#Lady Minerva Sharpe

[slowthypiglordblr]

Adventure Flock: AT Cast represented with Birds.

Jake the Duck...

and Finn the Dodo

Princess Bubblegum as a Pink and Grey Cockatoo

Her plumage befits her sweet yet limited morality.

Marceline the Marital Eagle

She's scary at first glance, but her rock'n talons and sharp beak beguile a warm downy heart.

Simon Petrikov the Crested Guan

Small, skittish, and unassuming, but this lil guy shines above all the rest in terms of quirky charm.

Betty Grof the Greater Roadrunner

Quick witted, swift footed, and unfettered even by rattlesnakes, this wacky bird will do anything for her boo.

Lady Cranicorn the Oriental Storke

Huntress Wizard the Great Horned Owl

Wise in the ways of nature and a skillful predator, but a complete birdbrain everywhere else.

Peppermint Vampire Finch

At first, one might think he's just a harmless dutiful servant. But this little nightmare is not to be trifled with.

Susan/Kira Albatross and Frieda the Tern.

Two travelers of the sky and seas, never to be parted again.

Lumpy Space Princess the Common Cuckoo

She's a lazy and apathetic moocher, but at least present when needed.

Prismo the Sarus Crane

Is there any wish in the cosmos greater than spending time with this dude?

Giuseppe the Sacred Ibis

The most wondrous and perplexing creature in all of Ooo.

Earl of Lemongrab the Barn Owl

Can be as quiet as a mouse, but has a voice that makes your ears bleed. This guy is just messed up in the head.

BMO the Junco

Who doesn't love a Junco in the winter?

Moe the Archaeopteryx

The wisest of all the birds and men in Ooo

Lemonhope the Yellow Warbler

Billy the Argentavis

The warrior ever, the hero the skies!

Flame Princess the Phoenix

The Mistress of the eternal flame

Water Nypmhs are various waterfowl

Canyon however is Pelegornis

The only one that can handle Billy's ride.

Magic Man the Peafowl

A magnificent bastard through and through.

Vampire King as the Roc

Former ruler of predators until Marcy came along.

Minerva Campbell the Caladirus

She's a helper to the end, even at the cost of her own life. (was a dove before her ascension)

Hunson Abadeer the Cassowary

The most evil of all birds.

The Ice Crown embodies the Snow Owl

Pretty self-explanatory.

The Lich in the leathery wings of the past

Killed off the dinosaurs of old, and now seeks finish off what remains.

[talesof-old]

dearest gentle readers | introduction

pairing(s): marauders (undetermined) x reader

warning(s): eventually 18+, bridgerton au, mentions of marriage, slight cursing?, i’m not british so just pretend i know what i’m talking about, mentions of scandal and incest, not proofread/edited so forgive me

word count: 818

masterlist

Sponsored by Lady Minerva McGonagall and desperate to find a match before you’re truly considered a spinster, you find yourself caught up in the whirlwind that is The Season. Will you be able to find a husband by August? Or is fortune just as fickle as the ton?

Swathes of fabric lined with lace, ruffles, and beads filled the great expanse of the room.

Yellows as pale as cream and blues as deep as midnight thrown over chase and chair. London’s dreary gloom seemed brighter the longer such a vibrant array of colors decorated the space. Lady Minerva McGonagall wasted no expense on the three debutantes she’d chosen to sponsor again this season.

Beside you, Mary eyed the fabrics with rapt attention.

You fingered the expensive satin silk of the dress nearest to you. Simple in silk, but a striking royal purple, it truly was a marvel of craftsmanship.

“I can’t believe how many dresses there are.” Mary’s Scottish accent appeared to be far less pronounced than what you might’ve imagined, but you three were sure to be an odd bunch. Lady McGonagall had sponsored you lot for two years already. A favor welcomed by your not-so-noble families. Or rather, your not-so-wealthy families.

“I’ve decided on new wardrobes for you this season. You will be married by the end of it, if I have any say. Mary’s are by the window and Lily’s are by the bed.”

Minerva’s sharp gaze turned to you. You’d had either the luck or misfortune (which one it was, you weren’t quite sure) to additionally spend the last few years as Minerva’s ward. Her rough edges were thorns you’d grown accustomed to, especially in her times attempting to make you a reputable lady.

“Your’s are by the chest of drawers.”

She’d certainly paid attention to detail. Mary’s dresses consisted almost entirely of her favorites: warm pinks and oranges. Brilliantly cut to showcase her clavicle, each dress appeared as if it would cover her breasts modestly but still draw attention to her long, slender neck. The simplicity of their silhouettes showcased the utterly perfect embroidery that decorated each bodice and skirt.

Lily’s were a myriad of greens, sprinkled with the occasional peach or yellow. Her soft, drapey dresses contrasted beautifully with the sleek lines of Mary’s attire.

Your own clothes appeared to be a quite suitable mixture of the two.

In moody shades of blue and violet, with the odd periwinkle and silver, you were honestly looking forward to donning the impressive garments. Any jewelry you wore would be borrowed from Lady McGonagall’s extensive collection. A collection, you were afraid to say, you’d miss dearly once you wed.

It was Lily that surged forward to examine her pieces, a chorus of thank yous from each of your lips as you did the same. Minerva smiled knowingly. Your dresses last year and the year before were beautiful, yes, but these actually suited you in a way those hadn’t. Three years of sponsoring the same girls had gone from a favour to fondness. She leaned onto her cane as her gaze flicked between you all. Still, she would be lying if she said she wasn’t eager to find you husbands.

“This is beautiful,” Lily breathed. In her hands, an elegant ensemble of a cream colored fabric hung. You grinned. If this was any indication of how this year’s season would go, you were more than ready. Jill, Minerva’s favorite maid, entered the room holding four sheets of familiar pale paper. Your eyes narrowed in delight. Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers were a joy every season. Mary reached for the pamphlet first. She knew better than anyone how gossip could be wielded as a weapon, and her eagerness to uncover the secrets of this year’s marriage mart was palpable. You felt the same.

Dearest Gentle Readers,

How lovely it is to greet you again. Our time away from Society has proven wonderfully refreshing indeed, though I would be quite the liar if I claimed to not miss you. Our extraordinary ton has now returned from our glorious reprieve, and it seems there are a many anxious mamas hoping to prey on the unsuspecting wiles of this Season’s eligible bachelors.

Last year, scandal swept through the ton when none other than Miss Narcissa Black married Duke Lucius Malfoy in secret after a supposedly whirlwind love affair. Hopefully, Mr. Sirius Black is as unbothered as he appears.

Regardless of the nearly disastrous ending to last year’s entertaining exploits, the new batch of debutantes seem sparkling indeed.

There is fierce Lady Charity Burbage, who proves to be a bold wonder amongst a meek crowd. Or perhaps one might find interest in Lady Aurora Sinistra, who I dare say is more brilliant and sharp than ever. Even Lady Pandora Rosier seems dreamier of late.

There is one thing for certain, reader: this season will be one to remember.

Keep your wits about you. Scandal lurks in every corner, as tricky as a hungry fox and more than ready to sink its claws into an unknowing victim. Guard your hearts, gentle ton, for I fear what I will write this season will be quite damning indeed.

Yours Truly,

Lady Whistledown

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

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.

[writer-of-sorts]

written with @wolfstarmicrofic prompts: affection + lust

The door to the broom cupboard creaked open, but the two boys didn’t even bother pulling away from each other this time.

Minerva sighed, long-suffering. This was starting to become routine.

“Mr Black, Mr Lupin, please keep it in your pants.”

But Sirius and Remus were far too busy shoving their tongues down each other’s throats to respond.

It was only when the professor cast a spell to slightly push them apart that the two boys finally broke their kiss. Flushed and panting, they both turned to look at her as they came down from their lust-driven fervour.

“Oh, come on, Minnie!” Sirius complained, “We were just getting started.”

Minerva repressed a smile, drawing her mouth into a thin line, the way she always did when the Marauders used that nickname.

“Well then,” she declared, “I’m glad I caught you two before things could… escalate.”

Remus snorted. Sirius winked at him. The couple grinned at each other, all sharp teeth and fiery affection.

Minerva’s heartstrings tugged in her chest. She knew from the moment they sat beside each other in her very first class –one boy all awkward limbs and lost eyes, the other all haughty swagger– that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin would have a love like no other.

Because their love was like a furnace, warming everything around them.

Even an old lady’s lonely heart.

[balkanradfem]

Favourite Fictional Women poll: FINAL LIST nominations + RULES (nominations closed)

Books:

Elphaba (Wicked)

Hermione (Harry Potter)

Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter)

Luna (Harry Potter)

Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter)

Sophie (Howl's Moving Castle)

Bella Swan (Twilight)

Lucy (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Susan (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Jo (Little Women)

Alanna (The Song of the Lioness)

Ichigo (Kamikaze Girls)

Momoko (Kamikaze Girls)

Phryne Fisher (Phryne Fisher Detective Novels)

Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)

Robin Ellacott (Cormoran Strike)

Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade Series)

Gideon (The Locked Tomb)

Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb)

Tattersail (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

Lyra (His Dark Materials)

Lisbeth Salander (The Millenium Trilogy)

Daja Kisubo (Circle of Magic)

Éowyn (Lord of the Rings)

Honor Harrington (Honor Harrington)

Zahrah (Zahrah the Windseeker)

Clair (Outlander)

Margo (The Magicians)

Camille Preaker (Sharp Objects)

Brienne of Tarth (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Cersei (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Daenerys Targaryen (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Arya (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Sansa ( A Song of Ice and Fire)

Rhaenyra Targaryen (Fire and Blood)

Eileen Dunlop (Eileen)

Romy Silvers (The Loneliest Girl in the Universe)

Lúthien (Sillmarilion)

Lady Sotofa (Echo series)

Esme Weatherwax (Discworld)

Angua von Überwald (Discworld)

Susan Sto Helit (Discworld)

Tiffany Aching (Discworld)

Nina Hill (The Bookish Life of Nina Hill)

Keladry (Protector of the Small series)

Shay (Uglies)

Cassie (Animorphs)

The Groke (the Moomins)

Tooticky (the Moomins)

Maximum Ride (Maximum Ride)

Auri (Kingkiller Chronicles)

Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)

Emily Starr (Emily of New Moon)

Penelope (Circe by Madeline Miller)

Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy)

Katsa (Graceling)

Yennefer of Vengerberg (Witchier)

Dr. Scarlet Clarke (They Never Learn)

Inej Ghafa (Six of Crows)

Ronja (Ronja)

Violet (Asoue)

Medea (Greek Mythology)

Medusa (Greek Mythology)

Jude (Folk of the Air)

Agatha (Girl Genius)

Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson)

Carrie (Carrie)

Movies

Miss Honey (Matilda)

Matilda (Matilda)

Barbie (Barbie's universe)

Ellen Louise Ripley (Alien)

Evelyn O'Connell (The Mummy)

Peggy Carter (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Sarah Conner (Terminator)

Cruella de Vil (Cruella)

Yzma (Emperor's New Groove)

Dr. Ellie Sattler (Jurrasic Park)

Harley Quinn (DC universe)

Amy Dunne (Gone Girl)

Jennifer (Jennifer's Body)

Maude Lebowski (Big Lebowski)

Eurodia Holmes (Enola)

Amy Adam (Arrival)

Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)

Mary Mason (American Mary)

Elsa (Frozen)

Mulan (Mulan 1998)

Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill)

O-Ren Ishii (Kill Bill)

Trinity (Matrix)

Sidney Prescott (Scream movies)

Dani Ardor (Midsommar)

M3gan (M3gan)

Aila (Rhymes for Young Ghouls)

Princess Kida (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

Mother Aughra (Dark crystal)

Elizabeth Swan (Pirates of the Carribean)

Marla Grayson (I care a lot)

Heloise (Portrait of a Lady on Fire)

Diana (Wonder Woman)

San (Princess Mononoke)

Zeniba (Spirited Away)

Chihiro (Spirited Away)

Wlle Woods (Legally Blonde)

Rey (Star Wars)

Princess Leia (Star Wars)

Haley Graham (Stick it)

Cruella (101 Dalmatian)

Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service)

TV Shows

Xena (Xena the Warrior Princess)

Gabrielle (Xena the Warrior Princess)

Callisto (Xena the Warrior Princess)

Buffy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Faith Lehane (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Sabrina (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)

Morgana Pendragon (Merlin)

Catharine Cawood (Happy Valley)

Donna Noble (Doctor Who)

Martha Jones (Doctor Who)

Female Doctor Who (Doctor Who)

Kaya (Supernatural)

Charlie Bradbury (Supernatural)

Claire (Supernatural)

Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)

Anna Clare (Being Human)

Poussey Washington (Orange is the New Black)

Sister Michael (Derry Girls)

Orla (Derry Girls)

Hayley (Hard Candy)

Vilanelle (Killing Eve)

Eve (Killing Eve)

Anne Lister (Gentleman Jack)

Ann Walker (Gentleman Jack)

Kim (Kim Possible)

Daria Morgendorffer (Daria)

Temperance Brennan (Bones)

Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul)

Katara (Avatar The Last Airbender)

Azula (Avatar The Last Airbender)

Toph (Avatar The Last Airbender)

Krosh (Kid Cosmic)

Guinan (Star Trek New Generations)

Bo-Katan Kryze (Star Wars)

Dong Eun (The Glory)

Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)

April Ludgate (Parks and Recreation)

Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99)

Dana Scully (X Files)

Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)

Calamity Jane (Deadwood)

Flea (Fleabag)

Michonne (The Walking Dead)

Trixie (Call the Midwife)

Sister Monica Joan (Call the Midwife)

Regina Mills (Once Upon a Time)

Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time)

Ruby Lucas (Once Upon a Time)

Mulan (Once Upon a Time)

Samatha/Sam Carter (Stargate SG-1)

Kira Nerys (Star Trek: Deep Space 9)

Jadzia Dax(Star Trek: Deep Space 9)

Eleanor (The Good Place)

Annalise Keating (How to Get Away with Murder)

Cheryl Blossom (Riverdale)

Miranda Bailey (Grey’s Anatomy)

Lizzie McGuire (Lizzie McGuire)

Catherine the Great (The Great)

Dolores Abernathy (Westworld)

Maeve Millay (Westworld)

Lorelai (Gilmore Girls)

Paris (Gilmore Girls)

Morticia Addams (Addams Family)

Elisa Maza (Gargoyles)

Vera Bennett (Wentworth (2013)

Joan Ferguson (Wentworth (2013)

Constance Hardbroom (The Worst Witch (1998)

Princess Bubblegum (Adventure Time)

Marceline the Vampire Queen (Adventure Time)

Monica (Friends)

Phoebe (Friends)

Maisel (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Shiv Roy (Succession)

Hannah (Please Like Me)

Lupe (A League of Their Own)

Jess (A League of Their Own)

Shahrzad (One Thousand and One Nights)

Michael Burnham (Star Trek Discovery)

 Emperor Phillipa Georgiou (Star Trek Discovery)

Dee Reynold (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

Kara Thrace (Battlestar Galactica)

Donna (Twin Peaks)

Laura palmer (Twin Peaks)

Audrey(Twin Peaks)

Marwa (What we do in the Shadows)

Nadja (What we do in the Shadows)

Love Quinn (You)

Allison (Orphan Black)

Cosima (Orphan Black)

Nyota Uhura (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Lisa Cuddy (House MD)

Leela (Futurama)

Bean (Disenchantment)

Pam (Archer)

Grace (Grace and Frankie)

Frankie (Grace and Frankie)

Helga Pataki (Hey Arnold)

Anime/Manga

Sophie (Howl's Moving Castle)

Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)

Hotaru - Sailor Saturn (Sailor Moon)

Michiru – Sailor Neptune (Sailor Moon)

Haruka – Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon)

Rei – Sailor Mars (Sailor Moon)

Homura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Sakura Kinomoto (CardCaptor Sakura)

Tomoyo Daidouji (CardCaptor Sakura)

Onpu (Ojamajo Doremi)

Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)

Striga (Castlevania)

Carmilla (Castlevania)

Misa Amane (Death Note)

Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Shinobu Kocho (Demon Slayer)

Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena)

Nana Osaki (Nana)

Hachi (Nana)

Jean (Claymore)

Clare (Claymore)

Theresa (Claymore)

Helen (Claymore)

Deneve (Claymore)

Casca (Berserk)

Haruno Sakura (Naruto)

Yosano (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Tome Kurata (Mob Psycho 100)

Nikaido (Dorohedoro)

Nia (Dorohedoro)

Maki Zen'in (Jujutsu Kaisen 0)

Yuno Gasai (Mirai Nikki)

Ichigo Momomiya (Tokyo Mew Mew)

Zakuro Fujiwara (Tokyo Mew Mew)

Historia Reiss (Attack on Titan)

Mikasa Ackermann (Attack on Titan)

Games

Nancy Drew (Nancy Drew)

April Ryan (The Longest Journey)

Kate Walker (Syberia)

Zelda (Legend of Zelda)

Impa (Legend of Zelda)

Urdosa (Legend of Zelda)

Evie Frye (Assassin's Creed)

Senua (Senua's Sacrifice)

Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn)

Elisabet Sobeck (Horizon Zero Dawn)

Serena (Skyrim)

Frea (Skyrim)

Morrigan (Dragon Age Origins)

Kreia (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II)

Kassandra of Sparta (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)

Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)

Reika (Fatal Frame)

Rei (Fatal Frame:The Tormented)

An Shiraishi (Project SEKAI)

Nene Kusanagi (Project SEKAI)

Ena Shinonome (Project SEKAI)

Jesse Faden (Control)

Almalexia (The Elder Scrolls)

Billie Lurk (Dishonored)

Emily Kaldwin (Dishonored)

Cecelia (Dishonored)

Lizzy Stride (Dishonored)

Delilah Copperspoon (Dishonored)

Lohse (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Sebille Kaleran (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Siva (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Malady (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Dallis the Hammer (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Toriel (Undertale)

Undyne (Undertale)

Alphys (Undertale)

Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya (Mass Effect)

Liara T'Soni (Mass Effect)

Aria T'Loak (Mass Effect)

Nyreen Kandros (Mass Effect)

Shala'Raan vas Tonba (Mass Effect)

Matriarch Aethyta (Mass Effect)

Yuna (Final Fantasy X)

Abby (The Last of Us)

Ellie (The Last of Us)

GLaDOS (Portal)

Chell (Portal)

Dr. Suvi Anwar (Mass Effect Andromeda)

Leliana (Dragon Age)

Parvati Holcomb (The Outer Worlds)

Chloe Price (Life is Strange)

2B (Nier Automata)

Comics

Stephanie Brown (DC comics)

Cassandra Cain (DC comics)

Zatanna Zatara (DC comics)

Elektra Natchios (Marvel comics)

Fanfiction

Ebony Dark'ness Raven Dementia Way

Web comics

Vriska Serket (Homestuck)

Jaden (Leasebound)

Antimony Carver (Gunnerkrigg Court)

Fictional Movies

Katya (Goncharov)

Podcasts

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home from (Welcome to Nightvale)

Plays

Lady Mabeth (Macbeth)

Clytemnestra (Oresteia)

Miscellanous

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid)

RULES:

All fictional women from a category will be randomized, and put into polls

Whoever gets 50 votes automatically proceeds into the next round. There won't be only one winner for each poll!

We will do one category at the time. We'll start with books.

We'll decide on a winner of each category, and then whoever had the most votes, will proceed into the Final 10.

I'll calculate how many votes each woman got, so that at the end of the voting, you can see how many other women also adored your favourite ones :)

This also means that once you vote, if there's someone else you also want to see in the finals, you can reblog and let your followers know who already has enough votes, and who needs more in order to proceed. I'll also sometimes reblog polls announcing that a certain character has made the cut, and now others need your attention. We're trying to see which ones are loved and adored enough to actually get a lot of votes, even with competition. The voting starts at the end of nominations!

(POLLS ARE COMING SHORTLY)

[eruden-writes]

An actual body guard fic 😂 even if it’s just the meeting of the pair. Who are decidedly ready to NOT get along. With some low key sexual tension.

Idk if this is low-key sexual attention or just moral struggles of an age gap interest.

[Masterlist of Chapters] [Next]

Bodyguard x Ward Demi-Eldritch x Human Age Gap (10ish years)

The All Hearts Festival in Erodinia. A celebration of fondness and love and, well, lust. Minerva had been terribly excited about it. 

After her husband, the late Lord Sythias, passed two years prior, the Lady Minerva Rinauld-Sythias hoped to exit her mourning period with some allowed salaciousness.

Then her cousin, King Ferdinand, stuck his damned nose in her business.

Assigning her a bodyguard around the All Hearts Festival, of all times! Oh, Ferdie said it was for her safety - something about too many nobles going missing or being murdered - but Minerva knew better. He didn’t want her to become a harlot, now that her mandatory mourning was over. Which honestly wasn’t his damned business. She was a grown woman, for heaven’s sakes! But he likely wanted to keep her in his back pocket in hopes of bartering her away to another husband-to-be.

That was the sole reason for assigning the Eldritch-Drow as her guard. Athethran Diardae. 

She knew of Athethran since she was a child and he were a fresh-faced recruit. Considering she grew up in the castle with her aunt and uncle - the previous royal Queen and King - acting as her parents, Minerva had seen quite a lot of Athethran. 

Considering their parentage - a dark elf and a creature from the Deep Abyssal realms - Athethran was hard to miss. Deep purple skin, speckled along their face like glittery freckles. Tentacle-like tendrils in place of hair. Their main eyes, the ones on their face where one expected eyes to sit, were dark with irises that were usually a golden yellow and pupils that reminded Minerva of a gecko’s.

In those early days, he couldn’t keep their form consistent. Some days, he were gangly and tall and other days squat and muscular. Being ten years their junior, he were always bigger than Minerva, but she was always excited to see what changes, if any, had transpired since she last saw them.

Now, he seemed fairly well-maintained. Their figure cut a muscular and tall silhouette and the often stray eyes that used to crop up on their figure were nowhere to be seen.

To be fair, much time had passed. Athethran likely gained much skill and maturity in those long years. 

Minerva herself had seen quite a lot. Sent to boarding school at fifteen, only coming home for the holidays. Occasionally seeing the aforementioned Eldritch-Drow in these short respites. Then off to university for five years. A couple years of enjoying freedom abroad. Then two years as Lord Sythias’s third wife, of which was rather uneventful and procured no further heirs for the old man. Thankfully, Lord Sythias only wanted company rather than a bedmate in those last few years of his life.

Nearly thirty now, Minerva was ready to return to living life for herself. Instead of being sequestered away by a kind but absolutely boring older husband. 

Considering what a crimp her bodyguard put in those plans made her sigh heavily. “This is so tedious.”

“We didn’t have to come here,” Athethran replied, arms crossed as he stared straight ahead. Though he stood still, the tendrils atop his head wavered, alert for any dangers that might creep out or outright attack. 

Apprehension itched along his flesh and conflict filled his thoughts. Of all the assignments King Ferdinand could have stuck him with, it was Lady Minerva and of all the places she sought to go, it was Erodinia during this damned debauchery festival. Not that Athethran had anything against revelry and seduction. 

It was the fact he was with her that made his insides wither. 

“Not the line. I was talking about you.” Minerva rolled her eyes and made a sharp motion to him.

“Take it up with the king.” Athethran found himself using that phrase quite a lot around her. From packing for the trip to the travel to standing in this very bloody line at the hotel. Stars above, the amount of people already in Erodinia and the festival didn’t officially start until tomorrow.

That made her quiet down with a huff. They managed to edge a little closer to the counter before she opened her mouth again. 

“I wouldn’t be remiss if you chose to enjoy the All Hearts Festival yourself.” She said, after a moment’s quiet contemplation. Waggling her fingers, she sighed airily, “Go find someone to diddle away with. I won’t tell. Promise.” 

He leered down at her, a stern expression hardening his features. “I cannot.” 

“Oh please, I know the guards shirk their responsibilities from time to time,” Minerva snorted, a sly grin curling at the corners of her lips as she looked up to Athethran. She forgot how tall he had grown. Or perhaps that was the height he chose for himself? As much as she tried to learn of Eldritch heritage while at university, nothing ever seemed to be exact.

Athethran did not say anything in reply. Simply tilted his eyes to Minerva, eyebrow cocked. As if he didn’t need to say a word for her to understand he was not like those guards she may reference.

They moved a few more inches in line, their conversation dwindling as the rest of the world giggled and guffawed around them. An ache tickled in her chest, watching others flirt and tease around her. She heaved another sigh, barely resisting the urge to stomp her foot. “No one is going to approach me with you acting as my shadow.”

“If they wished to approach, they would.” Athethran rolled his eyes, his crossed arms tightening across his chest. He wasn’t sure if he’d allow them to approach, of course. As of yet, that wasn’t a problem.

Minerva spun toward him, eyes wide with outrage and cheeks becoming an angry blotchy red. “Are you insinuating no one is approaching me because they find me lacking?” 

The two locked gazes, with Minerva simmering with rage while Athethran stared cooly down at her. His impassive expression didn’t crack or flinch under her glare. Eventually, he heaved a sigh and shrugged. “Interpret my words as you wish.”

It wasn’t until they were nearer the counter that Minerva pulled out her planned trick. Patting her sides, she gasped and turned to her bodyguard, “Oh no, I forgot my satchel with the horses. Can you go get it for me?” 

She watched something flicker over Athethran’s face. Agitation, perhaps. Something about the starry freckles in his purple cheeks seemed to glow. 

“I am not leaving you alone,” he finally rumbled, eyes narrowed. She expected as much from him, which was why she had waited so long before pulling out this particular excuse. 

“Well, one of us has to go, otherwise we’ll lose our spot.” She motioned to the line behind them as she pointedly added, “Do you want to wait again?”

With a half-turn, he took in the amassing line behind them. Something inside him flinched. The line looked to be twice as long as when they began this wait. Faintly, he wondered how many rooms were even available, how many were left.

“Fine,” he relented with a hiss. He hated how Minerva perked up at his acquiescence. Pointing to her face, he made one last demand. “Don’t move.” 

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She flashed him a sweet smile, folding her arms behind her back as she rocked on her heels. 

That expression alone should have been enough to deter him. Athethran should have known better. He had known her since she was five and causing chaos. Why would he expect her saccharine smile to be genuine?

When he returned, he had to choke down a snarled curse. Of course, Minerva wasn’t there when he came back. Intuition had told him as much, but he tried to give the woman the benefit of the doubt.

He was sorely mistaken to allow her such generosity. Ramming her satchel into his own pack, he eyed the surroundings, seeking any hint of the blasted woman.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

“I am perfectly capable of handling myself!” Minerva struggled as Athethran hauled her, over his shoulder, into a rented room. Unfortunately for her, the lodgings existed in a quieter part of town and had a back door, making it easy for the demi-Eldritch guard to drag her in without question.

“I have my orders, m’lady.” He thanked the gods above and below for being able to secure lodgings before having to track Minerva down. They wouldn’t have to struggle to find a room for the duration of the trip now or risk having to sleep outdoors. If it was the latter, he shuddered to think of how difficult it’d be to rein her in.

She thumped his solid back with a fist, knowing it did little to affect him. “Your orders are to keep me safe. Not to completely ruin my vacation.”

Outrunning and outmaneuvering the man had, admittedly, been fun. Certainly heart-pounding, but not in the way she really craved. It’d never be like that with him, she knew that. Though that acknowledgement made something in her chest twinge.

“I’m not ruining anything,” Athethran bit out as he carefully set her down on her feet.

“I’m in Erodinia for the All Hearts Festival and I won’t get a single bedmate, because you are following me everywhere.” Minerva’s arms spread wide, indicating the city as a whole as her foot slammed to the floor. Tilting a glare up at the demi-Eldritch, her frown curved savagely over her lips. “Sounds like you’re ruining it to me.” 

“What is stopping you from fucking around as much as you want?” 

“Not many people want an Eldritch being leering at them from the corner, Athethran.” Minerva crossed her arms, her lips abandoning their frown to pucker unhappily. She couldn’t understand why he went to such lengths to rein her in. If she was a man, this would be a non-issue. Hell, if she were a man, her cousin wouldn’t have even lashed a bodyguard to her! 

Agitation growing in her chest, Minerva couldn’t help spitting out, “Or is that how you want to participate in All Hearts? I wouldn’t have pegged you for a cuck.” 

Athethran pinched the bridge of his nose and took a breath before answering, “That’s because I am not one.”

“Then what is it? Why not bend the rules and have some fun?” Fueled by annoyance, Minerva took a step forward as her hand gestured angrily. 

He took a step back, avoiding the wide arch of her arm’s motion. Instinctively, his hands came up in a stop motion as he said, in a strained but even tone, “It’s my duty to protect you. If harm comes to yo–” 

“I can protect myself, as you very well know from our little scrap.” Minerva advanced another step, index finger pointed to his face. There was no way he could argue she couldn’t take care of herself. Between university magic studies, traveling abroad, and maintaining her skills, she was not a weakling in the spellcasting department. “So it has to be something else.” 

“I take my job seriously.” The heat in the room was rising too fast for Athethran’s comfort. Prickling sensations skittered over his skin and down his back. He had to defuse the situation soon or he might do something he’d regret.

“Or maybe you don’t want to even fathom me fucking, hm?”She marched another step forward and he took another step back, landing himself against a wall. Buoyed by the months - no, the years - of being infantilized and babied, Minerva’s ire bore down on Athethran like a wolf on prey. “Does it make you feel uncomfortable to think of me swallowing cock or being facedown in a juicy muff? Or–” 

“Min–” Athethran bit down so hard on his tongue, it was a marvel he didn’t chomp it right off. He corrected himself quickly, “M’lady. Please.”

“You were about to call me Minerva!” Her eyes widened, aghast at Athethran’s impropriety. The guard who refused to goof off so she could enjoy the All Hearts Festival bending such a rule! The scandal! 

Of course, when they were younger, such impropriety hadn’t bothered her. They’d been friends, to a degree. Well, until… She shoved the thought away, angry with herself for even skating so close to it.

“I was not.” Athethran only barely managed to convince himself his answer wasn’t a total lie.

She narrowed her eyes, intuition telling her Athethran wasn’t telling the entire truth. Her eyes widened a second later, recalling something from the dark dusty annals of memory. “You were going to call me Minnie!” 

Athethran couldn’t say anything to deny that. Instead, he turned his face away, unable to look his ward in the eye. The prickling sensations worsened down his back, feeling like bugs crawling over his skin as embarrassed heat seared up his insides.

“Oh, that is low. Calling me my childhood nickname,” Minerva hissed, her index finger jabbing him in the chest. The heat in the room hadn’t gone unnoticed by her, but she was enthralled with being angry, she missed the headier tingle in the air. “You really don’t see me as a fully capable adult, do you?” 

It was her touch that did it. Up until that point, she hadn’t willingly touched him. Before he knew it, his hand had snatched her wrist, holding her hand far enough away to break contact. 

Miserableness creased his features and frustration painted his tone, “I begged your cousin to not put me on this assignment.”

“Why? What’s so bad about me?” Conflicting emotions shot through Minerva. As much as she didn’t want a bodyguard, there was no reason for Athethran to not want to guard her. Unless it had to do with what happened when she was fifteen. 

A flare of mortification coiled up from her stomach as she fought off the memories. Little snippets still leaked through. She could see Athethran, a young man in his mid-twenties, and the flurry of emotions that had passed his features at her stupid stupid confession.

“Why do you think?” It took all of Athethran’s effort to not yell. The tendrils on his head were already riled up, flickering and trembling. Wasn’t it obvious why he didn’t want to take her on as an assignment? Even if she didn’t know of his attraction to her, there was still their history. “I watched you grow up.” 

“I watched you grow up too,” she shot back, completely unable to grasp what his issue was.

An affronted look passed his features. “I was an adolescent when you met me.” 

“Same difference,” she waved a hand dismissively. As far as she was concerned, she still watched him grow into a man. 

“Huge difference.” He released her wrist, holding up both his hands to flash ten digits in her face. “A ten-year difference.”

Minerva glared up at him, disappointed he couldn’t separate his memories of her to the actuality of her adult self. She took a deep breath and planted her hands on her hips, if only to keep from smacking Athethran. “Why does seeing me grow up even matter? I’m well into adulthood now.” 

“That’s the problem.” When he heard Minerva was returning to the court of King Ferdinand, after the untimely death of her husband and one of Lord Sythias’s heirs taking over the estate, Athethran was a little eager. He hated to admit it to himself. It felt wrong. 

He’d seen her grow up, he’d watched over her, he even offered her advice or minimal training in combat when she asked. When she’d confessed to loving him at fifteen, the world had shifted terribly. And suddenly all the whispered words and snide remarks about his friendship with her - as much as a guard and noble can be friends - had become amplified.

The way her face had crumpled at his rejection still struck him in the chest. The years that followed, he had taken care to keep his distance and it seemed she did the same. 

Then she came back to the castle dressed in her mourning wear, but most definitely not a girl any longer. Poised and mature, with a soft smile and even softer, curvier, body. Four months after her husband passed, her smart mouth and earnest nature bled into her somber visage. Athethran’s chest ached the more he interacted with her, even briefly.

And he hated himself for it.

“Excuse me?” Something burned at the back of Minerva’s eyes as she recognized the look passing over Athethran’s features. He had a similar expression when he made his disinterest in her clear. Discomfort and, maybe, disgust. 

Gods, she hated herself for not being able to drop the topic. In the years following her confession, she had taken such care to avoid Athethran. Not only for her pride and heart, but for his own comfort. Over the years, she realized their difference in age, in class, and in status mattered. Her authority over him could have cost Athethran his career as a guard.

But if he was this appalled by her, why didn’t he just go have fun like she suggested?

Athethran glared down at Minerva, his brain swirling with some way to answer her. He couldn’t find any excuse that would make sense to her. Not unless he wanted to reopen old wounds for her and mortification for himself. 

Looking around the room offered no excuses, either. Although it did make him realize there was only one bed in the damn room. There was no way they could share that bed after this talk. The heat simmering in the room was bound to explode, one way or another.

He needed space to cool down. Shoving past Minerva, he headed for the door. “I am going to sleep in the hall. Do us both a favor and stay put.” 

“Why should I?” Her hands balled into fists as she turned to watch him go. Something in her angry with him, but also not wanting to see him go. There was something she couldn’t pinpoint in the air. Something razing her skin and making goosebumps simmer beneath her flesh. 

Or maybe it was the angry heat and the adrenaline it brought with it. 

Athethran rounded so fast on her, Minerva stumbled back in shock. “If you don’t, I’ll make you stay put.” 

For a breath, he thought - hoped - she’d listen. Her eyes were wide, borderline fearful, on his face. Then, they flicked to the bed before darting to the window. 

She was really fucking thinking about taking off already. 

Before he knew it, he had Minerva pinned to the bed with a frustrated growl. Her dainty gasp rasped at his spine, her knees squeezed to his sides. Another ragged sound of shock bubbled up from her as her legs were pulled straight, tethered to the footboard by unseen forces. 

Her heart jumped in her throat, brain momentarily submerged in confusion. For a brief second, Minerva felt Athethran weigh down on her, heavy and firm and warm. 

Just as quick as he descended, he was off her. His footfalls headed toward the door, obviously ready to be rid of her presence.  Leaving her feeling a little cold, despite the heat in the air. 

Minerva arched, staring at the place where he had clutched her wrists. A substance that appeared gooey, though it didn’t feel that liquidy, had been left behind, binding her wrists to the headboard. A similar sight was found around her ankles, tied to the footboard. 

He had bound her up to keep her from doing anything! That godsdamn bastard!

The angry shriek Minerva gave made Athethran pause. He turned, about to ask if she was willing to behave, when his stomach sank. Despite the binds, her hands were managing to draw runes in the air and, just before he could think to do anything, blinding light flashed in his eyes. 

A guttural hiss left his lips as burning heat wound tight around him. His arms plastered to his sides, his legs bound together. The world upended as he bodily whumped the floor, snarling and writhing against the binds. “Minerva!” 

“Fuck you, Athethran!” The bed frame rattled as she tugged on the binds, making the floorboards beneath the bed creak. Unseen by Athethran, her face burned with an angry and mortified ruddiness. “If I’m going to be tied up - and not in the fun way - I’m going to do the same to you!” 

A growl rumbled from Athethran, but he slumped face first against the floor. Even his tendrils had given up, flopping motionlessly down.

The All Hearts Festival hadn’t even begun and already he was at his wit’s end.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

There will be more parts to Minerva and Athethran's story!

Until then...

February is the month of my birth.

So as a gift to me, maybe drop a review for Teeth at Goodreads or Amazon? *winkwonk* (If you buy my novella on Amazon, it will be more refined and include an additional scene!)

I also have these for consideration:

🎀 Patreon 🎀 Ko-fi 🎀 Amazon Wishlist 🎀

[saintsenara]

(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.

[consistentsquash]

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

[thereasonsimbroke]

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.

[somerandommuffinpaper]

I just saw that Dame Maggie Smith has passed. So I asked ChatGPT to write a memorial speech … and it’s just beautiful.

**Memorial Speech for Dame Maggie Smith**

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we gather not only to mourn the loss but also to celebrate the extraordinary life of a woman who touched countless hearts across generations—Dame Maggie Smith.

Maggie was an artist of rare talent, who brought to life characters with depth, grace, and often, with a sharp wit that left us all in awe. From her captivating portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in *Harry Potter*, where she became the stern yet deeply caring figure to many young fans, to the iconic Dowager Countess of Grantham in *Downton Abbey*, whose one-liners have echoed in homes worldwide, Maggie Smith was never just acting; she was living and breathing these characters.

Her career spanned over seven remarkable decades, and in that time, she garnered the highest accolades our industry can bestow—two Academy Awards, multiple BAFTAs, Emmys, Golden Globes, and most importantly, the affection and admiration of audiences across the globe. Whether on the grand stage of theatre or the intimate screen, her presence was undeniable.

But beyond the applause and the standing ovations, there was something profoundly personal about Maggie. Her sons, Chris and Toby, have spoken about her deep humility and fierce love for her family, a quiet but steady presence in their lives. Though intensely private, she managed to give the world a piece of her heart through every role she embodied.

Maggie taught us that acting is more than just performing—it’s storytelling. It’s about making people feel seen, heard, and understood. She did that, with the wisdom of a seasoned veteran and the soul of a true artist.

Her absence today is felt by all—her friends, her family, and those of us who were touched by her performances. But while we grieve, we also take solace in knowing that her legacy will live on. She leaves behind a treasure trove of unforgettable performances, moments that will continue to inspire and bring joy to those yet to discover her brilliance.

Dame Maggie Smith was, quite simply, one of the greatest. And though we say goodbye to her today, her spirit will remain with us, in every corner of theatre and film, in every heart that beats a little faster at the sound of her name.

Rest in peace, dear Maggie. You will never be forgotten.

Thank you.

[illwilled]

❝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 .

[yamitsuki-devillie]

Prompt day 16: Scars + prompt day 17: Hug

Since i'm very late, this prompt will be for both the 'scars' and 'hug' prompt in a single prompt. Tried a new shading style without blurring the shading on this drawing, it was pain but i'm pretty satisfied with the result :' D

Yami and Min are cuddling while Yami is explaining her scars, Min is very interested in everything.

Prompt list by: @intistone

Pure funny and sweet fluff below this line. Minerva decided to be gremlin XD

Yami and Minerva are sitting on the living room, the siren is quite literally interrogating the feral moose lady about her scars, while Yami is answering them without problem, chuckling at the babie's curiosity.

Min: And this one? *Points to the bite mark on her arm.*

Yami: *Hums softly.* This one was made by a siren in a fight.

Min: Siren? Like me? *Looks up.*

Yami: Yes, Like you, but different from that siren you would never attack me would you?

Min: *Indigned chirping.* I would never! *Pouts, looking to the other way.*

Yami: *Chuckles and hugs the Indigned mossy-lolt.* I know you would never, don't worry.

Min: *Happy warbling at the hug, before she baps at the kelpie.* You better know! *Snuggles closer to her mom, bleeping at her.*

Yami: *Chuckles softly and nuzzles the baby siren.*

Min: *Wags her tail and smiles widely with her sharp teeth, before having a misavelous idea.*

Yami: *Notices her misavelous look.* What do you plan now?-

Min: *Attacks her arm and play fights with it.*

Yami: *Soft laugh* Hey, didn't you just said you would never attack me?

Min: Never promise not to play fight. *Blow a raspberry* Now PERISH. *Continues to play fight with her arm.*

Yami: Betrayal! *Chuckles and let the gremlin play with her arm. Meanwhile, Gin is watching with amusement and filming it while Kira sleeps on his tail.*

[endlessly-cursed]

WWTG22- The Welcome Ball 2.0- One Last Dance

“I know what a dance is, you clodpole.” 

Adonis shakes his head, a small smile forming on his lips. 

“Is that a yes? Or have I come too late to fill your card?” 

Minerva cleared her throat “I... suppose I have one more room for you.” 

He smirked at her and gently took her card, which he noticed only had one name and it was one of her roommates, but said nothing. Last year, he would’ve teased her endlessly, but not anymore. He was done fighting with her. He was done pretend her he didn’t stand her, or wanted her away from him when all he craved for was the contrary. With a flourish, he finished writing his name “Until then, Minnie. I shall be waiting for you patiently.” 

Before she could reply, he nodded at her and left to the snack table, his heart racing. He was to dance with Minerva Kennedy. He had yet to figure out what this feeling was, but he knew he wanted more. He drank some light wine and stuffed one macaron in his mouth. He could see how she talked to the hostess, who was taking a break from dancing. Naturally, she was the most demanded lady in the room, and not only because she was the hostess. She was Lady Gray, a woman who had faced a royal duke and won, defending her birthright with strenght and bravery rarely seen in a man. Someone who radiated magnificience from head to toe. Yet, to Adonis, she paled in comparison to Minerva. Yes, she fuddled him, got on his nerves and humiliated him, but still couldn’t get enough of her, or her quick wit and sharp mind, as fast as Hermes himself. 

The next dance was announced, and he took his place, as well as Minerva dutifully did. The dance, for what he knew, was intimate but still with some space left. His eyes never left her as she spoke “You’re quite the dancer, I have to admit. Go to dances often?” 

“This isn’t the first event of Lady Gray I’ve gone. There was a time where my parents tried to impress hers.” 

Minerva frowned “What could a twat like you have to offer the lady?” 

He shrugged as he circled around “I was once considered a groom for her, back when I was younger.” 

There was something about Minerva’s expression that gave him hope. Jealousy, perhaps? Or the fact that it didn’t amuse her at all? But as it had come, it was gone and she instead said “Good. You would’ve drove her to madness anyways.” 

He tried his best to follow the dance “Believe it or not, Minerva, I can perform my duty well. I can be as much of a gentleman as any other titled man.” 

Minerva snorted “That’s not what I have been witnessing.” 

He stopped on his tracks, and looked into her eyes intensely “Because you never gave me a chance. Yes, Minerva,I made a mistake, but I think I’ve paid my mistake long ago. Why do you insist on making of me a rival still, hm?” 

She seemed taken aback “Because... because... you vex me!” 

“Do I? Or have you grown accustomed to it, and think that you do?” he took a deep breath “I’ll have to let you know, about me being a possible groom, that when I am serious about pursuing somebody, they will only find me the kindest, most devoted man, and have no complaint of my manners or personality. Not even a bare Aphrodite could make me disray from them.” He realised then that they were awfully close, facing off and breathing heavily. Minerva frowned, noticing the intensity of his eyes. 

“What do you mean ‘serious about pursuing someone’, Adonis?” 

His eyes softened, longing on it “Can’t you tell who am I referring to, Minnie?” 

She stood there in silence for perhaps too long, and when she was to open her mouth to retort, everyone clapped and he was quick to bow and she did too, and he left without even letting her come up with a witty remark. 

To say that Minerva was speechless and confused of his behaviour as of late was an understatement. 

Minerva belongs to @unfortunate-arrow​ 

[r-we-taire-yet]

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!

[cathygeha]

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 . . .

[adportashq]

NAME: Minerva Hawthorn

PRONOUNS: She/Her

FACECLAIM: Alycia Debnam-Carey

AGE: 237

SPECIES: Vampire

RANK: Princess

OCCUPATION: Manager at Night Time Shipping and Receiving 

BIOGRAPHY:

Life for Celine-Marie Brigitte Noailles, now Minerva Hawthorn, began with a silver spoon in her mouth. Born to the Duke and Duchess Noailles she wanted for nothing. Save her own freedom. Being part of such a prominent family in French society was the center of her world from the moment of her conception. As a babe, she was not seen as a precious gift to love and coddle; but a tool to win favor with the other aristocrats that made up the French nobility. The only times she was held by the Duke or Duchess was for the painting of a portrait or public events, otherwise, she was in the care of her wetnurse, of which there were several to provide care for her other siblings. There had already been three by the time of her birth, all male. Little boys who stood to inherit a fortune more than many could comprehend once they found a suitable bride; a wife to birth sons and carry on the family name.

As the daughter, Minerva's role was to marry further into the aristocracy, securing favor with another, ideally more prominent family. From the time she could toddle around the family estate she was expected to learn what was necessary for a woman of her breeding to know. She must never cross her legs at the knee. There was to be no mucking about. Maths were only taught in the context of how to manage household affairs and finances, should her lord husband be away at business. She was taught to read and write, but the subjects were confined to manuals on how to cook and sew, though as a noble lady she would most certainly never need to accomplish those tasks herself. The only hobbies allowed to her were ones that would make her more appealing to a potential suiter such as to sing or to play the harp. The only clothes allowed were those that represented her high birth: corsets and full skirts.

As a toddler she was precocious; always exploring and getting into things and doing activities unbecoming to a lady. Whether it be playing in the mud next to the family pond, or running through the field with the prized hounds. The price for those activities was sharp discipline, a whack of the ruler to the backs of her thighs. Never anything on the face. She was to be kept pretty. For her, it was a life of confinement, both inside and out. She never felt free to be herself, to explore the world around her, to develop into the charismatic young lady she knew she could be, if only she could do things the way she wanted.

The one reprieve she received from all the stressors of her life was when she would visit her fraternal grandfather. A widower, he loved all his grandchildren, but Minerva held a special place within his heart as she took after his late wife. He was her father figure, and whenever the two were alone he would teach her things her parents would certainly have gaped at. How to play poker. How to ride a horse properly, no side saddle. He would take her on fox hunts, to teach her how to command the hounds. He cultivated her sense of wonder and creativity, allowing her to blossom into her own, to be able to think for herself. The love she felt for him surmounted anything she could have ever imagined feeling for her own parents. Their relationship was a special one. In the end, her father became wise to his antics, and, since he was too timid to go after his own father, he tightened his hold on his daughter instead. She was now only allowed to see her grandpa on supervised visits with the nanny or one of her brothers, all of whom were quick to tell if anything were to be remiss. Her life continued that way for the next two years, until she turned sixteen and was introduced to her suitor.

He was a handsome man of proper, French breeding. The path in which he had chosen to take his own career was the same as her father’s chosen path, and the two men bonded instantly. From the moment they met her husband seemed to understand her desire for freedom of spirit. In stolen moments alone he promised her the world. It would be whatever she wanted it to be, and he would support her through whatever hobbies she may want. His words wooed her in a way that flowers and gifts never could and when they married just one year after their first meeting, when Minerva was seventeen, she walked down the aisle as if floating on air. It was a grand affair, no expense spared, her dress alone cost thousands of pounds and was adorned with the finest of pearls. The ridiculousness of it was so obscene she struggled not to laugh when she looked back on the grandiosity of it all. Unfortunately, her dreams of her future were short lived.

Her new husband was not who he had purported himself to be. In truth, he was a cruel man. He expected her obedience like a man from a dog, any indiscretion earned her a kick like she was one as well. From the moment she was brought home, his only goal was to produce an heir. Other than social events and soiree’s, it was the only time she saw him. The days were long and the nights cold in her wife’s suite. She was allowed no form of entertainment other than those that were previously approved by her husband. Visits with her beloved grandfather were terminated. Minerva missed him the most out of everything. Each time their marriage was consummated she feared what the life of her child would be like if she gave birth to a girl such as herself. In her loneliness, she dedicated her time to praying to whatever deity that would listen that the child she would conceive be male. On the rare occasions on which she could see her family, she often pulled them aside in crowded rooms, and begged for them to rescue her from the predicament she found herself in. It was no use. The women tutted and clucked their tongues and shushed her, advising her that she just needed to adjust to the new order of things, that was all. The men were worse. Her own father berated her, accusing her of trying to ruin their good family name with her petulance.

With nowhere to turn, she endured.

Nearly a year after her wedding day, Minerva fell pregnant with her son, Sawyer. His presence reminded her of a strength she had forgotten she possessed. For seven months she carried her bundle of love inside of her, nurturing and tending to him with such devotion that even her husband was finding it difficult to find fault with her. She did as she was told and spent her free time preparing for the baby, the dutiful wife. She had grown too bold in her standing with her husband. Challenging him over some trivial thing or another. He was quick to put her in her place, his shove sending her flying into the corner of an expensive, glass, coffee table. Her stomach was the point of contact, the table shattering under the combined weight of her and her unborn baby. The next hours were agony. She remembered vividly the feeling of cramps that tore through her, the doctors yelling as they rushed around her as her and her baby’s life’s blood dripped out onto the sterile mattress.

The next morning, Minerva was told of her sons death. Her screams and cries could not be shushed. No comfort was offered to her, not even a tonic to calm her mind and allow her to rest. For hours she sat alone in her room, propped up on the bed with pillows. The only company allowed to her were her maids and even they were under strict orders not to speak with her. As darkness fell that night her husband finally came to see her. She cried to him, begging him to let allow her to at least hold her son. He coldly refused. Accused her of being defective and insufficient. He would find a new, better, wife. Hands reached for her throat and as they squeezed spots clouded her vision.

When Minerva came to she was alone in her room, yet everything felt somehow different. A burning thirst was raw in the back of her throat. A whimper signaled that she was not alone. With inhuman speed her head snapped around to watch as the most beautiful woman she had ever seen held her husband by the throat. What came next was instinctual. Minerva charged forward and drained the life out of the man who had cost her her child. From that moment on, Minerva swore fealty to her creator. 

As time passed Minerva became skilled in all areas of combat. A Princess next to her Queen, the young vampire did not intend to fail. When the time came Minerva took over running the art and antiquities portion of the Queen’s Empire. She has used her extra time on Earth well. Choosing to rid it of type of men she so vehemently despises. They are the only people on which she feeds, taking great joy in the snap of a neck as her teeth sink into her feast. Minerva has gained a reputation as someone to be feared and in her spare time enjoys getting into fights with those who seem to think they are better than her. She does not lose easily.