#Lady Minerva Sharpe | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

featseungmin · 2 months ago

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as we are (part 1) || ksm

kim seungmin x female!reader

✦ Summary: Something bad is brewing just below the surface in Baldur’s Gate, and Seungmin is caught in its wake. On one side, his career: as the deputy harbormaster, it’s his job to know what’s coming in and out of the city, but as one of the Gate’s most well-connected smugglers, he’s even more inclined to find out who’s encroaching on his turf. On the other, you: his best friend since childhood and the city’s High Investigator. Can Seungmin keep his secrets–and you–safe? ✦ Genre & Tropes: dnd au, fantasy, bit of mystery, fluff, childhood friends to lovers, “he fell first, she fell harder” ✦ Word Count: 6,506 ✦ Warnings/Notes: smuggler!seungmin, rich boy!seungmin, investigator!reader, seungmin and reader are both highly skilled nepo babies, mention of reader being older than Seungmin, missing person ✦ Notes: shout out to @lovetaroandtaemin for beta-ing and listening to me complain about this entire au. major thanks to @eerieedits for the gorgeous banner

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The gala is larger than Seungmin would have liked. The room is large, open, bright, with small orbs of light floating in clusters high above the ballroom floor. They look like stars. If it weren’t so hot in the room, he might honestly appreciate them more. People pack the ballroom, gathering around high tables or gliding around the dance floor. His father is… somewhere. Seungmin lost track of him when Lady Abraxi had flagged him down. His father had gone to speak with the woman. Seungmin had chased down a waiter carrying a tray of champagne flutes.

These galas have been an unwanted staple in his life since childhood, a way for the Gate’s elite to rub elbows and look down their noses at both each other and the common folk of the city. His father has always found value in them. Seungmin, not so much.

Ever since he was old enough to hold a coherent conversation, Seungmin’s father had dragged him to these parties. Held several times a year, the location always rotates. Sometimes, they’ll be in one of the large public halls in the Outer City, where the truly elite of Baldur’s Gate call home. Others, they’ll be held in the large manses that dot the Steeps. Others still, like tonight, are held in the luxurious homes in Bloomridge, magically and artfully constructed right into the Gate’s architecture itself.

Seungmin understands networking. He’s always been interested in business, and he’s happy to make a contact if there’s any chance it could prove to be fruitful in the future. But these galas are not networking. They’ve been attended by the same people for the almost 20 years he’s been invited to accompany his father, and the guest list has only been getting shorter as the Gate’s well-off citizens and patriars age and die off. He’s been the youngest for several years now, ever since Rand Ilyria’s youngest daughter married and moved to Waterdeep.

There’s a commotion near the entrance as the door opens, and he doesn’t even need to look to know who it is.

He grabs two flutes of champagne and waits.

It doesn’t take long. He can practically hear the approach. An excited trill from some enthused lady or duchess, the sharp guffaw of her male companion. A few seconds of idle prattle. Rinse. Repeat.

When the commotion gets close, he turns and watches, arms crossed loosely across his chest, a flute of champagne in each hand. He’s bored, not an idiot. Watching you work is honestly a little bit like watching a painter brush beauty to canvas.

You approach the next couple that flag you down, grasping the extended hand of Minerva Moriandre with both of yours and offering a curt bow. You’re just far enough away that he can’t hear, but your lips move, and Lady Moriandre laughs heartily. You shake the hand of her husband Marin, and the man claps you on the shoulder. Your eyes wander as you chat–a longstanding habit that almost everyone in this circle has gotten accustomed to.

Very quickly, your eyes meet Seungmin’s. Subtly, you roll your eyes before nodding at whatever it is that Marin has said. You find these events just as exhausting as Seungmin does–maybe moreso–but you have the unfortunate position of having to pretend.

When you finally manage to free yourself from the Moriandres, you pretend not to see the next lord trying to flag you down, making your way straight to Seungmin. Silently, he extends his arm, a glass of champagne still slightly chilled between his fingers. Your fingers wrap around the stem, skin brushing his own, and the familiar warmth travels up his arm.

“You’re doing the weird handshake thing again,” he says, voice flat, yet teasing.

“I don’t do a weird handshake thing,” you chide, almost a hiss.

The two of you begin to walk, threading your way through crowds. You blend in when you want to, despite the silver raven pinned to the left breast of your cloak and the fact that you’re still in uniform. The High Investigator has to know her surroundings, after all, and you and Seungmin learned long ago how to disappear within these types of crowds. You keep to the edges, to the shadows, moving leisurely yet with purpose. Turning your head toward him when it looks as though someone wants to flag you down.

“You do,” he continues. He’s a menace. He knows he’s a menace. But he’s your menace, so he prods and pokes and makes fun like it’s his job. “You do this thing…” He takes your hand between his own and mimics how you shook the Moriandres’ hands.

You scoff and roll your eyes. “It’s an investigative tactic.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Outside, the air is cool. There’s a slight breeze, but it hasn’t stopped the fog from settling deep in the streets. When he was younger, Seungmin had been afraid that monsters from the sea hid in the fog, waiting to eat him. Now, though, it’s pretty, the way it hangs heavily, its tendrils sticking to eaves and streetlamps, the lights twinkling as if they’re ghosts.

The balcony you’re on stands two stories above the street. The building itself is partially contained within the Old Wall, with stairs that criss-cross up the wall to connect the Upper and Lower cities. The floating orbs continue out here, clustered around the potted plants. There’s a bench, and you collapse onto it with a heavy sigh, downing half of the champagne flute.

Carefully, Seungmin sits beside you. “Rough day?”

You hum in affirmation, leaning forward to rest your forearms on your knees. The soft cotton of your cloak falling around your shoulders, engulfing your arms so that only your hands are visible as you roll the stem of the champagne flute between your fingers. He’s intimately familiar with these bouts of thought that hit you. There’s a decent chance that you’ll be here for a while.He gets comfortable at your side, leaning back and draping an arm across the back of the bench.

It’s quiet on the balcony, the sounds of the gala muffled by the stone exterior walls. The two of you had discovered this balcony as pre-teens, and you’d been sneaking out of the Cambrig’s parties ever since. Back then, Seungmin’s father had hated that he spent the majority of his time with you. The two of you saw each other every day, he’d argued, why could Seungmin not spend a couple hours mingling with other people? These galas are not just for fun. They’re for building relationships! They’re for finding your future.

The fact that you’ve become the highest-ranked investigator in the Gate has somewhat changed his father’s mind. But only somewhat.

“I need you to be honest with me.”

Uh oh.

Suddenly, Seungmin’s stomach is somewhere near his ass. He likes to think that he can read you–at least, as well as anyone could–and that generally, he can follow when your thinking takes you to unexpected places. But this? He has no idea what could be coming next.

He nods silently, encouraging you to continue despite the fact that he’s not sure you can even see him.

You sigh, and tilt your head ever so slightly so that you can see him out of the corner of your eye. “If someone wanted to smuggle something into the city through Grey Harbor, how would they do it?”

He has to force himself to breathe normally. For the briefest of moments, he’s sure his face reveals something, because you turn to look at him better. But then he remembers to school his expression into something more neutral, a little bored, a little curious.

“What do you mean?”

“Vax was looking into a murder in Eastway and discovered three felldrake eggs.”

“What?” Seungmin leans forward. His blood turns to ice, a chill runs down his spine.

Felldrake eggs are highly regulated in Faerun. They’re importable, sure, but if you’re asking about them–if you’re asking about smuggling into Grey Harbor–then these ones are almost certainly contraband. And with that, comes the problem.

He had no idea about the eggs.

He’s not the one that smuggled them in.

“I need to see your records, Seungmin.” Your voice is soft, and for the briefest of moments, it’s almost like there’s conflict in your eyes. But then as quick as it came, it’s gone. Replaced by practiced, hardened steel. He’s never been on the receiving end of the High Investigator persona you’ve constructed. You’ve always just been you with him. He’d be lying if he said it didn’t sting a little, to see it come out now.

“You think I did this.” It’s not a question.

“Right now, I don’t think anything.” He watches as you fiddle with the ring that circles your pinky. It was a gift from his father when you’d been promoted to High Investigator. The ring is dim now. The fact that you’re telling the truth is of little comfort. “But I need to see your registry, and I need to know how they’re getting in. The Harbor closes at night, right?”

He nods. “The Watch closes off the firth at dusk.”

“You’re sure?”

For a moment, he sputters. “I haven’t personally checked,” he allows, and immediately, he knows that’s the wrong thing to say. Your eyebrows shoot into your hairline, and you tilt your head, inviting him to continue. “What? Do you want to go see for yourself?”

“I do.” You hum. “And I think afterwards, I’d like to see your records.”

Seungmin downs the rest of his champagne and stands. “Alright.”

It’s the only logical answer. You’re stubborn–determined, you’d tell him–and, though he hasn’t ever seen it from this side, when you’re working a case, you’re insatiable. There’s a good chance that the only reason you even came to the gala tonight was to talk to him about this. You’d missed a few in the past because of work, so it’s not like you’re here out of any sort of obligation. Plus, his father always did say that Seungmin would walk off a bridge if you told him to.

As he picks his way along the rocky bed of the River Chionthar to get a better view of the nighttime blockade and the chain that spans the length of the harbor, from Brampton all the way over to Seatower, he supposes there’s some truth to his father’s words.

Seungmin watches you as you stare out across the water, gaze sharp, analytical. The icy wind rushes in over the harbor, your cloak billowing out behind you in the breeze. He doesn’t need to look to know what you’re watching. Three boats flying the colors of the City Watch float out in the mouth of the river, their portholes ablaze with light and searchlights scanning the surrounding waters.

Minutes pass in agonized silence, you watching the water, Seungmin watching you. He’d like to pretend that he’s watching to make sure you don’t slip. The rocks along the river are slippery. The last thing he needs would be for the High Investigator to fall and break her neck. But that’s not why he’s watching you. Deep down, he knows you’ve got the poker face of a statue, but if there’s a chance that you let something slip, if there’s any possibility that he can tell when you’ve figured something out, he needs to take it.

He’s always known that his friendship with you would get him in trouble. And if he’s honest, if it’s going to be anyone, he’d rather it be you. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to go down without a fight.

“Those two.” You raise your hand and gesture to the right, where the two larger vessels float near the rocks. “All of the other spotlights overlap. Except for theirs.”

“The rocks make it tricky,” he supplies. “There are little ones that poke up just there.” He points generally to where he knows the rocks are. “The lights don’t cover it, but it would take a ridiculous amount of skill and planning to even get a skiff through.”

You cross your arms. Your ring remains dark.

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Days pass.

The sun rises and sets. Ships come and go. Life moves on. And Seungmin hears nothing of your investigation. After that night, he doesn’t hear anything from you at all. It’s nothing new, really. When you get deep in a case, it’s not uncommon for you to go silent. There have been times where Seungmin himself has had to bring you meals in your office just to make sure you’re eating at least once a day. Usually these periods of low contact don’t last very long. A few days, max. Five, maybe six tops.

When week two with no contact rolls around, Seungmin isn’t worried. He’s a little scared.

He tries to take you lunch one day. He’s just finished a contract. Nothing major–nothing like fucking felldrake eggs–just a bushel of mushrooms imported from across the Trackless Sea, somewhere beyond Evermeet. They’re psychedelic, and his buyer is very impatient to get them Seungmin’s been able to secure the contract for a shorter procurement time. So he figures: why not go visit you?

He knows the walk to the Raven’s Nest–your office in Seatower–like the back of his hand. The Nest stands resolute above the ones around it. It spans just over an entire block, with a walkway on the third floor that crosses the road below into the other part of the building. The first few floors are merchants–an armorer, a potions shop, a florist. But take the stairs that wind around the back, and you’ll enter the offices of the Gate’s Ravens. The symbol of the Flaming Fist is burned into the door, just above the symbol of the Raven that you wear on your cloak, even though the investigators haven’t been directly associated with them for decades. Two guards stand just in front of the door, silver ravens on their breasts.

He doesn’t expect to be barred from entering the building.

Seungmin tries to argue, tries to explain why he’s there. He shows them the bag in his hands. Hell, he even tries to explain who he is. Nothing works. The second the guards hear that he’s there to see you, he’s pushed away. They don’t even say anything, just brandish their weapons and force him back down the stairs.

He stands at the bottom, glaring petulantly back up at the guards. What the fuck was that about?

“What’s the matter, pup? Confined to the streets?” A voice to Seungmin’s left draws his attention and his ire, and he spins to confront it.

The man is pale, way more pale than Seungmin, and he’s thinner than seems natural. His dark hair is tied back into a fashionable knot at the back of his head. The tips of his ears come to a point, but Seungmin doesn’t feel the same sort of ethereal aura that is so associated with the few elves that live in the Gate. It takes a moment, but he finally recognizes the man.

Aubron Genmarys. One of the junior investigators that works under you. Seungmin has met him a couple times, but the guy never really made an impression aside from the fact that he’s kind of an asshole.

The half-elf smirks at him, green eyes a little gleeful at the fact that he’s been barred from the office. “Wanna know a secret, pup?” Seungmin grits his teeth. Aubron presses close, his voice low as he whispers, “They think it’s you.”

Seungmin doesn’t even bother to ask what that means. Of course he knows. He’s never been denied entry into your inner sanctum, let alone the entire building. There are certain assumptions that can be made from that. He watches Aubron climb the stairs up to the office. The guards part and he disappears into the Nest.

Something sinks in Seungmin’s stomach. He knows you. If you thought that he was the one bringing the eggs into the Gate, he’d be arrested already. So either you don’t think he’s actually the one smuggling shit in (though really, either way, you wouldn’t be wrong), or something’s amiss. Because there’s no way you’d bar him from the Nest, right? Regardless, his nerves eat at him, and he decides, just to be safe, that he’ll go to your home.

In the light of day, Bloomridge is beautiful. Even more than the Upper City, it drips with new money, large manor houses in places spanning blocks. The rooftop terraces and hanging gardens blanket the upper floors of the city in verdant waves, the leaves of the trees and the ferns and the flowers dancing gently in the sea breeze.

The cafe that’s under your home is trendy–Seungmin still has yet to be able to get a table there, despite everything. It’s apparently a favorite of the patriars and the citizenry of the Upper City, and the line almost always runs along the cobbled streets down toward the water. It’s similarly packed now, and he has to push through the line to get to the stairs that snake up the side of the building to the second floor.

He checks the windows first, even though he knows it probably won’t tell him anything. Dark linen curtains shield the windows on the portico. There’s a bench off to the side positioned so that it faces the water, and he allows himself to collapse onto it. The bag he’d been carrying drops to the ground at his feet, the clink of the bottle of mead sounding dangerously close to breaking.

For a while, he sits there, staring out across the slope of the city down toward the water. He can just barely see the harbor across the bay and the fortress-like warehouse that houses his own office in Eastway. There are a few ships docked, hulking carracks and smaller galleys and even smaller skiffs. Seungmin could tell anyone who cared to know what the ships were called, what they were carrying–and what they were carrying that they weren’t supposed to be–but right now, he’s not particularly concerned about that.

Where the fuck are you? Why can’t he see you in your office?

He sighs. There’s no point in moping. There are ways to get answers. He’s a smart guy. And he’s spent the last 20 years with you. He has your weird handshake down. Surely he’s picked up some sort of investigative skills, too. Patting his pockets, he pulls out two small metal instruments wrapped in a leather cloth and kneels in front of your door. A few seconds, and the lock softly clicks open.

It’s weird, being in your house without you. He slips out of his shoes just inside the door. You’ve always been particular about things, and if he’s honest, he’s a little convinced that, even though you aren’t here, you’d know that he wore shoes on the plush throw rug that covers most of the floor of your sitting room. It’s dark inside, but he dares not open the curtains. Not yet, anyway. Especially when he doesn’t have to go particularly far to find what he’s looking for.

Your kitchen isn’t particularly large–a black steel cook stove with its exhaust pipe connected to the wall, a few cabinets, a basin for washing, and a small table with two chairs. It’s the table that draws Seungmin’s attention now, and the things you’ve laid out there. Your favorite mug sits, ready to be used, an unopened bag of the coffee he imports–legally–for you from Semphor beside it. A few years ago, one of the merchants he works with had accidentally brought in several crates too many of the stuff, and Seungmin had offered to take it off his hands at a discount. You’d benefitted just as much as he had from the deal, and now you had at least two cups a day. Seungmin picks up your mug, and he can see a ring where it sat, a layer of dust having settled on the table.

In the middle of the table, a vase with dead flowers sits untouched. He assumes that you bought them from the florist under the Raven’s Nest, but he can’t really tell what type they are, at this point, the petals are so shriveled.

Weeks. It doesn’t look like you’ve been here in weeks.

He turns from the table, and like a flash, he crosses the threshold into your bedroom. He’s been here before, to pull you away from your work or any number of other reasons. He knows what it looks like when your room’s been lived in. But this? There is no life in whatever this is. Your desk–heavy, wooden, uncompromising in its silhouette–sits sideways against the same wall the door is on. Your bed, with its thin sheets and fluffy pillows, is pushed into the far corner. From both, you’d be able to see the door and the window. He knows because he’s tried–and failed–to sneak up on you more times than he can count.

Cautiously, Seungmin approaches your desk. He doesn’t dare touch it. There’s a handful of small rocks scattered across the desk. Rocks that you’d taken from the harbor years ago, before your promotion, before you’d needed all the privacy and secrecy. Then, they’d just been normal rocks, pilfered from the water because they were smooth and pretty. Now, they’re engraved with small runes, barely visible in the dappled greys of the surface, and though he doesn’t know what spells they contain, he’s not stupid enough to touch them. He recognizes a few glyphs of warding, and it’s enough for him to keep his distance. There’s nothing else on the surface of the desk except a layer of dust.

He returns to the kitchen.

Weeks, he thinks, plucking the dead, dried stems from the vase on your table and tossing them out onto the portico like he’s seen you do countless times before. You’ve been gone for weeks. Carefully, he sweeps the remaining fallen petals into his hand, and those, too, go out the door. He grabs a rag from one of your drawers, swiping it over the table to remove the dust. It’s not entirely unlike you to not come home. If the case is proving difficult, or if you’re facing roadblocks, then maybe. But weeks?

He wipes the dust out of your mug, holding it up to his eye to really make sure he’s cleaned it all before placing it back on the table upside-down. He picks up the bag of ground coffee and places it into one of the cupboards, sliding it into a glass jar so that the mice can’t get it. He’s never seen a mouse in your home, but without you here, there’s no way to guarantee it’ll stay that way. He spends a bit more time cleaning up–if you come back, he wants you to have a clean place to come home to.

What if the last time you’d been out was the night of the gala?

The sun is starting to set by the time he’s out of your house, the door locked securely behind him. The streets are busy, nothing new, even at this time of day. The Gate is always a little bustling, with merchants and travelers constantly coming and going. Despite the number of people, the city’s remarkably safe, no thanks to the combined efforts of the Flaming Fists, the Watch, and the investigators of the Raven’s Nest. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the city is free of crime. Seungmin himself is a testament to that–the Gate’s seedy underbelly is just as healthy as its above-the-board dealings if you know where to look.

The half-orc stationed outside the door nods curtly as Seungmin slips inside, the dead-end alleyway otherwise empty. The door is hidden by a pile of old crates, the wood rotting in the damp sea air, but even in the daylight, the crates aren’t necessary. The alley is perpetually shrouded in shadow.

He takes the stairs down two at a time, footsteps light despite his urgency. At the bottom of the stairs, he sidesteps the pressure plate meant to deter any unsavory visitors and continues down the rough-hewn hallway. It doesn’t take long for the walls to give way, the room opening up into a large underground cavern. The dirt floor suddenly drops away, changing from hard-packed ground to wooden scaffolding that runs the outer edge of the cavern. Stairs snake their way down the wall to the lower floor at uneven intervals.

Below, a makeshift bar stands against one wall on a raised platform, a place of prominence among the gathered patrons. The bar is packed, a crowd of thieves, merchants, sailors and travelers crammed like sardines around the tables scattered around the place. Seungmin approaches the bar, sliding onto a barstool quietly. He sits there, waiting for the bartender, and watches the room.

There are a few people he recognizes, though none are his own. In the corner, there’s a man sitting at one of the tables, his hood pulled over his head. It’s clear that he’s trying to hide his identity, but he’s not doing a great job. Seungmin recognizes him easily as the guy who was trying to pass gnolls off as guard dogs a few years ago–the Raven’s Nest had passed the case to the Fist, and from there, he’s not sure what happened to it.

At the other tables, Seungmin recognizes faces, but not names. A few of the merchants recognize him, too, and they give him stiff nods when they make eye contact. He doesn’t trust most of the people here. They’re all far too similar. Selfish. Greedy. Little respect for authority. It’s good, safe, that they view him as one of them, but there’s no loyalty in it, no friendship.

“What can I get for you?” The bartender approaches and leans against the other side of the bar.

“Don’t you only sell like… one thing?” Seungmin asks, the barest hint of a laugh in his voice.

The bartender taps his nose and turns to the hogsheads behind him, pouring a glassful of amber liquor and placing the cup in front of Seungmin. “To what do we owe a visit from the deputy harbormaster?”

“Just need some information, Grayle.”

The man beside him shifts on his barstool. He sips at his ale, avoiding looking at the bartender. So clearly, he’s listening.

Grayle, the bartender, grabs a rag and wipes at the bartop before leaning back in. “Aye then. What’re you needing to know?”

Seungmin takes a moment to consider, tapping his glass with the tips of his fingers. “Rumor has it,” he begins. “The Nest is looking for a smuggler.”

Grayle hums. “Well, none of us’d know nothing about that, now would we? Why don’t you ask your gal on the inside about it?”

He wiggles his head a little, weighing his options. “Can’t exactly play all my cards up front, can I?”

“I ‘spose not.”

“So what have you heard about it?” Seungmin reaches into his pocket and places a gold coin onto the bar with a soft ‘clink.’

The bartender is quick to palm the coin. “Not much to tell. We don’t see much of her ‘round these parts. Usually sends her pigeons after us, though they don’t usually come knockin’ down here.”

“See them recently?”

“Who’s to say?”

Seungmin rolls his eyes and places another gold piece on the bar. Grayle pockets it quickly.

“The birds were here the other day. Talked with a couple of the lads. Left pretty quickly.”

“Talk to anyone in particular?” Seungmin leans in to speak softly.

Grayle stays silent, but he quirks an eyebrow as if to say ‘you’re going to need more than two gold for that.’ Seungmin sighs and drops four more coins onto the bar.

“Nah, mate. Sorry. If they did, I don’t remember.” Grayle’s eyes drift over Seungmin’s shoulder as he carefully picks up the gold. His gaze doesn’t linger, but when it happens again, Seungmin gets the hint.

“Thanks anyway.” He places down another two gold pieces onto the bar as he stands. “‘Preciate the info. Let me know if you hear anything else.”

“Yessir.”

The gnoll seller.

Interesting.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Seungmin is busy. He always is on the last day of the month. Merchants trying to settle up their tabs, bringing their new import lists, looking to make a last-minute deal on shipping before the cargo goes out. Of course, there are his clients, too. Wizards looking to import less-than-legal components and old tomes, bandits trying to get rid of hot merchandise and make a quick piece of gold. It’s frenetic, and it’s always different, and normally, he loves the energy of it all. But today, he’s distracted.

The Ravens had talked to the gnoll seller.

You’ve been holed up in your office—or gone—for weeks.

He’s banned from the Nest.

The felldrake eggs you asked him about.

Call it intuition, call it your suspicious nature rubbing off on him, call it whatever you want. Seungmin has a sinking feeling that something big is going down in the Gate.

He barely notices when his father enters his office. When Seungmin was young, he thought his father was the pillar of strength and nobility. As a child, his father had loomed, his voice loud and words resolute. He’d always seemed so strong, physically and morally. But as Seungmin aged, the more he realized how wrong he was. What once seemed like staunch morals and a strong will had morphed into blind loyalty without question to those in power. Now, his father stands, barely a few inches taller than Seungmin himself, short-trimmed hair what some would describe as a respectable salt and pepper, a symbol of everything Seungmin hates about this rotten city.

His father hands him a thin stack of papers. Shipping manifestos for the ships going out today. But when Seungmin doesn’t immediately take them, his father clears his throat and drops them unceremoniously on his desk.

“There’s little time for distraction, son,” he scolds, voice gruff.

“Sorry father.” Seungmin pulls the papers toward him, leafing through them. For a moment, he says nothing, hoping that perhaps his father will leave him to his thoughts. But his father is one of the very few others in this city that is more well-connected than Seungmin himself. So he dares to ask, “Father, have you heard anything of the High Investigator?”

He hates the way he has to phrase it, as if High Investigator is your name now. And really, to just about everyone in the city, it may as well be. It’s certainly the only one his father respects.

His father hums, and for a moment, his brow furrows. “Not since the two of you absconded from the Cambrig’s gala.” He shakes his head. “Really, Seungmin, you’re far too old to be sneaking out of such events. How will you possibly hope to find an appropriate bride like that?”

Seungmin ignores the dig, bites his tongue from replying how he wants. Defending you to his father is not the most important thing on his mind at the moment. “I haven’t seen her since that night,” he admits, and his voice is quieter than he’d like. “I’m worried.”

“She’s probably just busy. As you should be.”

“They wouldn’t let me in the Nest.”

“For good reason, I’m sure. You’re a distraction, son. The last thing they need is you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. You know, the Lee girl was sad to have missed you at the gala. Perhaps you should connect with her while you have free time.”

Seungmin sighs. Perhaps his father is right. The last thing he wants to do is make things harder for you. Especially when he’s apparently one of the lead suspects. He gives one last glance through the shipping manifestos in front of him before dipping his pen and signing the bottom of the first piece of paper and handing the stack back to his father. The man leaves without another word.

Barely a minute passes before the door to Seungmin’s office slams open, the force rattling the walls and threatening to knock the few framed sketches from their nails.

“Boss!” One of his dock workers–a greying dwarf named Ulfgar–stands in the doorway. His chest is heaving, his breathing labored as he leans against the wooden frame. He grumbles… something as he pants. Normally, his thick brogue is intense yet understandable, but now, Seungmin has no idea what he’s trying to say.

“Wanna try that again?” Seungmin can hear the annoyance in his voice, but it seems that Ulfgar doesn’t. Or maybe he ignores it.

“Down at the docks. Ya gotta see this.”

“I’m busy, Ulfgar.”

The dwarf grunts, and for the briefest of moments, he looks frustrated. “Not for this. It’s… Ya just gotta come. The lads have shut down the B Dock.”

That gets his attention. Seungmin stands, chair scraping against the floorboards and motions for the dwarf to lead the way. The Harbormaster’s Office is a squat building nestled at the center of the largest pier in Grey Harbor. It's all stone, a veritable fortress despite its relative size. He’d asked his father once, when he was young, why the office looked the way it did. He no longer remembers exactly what his father had said back then, but he knows the answer intimately now.

No matter how much of a shining beacon on the hill Baldur’s Gate claims to be, there are people here who are willing to do anything to get ahead.

Grey Harbor itself is massive, spanning the entire width of the city. The city had sprung up around the river, and as it grew, so, too, did the wharves. Now, there are ten docks, two piers, and three breakwaters across the coastline of the city. Seungmin and his father manage them all.

He follows Ulfgar to the B Dock, the second largest of the wharves and historically the second dock that had been built within the Gate. It’s the closest to the Harbormaster’s office, so the walk is quick, and Ulfgar is moving as fast as his dwarven legs can possibly carry him. There’s an urgency to his stride that makes Seungmin nervous, but he keeps his expression neutral. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d discovered something wrong with a shipment, and it won’t be the last. He just hopes that they haven’t found any of the felldrake eggs. The last thing he needs right now is to be framed.

Ulfgar hurries up the gangplank of the carrack, but Seungmin overtakes him easily. He knows his way now, for the most part. The top deck of the ship is teeming with sailors. They all look put-out, frustrated that they haven’t been allowed to weigh anchor yet, but Seungmin’s men block the stairs down into the hold. The captain and the helmsman stand near the wheel at the aft of the ship. They tilt their chins up in greeting when they make eye contact with Seungmin, but otherwise, they say nothing.

“Down here, boss,” one of his men says, gesturing down into the hold.

Seungmin follows, the heels of his boots clicking against the wood as he descends. The ship is eerily quiet, the sounds of the waves against the hull echoing throughout the space below deck. Deeper into the ship they go, through the crew’s quarters, past the munitions storage, across the first cargo deck, and down into the second. More of his men are stationed down here. More than one of them have their hands on the hilts of their swords. Seungmin nods at them as he passes, and they visibly relax.

What in the world happened before Ulfgar came to get him?

There are crates stacked from floor to ceiling, several layers deep with just enough space for a walkway through the hold. If he remembers correctly, this ship is bound for Evermeet and then Zakhara. At the aft of the ship, the gentle rocking of the ship is harder to feel, but the lanterns hanging above to light the path sway with the motion nonetheless.

Bael, a stout man with muscles like boulders and a story for every scar that criss-crosses his arms, holds a torch aloft in the furthest cargo bay. It looks like the crates have been pushed aside around him. Even from this distance, his expression looks grim. Bael and Ulfgar oversee the B Dock for the Harbormaster, and Seungmin has known the man for a while. He braces himself for whatever Bael has found.

He looks up as Seungmin approaches and wordlessly steps aside, holding the torch higher so that he can see.

A figure sits unnaturally still in the husk of what he believes used to be a crate. His men must have disassembled it when they discovered the figure. Somehow, he takes in everything and nothing, all at once. It’s a person, his brain offers dumbly, and they aren’t wearing shoes. Their arms are tied behind their back. Their clothes are tattered and bloody, and they don’t seem to fit very well, because cloth hangs off their body in strange places. Even though they’re kneeling, he can tell that they’re about his height. A burlap sack covers their head.

Behind him, Bael coughs and shifts his weight, and the torch light moves.

That’s when his eyes catch the gleam of silver on the figure’s left breast. The loose cloth isn’t clothes, it’s a cloak.

Seungmin’s heart stops, the air knocked from his lungs like he’s been kicked by a horse. He can’t tear his eyes from the half of the silver raven still affixed to the cloak. He must make a noise, because the figure shifts ever so slightly–a tilt of the head, Seungmin can picture the furrowed brow and slight frown that accompanies it.

“Seungmin?” The voice is quiet, and it’s hoarse, but he knows. He could go years without hearing it, but even then, he’s convinced that he’d know.

He’d know your voice anywhere.

waaa I'm so excited to post this. I've been planning this au for so long, and I have so much cool stuff to share with y'all (including character sheets for Seungmin and our girl the High Investigator 👀). let me know what you thought about this! the next section to be posted for this au is chan!

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theyhavetakenovermylife · 1 year ago

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Random facts about Valentina or I can say the princess XD

Random Facts About Valentina

Bayverse!Leonardo x reader

All Children Romeo Marcello Gerardo

A/N: Of course we have to do one for the Princess! Do you have any idea how mad she is, because I did Joan and Romeo before her?😂💙

Warnings: None💙

Just like with your sons, you and Leo wanted to name your first and only daughter, something that fell in line with the Italian theme you already had in place. Therefore you decided on the name Valentina, meaning strong and healthy, along with inspiring mental depictions of love and happiness.

The youngest of the flock, and the apple of everyone’s eye, Valentina pretty much has everyone wrapped around her finger, especially her brothers. Treating her like a princess, refusing to hit too hard while practicing. That eventually became a problem, with you and Leo having to explain that if they held back on her, she wouldn’t be able to learn.

At 15, Valentina was finally gifted her weapon, after having seen her cousins and brothers train with theirs for such a long time. The weapon grandpa Splinter gifted her was a bow and arrows, citing her focused ability to reach a goal from afar.

The nickname Princess, was one that Valentina herself actually came up with. Well, sort of. It came after she at 3 years old, started dancing around the lair in her favorite princess dress, saying that she was exactly that. Her adorable little smile as she stood jumping in front of you, singing “I’m a princess! I’m a princess!”, leaving the whole family smiling. And given everyone’s tendency to do and bring her anything she asked for, the name Princess was just fitting.

As the youngest of the Hamato family, with a 8 years age gap between her and her youngest cousin, Ragnar, Valentina had a lot of attention on her. Growing up, there was always someone to play with or talk to, and every birthday and Christmas brought her a lot of gifts.

What is more adorable than a toddler playing dress up and having a tea party with her father? A toddler playing dress up and having a tea party with her father and all three of her big brothers. The amount of times you had walked into Valentina’s room, confused of where your family disappeared to, only to find them all crowded around a small table, each with a very small tea cup, pinkies out, tiaras, tue tues and all of it. Yes, you have taken pictures, and yes, you shared those pictures to all of the turtles’ partners in the group chat.

If anyone knew how to do a smokey eye, a killer sharp eyeliner, or any of the latest makeup trends, it was Valentina. Growing up, she learned much about makeup from not only you and her aunts, but Dorothy and Minerva as well. But once she hit her teens, she was the one teaching you and the others many new tricks and tips.

Being the youngest had its pros, but certainly also had its cons. Imagine the day your sons learned that their 16 year old baby sister had actually been sneaking to the surface, in order to hang out with a group of humans, who she had been friends with for around a year. They freaked out, way more than you and Leo did. Actually, Leo had seemed to relax quite a bit when it came to his children, seeing how the oldests was now adults, but your sons freaked out. Even Gerardo was freaking out, yelling and screaming about how dangerous it was, all while you and Leo watched from the couch.

At the age of 8, Valentina started begging you and Leo, wanting to have a cat. For a long time, Leo stood fast and wouldn’t allow her to get said cat. But then a 21 year old Marcello came home with a cat he had found on the street, and when Valentina said she wanted to keep it, Leo could not fight it any more, deciding it was time to get a cat. And of course, Valentina named the cat Lady.

Like her brothers, Valentina takes her training very seriously, but in a very different way than her brothers. Although the art of ninjutsu was important to her, her main focus was to keep healthy and fit. But as she grew older, she became more and more aware of how important it was to learn self defense, especially given her nature, being a half human, half mutant turtle, in order to protect herself. And well, it would prove handy, once while she was out with her friends.

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di-daynamic · 5 months ago

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For @hprecfest

Prompt: fics not on ao3

Just a Random Tuesday. . . by Twisted Biscuit A VERY long Tuesday in the life of Minerva McGonagall. With rampant Umbridgeitis, uncooperative Slytherins, Ministry interventions, an absent Dumbledore and a schoolwide shortage of Hot Cocoa, it’s a wonder she’s as nice as she is.

I recommend everything by this author, their stories are absolutely hilarious!!

The World As We Knew It by Lady Alinor Destroy the Horcruxes—that’s Harry’s goal, until an Aperio throws him and two other unknown people into a world where the prophecy never existed, his parents and Sirius are alive, and Ginny went to Azkaban for opening the Chamber. Canon pairings, preDH.

A fun, cute dimension travel story. All the relationships are done really well.

Wind Shear by Chilord A sharp and sudden change that can have devastating effects. When a Harry Potter that didn't follow the path of the Epilogue finds himself suddenly thrown into 1970, he settles into a muggle pub to enjoy a nice drink and figure out what he should do with the situation. Naturally, things don't work out the way he intended.

Harry is such a BAMF in this, I love it.

Backward With Purpose by deadwoodpecker AU. Harry, Ron, and Ginny send themselves back in time to avoid the destruction of everything they hold dear, and the deaths of everyone they love.

#harry potter #hprecfest2024 #fanfic #fanfic recs

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theceaselessidiot · 4 months ago

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Bridgerton Daemons

I nerded out before I even wrote my fic, which you can read here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61612198 and assigned most Bridgerton characters daemons...I may add characters if I ever decide to write more in the daemons AU verse (which I want to), but even without the fic I loved making this list!!

Cressida: eurasian lynx named Iapetos, greek, to wound, to pierce Eloise: raven named Minerva, latin, intelligent, mind

Violet: arctic hare named Frederic, english, peaceful ruler Edmund: red deer named Kerensa, cornish, love Anthony: fallow deer named Gertrude, old german, spear of strength Daphne: white dove named Meir, hebrew, giving light Benedict: blue spix macaw named Philadelphos, from greek phileo, to love and adelphos, brother Francesca: gazelle named Caomh, irish, gentle Colin: sea otter named Phaedra, greek, bright Gregory: unsettled named Euphrosyne, greek, mirth, merriment, cheerfulness Hyacinth: unsettled named Gale, english, jovial, storm

Kate Sharma: barasingha named Ajay, hindi, unconquered Edwina Sharma: langur monkey named Rashmi, sanskrit, ray of light Simon Basset: cheetah named Herut, hebrew, freedom John Stirling: badger named Serena, latin, clear, tranquil, serene Michaela Stirling: black panther named Sipho, xhosa, gift Sophie Baek: bengal tiger named Wira, malay, hero

Lady Cowper: tarantula named Dolios, greek, deceitful, treacherous Lord Cowper: vulture named Eris, greek, strife, discord Joanna Cowper: harpy eagle named Severus, latin, stern

Penelope: american goldfinch named Blaine, from old irish blá, yellow Portia: peacock named Vincentius, latin, to conquer Philippa: mongolian gerbil named Hilarion, greek, cheerful Prudence: hedgehog named Buz, hebrew, contempt Queen Charlotte: swan named Cyneric, old english, royal, ruler Brimsley: penguin named Fidus, latin, faithful Lady Danbury: barn owl named Ejike, igbo, one having strength Madame Delacroix: flamingo named Bijou, french, jewel

Theo Sharpe: stoat named Aletheia, greek truth Jack Featherington: red kite named Laverna, roman goddess of thieves and thievery Albion Finch: quokka named Eudokia, greek, to be well pleased, to be satisfied Harry Dankworth: red panda named Huan, chinese, happy, pleased Marina Crane: shiny cowbird named Acilius, latin, wit, sharp Will Mondrich: american black bear named Ethel, old english, noble Alice Mondrich: veiled chameleon named Dilys, welsh, genuine Lord Debling: capybara named Euodia, greek, a good journey Tilley Arnold: red fox named Cielo, spanish, sky,heaven Paul Suarez: common genet named Lucero, spanish, bright star

and lastly because she's an OC: Isabel: beagle named Leopold, from old german, liut people and bald bold, brave

#bridgerton #daemons au #cressida cowper #eloise bridgerton #creloise #disclaimer: all the name meanings were found on behindthename by me so I can't guarantee they're correct

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saintsenara · 1 year ago

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(for the tag game) I might be completely wrong for this one lol, but I feel like "game, set and match" will be rather light-hearted/funny?

thank you very much for the ask, anon! a top-notch choice from the work-in-progress tag game buffet.

and one which you've got completely wrong - game, set, and match will not be light-hearted at all. unless you happen to have the absurd opinion that augusta longbottom and minerva mcgonagall finding themselves in an enemies-to-lovers situation during a charity croquet tournament [a game wizards play with geese, following an incident in the nineteenth century when the statute of secrecy seemed to have been broken after some bloke called lewis carroll leaked that they used to use flamingos] would be funny.

honestly, catch yourself on.

[this is one for @ladiesofhpfest - for the week on senior sweethearts. what can i say, i love a pair of bitchy, sharp-tongued - behave! - older lesbians]

featuring: minerva one hundo bringing up the letter she sends in half-blood prince reminding augusta she failed charms; augusta's bff, griselda marchbanks telling her that you're never too old to learn some new tricks - in her case, windsurfing, in augusta's case, tumbling in the hay with the hogwarts headmistress; all the fierce old ladies hating gladys gudgeon because she won't stop going on about gilderoy lockhart; all the fierce old ladies hating muriel prewett just because she's a knob; filius flitwick, pomona sprout, and poppy pomfrey having no idea what to do with their friend agonising over getting a letter back at her big age; horace slughorn being ride-or-die for a country fete; and neville literally considering moving to siberia when confronted with the evidence that his gran's suddenly found herself with a very active sex life.

not funny at all.

#work in progress ask game #asenora fics #game set and match #augusta longbottom #minerva mcgonagall #harold they're lesbians

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consistentsquash · 2 years ago

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HP Femslash Recs from 2023 (January to June)

Recs for new femslash fics posted in first half of 2023. January to June! One fic for each month. Rec lists are based on my reading and what I like. YMMV.

Theme - HP ladies rocking their queer side during different stages of their lives. Some of them are also rocking their dirtybadhotwrong side <3

AO3 collection

Petunia Comes First by DepravedDesires (January)

Themes - dirtybadhotwrong

Pairing - Petunia/Lily

Rec because - dirtybadhotwrong femslash is the best starting fic for this list. We stan! Petunia definitely deserves to come first.

How dare Lily ignore her until there was something she needed from her sister? Typical Lily, making a mess of things and then getting someone else to clean it up for her.

Candles Lit Against the Dark by @perverse-idyll (February)

Themes - Retirement + Healing

Pairing - Minerva McGonagall/Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank

Rec because - This is so totally the retirement life I want. It's packed with beautiful friendships, people focusing on the sweet instead of the bitter, people moving on together, people forgiving each other. It's an incredible fic with perfect execution on some classic tropes like matchmaking and friends who are going to help you whether or not you asked for it. Also some not so classic tropes like celebrating a female character's life/happiness/love being the center of a rich fic. Ultimately this is Minerva McGonagall's fic and I am so here for it. Her life is full! She's done a lot, she's got the perfect retirement and her friends are her best fans. It's got a big cast and everybody is characterized really vividly. This fic is like fruitcake. But really, really rich homemade fruitcake. It's just juicy and bursting with flavor. ~~Sorry, Claxton Fruitcake Company~~. Also this fic has the Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank for me. Of course PI's Snape has been the Snape for me from the first time I read When the Rose and the Fire Are One. Speaking of Snape. Oh yeah!!! We get Snape. Lots and lots of Snape. Also some lowkey/not so lowkey Snarry flirting. But definitely don't pass on the fic if you are squicked by Snarry. This fic is so much more than that and you definitely won't be squicked by anything. I am normally a YMMV person when it's about squicks because those can be pretty subjective but I am giving a no squick guarantee on this fic. READ IT <3

At around four in the afternoon, with three chapters to go in the espionage novel she was reading – since popular thrillers provided not only diversion but an eye-opening refresher course on Muggle slang and cultural attitudes – Minerva glanced up from the page to find Wil leaning in the doorway, watching her.

Reccer note - If you don't normally go for PI's works because of the bittersweetness/ambiguity/intensity, this is a perfect intro fic you can read in any headspace. You get the Trademark PI Snape with lots and lots and lots of nonstop healing/good times and a 100% extra virgin pure legit happy ending. ~~No rimming though~~ We got gloves! But seriously. We get some of the classic PI themes like Ego Death, Real Death, Forgiveness, Atonement but these heavy themes are present without feeling heavy. My theory is PI drank a lot of champagne to get this nonstop bubbly effect in the fic.

Once of Eden by eldritcher (March)

Themes - Crossgen + Coming of Age

Pairing - Lily/Eileen

Rec because - Poignant and super sharp character study of Lily. Lots of storms inside her head about her family/war/Petunia/Snape. This is right before her marriage but she has this feeling she doesn't fit into that life and she doesn't want to let go of her past. Like a lot of us, she's also seeing her past/childhood through these nostalgic glasses but at the same time she's also noticing adults in her life and has this bittersweet feeling that she's an adult now/making adult choices now. Serious Catcher in the Rye vibes. This fic has the Lily for me. Really like Harry, really Gryffindor. Don't let the pairing put you off. It's a really beautiful, sensitive, unique, powerfully human fic.

She knew there were girls who did this. Petunia and she had giggled about it once or twice. Sirius talked a great deal about how he liked watching girls kiss each other. It got him going like nothing else, he said. This would not get him going. Eileen was Severus's mother. Eileen was not a girl. She was sullen and cross, but not right then.

Reccer note - A great eldritcher intro fic for Marauders era readers. It doesn't have the rollercoaster intensity of their other fics. Definitely more approachable. But you can also see some of the classic Eldritcher themes about Nostalgia + Returning Home to find out nothing's going to be the same again + Permanent loss when one door closes in your life + all the characters being flesh and blood people you can empathize with without self-insertion. This fic made me cry but it was a healing cry. I don't normally see femslash fics hitting these themes so it's unique in my reading experience.

Nymphadora, Nymphet by @thistlecatfics (April)

Themes - House of Black ladies being House of Black ladies

Pairing - Bellatrix/Andromeda, Bellatrix/Tonks

Rec because - Thistlecat has my whole heart for how she characterizes Bellatrix in this fic <3 Love, love, love. Also Tonks! This fic is layers and layers of delicious dirtybadhotwrong and at the same time a brilliant character study. Also the first time I have actually seen Lolita in a femslash fic. Whoa, love. AU premise but definitely don't let that make you skip this. Totally, totally pays off.

She had changed her hair for them. They asked about size, and she grew tall and then short. They asked about shape, and she gave herself broad shoulders, pulling at the seams of her shirt, even with the charms her mother had added to give her freedom of movement after the sheer number of clothes she had torn apart as a child in playing with her physical form. They named body parts, and she adjusted them as they asked, all four of them laughing. She was having fun. It was a challenge! They were going so quickly. When they said to make her breasts larger, she obeyed. She had played so little with her breasts, which had just started to grow, and flesh was so easy and fun to work with. They asked for bigger, and she threw her shoulders back and let them grow.

Knotweed by @turanga4 (May)

Themes - Relationship resolution, war era

Pairing - Poppy/Pomona

Rec because - because I love fics which show us why it's important to focus on the good things/the important things during bad times. Pomona said it best! <3

“I need things to live,” Pomona continued. “I need things to grow. If I’m going to fight, I need a bit of why we’re fighting. I want this—want us, want you— for as long as I can have it.”

Leather by @saintsenara (June)

Themes - self-discovery, war era

Pairing - Tonks/Fleur, Tonks/Charlie, Tonks/Remus, Tonks/OFC

Rec because - I love this fic. It's got so much self-discovery with lots of good emotions but with a huge contrast against the war tension. Love how Tonks makes the best of each day because she doesn''t know what's going to happen tomorrow. Also love the confusion/acceptance/exploration cycles in the fic.

She’d learned the term for it eventually, and knowing the word had given her the power to understand herself - it was like magic, in that sense. The first person she’d told had been Charlie, as they relaxed - eighteen years old and feeling very grown up - after their first fuck. It had been nice - tentative and halting and all very un-British and sincere - and she’d confessed and he’d looked at her with his lovely round face and confessed the same. And they’d laughed and laughed at how they would be able to compare notes in future on what they sampled from the buffet of human genitalia.

Reccer note - Legit character studies of bi characters are super rare in our fandom. I don't really go for self-discovery type fics but this one is whoa! Love, love, love and highly recommend this one. It's out and proud and amazing. <3

#hp femslash recs #hp #femslash #femslash recs #hp femslash 2023 #fic recs #hp fic recs #short fic recs #recs

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thereasonsimbroke · 7 months ago

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Dame #MaggieSmith, the legendary actress known for her unforgettable performances, passed away at 89.

Throughout her seven-decade career, she captivated audiences with roles that showcased her sharp wit and commanding presence. Most notably, she portrayed Professor Minerva #McGonagall in the #HarryPotter series, a role that endeared her to a new generation of fans. Her portrayal of Violet Crawley in #DowntonAbbey cemented her as a master of her craft.

At the same time, her roles in films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Lady in the Van exemplified her range. Smith's immense talent leaves an indelible legacy in both film and television.

#Maggie Smith #professor mcgonagall #Harry Potter #Nostalgia #2024 #2020s #24

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illwilled · 2 years ago

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❝the last thing we need is a panic. panic breeds danger.❞

before the devil breaks you askbox prompt fulfillment

from Lord Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

accepting . @historiavn

her steady fist latches 'pon a red - slicked hilt . with each step , sharp silver whistles through the air like violence -- a raspy promise carried away by the tail - end of frigid , cailleach wind . her lord is the unwilling messenger & she the idolator ; grown fervid & arrested by the scent of power like rabid cur . she has certainly been blest by morrigan , torn apart by her talons & resassembled into being anew : eyes have lifted from their hooded phelgm & sharpened into ruby weapons ; she grows enlightened , knows to plot & veil like beithir , to howl & paw the dirt like a beast for her bloody share . lips bare , curl back to yield enamel -- sharp & un-sexed . in the night she is but formless , a blocky smear of shadow along ice walls . looking at her husband's aqueous eyes , the obscure hoot of minerva's owl leaves her none the wiser of his inner monologue .

" i have roused from trouble-free sleep to anoint my palms with the regent's ichor . my palms betray no hysteria , yet ... " does she hear her voice , or has it been chewed up & coalesced among the cries of the dead ? the room yawns silent , & seyton lights the path to the throne , inlaid by crimson spinel tears . when she parts her wine-dark lips , words flow in the cadenza of royalty ; project as scot's new queen . " the sore tremors of yours tell an incongruous account -- i understand that the panic you speak of is all yours . " she fears no distant consequence of danger : not when close enough to taste that blood - sweet future on split tongue . she is ravenous for it .

#fucking 'un-sexed'... truly comedy gold shakespeare #⸸ [ lady macbeth ; interaction. ] ⸸#thank you for sending this in!!

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r-we-taire-yet · 1 year ago

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The Failed Assassinations of Helena Tempus Entry 5

July 26th, 1875

Today was my first day of work in the garden of the estate. Uncle Liam made us breakfast and packed us both dinners, and we walked to work together. I don’t think his home is on the grounds, but it is clearly directly next to it given how short the walk was. Once we got into the estate, he showed me around a bit. He has a small office in the gardening storage building located next to the stables. The house… My God the house is as big as any building I’ve ever seen. It reminds me of the courthouse back home, all stone and fancy. Uncle Liam said it was built in the ‘Federalist style’ back in the 1810s, and it is certainly one of the most marvelous places I’ve ever seen. It reminds me of the House of Usher.

This house belongs to the Tempus family, but the only member of the family that lives here is an unmarried lady named Minerva. I caught a glimpse of her in the afternoon when she came outside to enjoy the gardens. She’s around your age, Mam, or a bit older, with dark black hair that is graying and cold, sharp, gray eyes. Her clothes must have cost a fortune, all the frills and bows necessary to seem more proper than proper. Her hat, her dress, it was all bright scarlet and white and such a fine fabric Tallulah would have gone green with envy.

All those rooms just for one woman to enjoy seems so horribly unfair when you compare it to the homes for the miners. Apparently some members of staff do live within it as well, including some people my age or younger. While I was working in the garden today, I met one such person, a boy my age named Alexander Hardwick who I took a shine to instantly. He is a footman in the house, and everyone apparently calls him Wick rather than Alexander. I think the nickname suits him because he is as excitable as a flame, bouncing around and talking a mile a minute. He shared his dinner with me, and I shared mine with him while he told me all about the staff and the family.

So you can visualize him, Mam, he is a bit shorter than me and more willowy. His hair is a mousy brown that seems like a struggle to control because it has a curl to it. I didn’t catch his eye color well because they’re hidden behind thick glasses, but they’re either blue or gray. He wears the uniform of the footmen, a black suit with a scarlet red vest and tie. Apparently the lady of the house liked that color best, so every uniform includes it. Thank goodness I work in the garden and don’t have to wear a uniform, I don’t know if that color would suit me well. I inherited your complexion after all, and my brown jacket is good enough for the work I’m doing.

According to Wick, the estate is managed by a man named Mr. Campbell. He says the man is relatively nice, and very dedicated to his job, but he can be sharp and quick to anger if you catch him in a bad mood or if you do something wrong. Wick’s father was Mr. Hardwick, the head butler, who he says is very kind and cares about the Tempus family a great deal. I can’t imagine why, other than the fact that it is his job. You could fit a fair amount of our community in that house without much difficulty, and it’s all being used by one woman and her staff. It just seems so selfish, I can’t imagine even liking someone who could live like that.

Wick is nice though, and I am hoping he wants to be my friend. He enjoys reading as much as I do, and we talked about the works of Poe for most of the break after he told me about the staff and family. Wick has a great amount of energy, and is great at filling the silence that my quiet nature causes. I think we are well suited for each other.

---

Enjoying the story? You can read the rest of the posted chapters on my ko-fi! I am posting chapters weekly!

#the failed assassinations of helena tempus #my original story i'm working on

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cathygeha · 1 year ago

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REVIEW

The Cutthroat Countess by Minerva Spencer

The Wicked Women of Whitechapel #3

A delightful addition to the series ~ Kept reading till nearly 3am to see how it would all end ~ Love this author and this series.

What I liked:

* Jo “Blade” Brown: focused, skilled, lethal, bodyguard, works for her living, investigator, skilled with blades, has secrets, feels chemistry for and with Elliott Wingate, learns something surprising that will change her life

* Honorable Elliott Wingate: fourth son of an early, spy for England, high moral standards, good friend, fits in like a chameleon, drawn to Jo, caring, protective, a good man

* That Jo is, in some ways, stronger and more capable than Elliott

* The two parts to the story – the first in France and the second in England

* The information that come out about Jo’s past and heritage

* That though there is disparity in the upbringing and social status of the two main characters, they find a way to be together by the end of the book

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* That the women in this series are more than window dressing – fierce, fiery, capable, forthright, and equal to any man

* Getting to catch up with the characters in the previous two books of the series

* Wondering if Helen will have a book of her own

What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

Regency-era England may be a man’s world, but a lady boss is about to show them how it’s done! In the newest of her witty, Regency-set, feminist romances exploring the roles of women in a rigidly patriarchal society, acclaimed author Minerva Spencer makes the cut with loner Jo “Blade” Brown, a circus performer who’s as deadly with a knife as her nickname suggests. A new generation of readers and Bridgerton fans will delight in the rapier sharp wit, sexual fireworks, and thought-provoking entertainment of The Cutthroat Countess. Before Josephine Brown began working as a blade expert for Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre, she'd never stayed put for long. She'd never had friends, either. Nor had she allowed herself to open her heart to a man. Yet now, as part owner of the circus, she's suddenly forming real friendships. And then there is her attraction to clever, handsome Honorable Elliot Wingate—whose life she happened to save. After forever fleeing her past, the last man she should choose is one who ferrets out secrets on behalf of King and Country . . . Elliot was fascinated by Jo “Blade” Brown even before he witnessed her lethal gifts, firsthand. He's never met a woman who is such an intoxicating combination of self-sufficiency, beauty, and mystery. He's never been in love before, but there is no denying he's fallen hard. Yet each time Elliot tries to get closer to Jo, she slips farther away. If he reveals what’s in his heart, will he risk driving her away for good? As their investigation—and her feelings for Elliot—stir up Jo’s deeply buried, extremely dangerous secrets, she'll have to decide whether to run once again, or trust somebody at last . . .

#Minerva Spencer #The Wicked Women of Whitechapel 3 #NetGalley #Kensington Books #Historical Fiction #Historical Romance #Fiction #Romance

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viscountessevie · 2 years ago

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The Hellions of Halstead Hall Quick Review!

Okay so having read all the Hellions books here are my quick spoiler free thoughts on them (in order of the books):

1) The Truth About Lord Stoneville

Oliver & Maria - Having read all the books, I can safely say this is one of my favourites! It was an excellent first book and introduction into my new favourite HR family. Ollie and Maria were simply marvellous and a pretty Kathony coded to be honest. I would say less mentally ill - well Maria is, Ollie is actually chock full of even more intense trauma than Ant tbh. I won't say more, yall gotta read to find out!

Honestly everything from the couple to the plot, side characters (Freddy my beloved) and conflict were perfect and entertaining to read. Just the best start to a series!

Kinda rereading it again with Triv @hptriviachamp: I gotta say I love how well it sets up the future siblings’ stories and books and we pretty much get introduced to 2 other in-laws. So the set up and pay offs were really good tbh!

2) A Hellion In Her Bed

Jarret & Annabel - I liked Jarett and Annabel well enough but I think they paled in comparison to a brilliant first book with Maria and Oliver. Still it was enjoyable, a good calm breather of a book after the excitement and drama of Maria and Ollie. I did love their romantic scenes - it's always more fun with a more experience heroine and Annabel and Jarret delivered on that front!

Tbh this ^^ is the nicer version for Goodreads but simply put: they were pretty boring. The sex scenes did make up for it; we really need more experienced heroines in HR. Funny clueless virgins are fun but for me personally, it's hotter and easier to get into sex scenes when the teaching doesn't take up most of the time.

Also despite being boring, I will give them points for staying consistent tonally and being a straightforward story (unlike Book 5 but I digress, I'll expand on this when we get there!)

3) How to Woo a Reluctant Lady

Minerva & Giles - Honestly I would say read the previous book just for the build up of these two, it’s absolutely delicious. I love how unashamed Giles is in his attraction to Minerva and their history together. Minerva was just a delight and fun character to read from Book 1 so I was definitely excited for these two. I mean she’s A GOTHIC WRITER AND HE’S A SPY! Exciting shit and for most part they did deliver! Can I also say that Minerva is the funniest virgin ever because when feeling him up she mistook his erection for a pistol. I CACKLED so hard reading that I literally cannot make this shit up. They were also very hot and I loved them sneaking around to uncover truths about Minerva’s family.

However, I was a bit disappointed in their Act 3 - it might just be a me thing so if yall have read this series or are going to, lemme know what you thought of Act 3! I just think there was a secondary plot point that could have been the main crux of their Act 3 rather than the one Sabrina chose to go with. Other than that, I adored this book and is high up on my ranking (which I’ll be listing below after all my short reviews of the books)

4) To Wed A Wild Lord

Gabriel (Gabe) & Virginia - (I’m calling her Ginny cos I can’t with her name) I absolutely loved this one and I think a big part of it was because Sephy is a horse girl and Gabe provided the best inspo for me to write for Sephy’s horse scenes in the future. Also I knew I would enjoy their book when we got the inciting incident in Minerva & Giles’ book - the drama was d e l i c i o u s. I loved how funny Gabe was in the previous books and this book delivered on that while giving us depth and a proper exploration of both of their traumas. I like how Sabrina showed Gabe’s comedic side is moreso a defense mechanism and how despite Ginny’s hostility to him, she’s actually kind and sunshine incarnate.

Similar to Book 1; the plot was great, I loved the racing scenes, the tension between Gabe and Ginny was on point - though I do wish we gotten to see them interact more during their ‘courtship’ scenes. I adored Freddy as my fave cousin side character but Pierce takes the cake! I am SO glad he gets his own book (which I will talk more about below!) Overall, it was a brilliantly written book and I loved it!

5) A Lady Never Surrenders

Celia & Jackson - This book man, had so much build up but left me so confused in terms of tone, characterisations and the progression. It was the last piece of the Sharpe parents’ murder mystery and also Jackson and Celia had FOUR books of build up. I liked that I was right about the murderer and I loved Jackson and Celia’s scenes in the last four books. Yet the first part of the book was draggy with the suitors plot and while it did come back around - it could have been written tighter. Celia seemed so badass in the other books but fell trap to the tomboy/NLOG trope in the way she was written even though she’s not?? It was really weird. There was a disconnect between the Celia in the last four books and in her own one. Like even with Gabe’s exploration - it still felt like him but Celia felt all over the place for me.

On top of all of this, I especially despised the racist treatment of Viscount Basto and it honestly put me off the book. I had to take a break to calm down and finish the series because I HAD to know what happened to the Sharpe parents. And the racism/xenaphobia gets worse because (skip past the caps if you don’t want spoilers):

🛑 MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE SERIES 🛑

I hated how Sabrina used the one foreign guy and made him a secondary villain. It made sense for the character and I suspected him and his wife from the start but why you gotta make him the SINGLE foreigner. It just came across extremely xenophobic. She could have made the Duke of Lyons or Jackson a MoC too, just to offset it ya know. It was just frustrating to see him singled out and villianised.

🛑 MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE SERIES END 🛑

Though for all its faults, I did enjoy the romance and how the mystery was solved. That’s why the book confused me like there were bits that were SO bad but then parts that were written SO well I was like ‘Am I reading two different books cos what the fuck??’ But yeah its not my favourite and while I did enjoy the good parts of it better than Jarret and Annabel’s book, at least the latter book was consistent. I will recommend pushing through this to see the reveal and also Jackson being a simp is great.

6) ‘Twas The Night After Christmas

Pierce & Camilla - It’s so funny that this is my #1 Hellion book (honestly tied with Book 1 but still) because Pierce isn’t even technically a Sharpe, he’s Ginny’s cousin but god I loved this book and honestly my one complaint is that Sabrina montaged their courtship week instead of giving us more scenes with them falling in love. Also could have been sluttier to offset the deep Mommy Issues kjdshkdj.

But yes if you like your HR heroes riddled with Mommy Issues, Pierce is the one for you! Camilla is also such a vibe, I love her so much. She’s lowkey a “I can fix everyone” person but it did not come across as annoying at all. But yeah reading this, heads up it gets sad and not enough horniness to make up for it. Overall, also a great Christmas time story!

Final Book Ranking:

1) Tied - The Truth About Lord Stoneville, (tbh pretty perfect to me)

‘Twas The Night After Christmas (needed to be sluttier and Pierce to be more quippy like he is in Book 4 and 5)

To Wed A Wild Lord (Ginny isn’t my fave heroine - I like her but like Maria and Camilla a lot more)

2) How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Act 3 should have been better)

3) A Hellion In Her Bed (Not exciting of a storyline for me)

4) A Lady Never Surrenders (Confusion over the way the book was written and also the xenaphobia :/)

Overall as a series, I loved how well-connected they were and the overarching plot of solving their parents’ murder was great and I LOVED how each sibling had a piece of the puzzle that added up together and it was all very satisfying at the end because I love being right and called it. I did not expect the twist in Book 5 which would have been better if not for the spoiler I mentioned above. Also I love how close knit the family is and I LIVE for the ensemble moments in the books they just bring me extra joy because everyone is so likeable you’re excited to see them all interact. Mentioned this before but the set up for the future books were BRILLIANT (even if Book 5 didn’t pay off as well as the others).

Hope yall enjoyed reading this and might want to give this series a shot because I need more friends and people reading this and gushing to me about this family. Truly my new favourite comfort family!

#The Hellions of Halstead Hall #The Truth About Lord Stoneville #A Hellion In Her Bed #How to Woo a Reluctant Lady #To Wed A Wild Lord #A Lady Never Surrenders #HR Blogging #Miss Maria Butterfield #Lord Oliver Stoneville #Miss Annabel Lake #Lord Jarret Sharpe #Lady Minerva Sharpe #Giles Master #Lord Gabriel Sharpe #Miss Virginia Waverly #lady Celia Sharpe #Jackson Pinter

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