to show thought and care. You can’t just smack a blanket everywhere. You have to pick somewhere the knights are available or with a nice scenery. The tree at windrise is perfect as its already her safe spot. A picnic is actually perfect, Jean is a romantic but there’s nothing more romantic than seeing how you fret about every little detail, like a bird preparing the perfect nest for its mate, she is more flattered by effort than compliments. Even if the food you prepared isn’t the best she can see how you tried. Afterall with enough practice you could prepare it properly in the future. When she saw your effort she was starting to swoon. Keep up the effort and you’ll have her last name in no time.

As for how she’d set up the date? A casual lunch at Good Hunter and a stroll through city to Springvale because the scenery is beautiful and the wind is nice but not too cold. She’ll pay for the meal and you will make up for it by being her entertainment. But she’s also picked that route because the wind can pick uo and get a bit chilly with the lake right next to path, giving her the perfect opportunity to offer you her cloak, just like a true Gentlelady!

Diluc

Oh he’s difficult! Not a romantic, not a small talker, not too expressive, not too friendly either. You basically court him the way you would earn the trust of a feral cat who’s never been pet before. Patience and lots of perseverance. The best way to earn his heart however is to be interesting. Go to the bar when nights are slow and tell him interesting stories. Some new fact you learned? Questions that make you stand out from any other bachelorette looking to score it with him. Like “whats your second favorite color? Whats your first memory? Does his hawk have a favorite color?” I should mention to not get too personal too quick. But overtime he maybe endeared by your odd conversations, you stand out in a pleasant way that has him contemplating those questions.

Now that you’ve finally got his trust you can ask him out! Very likely he will take the reins. Likely a typical restaurant date. He picks you up, pays, coat if your cold, walks you home. He isn’t the most creative.

As for you? Well you still won’t be able to spoil him because he will pay you back no matter what. He doesn’t have expensive tastes. You prepare a nice picnic meal? You want to go on a walk through town and lunch? Unfortunately he doesn’t really like the idea because he knows it will spark a huge rumor and end up with you probably glared at by many a lady looking for his hand. The picnic idea is however novel to him. Just be sure to pick a area clear of monsters. Not that he wouldn’t immediately leap into battle to defend you but that he might burn the grass to much. Then you would have to move. But he secretly adores how persistent you’ve been, trying to provide for him, trying to handle everything. He secretly likes that. Unfortunately he has a serious poker face so you don’t notice that until later.

Shenhe

Out of all of them i’d say she’d be the hardest to romance because she’d struggle to understand when she is inlove. She likes you yes. But is it different than how she likes being around Ganyu or sitting in the grass? Overtime it does become different but it isn’t until Cloud Retainer points out that she is obviously being courted that she recognizes your efforts. So she return them.

Easiest by far because she has no concept of romance or what is romantic like everyone else but rather just that: she likes you. She likes spending time with you. She doesn’t care if you don’t get her enough flowers or you don’t pick a good enough restaurant. What she likes is you and talking to you. You could pick a dingy street vendor for a date and she’d still love it. Really its cloud retainer who would disprove. To earn her approval you must work to prove you’re worthy and trustworthy too. She won’t give her blessing out freely. And what better way for Shenhe to learn about romance than by example? But truly, Shenhe would prefer a date on Jueyun karst. With fresh flowers and a gentle breeze in the warm sunlight. Just talking to you, alone. She doesn’t like restaurants unless its a slow or quiet day but she will put up with it for your sake.

Arlecchino

Obviously she lives for the luxury. She knows time away from the children is scarce nowadays so she books a private booth secluded from the other guests, a luxury restaurant with the finest of tastes. She will ensure you don’t go away hungry or feel uncomfortable. The difficulty is the timing. The reason its best to leave her to schedule dates is because she will already have made time for such occasions. One date st least per month! Unless of course there’s complications or scheduling conflicts. Rest assured she will make it up to.

If you’re planning a date for her it would be best to follow her line and not surprise her with it because again, her schedule. The most she’ll let you do is probably make the reservation, she’ll pay for it simply because she likes to provide for you. Better to just let her because she isn’t going to let the mother of her children pay for dinner.

Cloud Retainer

Oh you want to romance a full blown adeptus? Good luck making it up that mountain alot. Your offerings do not go unnoticed by her, as she enjoys your gifts more than most mortals. She even clears out monster camps herself in preparation for your visits. As cloud retainer how ever she isn’t too emotionally available.

But as Xinyun she is far more open minded to the idea. Recognizing you as her favorite human she will humor your offer of lunch. She does prefer more traditional methods but not to a great extent. For instance, a decent restaurant with high quality food. Especially if it’s a date. You dont have to pick the most luxurious of restaurants but if you do it is a good impression to her. But putting effort into your appearance is also very important too. She doesn’t expect you to pay for her tab but she would appreciate. She will find some way to repay you.. perhaps a invention to help you in some aspect of your life? Or perhaps a kiss will do.

Furina

Little bit of a tsundere. It wasn’t actually that hard to win her heart, but she didn’t make it obvious until you asked her out. Just stick with the fancy stuff, flowers and sweets as offerings. She is very traditional in that regard. But oh Miss Furina is so lonely, the second she saw your gentle and loving smile she practically fell face first and head over heels for you.

Of course high end restaurants are her favorite. Especially for desserts. In fact you could just skip dinner and go to a bakery instead, that’s probably cheaper. If you offer to pay though do be prepared for it. She won’t spend too much since it is your money but the things she buys aren’t too cheap either. But overall the perfect date for her is mostly just.. having someone by her side. It may end up be her window shopping or shopping with you dragged along but she has a great time like. She has a great time with you by her side :> after that point the dates can be anything as long as you’re not taking her hiking through the mountains or something, she might like to go outside the city for a picnic though. Maybe even see the cute otters.

Kujo Sara

She was also not that hard to win over, but it was much harder to tell when she did. But her coworkers knew when they saw how she seemed to miss you when you left, or how you made her smile. But before you know it, she’s asking you out!

Kujo Sara will pick the best restaurant for your tastes, preferably a bit high end, and she will encourage you to eat as much as you like. Don’t eat like a pig though that is a bit off putting to her. She isn’t too great at conversing though, especiallt in non professional environments. Considering how nervous she actually is to be on a date with you too, its a bit hard to be confident in such a unfamiliar situation. Just be patient and sweet. Overtime she’ll get better and more open with you.

[extrajigs]

Some species of Mirum Wyverns! Wanted to get a broad grouping because they're very diverse.

Marshy Garfinch- These are barely flighted predators who specialize in wetlands and floodplains. They are more comfortable in the ground and water than flying, but to escape danger they can fly for short bursts. Very chill, will wait patiently for bycatch.

Common Coast Wyvern- Most populous kind, basically a large seagull. They are notoriously bold and fearless, which leads to them stealing food from much larger animals. Most of the time this works out.

Blushing Snapper- Sea going wyverns with a bad temperament. They're known for shrieking and snapping viciously, but tending to flee immediately at the first sign of a physical confrontation.

Pelizard- Basically a lil pelican. They like to bound around the numerous islands around Mirum scooping up fish. On the ground they struggle to walk so they end up hopping along most the time.

Sneck- Another marshland wyvern. One who has completely lost the power of flight. Mostly aquatic they spend pretty much their whole life hiding at the bottom of lake and river beds. Will stick their whole head and neck out to look around.

Galunk- Named for the sound the males make to woo the ladies, these fellas spend most of their time roaming around grasslands. They prefer going after small terrestrial prey which is easy as they are the fastest wyvern on the ground.

Pendulo- Basically a lil hummingbird. They spend their days drinking nectar and catching bugs at breakneck speed. Then at night they sleep by biting and dangling off tree branches. Goofy lil guys.

Rain Chaser- One of the largest wyverns, these guys spend most of the year away at oceanic islands and only return to the mainland during the rainy season. There they like to snack on woodworm eggs for a couple months to fatten up.

False Wyvern- This ones actually a bird.

[eileenslibrary]

hi can I request

zhongli dating xianyuns daughter(reader)(well not blood daughter but, shenhe and ganyu are called her daughters) it starts during the days that he's still an archon, xianyun orders the reader to keep the geo archon company or should I say serve him, and they developed their feelings towards each other. Since zhongli is an archon he sees ganyu and shenhe as a little children that xianyun is taking care of, but the reader is an exemption since he sees her as a beautiful woman at age reader is also immortal (electro vision holder)

Dainty

Pt.1

(GIF Is Not Mine)

Dainty pt. 2

Zhongli x F! Adepti Reader

(skin color, height, body, and facial features not mentioned or described in this work of fiction, made for all readers who align with she/her she/they)

Warnings: OOC Zhongli, Blood, Death, Near Death, War, Violence, Arguments (Mentioned/Described), Betrayal/Abandonment From Parental Figures/Home, Nudity, A Little Angst In The Parts Speaking About War And Readers Back Story.

“A proper woman” “A polite lady” and “A sweet girl” Is what you grew up in all your life, all you knew, all you wished to be. Up until you weren’t, up until ‘The Incident’ you were scorned as an outcast. Thrown out for being the ‘Odd’ one simply because you stopped playing house, abandoned, and left for dead, the weakest of the pack. You broke from the abusive chains of your village and ran until you stumbled on the muddy ground you stayed there for days laying on the wet ground dying from starvation and the cold, a light makes you crack your eyes open as an electro vision drifts down to you, you use your remaining strength to grasp the glowing orb “I get my vision when I’m dying, great” you huff.

 The days continue until one day a soft ‘Plump’ makes you open your eyes a white crane with blue feathers stands before you a small fish in its beak you stare at it watching as it tears it into smaller pieces you open your mouth for it to put the fish inside your mouth as you chew it and swallow it down. This repeats for a while the bird would come and feed you fish and let water drip down its beak into your mouth, then huddle on top of you to keep you warm until you have enough energy to walk. You watch as it flies away when you stand then lands a few feet from you, you follow it as it leads you to Mt. Aocang “Beautiful crane why do you lead me here?” you question, the bird shakes its head and begins striding up the mountain forcing you to follow you until you reach the very top. You collapse when you reach the top “I fear I cannot go any farther” you whisper before your eyes close. You awake to a woman with red-rimmed glasses washing out your hair, “W-where am I?” you ask her “My abode” she hums continuing to wash your hair your eyes widen as you realize “Adeptus Cloud Retainer” you say trying to sit up, but she stops you “Rest you are still sick” she whispers pouring hot water into the jade bath you were laying in “Why did you save me?” you ask “What was I supposed to do? Let you poison my lake with your deceased body?” she says sternly. That was what you got as a ‘Warm Welcome’ in your new home, but Cloud Retainer eventually warmed up to you and took you in as her own. She trusted you enough to let you meet Morax “She is mortal” He hums looking at you “And what of it?” Cloud Retainer defends looking over her shoulder as you wade into the pool letting the fish swim around your feet “You are one of my dearest friends and I would hate to see you grieve her death” He sighs his gold eyes watching as you feed the koi, “Are you saying I should abandon her!?” she raises her voice slightly Morax widens his eyes not used to seeing Cloud Retainer’s emotions slip “No, I was thinking of making a contract to turn her into an adeptus” he says sipping on his cup of tea Cloud Retainer whips her head to look at him “Really?” she says in disbelief. He nods his eyes following as the young woman places her hands into the water and a koi happily swims into them to eat the food in her palms. Cloud Retainer calls you from the pond you look up and wade out of the water, your white dress soaked from the mid-thigh down. Morax looks away at the transparency of the cloth clearing his throat “Yes Mother?” you question noticing the tears in her eyes “Rex Lapis and I have been talking, and we are thinking of making a contract so you can be immortal” she hums taking your hand in hers your eyes light up and you pull her into a hug she makes a “Hmph” sound when her head hits you shoulder, but she reciprocates. After a while of reading and understanding the contract and what it entails you got it signed and Morax bestowed a little of his power on you to make your life eternal. But the contract entailed that you were to accompany Morax everywhere he goes, give him anything he needs, and be his loyal servant. 

Years passed as if in a mere blink of an eye, you noticed how Morax was cold with you at the start only talking to you when necessary “Bring us tea” he commands going back to his conversation with Streetward Rambler and Guizhong “As you wish” you hum “You needn’t be so harsh on the girl” Guizhong scolds Morax just grunts Streetward Rambler shakes her head “What were those blue prints you needed me to look over?” he directs the conversation to Guizhong “Oh yeah! Here” she says remembering why she was even here handing him her idea on a new device, but he steals glances in your direction your beautiful white and green robes glimmering in the sun. You sulk as you listen to them banter, waiting for the water to finish boiling, steeping the tea perfectly as you’ve done thousands of times before. Walking over to the table and placing down cups pouring the tea into each one “Enjoy” you hum walking away “Where are you going?” You still at Morax’s words “Ah. . . I was gonna go sit down?” You say as if questioning yourself looking back at him, Guizhong and Streetward Rambler look at you expectantly “What Morax means is for you to come to sit with us” Rambler explains patting the stone seat next to her your eyes widen a happy glint shining in them you find your seat between Morax and Streetward Rambler. You sit between them sitting quietly but content nonetheless just listening to them discuss topics. Morax watches as you sip your tea quietly his eyes tracing over your beautiful features. You meet his eyes giving him a questioning glance “Is something wrong My Lord” You whisper he shakes his head and goes back to his conversation.

The war is tedious but you fight hard, friends and foes falling everywhere you look. You refuse to shed tears and show weakness to anyone who may take advantage of your blind spot, defending your god with a stone heart, letting your sword cut through anyone who would dare try to lay a hand on your god. Static runs through the air as you let the electro flow through your movements like wine from a bottle, effortless, graceful, swift, and solid as you slice through armor as hard as the strongest steel. A cold expression striking fear into the weaker gods who thought you were an easy target, you reek of dirt, blood, and death. Your armor splattered in other's blood as if it was forged in a slaughterhouse. Your only relief was returning to your camp and seeing your friends and god, but one day someone close didn’t return “Rex!” you rush up to him “Where is Guizhong, why isn’t she with you!?” Your eyes search wildly for the god of dust he stays silent pushing past you into his makeshift home, you stand there eyes wide as you sink into the ground hand over your heart, the soiled ground wet and red. Morax closes his eyes when he hears your armor and sword clink as you fall to your knees and let out a scream painful sobs following after, his tears falling as he wishes he could have saved her for your sake.  

[thorsenmark]

Charlie Brown Posing for an Image in a Field of Wildflowers by Mark Stevens

[apoemaday]

Heart

by Dorianne Laux

The heart shifts shape of its own accord— from bird to ax, from pinwheel to budded branch. It rolls over in the chest, a brown bear groggy with winter, skips like a child at the fair, stopping in the shade of the fireworks booth, the fat lady's tent, the corn dog stand. Or the heart is an empty room where the ghosts of the dead wait, paging through magazines, licking their skinless thumbs. One gets up, walks through a door into a maze of hallways. Behind one door a roomful of orchids, behind another, the smell of burned toast. The rooms go on and on: sewing room with its squeaky treadle, its bright needles, room full of file cabinets and torn curtains, room buzzing with a thousand black flies. Or the heart closes its doors, becomes smoke, a wispy lie, curls like a worm and forgets its life, burrows into the fleshy dirt. Heart makes a wrong turn. Heart locked in its gate of thorns. Heart with its hands folded in its lap. Heart a blue skiff parting the silk of the lake. It does what it wants, takes what it needs, eats when it's hungry, sleeps when the soul shuts down. Bored, it watches movies deep into the night, stands by the window counting the streetlamps squinting out one by one. Heart with its hundred mouths open. Heart with its hundred eyes closed. Harmonica heart, heart of tinsel, heart of cement, broken teeth, redwood fence. Heart of bricks and boards, books stacked in devoted rows, their dusty spines unreadable. Heart with its hands full. Hieroglyph heart, etched deep with history's lists, things to do. Near-sighted heart. Club-footed heart. Hard-headed heart. Heart of gold, coal. Bad juju heart, singing the low down blues. Choir boy heart. Heart in a frumpy robe. Heart with its feet up reading the scores. Homeless heart, dozing, its back against the Dumpster. Cop-on-the-beat heart with its black billy club, banging on the lid.

[malarkgirlypop]

MEDIC! Part 31 (Donald Malarkey x Fem!OC)

Oh no trouble in paradise?

Based on the HBO show and the actors who portray the characters, not hate to anyone involved.

Tag list: @imusicaddict, @b00ks1ut , @mstiemountainhop, @awaterfalls anyone else please let me know.

“It’s like the sound of music just came to life.” I whispered to myself as the trucks pulled through Austria. 

I was jealous Julie Andrews got to run around all day in this! The movie didn’t even do justice to the scenic landscape. Rolling green meadows surrounded by the enormous mountains, the crystal clear lake that shimmered in the warm sun. It was ethereal. 

My amazement was shared by the others, as we drove through the small villages everyone’s mouth’s seemed to hang agape. 

On either side of the trucks walking back from where we had come, was the German army, retreating in all their glory. Their heads hung low as they marched out of Austria. 

People whooped and cheered as we drove by them, waving to us. We all waved back with bright smiles on our faces. It was odd to be so warmly welcome, when everywhere else we had been during our travels had been met with such protest. 

A group of young ladies lined the edge of the street blowing kisses to the men. They all seemed so excited with the attention. 

“I think the war is finally over!” Don exclaimed, waving to the women who smiled back at him. 

My stomach clenched. I looked down at my uniform, it wasn’t flattering, not like the pretty dresses the ladies wore. I probably didn’t even look like a girl, sitting here amongst the men. Was I just a welcome distraction in the middle of the war? When there was no one else but men, I was the only girl amongst them. Was that the only reason I was able to capture their attention? 

The smile fell from my lips as I sat back in my chair, I chewed at my lip nervously. This was the end of the war. People would go back to their own lives and move on. But I didn’t have a life to continue here. To be honest I didn’t think I was going to make it to this point. Not that I let myself think that far ahead, I was too busy focusing on the now. But the now has caught up and I have no plan. 

No one seemed to notice that I had withdrawn from the celebration, they were too busy waving and taking in all of the scenery. 

**************************

I didn’t take much notice of the promotional film flicking across the projector. I was still too busy thinking of what my plan was when this was all finally over and we would have to head back to America. 

The lights turned back on as Don squeezed my leg, “Well that was depressing.” He stood from his position. Malark took my hand and pulled me to my feet, ushering me out of the room. 

“Are you ok?” Don pulled me to the side, brushing his hand across my cheek. 

“I’m fine, just thinking.” I muttered. “I think I need to go for a walk, ok. Clear my head.” 

“Ok, the men wanted to go hunting, so I will be with them. I will find you when I’m back.” I nodded, wrapping my arms around his waist. He squeezed me in tight before he jogged off to see Lieb and the others who were waiting for him. 

***************************          

I walked down the hill towards the lake, it was so warm and the thought of soaking my bones in the water sounded heavenly. I was b-lining for the lake, but I couldn’t help myself when I saw the most ‘Sound of Music’ meadow. 

I set down my bag and walked through the long grass and wildflowers that sprung up from the earth. 

“The hills are alive with the sound of music.” I whispered as I twirled with my arms outstretched. I didn’t know the rest of the song but hummed the tune as I pretended I was a young Julie Andrews. 

I continued my journey down to the lake through the thick trees. I finally came to a clearing, a small isolated cove that opened to my own private beach. The glassy green water lapped softly at the stony shore, while the birds sang sweetly overhead. It was so peaceful it almost didn’t feel real.   

I placed my bag down on the ground, kicking my shoes and socks off as I pulled the rest of my clothes off. I stood in my underwear, but with no wandering eyes I didn’t feel like I had to hide. 

Hobbling down the beach in my bare feet was a task due to the stones that covered the shore. I stepped into the cool water, I didn’t wait to adjust to the temperature leaping forward into the depths. 

I crashed through the surface of the still water, the last time I had been fully submerged in water was after I had killed all those soldiers. I had lost a piece of me that day that I would never get back, my innocence. I could never say I never knew what it was like to take a life, it would be something I had to carry with me for the rest of my life.  

Bubbles rose to the top of the water as I continued my dive, swimming further out into the lake. I finally broke for air after a while, after catching my breath I floated on my back staring up at the clear sky above me. I closed my eyes enjoying the serenity. The quiet had been something I had forgotten, I was forever waiting for the next round of gunfire or series of shells to drop. Would I be forever anticipating artillery that would never come, nerves always set on edge for something that was in the past? 

I shook my head trying to rid the thoughts of warfare from my mind. Though easier said than done. It was something that we all had etched into our minds, not easily forgotten.

Time passed, I was unsure of how much. But when I lifted my head I had drifted a ways away from the beach where I had left all my belongings and the sun had moved further down in the sky. 

Flipping back onto my front I swam back to the cove where I had started. I lifted my head to see how far I had gotten, only to see a figure standing on the beach next to my bag. I treaded water where I was to get a better view of who had found me. 

The man lifted his arm over his head waving. “Em!” Don called, even from out in the water I could make out his cheesy grin. A smile broke out onto my own features, waving back to him from where I was. 

“Babe said you had gone for a swim, I thought I would bring you a towel.” He yelled cupping his hands around his mouth, but it wasn’t needed. His voice echoed around the mountains.   

“You’re so thoughtful. Give me a minute!” I called back before putting my head down and swimming towards the shore. 

Scrambling back up the rocks, I made my way back to my bag where Don was sitting on the ground. But it didn’t feel right, something in the air had shifted. 

Malarkey was hunched over, inspecting an object in his hands. 

I picked the towel up from off the ground, wrapping it around me.

“What are you looking at?” I asked as I dried my face. 

Don glared up at me, confusion and anger in his eyes. 

“Don?” 

“What’s this?” 

He thrusted the thin card under my nose. My heart dropped. It was my driver’s licence.

“Emily Marlena Lane, born 23rd of September 2000.” He read from the card. 

 I opened my mouth but nothing left my lips. 

“Why do you have a fake ID?” Don stood from his position still holding out the card in front of him. 

“I- uh.” I stumbled over my words, this was happening all too fast. I didn’t have a reasonable explanation for him. 

“What else do you have?” 

He didn’t give me a moment to reply, he turned on his heel picking up my bag and turning it upside down. The contents of the bag scattered onto the floor.    

My phone and headphones landed at his feet. I lunged forward to snatch them away but Don was faster. I stood still in fear as he examined the items. He opened the headphone case, plucking out the earbuds. My phone was shut off but he tapped and poked at it, his brows furrowed in suspicion. 

“Don, I can explain.” I tried to reason with him, but it only seemed to piss him off more. 

“Explain why you have a fake ID, a listening device and whatever this is!” He shook my phone in front of my face angrily. 

“Go on then, explain. Explain and then I will tell you my answer.” He hissed, I had never seen him so mad. 

I opened my mouth hoping my brain would take over, but nothing came to me. I just stood there opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water. 

“I’m waiting!” His tone was clipped. 

“I can’t. I can’t explain! But it’s not what you think.” I was desperate, I needed Don to understand that whatever this looked like to him, it wasn’t the truth.

“So you’re not a German spy?” There was no joking in his expression, he believed wholeheartedly that I was a spy. 

“What? No!” I pleaded. 

“I couldn’t put my finger on it, but you’re different. But this explains it all.” Don laughed but it was humourless. 

“You’re a spy. Fucking hell, you are a spy!” The more the words left his lips the more he was convincing himself.      

“Don, I am not a spy.”

“Don’t lie to me, Emily! Christ is that even your real name. Who are you?” Don barked, his finger jabbed into my chest. I staggered back, away from the furious man.

“I-” 

“You are different from the rest of us. You had the perfect cover, your parents are dead, no family, all bullshit. I bet they are all waiting for you back home.”

I shook my head, my features twisting in hurt, but Don didn’t let me get a word in. 

“No one is sending you mail, cause they can’t, they’ll blow your cover. You speak differently too. Wow, you got the accent down pat, but there are a few slip up’s. Your language, the way you speak gives you away. You have different sayings and words that we don’t use. God how did I not notice this!”

“And you knew! You knew about the camps. You said the nurses told you, but I spoke to Doc later that day and he said the nurses knew nothing. So how did you get that information, unless you already knew about it? And you just happened to stumble across our group when we were in Holland, a lost nurse who didn’t know her way. God Em you really played us all for fools!”

Tears brimmed in my eyes, my heart clenched with every accusation. But if I was him I would’ve thought the same thing. That was the only reasonable explanation, but it wasn’t the truth. 

“The Germans when we were in Bastogne knew our exact location. Did you tell them?” 

“No! No! Don, the Germans were literally across the field, even we could see them!” I was choking back tears. 

“No. Sure they knew our position, but they hit Skip and Penk exactly in their hole. Did you tell them the location of their hole?” 

“You think I killed them?” I uttered softly, not believing what I was hearing.    

“You told them! With this!” He held up my phone waving it around like a mad man. 

“I did not! How dare you!”

“It was all an act, give it up Em, I caught you. Stop playing dumb and just tell me the truth, tell me I’m right!” 

“You are so far from the truth Donald. So very fucking far away from it! I am not a German spy, do you really think I'm capable of killing people?” 

“You killed all of those soldiers.” 

My breath hitched in my throat. I know my actions were wrong when I lost control, but for him to bring it up and use it against me hurt so much more. 

“I wasn’t ok. I didn’t even know what I was doing!” I shouted, my voice was trembling with each word. 

“I fucked up! But what kind of spy would kill their own men?” I asked, trying to prove my innocence. 

Don didn’t answer, shaking his head angrily at me. 

“Give me the phone and I will prove to you I am not what you think I am.” I reached out my hand beckoning for my belongings in his possession. 

Malarkey hesitated, looking at the phone then back at me. He gave a defeated sigh and handed it over. 

“The ID you have isn’t fake. The birthday is correct.” I stated, trying to make my voice sound believable. 

“I’m from the future. I was born in 2000, the year I was in before I left was 2023.” 

“Don’t patronise me.” Don growled, he wasn’t buying the story. But it wasn’t a story, it was the truth.   

I held down the power button on the phone waiting for it to turn on. 

“I can show you I’m telling the truth. I know it’s hard to believe, I wouldn’t believe me either.” 

“But for every accusation, I have an answer. You said I spoke funny, that my words were odd. That’s true, they are different because they aren’t from this generation. We have very different vocabularies to you. And I don’t have a family here because they are in 2023, I mean I don’t have a family period, they are all actually dead.” I paused awkwardly, giving an embarrassed smile. 

“But if they were alive they wouldn’t be here in the 1940’s, they wouldn’t even be alive yet. The camp’s I knew about because I learnt about them in high school, everyone does. This war and the things that happened during it are often spoken about due to the atrocities that happened. In my generation we get taught it in history class.” 

With each explanation I gave the more perplexed Don looked. I could see it in his face, him trying to wrap his head around it all. It was an information dump. If I was going to do this properly I wouldn’t have spilled all my secrets immediately, so that he could try to understand. But I was trying to defend myself. I needed to tell him everything so that he could at least know the truth, even if he didn’t believe it.   

“This thing here.” I held up my phone that had finally switched to life. “This is my phone. You know the telephone, you have the one that you, y’know hold the stick part and then talk into the mouthpiece thingy.” I didn’t know how to explain the phone correctly, so I pretended to do the motions of talking on it. 

“The stick phone?” Don asked incredulously, like he was confused at how I didn’t know the correct terminology for common household items. 

“Yeah the stick phone and also the um- the, jesus christ, the one you have to pull around the circle bit.” I looked at him eagerly so that he could tell me what the hell it was called. 

“The rotary?”    

I clapped my hands together, “Yes that!” 

“Anyway, those are this, kind of. I mean it has more than just phone calls.”

“You can call people on that? Where is the wire?” Don sneered down at the small phone in my hands. 

“You don’t need a wire. Anyway that’s not the point, because I have proof here that I’m not a spy.”

Don seemed to be keeping a wide berth from me. He lent over slightly trying to peer down at the phone, but he was too far away.  

“You have to come closer, so I can show you!” I grabbed him hastily by the arms, I felt manic, desperately trying to plead my case to him. 

I turned on the phone, the lock screen appeared. I watched Don’s eyes grow large as if he was seeing magic. “This is a photo of my mother and I, before she passed. And see here this is the time and the date I left my time-” 

“Wait, how did you even get here?” Don said, pausing me mid-explanation. 

“Oh.” I stuttered. I was so caught up in trying to show my phone, I didn’t tell him the most important part. 

I started from the beginning, explaining my whole life up until I fell through the shimmer. Don respectfully listened to the story without asking questions. 

“And now I’m here.” I huffed, out of breath from quickly getting through the events of my time travel. “I can prove all of this on my phone.”

Don looked green. I’m sure all of this was quite a lot to take in, but he was the one who opened this can of worms. 

“Let me just show you this and then we can be done.” I reached out to pat his shoulder, but he recoiled from my touch. I snatched my hand back, trying to stifle the tears that brimmed in my eyes from his actions. 

“Ok, well this is the date. The phone opens with face recognition.” I held the device in front of his face, showing him it didn’t work when it was his features. I held it in front of myself and it unlocked. I went into the calendar app, showing him the date highlighted was the same from on the lockscreen and the year. I opened my photo album, pointing out the date each picture was taken. 

“That’s you?” Don asked, pointing at a photo of me. It was from my graduation, my mother had passed before I was able to finish high school. Before she died she brought me a dress, so that I had her with me in a way. The dress was beautiful, it was a soft green milkmaid dress that fell to my mid shin. It hugged my waist and chest but the skirt of the dress flared out draping down gently. In the photo I had done my makeup, I had done my signature sharp eyeliner and pink blush that made me look sun kissed. I looked like a completely different person, standing here in a towel with wet hair. 

“Yeah, that's me at my graduation.” I confirmed by zooming in on my face. My features held a bright smile, but even in the photo you could see it didn’t reach my eyes. I had still been holding hope that my mother would at least see me graduate before she passed. Having to attend graduation by myself was a kick in the gut. After that I started withdrawing, any friends I had I lost, any connection to the outside world slipped from my fingers. 

“You look so sad.” He said quietly. I didn’t reply too engrossed in the miserable girl on the screen. She was so alone, I just wanted to hug her. 

“That was the worst day of my life.” I cleared my throat.

This wasn’t the point of me showing him these photos, I needed him to believe me. 

I swiped through a couple more. I was dreading going any further back into my photos because most of them were with my mother. I hadn’t looked at those pictures in years, they just hurt so much, I couldn't even bear to look at them.  

“So, do you believe me?”      

“I don’t know.” 

My heart dropped. I was sure after he saw all of this he would have to believe me. I thought that we would walk back together and think of it as some silly misunderstanding. But here Don was standing in front of me, looking at me like I had two heads and slapped his mother in the face. 

I wanted to reach out and beg him to understand me. I had bared my truth and Don turned away. I didn’t know how to approach the conversation as we stood and stared at each other. 

“This was a lot.” 

Don’s words hung in the air. He hadn’t accepted me. I felt as if I could shatter. Crumple inwards and never get up. 

The man I loved so dearly, now didn’t feel the same. My real identity. He didn’t love me.   

Just the other night he had confessed to loving all of me. I guess this wasn’t in the clause. 

“I need time. Please just give me some space.” 

“You can’t tell the others. This is just between you and I.” I confirmed. 

He nodded curtly before striding away. 

I stood staring at the place where he once resided. Not registering all that had transpired. I had never planned to expose myself like this, but it was forced on me. Then I convinced myself that after I had just explained it all Don would understand. 

I felt hollow, numb. I hated feeling so empty. A void. 

Sitting on the stones I stared off into space. I didn’t come too again until it was dark. By this time I had dried completely. I got dressed, picking up the contents of my bag and putting them back. I felt slow and mechanical in my movements, too in my head to really focus on the task at hand. I silently wandered back to base, creeping in a side door and B-lining to my room. 

I curled under my covers, finally letting the dam break, silently sobbing into my pillow until I fell asleep. 

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

Chapter 32

[xiaq]

Hey! I’m in Austin for possibly a few weeks and was wondering if you have any recommendations of things to do or see? My work schedule is ridiculous so I don’t have time for night life but looking for things to do during the day

Heya!

It is hot in Austin currently, which limits things, but I recommend Barton Springs and/or Deep Eddy Pool and/or Krause Springs for swimming.

The little Zilker Eagle train (right next to Barton Springs) is also running again and I intend to take a nostalgic ride on it when I'm back next month.

Kayaking or paddle-boarding is nice (you can rent from a bunch of places but I recommend the Rowing Dock) and it's extra fun to do a sunset paddle near (or under, if you're brave) the Congress Bridge to see the bats come out.

The Green Belt is hit-or-miss as it's more dry than running with water these days. But if you're lucky and it's recently rained, I recommend the Gus Fruh portion (where you can watch rock-climbers on Urban Assault wall nearby and swim at Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls). But I'd check if it's dry first.

Mount Bonnell is a quick (but quite vertical!) walk if you want some panoramic views of the lake and some crazy expensive houses.

Mayfield Nature Preserve is a cute spot for wildflower viewing as is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (though there are more trails and more to see at the latter).

If you're into biking, you can rent bikes at Mellow Johnny's and check out the Butler hike and bike trail that is something like 10 miles total along the edges of the lake. You can also walk it, but make sure to bring water either way!

Zilker Park is a mainstay if you want picnic + city view vibes, though if there's an impending event/concert, it may be blocked off.

St. Edwards park/trails is my favorite hidden gem hiking location that typically has water even when the Green Belt does not. It's off Spicewood Springs road (if you like twisty roads for motorcycle or sportscar fun, just getting there is part of the joy). Though parking will fill up fast on the weekends. I don't know if any of the trails there actually have names, but from the parking lot, take the trail that goes down toward the creek and then just follow the creek to the right. That's the prettiest route and there are multiple offshoots where you can find little swimming areas with rope swings.

And finally, I highly recommend Mozarts coffee for outdoor lakeside morning vibes (or an evening dessert).

That's all I can think of currently! Hopefully this helps.

[audrey-carr1]

The Baroness makes house calls (Part 1)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Summary: You are an unmarried, educated, wealthy orphan who develops a relationship with the lady across the way in Woodstone Manor.

A/N: More Hetty x reader I'm pulling from the drafts! This is unrelated to the first one I posted. Also Hetty is alive in this one! This more than likely won't be more than a couple of one-shots tied together. Who knows lol.

warnings: fem!reader, eventual smut,

At the age of twenty-three, you had received news that your parents were lost at sea and presumably passed on.

At twenty-four, you became known as the orphan heiress. Though you were well educated, thanks to the insistence of your mother, your single nature left you with gentlemen throwing themselves left and right for a chance at your fortune.

At twenty-five you became a spinster and planned to stay that way. Men who tried to court you have been found to con artists, or just full of boredom. You never felt that spark you often heard your married friends talk about. You had given up on finding love, and have become fond of being alone. No obligations of a husband or children left you freer than most women your age. Your time is spent on afternoon walks seeking solitude in nature. You enjoyed the sound of the birds chirping and babbling in the nearby spring as it fed into the lake. You were always alone on your walks at least until you turned twenty-six.

At the age of twenty-six, you find yourself enjoying the company of your new neighbors, the Woodstones. Well, you enjoy the company of Hetty, her husband Elias was never truly around. Hetty was like no one you met before. She was smart, funny, and very quick-witted. The two of you often find yourselves talking until the wee hours of the morning. It became so common that you both have respect bedrooms in each other’s house. Your visits are more frequent as her children are school-aged, and have been sent away for their schooling. “The best that money has to offer,” Hetty always says before a titter of laughter.

You love Hetty’s laugh, it’s the sweetest music you have ever heard and you try to make her laugh as much as you can. Deep down you sense a sadness in Hetty, and you feel an unnerving sense of duty to remove that sadness from her.

Hetty offers her guidance to you whenever she sees fit. Though a woman, Hetty has an impeccable eye for business procedures. If she were a man Hetty would no doubt be more successful than any man you have come into contact with. Hetty helps you balance your books, pick good staffing, and even buys you a telephone. You never understood why as the two of you talked every day in person. Hetty says a young woman of such status as mine should have something to gloat to her friends about.

Hetty would never admit that she got the phone to check up on you when you had fallen ill, and needed to hear your voice to assure you were recovering. A month ago you had fallen ill, and Hetty was beside herself with worry not being able to see or speak to you. Your staff often informed you that Hetty was downstairs keeping the house in running order and asking about your recovery. She had even sent a couple of doctors away who did not help you to recover any sooner. By day 3 of your illness, you were on your 5th doctor. Hetty’s reach knows no bounds or expense. She wanted the best for you even if you were barely coherent to acknowledge the gesture.

On day 4 of your illness, a telephone was installed in your bedroom. It was the middle of the night when you woke to an insistent ringing that did nothing to help the pounding you felt in your head as you reached to pick up the receiver.

“Devereaux residence,” you answer

“(Y/n)” Hetty sighs on the other end

“Hetty! Oh how I have missed the sound of your voice,” you immediately perk up sitting up in bed.

“And I, yours,” Hetty spoke softly into the phone.

“I feel absolutely, positively dreadful, Hetty,” You sniffle wiping your nose on a nearby handkerchief.

“I know my darling, the doctor says you have influenza,” Hetty explains. The term of endearment slips, and Hetty hopes you don't mind let alone notice.

“How wonderful,” you say as you move the phone away from your face to cough, “I miss you Hetty.”

You did not mean to sound so needy, but you blame it on the fever and hope Hetty would too.

“I miss you terribly as well. I’m sure your staff will be happy to be rid of me once you’re recovered,”

This makes you laugh, and you smile for the first time in days. “Well I’m sure your staff must be happy to have you away from home,”

“While the cat’s away the mice will play. Do you know Molly has barely dusted the house while I’ve been gone?”

You laugh once more as Hetty goes on to explain the ongoings of what you’ve missed while bedridden. You try to stay awake, but the medicine you took earlier is beginning to take hold again. You fall asleep again to the sound of Hetty’s voice leaving the phone next to your ear on the pillow.

Hetty notices that you have gone silent, and for a fraction begins to worry before she hears your soft snoring. The two of you must have gotten caught up in the excitement of finally being able to talk to each other after almost a week. Hetty begins to scold herself for such behavior but can’t help the warmth she feels after speaking with you.

“Sleep well my darling,” Hetty says before hanging up the phone and retiring to bed herself.

-End-

A/N: See you in part two!

[intynidad]

Loved your vampire reader one!!! And omg playboy lake monster with like a big witch reader?? How cool would that be haha like the reader just shows up in an abandoned house by the lake he lives in. But bc there magic when u actually walk into the abandoned house it’s like a witch mansion. Like the witch lady from brave! Lol -🍷

Y’all indulging me with the supernatural au hkdjhj

This kinda became more of a lake monster x witch reader but who cares

Tw: mentions of taking somebody to the bottom of the ocean, not really that yandere but still

Lake monster x witch reader

Once upon a time, nestled deep within the lush forest, there lay a serene lake named Silvermist. The lake was known for its crystal-clear waters that mirrored the surrounding trees and the tranquil atmosphere that enveloped its shores. Yet, beneath the shimmering surface, a mysterious creature dwelled, known to the locals as the Silvermist Lake Monster.

On a moonlit night, when the air was thick with magic, you, a powerful witch with a heart as ancient as the trees themselves, emerged from the heart of the forest. Your long, ebony robes billowed behind you as you made your way toward the water's edge.

Meanwhile, deep beneath the surface, the Silvermist Lake Monster, sensed an unfamiliar presence. Curiosity brimming in its luminescent eyes, it swam closer to investigate. The moonlight danced upon the ripples as the monster's eyes surfaced, revealing a majestic creature with shimmering scales and split pupils.

You were unaware of his presence, you were busy gathering some herbs you needed.

His gaze followed you around, like a crocodile stalking a little bird that was resting.that was until you snap your fingers and an old cottage that was abandoned for years but refused to crumble light up, almost as if it was waiting for somebody to arrive.

He had been observing you for weeks, captivated by your presence and the enigma that surrounded your quaint cottage. The intrigue grew so strong that he couldn't resist the temptation to explore further. One day, when you were away on some mysterious errand, he seized the opportunity and ventured inside. What he discovered left him bewildered and perplexed. The interior of your cottage was in a state of disrepair, covered in layers of dirt and overrun by cobwebs. It resembled an abandoned space, as if frozen in time.

He decided to make first contact by a night of blue moonlight,he slowly emerged from the water while you were sewing your hat that got caught in a branch

Your eyes widened with awe and intrigue as I caught sight of the lake monster. You had heard whispers of its existence but had never encountered it firsthand. A smile tugged at the corners of your lips, and the monster knew that he wasn’t the strangest thing you have encounter

…..

“Why do you live like that?”-The monster said once

“Rude”- you responded playfully

“Shut up, you know what i mean”- the monster replied

The little friendship between you two started small and slow but as two freaks from the night you had an unspoken undertanding fo each other

The monster turned up being a little bit of a playboy,telling you about the countless sirens and mermaid that had fallen for him. Strangely the tales started to slowly stop, you assume he had his eyes on another person or perhaps prey…

“Would you like me to show you inside?”

“I already broke in once, i'm not a fan of spiders you know, a little cleaning won’t hurt ya’” the playboy monster said

With a smooth movement you rose to your feet and extended your hand,the monster took it without hesitation.

You both enter your home, but instead of the cobwebs and the dirt there was a floor of hardwood and polished teacups and flowers and so much more.

It was a gorgeous sight

“A simple test efficient spell”-you said-“to keep the pest away” you finished with a grin

———…..

With each passing night, you two would meet at the lake's edge. Your encounters were filled with wordless conversations, your energies intertwining as we shared tales of our respective realms. You learned of the secrets held within the heart of the lake, while the monster absorbed the wisdom and enchantment that I possessed.

That’s until the monster saw you with another person at the edge of the lake, their scent filled their heart with an intoxicated rage, you couldn’t just go around with other people. He will make sure of it

He will drag you to the bottom of the lake if that means he will get rid of that disgusting scent that tainted your perfect form

[afoggymirror]

Devotion, pt. 2

seulrene | smut; concubine Seulgi x feudal lady Irene; abuse; rape/non-con; knife play; blood; angst word count | 4460 parts 1, 3 | AO3

🗡

Yeri’s cold, hitched breath tickled Seulgi’s neck. The girl had, sometimes, when fear began to creep in, taken to sitting curled against her, resting her head on Seulgi’s shoulder, sleeping upright if they were tired enough.

They sat alone on the dim wooden balcony outside the servants’ quarters. A single lantern swung lazily overhead, casting red flickering light into the night beyond. Around it little bugs circled dispassionately. She rested her head on the thin wooden wall behind her, careful not to wake the snoring Seungwan on the other side.

Seulgi and Yeri had finished their tasks before her, and it’d been late afternoon, Yeri already fast asleep on her shoulder, when she saw Seungwan walk in. She’d emerged from the little wooded path leading from the lake, the snow glowing sunset orange, the crunch of her steps nearly rousing Yeri from her sleep. A cheeky smile had flashed on her face and she’d lifted her hands to her mouth, as if to yell directly at the sleeping girl, but ultimately her arms dropped and she stepped quietly into their quarters, still sporting a smirk.

Seungwan could be a handful sometimes – most times, really – but Seulgi was thankful for moments such as these. Underneath all the posturing and the irony and the little games, she felt she could still, occasionally, reach her.

Yeri twitched in her sleep. The day’s tasks had made the girl sweat quite a bit, and Seulgi worried if she was at risk of catching a cold, sitting out here at night.

She pulled on her own robes and covered the girl’s hands a little better. She wondered if they should head inside, if she should draw Yeri a bath, if she should preserve her precious sleep.

Far away steps and a looming red flicker from the lake path announced Sooyoung’s arrival. Her tasks had ended late today.

It wasn’t long, her thick white robes and weird smile emerged ghostly from the dark brush.

“Aww, look at the two little love birds,” the caustic voice made Yeri jump. The girl shifted awkwardly away from Seulgi with a sleepy whimper, rubbing her eyes before hugging her knees.

Looking up, seeing Sooyoung, her breath fogged hotter in the night. The candle light shone angry in Yeri’s eyes.

“Oh dear,” Sooyoung continued, “Our Lady doesn’t like us getting too close…” her smile widened, a nod at Seulgi. “She wants us all for Herself.”

“This kind of thing doesn’t impress her, you know that, right?” Yeri jabbed.

Sooyoung blinked, staring back at her.

“Sorry?”

“Our lady. She’s not giving you your old job back list this.” Yeri’s raised her eyebrows, “She mentioned you the other day, I believe her exact words were ‘the gossipy cow, Sooyoung.’”

Seulgi swore she could see a vein on Sooyoung’s forehead.

“Seulgi, my darling, tell me,” her gaze moved to the other girl with the grace of a dying elephant, “did She really say that?”

A hint of a smile couldn’t help but form on Seulgi’s mouth.

“I am so sorry, you know I’m not at liberty to share what Our Lady says in private.”

That was confirmation enough for Sooyoung. She nodded angrily and stomped past them into their chambers.

“Bitch woke me up…” Yeri pouted while rubbed her eyes.

“See, you’re learning,” Seulgi began to get up. Yeri held her robe,

“Can’t we stay here a while longer?”

Seulgi smiled down at the pleading girl. She looked so small, fair skin and white gown shimmering in the dim lantern light against the cold evening.

“Sure… but let me grab a blanket, I don’t want you catching a cold.”

🗡

She awoke, one night, with little hands pushing on her arm, a little voice calling her,

“Seulgi… Seulgi, wake up, I need to show you something…”

They traversed the path to the lake, shivering in the night cold, wind rustling the leaves around them. Yeri held on to Seulgi, more familiar with the terrain, leading the way through the dark. The girl’s urgency calling her here seemed to have taken a back seat, her heart beating fast as she hugged Seulgi’s arm in anxiety.

Seulgi’s legs knew where to go, but her eyes failed her. It’d been so long since she’d had any reason to take the stroll to the lake, nice on a bright day but immaterial to their daily tasks, the ghastly night dyeing the snowy leaves and verdant flowers black made the path all but unrecognizable.

In time, the thick foliage opened onto a quaint stone landing, a small, open gazebo, surrounded by unlit lamps, further back Her Lady’s lakeside bench. Seulgi wouldn’t dream to sit on such a noble bench, she adjusted her robes and knelt on the stone overlooking the water, the moon reflected vividly. Yeri immediately sat on the bench.

She fumbled with her robes,

“Ok, I need to show you this…” eventually she fished out a small, shoddily bound notebook. It was familiar to Seulgi, but she had to pull from the corners of her memory to remember from where.

“Is… is that Seungwan’s?”

“She writes in it sometimes,” Yeri said, tone conspiratorial as she handed the notebook down to her.

“You shouldn’t take that…” Seulgi took it.

“No, listen,” the girl eyed her intently as she thumbed through the pages, “it’s written in her native language, but I showed Aeri from the kitchen staff, and she understands a little.” Seulgi eyed the little scribbles, all in neat horizontal lines. “Oh, Seulgi, you’ll never guess…”

She looked up at Yeri.

“Seungwan and Sooyoung are in love. They schedule their chores in order to meet away from prying eyes. If Aeri translated this right, they do it so often they probably watered this whole garden by themselves.”

Huh, Seulgi thought, I guess I was always so distracted, I’ve never noticed.

“We can use this, Seulgi,” Yeri beamed, “they won’t bother us again.”

Seulgi felt a little dirty.

“I… I don’t know if this is right…” the notebook seemed to grow heavier and heavier in her hands, “this seems really important to them, we shouldn’t play with it.”

Yeri stared away from her, sights lost on the moonlit stone.

“You’ve been important to me… I don’t like the way they talk to you.”

“I’m alright, Yeri… and you’ll be too,” Seulgi held the girl’s knee gently. “Just leave them alone, okay?. You don’t have to participate in their games.”

“Y… you participate, though. I see how proud you are that Joohyun made you her favorite.”

It was true. She didn’t just love her place next to Joohyun, she loved that she’d taken it from Sooyoung.

“I’m her favorite because I love her honestly,” Seulgi couldn’t look Yeri in the eyes. “I don’t need to stoop to their level to prove it.”

Yeri reached, took the notebook and stood up,

“Well, I’m keeping this,” the disappointment turned to decisiveness in her voice, “I’m not scared of standing up to them.”

Seulgi was left kneeling by the moonlit water, left pondering wether she could say the same.

🗡

“WHERE IS IT, YOU LITTLE CUNT?” the voice echoed around the entire grounds.

Seulgi elbowed her way through the servants’ courtyard, squeezing around the kitchen girls and the crowd of twenty or so guys from the security staff. From within the mass of people, Seungwan’s voice boomed,

“YOU ARE FUCKING DEAD! I AM GOING TO FUCKING END YOU!”

A sharp, continuous scream underlined the words.

“Seungwan, what are you doing!?” Seulgi pushed around Minjeong, bursting into the circle of people gawking at the scene.

Seungwan straddled Yeri, a fistful of the cowering girl’s hair in her hand.

“Stay the fuck out of this, Seulgi,” she shook Yeri’s head violently. “She’s my direct underling, I have the right, by Her Lady’s word, to treat her how I want.”

She couldn’t argue with that. Seulgi had the highest position among the concubines, but it didn’t give the the right to impede on what Seungwan did with her own inferiors.

“She took something of mine and I will kill her if she doesn’t give it back.”

“Do you want to tell everyone what I took?” Yeri spat, pushing away Seungwan’s arms. “Maybe I should tell them…”

“I am going to fist you so hard you’re paralyzed from the waist down,” Seungwan punctuated the words with punches around the girl’s defenses.

“That’s enough, Seungwan!” Sooyoung appeared from between the onlookers. With no hesitation, she made her way to Seungwan, and shoved her to the ground.

Seungwan looked up, confused,

“D… do you not understand what is happening?” Seungwan was right to be afraid. If it came out that they kept their relationship secret from Her Lady for so long, their punishment would be unimaginable.

“No, I understand. I just don’t see how you’ll solve this by beating her up.” Seungwan huffed. She got up,

“Alright, you solve it then,” with one last, dejected kick at Yeri, she stormed off.

The girl caught her bearings slowly, face red from the abuse and the shame of being gawked at by the entire staff. Sooyoung’s hand reached out to help her up, and, despite herself, she took it.

“I meant it. We’re not scared of you, I stopped her because I really think we shouldn’t be fighting like this,” Sooyoung’s voice almost sounded genuine, “I’ll talk to Seungwan and see if I can get her to calm down.”

“T… thank you…”

As Yeri walked off, Seulgi caught the glimpse she took of her, hurt evident in her eyes… should she have stepped in?

🗡

The entire house felt odd that night. It wasn’t often they would wake up to Joohyun screaming.

Security staff moved fast, Seulgi heard their foot fall before she was even fully awake. Her beloved Lady screamed again, and she was up on her feet, running blindly into the frozen night.

A line of security guys blocked the balcony to Their Lady’s chambers. By the the time Seulgi faced them, Her screams had ceased, and her thoughts burned with unspeakable scenarios.

“She may pass, Our Lady said so,” one of the security staff, Seulgi knew him as Jaehyun, voiced to the others around him.

The line parted and she walked, shivering, past them. The garden to her side rested tranquil in the dark, cloaked in snow, sparkling the moonlight above, a few red poppies uncovered by the wind.

The curtains to Her Lady’s chambers were drawn, bitter light from the oil lamps glowed orange inside. Seulgi hesitated, despite her hurry, facing the doors, the hatred emanating from within paralyzing.

She slid open the doors and, before she could even kneel – as was custom – her eyes locked onto the blood-smeared Joohyun.

Seulgi ran to her. Her Lady sat on one of her intricate wooden chairs, black robes closed, a hand stained red holding up her cheek, staring at the figures a couple feet in front of her.

She knelt in front of the chair. Panicked, she pulled Her Lady’s hand and held it tight. Scratches ran across her face, more down her neck towards her collar bone, seemingly more within her robes. None too deep, though deep enough that flowers of blood sprouted from her pristine skin.

Her hands shaking, she brought Her Lady’s stained fingers to her lips and kissed them,

“Are you okay?”

Joohyun didn’t answer. Her sights were locked on the struggling bodies beside them.

Seulgi looked back. A security guy – there were so many, she could barely recognize this one – held little Yeri immobilized, the girl’s hair disheveled, her face red and swollen, cheeks glistening with tears.

“She attacked me,” Joohyun said coldly, “Seulgi, the little bitch attacked me.”

“Yeri…”

The girl struggled in the man’s grasp. More than fear, more than pain, Seulgi sensed heart break in her eyes. Heart break that Seulgi, who’d cared for her so dearly, now knelt diligent against her, next to Her Lady.

“We can’t live like this, Seulgi. We can’t live like this.”

For a moment, Seulgi softened. The girl seemed to shrink in her red-stained gown. She looked so vulnerable, every bit of resilience she’d built in her time here chipped away, leaving only the wounds.

“She brought a fucking knife,” Joohyun said. Her icy expression cut through Yeri.

At this, the girl’s eyes widened.

Shaking, her vision strayed from Seulgi, to Joohyun, to Seulgi. She looked desperate, like someone ready to bet her life.

With the little arm movement she had, she reached into her gown, pulled out the knife, and haphazardly tossed it onto the floor.

The security guy reacted fast, making to shove Yeri, but she dug her nails into his arm, and they tumbled to the ground, wrestling.

Seulgi, dazed, picked up the knife.

“Help! Reinforcements!” the security guy yelled.

Her mind caught up. This was Yeri’s last hope, that Seulgi joined in her mutiny,

“Seulgi… I beg you…” the girl pleaded between grunts, struggling to look her in the eyes, “she brainwashed you. She’s not God. She’s evil. She just wants to torture us…”

Seulgi stood up, trembling. Joohyun now looked up at her, expression blank as ever, although… is… is she afraid…?

“We can run, Seulgi… we can start again somewhere better,” Yeri’s voice shook with tears and struggle, “you don’t have to hurt for her…”

She eyed the knife. It was plain, probably taken from the kitchens that morning.

The truth was, it didn’t matter if she had to hurt, if Joohyun was divine or mere nobility, if her motives were perverse. She’d welcomed Seulgi, when everyone else had shown dishonesty, and Seulgi had loved her, when everyone else had shown fear.

Joohyun had gotten up by then. She faced Seulgi with one hand outstretched, stepping back tentatively.

Oh God… oh God, I’m scaring her, she threw the knife to the ground, as if it burned, taking her shaking hands to the sides of her head,

“I… I’m sorry for scaring you…” by then her throat had began to close, her eyes had began to burn. She made a deep, desperate bow.

“Seulgi…” Joohyun’s voice warmed her ears, “oh, Seulgi…” she cupped Seulgi’s cheeks, bringing her into a kiss.

Her hands reached for Joohyun’s figure, trembling at first, then pulling her with passion. Holding her tight, she allowed the tears to fall.

“Oh, my Seulgi… for a second I thought…” Irene whispered into her.

“No, I never…”

“Those vultures keep telling me awful things,” Joohyun’s hands held the back of Seulgi’s neck, and she brushed the cuts on Joohyun’s cheek, softly. “Seungwan and Sooyoung. They said you loved this girl. They would have me believe you loved her more than me.”

Seulgi turned her eyes to Yeri again. The girl lay curled on the carpet. Her last hope of escape gone, she sobbed, the fight had left her. The security guy stood redundantly, awaiting his next orders in concern,

“Leave,” said Joohyun, and so he did. It was clear from her tone she wanted no other witnesses.

🗡

Seulgi could sense the fury emanating from Joohyun as she picked up the knife and approached Yeri. The girl recoiled further, tear-soaked hair spread wide on the carpet, looking up at Her Lady through her hands. Clearly, she sensed the anger too.

“You have some balls,” Joohyun’s knuckles turned white around the knife.

“Please…” Yeri begged, crying behind her hands.

Joohyun lifted her leg and stomped hard on the girl’s head. She blocked she brunt of it with her wrists, but her head did hit the floor with a dull thud. Joohyun pointed at a table in one corner, upon which rested a length of crimson rope,

“Tie her.”

Seulgi lowered her head. It would do her or Yeri no good to question orders.

The girl posed little resistance. Seulgi almost wished she would have. Kick and scream, raise Hell, protest in any way that reassured she wasn’t already completely broken.

Instead, her feet just quivered meekly along with her sobs, as Seulgi tied her legs together. She let herself be disrobed, and her arms were easily led behind her back, as Seulgi tied them together from wrists to elbows. Her chest heaved passively as Seulgi sat her up to weave rope between her breasts, behind her shoulders and around her neck, in one of the patterns Joohyun liked so much.

The whole time, Seulgi didn’t dare look her in the eyes.

Joohyun sat back on her chair, hair falling lazily over her shoulders, one hand moving in a slow rhythm within her robes, another fiddling with the knife,

“On my lap.”

Seulgi hugged the girl awkwardly to lift her, tears wetting her shoulder. She dropped Yeri on her knees next to Joohyun, and raised her to be laying on her stomach across Her Lady’s thighs. She knelt, away from Yeri’s gaze.

Joohyun’s fingers ran over the girl’s shoulder, grazing the back of her neck lightly, the folds of her reddened skin where her tied arms bent backwards.

“You have some fucking balls…” blunt, she grabbed a handful of the girl’s hair and yanked it back. She raised the knife to Yeri’s cheek. The girl winced, tried to shake her head away. Her expression had turned from hopelessness to profound fear.

Her hand shivered with anger as she dragged the knife slowly across the girl’s face. Yeri’s shrieks cut through Seulgi, an accursed sound.

Blood began to flow, though the cut wasn’t deep, maybe just enough to leave a noticeable scar. Joohyun had developed an eye for these things.

Yeri squirmed. Words had largely left her, but a few despondent begs of “please” would sometimes leave her lips.

Joohyun brought up the knife and licked it. Tasting Yeri’s blood, her eyes closed, she looked blissful. Often Seulgi wondered if she honestly just liked the taste, or if it gave her some heavenly kind of pleasure only someone like her was capable of.

She grazed Yeri’s neck with the knife, transfixed,

“How ever will I tame you, little girl?”

“P… please.”

“‘Please, oh please,’” Joohyun mocked. “It’s too late for ‘please.’”

Pulling Yeri’s head further back, she cut just below her neck, far from any artery, but surely close enough the girl’ mind flashed with danger. Her bound legs convulsed as much as they could, body flailing to inch away from the knife.

“As a matter of fact, I think apologies are in order.”

“I’m sorry!” Between the shrieks and ragged breaths her voice came out deep and pained and rushed, “I’m sorry I don’t know what came over me I’ll never do something like that to you ever again please I’m sorry!”

“Hm…” Joohyun found the fear in her words cute. “I’ll make you believe that.”

“I’m sorry! Please, I really am!” Yeri bawled as Joohyun made another, deeper cut, from her collarbone down to her upper chest, along one of the ropes. The words turned to more wails.

“That’s it, my little girl,” another cut along the side of her chest, “say it like you mean it.”

She didn’t. It was all the girl could do to whine and squirm in pain.

Joohyun’s breath became ever heavier, the rage in her smile well infused with something more.

“Seulgi, the paddle.”

The paddle – Seulgi was intimate enough to know where to find it – rested in a drawer in one of the heavy cupboards adorning the chamber’s walls.

Though she had often seen Joohyun rummage through the whips and toys and lose torture implements, this might’ve been, she realized, her first time holding one.

It felt heavy. She fumbled a little picking it up.

When Seulgi got back Joohyun was a few more cuts in, thin streaks of blood drizzling from the girl’s upper body. Yeri’s nails dug deep into the palms of her tied hands, her weeping continuous, muffled by waves of tangled hair enveloping her face. Joohyun had released her head to carve cute little patterns into her flank.

Seulgi began to kneel, to give Her Lady the paddle,

“No no, you hit her.”

She did a double take.

Their eyes met. A hint of conspiracy sparked on Joohyun’s smile.

This was the first time Seulgi had ever been asked something like this. Is… is this a test? She truly didn’t want to cause the girl any pain. A promotion…?

The wood weighted in her grasp. Yeri’s ass caught Seulgi’s gaze, shivering just below the girl’s clenched fists, glowing skin mocking, scatological.

She swiped the paddle at Yeri, hesitantly. The girl grunted a little.

“Do it right!” Joohyun laughed. Her tone was half rage, half childlike joy. She’d taken to cutting parallel lines just below Yeri’s ribs, “I want her to leave here with her ass purple.”

Right…

She closed her eyes and took a breath.

Please forgive me, Yeri…

She struck Yeri as hard as she could. A harsh whimper left the girl’s lips.

“Hmm…” Joohyun’s breath deepened further, “more.”

Seulgi hit again. Waves rippled through Yeri’s skin.

The girl’s quiet sobs erupted for a second in a hoarse scream.

Doubt flashed through Seulgi for a second, and she raised her gaze to Joohyun. Her Lady was in a world of her own, one hand already deep inside her robes, the other carving increasingly sloppy lines into Yeri. She exhaled, hypnotized by the blood flow.

Seulgi struck Yeri’s ass, harder than before. She couldn’t fully comprehend it, but regardless of Yeri’s pain, this strange revenge scenario was sure to give Joohyun profound pleasu­re, and this took precedence over all else.

She hit again. It was shocking to her how fast one gained bruises when struck with the right material.

Like fire, the girl’s skin grew from gold to red to blue. Joohyun’s moans grew hotter also.

When it looked like she was close to climax, when Yeri’s back and sides were a mosaic of crimson and her bottom black, when the girl’s voice was gone and her cries were suffocated whistles, Joohyun kicked her from her lap.

She tumbled to the ground in awkward thuds. She began to curl but Joohyun was fast on her feet and kicked her shoulder so she’d lie on her stomach.

Lowering herself to her level, Joohyun sat on her heaving chest.

Through a curtain of messy hair, the girl’s eyes were full moons. She averted her gaze anywhere but into Joohyun’s, until her chin was seized and her face was made to look.

Half grinding on the girl’s wide chest, Joohyun cleared the hair from her face with the knife.

“Maybe I don’t have to tame you,” her grin was unnatural, frenzied, “maybe I just have to keep punishing you over…” a cut right between her breasts, “and over…” one at the base of her neck, “and over…” one on her cheek.

“I’ll be good!” Yeri managed, her voice a hoarse, tortured croak, “I understand now, I promise. I’ll be good for you.”

Joohyun rode her faster,

“Have I finally broken you in, my little girl?”

“Yes!” her tears welled up again, “please believe me, I’ll be a good girl.”

Joohyun’s hand snaked between her robes again. She leaned forward, half-lidded eyes an inch from Yeri’s panicked gaze, hazy smile breathing into her, hair a dark night falling around her.

She licked the blood from the girl’s cheek, half shaking in delight as she did. She kissed the tears and the snot and the spit and the cuts, marking her as property in bizarre, hungry degradation.

Satisfied, she leaned back and let her hair fall over her shoulders as she look back,

“Seulgi,” she waved with her knife hand, “come. I want you to have her mouth.”

For a moment, Seulgi was paralyzed. The guilt she felt was only surpassed by the honor.

This wasn’t a test, it never was. Joohyun wanted her to share the pleasure she felt in the girl’s torment. It was a gift.

But could she really enjoy it?

Shyly, Seulgi disrobed. She joined, hesitant, positioning herself above the girl’s head and across Her Lady.

She still couldn’t bear to look Yeri in the face, she just sat on it.

Joohyun still rode her hand through her robes, sat on the girl’s stomach, her thighs touching Seulgi’s, her robes and her hair spread in a lazy black halo, complete delight on her face.

“Pleasure her!” she hit Yeri’s ribs with the handle of her knife. Seulgi felt the girl bury her face into her, tongue lapping out like a scared dog.

It felt strange. It’d been so long since she’d been allowed this kind of feeling, and now it was at the expense of her poor, traumatized companion. It didn’t feel right.

“Tell me when you’re close,” Joohyun slowed down her own rhythm, “I want to do it with you.”

Now it felt right.

Seulgi pressed down against Yeri.

Joohyun dropped the knife and lifted her hand to join it with Seulgi’s.

Daring, Seulgi leaned forward to kiss her.

Her kiss was salty, with a faint taste of iron. It was perfect.

🗡

The union with Her Lady pushed Seulgi closer and closer. All guilt for the squirming girl underneath them burned away by Joohyun’s passion.

Soon she was calling out into Joohyun, and Joohyun fastened her pace again. They finished together, Seulgi’s hands shaking against Joohyun’s collar bones, Joohyun’s clawing at Seulgi’s shoulder blades.

There they sat, panting, for a while. Only when Yeri’s muffled cough rang out from beneath her did Seulgi jolt up, in alarm.

“I should have a doctor look at her in the morning,” she paced back to the heap of her robes on the ground.

Joohyun giggled and, herself, stood up.

“Seulgi?”

She turned around, eyes bouncing on the reddened, gagging girl on the floor for a beat before locking onto Joohyun,

“Yeah?”

“Can you sleep here tonight?”

Her face burned even hotter than it did before.

“Y… yeah, of course, My Lady.”

Joohyun smiled a sweet smile, the heat and hatred gone.

Seulgi freed Yeri of her ropes, and draped her loosely. She barely had the energy to stand, so Seulgi threw one of her arms over herself and carried her through the courtyard.

The whole time, no words disturbed the cold, white silence.

Arriving at the sleeping quarters, all lights were gone but one, and faint, distant snores echoed from the dark.

Seulgi knelt and helped Yeri down to sit on the wood. The girl was burning, like a sudden fever had assailed her.

She thought, for a second, of something to say. That she had to do it, that the plan to escape wouldn’t work, that this was the only way.

For the first time in what must have been hours, Seulgi mustered the courage to look Yeri in the eyes.

The girl wore an expression of the most profound hatred.