#Mother of Pearl Engagement Ring | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

milliesfishes · 7 months ago

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౨ৎ꣑ৎDon't Worry Darling౨ৎ꣑ৎ

[fem reader] contains: kidnapping, childbirth, angst, murder, revenge pairing: coriolanus snow x fem reader summary: yours and coriolanus' daughter is kidnapped author’s note: requested by a very lovely anon- I didn't post with the ask because it has the plot in it, but I hope you know who you are and I hope you enjoy! much love, thank you for sending this in <3 Pinterest Board Spotify Playlist

He would kill for you.

That wasn't nothing. It was everything he would do for you summed up in five little words. All one syllable. Forming a threat to any who wronged you.

Coriolanus knew his soul was stained, tainted by the wrongdoings of his past, no matter how justified they were in his survival. Awful or not, he had made it this far, and now he had you. So how bad had it been, really?

You were a heart-shaped, lace-trimmed, sugar-filled surprise whom he'd fallen head over heels for instantly. How was he expected to resist such a treasure, a jewel in the worn crown of the Capitol?

No, you were perfect. And he knew he didn't deserve you. That didn't stop him from courting you, however, from making you promises with sweet kisses in tow. It certainly didn't stop him from spoiling you with both pleasure and pretty things, or from sliding an engagement ring onto your finger.

You were the sparkle in his eye, the shine to his reputation. But more than that, you were his love, his darling. Coriolanus had the best of everything, and his wife was absolutely no exception. You were the best of his best.

When you became pregnant, he was absolutely doting, making a point to spoil you even more than before if that was possible. His hands barely left you, except to reach for his credit card. Being the president, he had leeway to take as much time off of work as he needed to be by your side.

Coriolanus coddled your growing belly, spooning you every night with his arms wrapped protectively around it. He cocooned you with his affection and you made no move to break out of it.

You glowed under the effect of pregnancy, just as he knew you would. It filled him with a sense of pride, seeing you all round and full of his child. It was a sign that you were purely, undoubtedly his.

Childbirth very nearly sent him into a frenzy. Here, nature was taking control. Which meant he had none. Memories and thoughts of his dear departed mother flashed through his mind, and he tried not to let his fear show as he held your hand, smoothing sweaty hair from your face and telling you how well you were doing.

It scared him because his money was useless here.

Regal even as you were birthing his child, you spoke meekly, trying not to squeeze his hand too hard in fear of hurting him. He wanted you to break his hand if you needed to, whatever would alleviate your pain. But no, you were soft and kind even in agony.

When your baby girl slid into the world, he sighed in relief, even if only because your suffering was over. And as the doctor handed her to you, he could see tears shining like pearls on your face. There was that familiar pride. He leaned down and kissed your forehead, lips lingering there for a moment. "You're amazing," he muttered against your skin.

Then he saw his daughter fully for the first time. Coriolanus didn't believe in love at first sight. But now here he was, staring at his little daughter swaddled in your arms. You made a pretty picture. His girls.

Right then and there, his very first vow was remedied. There were two people he'd kill for now.

Penelope Snow was his purest love, held at equal status with you. Affectionately nicknamed 'Penny', she was the absolute apple of his eye. You always said she looked more like Coriolanus, and he supposed he could see it in her blonde hair and blue eyes. But when he really studied her, all he could see was your ethereal beauty reflected in his daughter.

Although Penny was an absolute darling who loved all she met, she was a daddy's girl through and through. He held her whenever he could, bouncing her on his knee and winding a hand through her blonde curls.

Often you would walk in on the sight of him in his study, Penny sleepy against his chest while he dotted i's and crossed t's on some proposal. He'd look up, smiling tiredly and patting his daughter's side. It was heartwarming- how much he loved her.

Because he was a pushover when it came to her, Coriolanus spoiled Penny beyond anything. You worried to him that she'd become some sort of monster because of it, but she remained sweet, always adorably thanking her daddy when he gave her something new. That only encouraged him more.

Penny loved walking in the garden with her parents, playing with her dolls, and reading. You made a point not to let her spend too much time with a nanny, conscious of the way the children of other socialites in your circles clung to their caretakers in place of their parents. When you brought up this concern to Coriolanus, he agreed, carving out time in his schedule to spend as a family.

Not only did he adore Penny, he also adored you as a mother. It filled him with joy to witness you with your daughter, and he let you know in every way possible. He held you closer than ever, hands wandering past your hips, whispering how much he loved you, how in awe he was of you.

It was a wonder you didn't fall pregnant again sooner. Penny was three when you received word from the doctor.

Of course, you both were overjoyed, and thus began his pregnancy routine again. He felt he'd never been happier than now, with his beautiful daughter and enchanting wife. The three of you were splashed across every tabloid in the Capitol. The envy of everyone, Panem's model picture-perfect family.

That was just the way he wanted it.

Coriolanus watched you adjust your earrings in the mirror, silently admiring you from behind. You caught his eye in the mirror, a lovely smile overtaking you. "Tonight, I'm unsure which part of me you're looking at."

When you stood, he was immediately encircling his arms around you, kissing your forehead twice. "All of you. Every bit. You're beautiful."

"Not too much?" you fussed with your dress as you said it, smoothing the sheer red fabric.

"Perfect," he nodded, holding your face in his hands and pressing his lips to your hairline. "You're absolutely ravishing, my love."

You smiled, your eyes sparkling. Reaching your delicate hands up, you smoothed his collar, fixing his tie. "You look so handsome," you said softly, leaning up to kiss him. He didn't care if you got lipstick on his mouth.

"Daddy?" Penny poked her head in, her face lighting up when she saw the both of you. She ran in, burying her little face into Coriolanus' knee. He scooped her up, balancing her on his hip and smiling.

"Isn't Mama pretty?" he asked, and she nodded enthusiastically.

"Mama's so pretty," she said with all the sincerity of a child.

You cooed, kissing her cheek and smoothing her hair. "My baby."

Coriolanus gave you a little frown. "We can't take her with us?"

"Oh, she'd be tired halfway through," you slid your arm around his neck, and he wrapped his free one around your waist. "These things go far past bedtime." You stroked your daughter's cheek for a moment. "Penny, give Daddy a kiss so we can get going."

She pressed her lips to Coriolanus' cheek, and he set her down with one last squeeze before she ran off to find her nanny.

Attention turned fully back to you; he thumbed a strand of your hair. "Shall we?"

You nodded, and he gave you a quick kiss before offering you his arm. He helped you down the stairs and into the car. Even though you were in the early stages of pregnancy, that didn't stop him from being overprotective.

The gala was typical of those kinds of events- champagne and allied conversation. It wasn't anything too precarious- you stayed on his arm sipping sparkling cider, playing the diplomatic First Lady wonderfully as you always did.

He could see you getting tired though, about three hours in. Parting ways with the Head Gamemaker, he turned to you, fingers running up and down your waist gently. "Would you like to-"

There was a sharp noise like shattering glass. Coriolanus immediately ducked, bringing you down with him to the floor. Gunshots. Thinking only of you and the baby, Coriolanus held your body close to his, arms protectively wrapped around you, his back facing the direction of the sound.

A hand on his shoulder made him look up, and he saw one of the Peacekeepers gesturing to him. "To the safe room, sir. You and your wife."

Coriolanus stood immediately, gathering you in his arms. You wouldn't be able to run in heels. He carried you hurriedly to where the Peacekeeper directed them, where a few more security and several partygoers were hiding away. A chair was produced, and he set you down, checking to see if you were okay.

Smoothing your hair, he reassured you that everything would be okay. The two of you were safe now. You slid a hand over your belly, inhaling nervously. "How long do you think we'll be here? I'm worried about Penny."

He ran a soothing hand down your face, stroking your cheek. "Penny's fine, sweetheart. She's safe back at the house. It'll be okay."

But still you worried, insisting something didn't feel right. Coriolanus did his best to keep you calm, kneeling at your side and holding your hand and reminding you to breathe steady.

It was nearly an hour later that he noticed the Peacekeepers speaking amongst themselves, casting glances back at them occasionally. He perked up when one started to walk over, his face serious.

Coriolanus stood to meet him, not letting go of your hand. "Has the shooter been apprehended?"

"Yes," the man started, and Coriolanus felt you stand up beside him, squeezing his hand. "But there's been other news."

"What happened?" you asked softly, and Coriolanus wound his arm around your waist, hand slightly over your belly. You touched that hand with your adjacent one, twining your fingers together again.

The man looked grim, and Coriolanus' hold tightened on you. "Sir, your daughter...she's been taken."

You fainted. As soon as the words left his mouth, you crumpled in Coriolanus' arms, and he held on tight, kneeling on the ground and saying your name frantically. He looked up at the bystanders. "Someone get her water!"

Once he heard footsteps hurrying away, he looked back up at the man, face incredulous. "What do you mean, taken?"

He nodded solemnly. "Not fifteen minutes ago. Her caretaker was held at gunpoint, and when she refused to relinquish your child, she was shot. And then they took her. We're trying to figure out where."

"Send every Peacekeeper you can afford," Coriolanus snapped, looking up at the young man. It was funny in a way. He'd once been in that position and now he was giving orders. The thought made his heart soften a bit. "Leave no stone unturned. Find her."

The man saluted and went to tell his comrades. Coriolanus turned his attentions back to you, stroking your cheek and breathing in relief when your eyes fluttered open. He managed a small smile. "Sweetheart...how are you feeling?"

"They took Penny?" you choked, trying to sit up, and he supported you with an arm around your back.

"We're going to find her," he assured, taking the water retrieved by someone nearby and holding it to your lips. "It's going to be okay. She'll be okay."

"You were saying we should bring her...and I said no..." you panicked, your breathing growing unsteady. Coriolanus shook his head, pressing your face to his chest.

"This is not your fault," he whispered into your hair, aware of all eyes on you. "Never. It could never be your fault. They're going to find our daughter. I promise."

You looked up at that. Coriolanus had never made you a promise he couldn't keep, and the certainty in his voice calmed you. He kissed your temple, had you drink more water, and thus began the wait.

It was agony, worrying about his daughter while trying to keep you stable. His mind wandered to the worst possible conclusions, horrible images appearing before his eyes. He waved them off, praying you weren't wondering the same things.

Eventually, the Peacekeepers deemed it safe for everyone to go home. You remained worried, crying softly into Coriolanus' shoulder as he carried you up the stairs into the bedroom. He called for a sleep aid, one of your pregnancy ones, in an attempt for you to get some rest.

The pill kicked in, and he sat beside you, your head in his lap. He idly stroked your hair, anxiety not letting him sleep. The future's possibilities scared him more than anything had before. This is what he fought for. His family, the one thing he wanted to protect more than anything. If he couldn't keep you and your daughter safe, what kind of man was he? What kind of husband? What kind of father?

The phone beside the bed rang, and Coriolanus picked it up instantly as not to disturb you. "What did you find?"

As the person on the other end spoke, his heart beat hopefully. He gave an order in response to the information, and then made a call to send the car to the front. He'd be down in a moment.

Looking down at you, a sense of dread filled him. He didn't want to leave you here, so vulnerable and emotional, especially in your delicate condition. With that in mind, he picked up the phone once more, making a final call.

"...Tigris? You heard the news?" he listened to her for a moment. "Would you come over for a little while? Just until I get back. I don't want to leave her alone...thank you."

Hanging up, he resumed stroking his fingers through your hair, wanting to wake you up and tell you what he was about to do.

But it would only send you into further hysterics. For he'd never told you of that first vow.

Getting out of the car, Coriolanus squinted at the concrete building hidden under the guise of darkness. He looked at the nearby Peacekeeper, who nodded.

Moving swiftly, Coriolanus allowed them to direct him up the stairs, past the freshly murdered bodies splayed bloody across the ground all the way to the top. He barely paid them any mind. The only thing on his mind was Penny.

When he reached the door to the room, there were already several soldiers standing by, guns raised. He could hear noises from the inside, one of which he recognized as his daughter's crying.

The sound spurred him on, and he gave a signaling nod, triggering the head Peacekeeper to kick the door down, a line of his men trailing behind him and shouting things at Penny's captors.

Coriolanus waited a moment before walking in. He surveyed the scene coldly, looking at the men pushed against the wall by the soldiers, held at gunpoint. Then his eyes found Penny. His baby girl.

Messy hair, dusty clothes, scratches on her arms, she was a sorry sight. Tears were streaming down her rosy cheeks, and his heart broke to see it. He went to her, kneeling in front of the chair where she was tied up and undoing the binds. She sniffled, her chin wobbling. "Daddy...Daddy..."

"Shh, princess." He got the ropes undone, scooping her into his arms and standing up. She leaned her face against his shoulder, one ear against it, and he rubbed her back. Since he was still in his dress shirt from the gala, she mussed his collar with tears, but he couldn't care less. "Daddy's here...Daddy's got you."

Over her shoulder, he gave the head Peacekeeper a look, and then turned back to his daughter. "Close your eyes, Penny. It's going to be very loud for a minute but then we're going to go home."

She nodded into his shoulder, squeezing her eyes shut. He steadied one hand over her uncovered ear, and the chaos began.

A dozen fired shots sounded, and Penny winced, but her eyes stayed closed. He dropped a kiss to her hair. She still smelled like the flowery lotion you put on after her baths to keep her skin smooth.

Once the shooting was over, he uncovered her ear, whispering that it was okay, she was safe. She looked up at him with that same sweet smile, despite the fact that she'd been through who knows what. His happy girl.

Then there was another shot. He heard Penny's scream before his brain registered what had happened. It was only when he felt the blood leaking onto his arm that he realized.

Penny was crying, her sobs smashing what was left of his heart. Her arm was bleeding where the bullet had grazed her. The man who'd fired the gun was immediately tackled by a nearby Peacekeeper, who beat him unconscious.

Coriolanus held Penny tight to him, trying to hush her. "Shh, princess, it's okay. You're going to be okay. I've got you. Daddy's got you. Don't worry, baby."

He whispered this to her all the way down the stairs, into the car, and through the ride to the hospital, but she couldn't be calmed. Not that he blamed her-it must have hurt like hell.

It wasn't a problem getting her into a room. The doctors worked quickly, telling him the bullet wasn't lodged in her little arm, that it just needed to be taped up and rested. Still, Penny squirmed when they took bloodwork, cried some more when they stuck an IV in her, and clung to Coriolanus when they came to clean the wound.

He held her through it, ordering the doctors to do everything as gently as possible. She was a three-year-old for heaven's sake.

It was all over soon, not as quickly as he'd have liked, but still. A nurse gave Penny some melatonin, and she was out like a light, sleeping peacefully in the hospital bed. He sat beside her, an arm around her sleeping form. Your daughter was safe. That was all that mattered.

Except for one thing.

The door of the car shut behind Coriolanus, and he looked chillingly up at the familiar concrete structure. Once this was all over, he'd have it burned. This place wouldn't taunt his family with its existence any more.

He took his time walking up the stairs. They would have seen that he was here by now, and he wanted to make his captor squirm.

As he casually ascended, his mind dwelled on the events of yesterday. You had come running into the room, still in your beautiful dress from earlier, makeup slightly smudged, but still his stunning wife. Like a magnet you'd been drawn to your baby girl, joining him on the bed and weeping out of pure relief and exhaustion.

Coriolanus had put his arms around both of you, holding his girls tight as you stroked Penny's hair, asking him questions he'd given smooth answers to.

Yes, he'd found her. No, that wasn't his own blood on his shirt. She'd been very scared, but she was going to be okay.

He knew she wouldn't remember most of what happened, thank goodness. The doctor had spoken of memory loss as a trauma response, and he was grateful for it. Not just for Penny's sake, but for yours. You didn't need to know the extent of what had happened that night.

He reached the top floor. Now he was thinking of that sweet, sweet image of you and Penny in his arms, both sleeping against his chest. If he could've commissioned a portrait right then and there he would have.

Penny was safe. Your unborn child was safe. You were safe. And he intended to keep it that way. His status as a husband and father was duly maintained.

There was just one more thing to take care of.

Pausing at the door, he listened for a moment to the groans coming from inside. Pathetic. Deciding he was tired of waiting, Coriolanus pushed the door open, meeting the eyes of the man tied up in the middle of the room, just as his daughter had been twenty-four hours prior.

It was him. The man who'd shot Penny.

The Peacekeeper standing nearby took Coriolanus' suit jacket and handed him his pistol. Rolling up the sleeves of his white dress shirt, he stared the man dead in the eye. "I assume you've had time to think about the offer."

Glaring up at him, the man spat at his feet. "I'd sooner die."

"You will." Coriolanus didn't flinch. "Either you walk out of here with a sense of dignity and disappear or you never walk out of here with a shot through your head."

To his hidden horror, the man's lips twisted in a wry grin. It was disgusting to behold. "Ain't doin' nothin'. I'll get out. And next time it won't just be your daughter. It'll be that bitch you call a wife-"

Coriolanus pulled the trigger before he could finish. He was tired of listening, of being patient. And after insulting his wife, well, he'd signed his own death warrant.

Handing the pistol back to the Peacekeeper, Coriolanus turned his back to the body, putting his suit jacket back on. Maybe on the way home he'd stop and get you flowers. Yes, that'd be just the thing. And something for Penny too. A new book, perhaps, one of the fairy tale ones she loved so much.

Tonight, he'd erase this man's memory from his mind. He'd tuck Penny in and read her new book out loud as she fell asleep. He'd go to you and pamper you and make love to you as slowly and softly as you wanted. And then he'd sleep soundly knowing his promise had been and would continue to be fulfilled.

It was a kick in the face to anyone who'd ever doubted him.

He would kill for you.

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harrycinnamonbun · 28 days ago

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prince!carlos x noblewoman!reader au part 2

(part 1 )

18+ mdni

prince!carlos who after proposing to you with his mother’s ring, caresses your hand lightly with his thumb as you stand on the palace balcony to announce your engagement to the kingdom. your new subjects cheer at the news, ecstatic to have a kind and gracious princess that would always do the best for her people. carlos looks at you standing beside him with eyes full of love, his heart bursting with hope for the future.

prince!carlos who wipes away the tears falling from his eyes as he sees you walking down the aisle, a bouquet of lilacs clasped between your hands. you look like an angel on earth in your white gown, gliding down to meet him at the altar. he lifts your veil when you arrive in front of him, beaming from within. his grin is undeniable, causing you to smile back. despite the large audience in the cathedral, it felt like you were the only two people in the world. he whispers “mi princesa” softly, as he raises your knuckles to his lips.

prince!carlos who carries you bridal style to the royal chambers, impatient to finally get his hands on you. he rips your bodice open without a care, beading and pearls falling to the floor with a clatter as he hungrily runs his hands over your body. you had never been touched like this, so intensely, so possessively. you weren’t scared of your “marriage duties” at all, you knew carlos would take care of you. he laid you down, kissing you fiercely as he entered you for the first time, slowly picking up his pace until you both felt your orgasms approaching. his normal composed demeanor was completely absent, he had wanted to feel you for so long it all fell away. you were now his wife, his princess, his future queen, and he wanted to worship you as such.

prince!carlos who eats you out in the carriage on the way to your honeymoon. his tongue dips between your folds, lapping up your wetness as every bump in the road forces your clit to brush against his nose. you whine out, threading your gloved fingers through his hair, unable to contain yourself. surely the driver could hear you both gasping and moaning, but it didn’t matter. you were too absorbed in each other to bother with appearances. maybe this would help spread the rumor that there was to be an heir expected very soon.

prince!carlos who fell asleep still inside of you, gently stroking your hair as the ocean breeze blew in from the balcony of the castle. he could’t wait to see you with child, round and glowing as you carried his seed. he imagined a brood of little princes and princesses running at your feet, and couldn’t wait to start. as future rulers, it was your duty to provide an heir to the throne, and carlos was definitely going to enjoy the process.

a/n - definitely channeled bridgerton vibes with this one

have au ideas? send them in!

masterlist here

#f1 #formula 1 #carlos sainz #f1 x reader #ferrari #carlos sainz x reader #carlos sainz smut #carlos sainz fluff #carlos sainz imagine #carlos sainz fanfic #carlos sainz x you #carlos sainz x y/n #f1 smut #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #f1 fic #cinnabun writes

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cobrakaisb · 4 months ago

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curse of achilles

summary: luke is taking on the curse of achilles, and even though you left him two years ago, you're still his anchor to the real world

word count: 543

BOOK SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT

|||series masterlist|||set during the battle of olympus|||

cold water and the desperate need to breathe were the two things luke castellan could focus on. the river styx was brutal, and he was seriously debating letting the current wash him away. no more gods. no more war. no more mentally ill mother. no more deadbeat father. no more longing.

“a tether luke, find a tether,” ethan shouted from above, but his voice was muffled by the sloshing of the water and burning in his throat.

a tether, something to keep him attached to the real world. whatever, or whoever, it was would preserve the human side of him.

he tried to think of someone who still cared about him. thalia pushed him off a cliff and sent him to a death he wished came. annabeth could only look at him with pity and betrayal. chris was somewhere settling into his madness after the labyrinth. katrina tolerated luke at best. percy was a kid who he’d tried to kill multiple times. ethan was too into justice and that whole eye-for-an-eye bullshit.

he had no one.

you didn’t forget about me did you?

his head turned, and his eyes opened wide as he squinted into the blackness of the current trying to pinpoint your voice

i thought we were more than that, luke.

he saw you then, standing in a grassy meadow, filled with white daisies, purple snapdragons, yellow cinquefoils, and wisteria. the sun is just setting, turning the sky a mess of light pinks and deep oranges. there’s a slight breeze, and the flowy white dress ruffles at your feet. you look so much like your mother, strong, confident, and beautiful.

“i didn’t forget,” he whispers, hands falling at his sides as he watches your lips curve into a stunning smile.

he wants to fall to his knees and pray at your feet, begging for forgiveness as he places kisses along your hip bone. he feels underdressed in khakis and a polo, but he always knew he’d never compare to your true beauty.

good, you whisper, holding your left hand out towards him.

he catches sight of your engagement ring. the golden band still hugging your skin, the pearl nestled between your digits. he struggles -- unsure if it’s in the meadow vision with you or him fighting for his life in the river styx -- to pull out his silver chain with a gold band dangling from it.

don’t keep me waiting luke, you know i’m impatient, you finish, watching and waiting for him to take your hand.

he reaches out, and he feels it then: the tether. he imagines the golden string, starting at his armpit, on the side of his rib, and running across the meadow to your outstretched fingers. he wonders how he’s survived the past two years without you by his side, and decides that he didn’t. and he won’t survive. he realizes that now. he’s not taking on the curse of achilles to help his cause, he enduring the pain and suffering for a titan who will discard him like a broken doll at the end of all this.

yet, you’re still waiting for him. if only the golden string would bring him to you, but he’s learnt now, there’s no room in his life for wishful thinking.

#luke castellan #luke castellan pjo #pjo luke #luke castellan x reader #luke castellan oneshot #luke castellan blurb #luke castellan fluff #luke castellan angst #luke castellan x fem!reader #luke castellan fanfic #all american bitch series #cobrakaisb writing

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evielmostdefinitely · 1 year ago

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darkened shadows |young!coriolanus snow x capitol!reader|

prompt: a single earring from the past causes turmoil in coryo's present with you.

contains: dark!coriolanus. manipulative, obsessive coriolanus. past mentions of lucy gray, sejanus. coryo's past. angst.

A single earring, worn- judging by the yellowish tint to the pearls that crested the thin gold hoop; that single earring that sent your world into a spiral. Cleaning your home, a gift from your parents after you announced your engagement to Coriolanus, after six months of courting during his time at University. You just wanted to be good, a prim and proper housewife, devoted just as he was to you, like your mother before you- until a single earring shattered your world.

“Darling,” Corio’s voice traveled through the grand spiraling stairs, heavy soled shoes clacking against the marble with every climb. “My love, where are you?” His tone held an edge, a jagged sense of urgency that would usually have you stiffening, running to coax him, soothing his worrisome mind.

Not this time.

You could hear his heartbeat, heavy in his throat when he spat out your name. No terms of endearment, no breathy gasps between it like this morning, when you were tangled beneath the bedsheets, his hands in your hair, toes curling with pleasure.

Frantic eyes piercing through the low light of your bedroom, falling onto you. His hair was longer now, coiffed all the same, but the curls you loved returned when Coryowould let them. “Did you not hear me calling for you?” Coryo huffed, a white knuckled grip on his satchel.

You didn’t answer, lips pursed, legs crossed from your perch on the edge of the bed. Coriolanus frowned, pulling the strap from over his head. “What? What’s wrong? Is it your mother again-”

“-No.” You snapped, nose scrunching in annoyance.

Coriolanus paused, unsure. His mind scanned, raced through facts and dates- had he missed a date? An event? Fuck, dinner with your parents? His calendar had been cleared, it was why he stayed late in the lab with Gaul.

“Why are you upset?” Coryo frowned, tired of the guessing game. He hadn’t meant to bark it out the way he did, but his heart skipped in his chest, squeezing too tight for his own comfort.

You scoffed, a manicured hand smacking the bed, fist curling around the object. Corio’s eyes followed, the way your white knuckled grip held the object, screwing the sapphire ring off your own ring finger. “Here,” You spat, dropping the engagement ring at his feet, the single earring banging around his shining shoes. “Since you love collecting jewelry so much, you can add that to your lover’s stash.” Your voice drenched in a sarcastic venom that had his stomach twisting.

Coryo tracked the sapphire, jaw setting. The ring- your engagement ring he’d given to you the night he poured his heart out into yours, in your parent’s garden- had been his mother’s before it found its new home on your finger. One of the few items his Grandma’am had let him have of hers, one of the few she hadn’t sold. There it was, settled next to Lucy Gray’s earring. The cursed object, when she’d betrayed him, tore his heart out in the woods of District Twelve. At the time, keeping it felt right, anchored to him like a cruel reminder. He’d forgotten about the thing, truly, stored away in a drawer far from his mind now that you took up most of the space in his head.

“You went through my things?” Coryo clipped through gritted teeth, bending to pick up the two pieces, one in each hand.

You gawked, spinning on your heel furiously to face him. “I was cleaning-”

“-You were snooping.” Coryo snapped. “We have maids for cleaning-”

“-And you told them not to come yesterday” You hissed, eyes narrowed to match his. “You wanted to spend the day in bed. Not let them in.” Your finger jabbed in the air towards him accusingly.

Coriolanus’ mouth tightened into a firm line, frowning towards you. “You still had no right to go through my things.” He huffed. “Cleaning the drawers?”

“I was putting your father’s compass away.” You sneered. “I didn’t want it out, and I thought you would want the same. You’re always going on and on about how the help will steal it if given the chance.”

Coryodidn’t respond, eyes piercing through you. “So I take it’s true?” You scoff, hoping your snarl of a tone would disguise the hurt lingering through your chest. “You’ve taken a lover before the wedding?”

“What? No.” Coryo ran a hand down his face, heart hammering. “How dare you say-”

“-How dare you.” You snap, taking a step towards him. “Make a mockery of me, of us. Embarrass me this way.” Tears of fury blur your vision, turning before he could see.

“It’s not- she was from before.” Coriolanus felt his composure withering away with every stomp of your foot.

He’d rationalize his despond that he was worried about his own title, his own future. Without your family, he might as well be back to living off of scraps in the worn down family home, cracks in the foundation. He’d worked hard but your father’s good graces were securing him his spot as President after the wedding.

“Before?” You scoffed, throwing your hands up. “Before the engagement?”

“No,” Coryo shook his head, a strangled huff caught in his throat. “Before-Before I even knew you.”

“So you kept it around?” You snarled, turning on your foot so quickly it had him flinching backwards. “Pieces of another woman? Another lover lying around in our home?”

“It’s not like that. I-I didn’t even know I still had it.” Coryo was faltering, stuttering uneasily. He wasn’t used to not being in control, not being able to con himself out of any situation. The truth was, you held the upper hand; he needed you more than you did him.

“Darling, please, just-just let me explain.” Coriolanus begged, voice lilting higher and higher. “It was before I met you. When-When I was a mentor.” He reached out a hand for you, your dramatic step back making him flinch.

“Oh? So it’s Clemensia’s? I knew you two were more than you said. And you tried to tell me you-”

“-It’s not Clemensia’s.” Coryo shook his head gently. “It-It belongs to someone I want to forget about now- I have forgotten about now. At the time, I-I wasn’t in my right mind. I was manipulated and cheated and played to be a fool by this-this girl.”

That seemed to pique your interest, brows quipping carefully, watching him with caution. Vulnerability, Coryo wasn’t good at that, but he would have to be or try to be. Still, to keep you, keep your family and all his power into place, he’d have to be.

“I haven’t been entirely honest with you.” Coriolanus said slowly, eyes taking in every quip, every pull and fall of your emotions. Your breath stilling, hitching in your throat, though you tried to keep yourself steady, calm.

“In the past.” Coriolanus added quickly, his own voice teetering on a frantic tone that he despised, heart thudding loudly in his chest. “Let me be clear, I-I’ve never betrayed you.”

Your shoulders seemed to relax though your eyes stayed hard, challenging. “I went to District Twelve because I was sent there as punishment, that was true.” Coriolanus started, hand closing around the pearl earring, the hook piercing into his palm. “But I also went there looking for… someone.”

“Someone?” You repeated.

Coriolanus nodded. “You have to understand, I-I was coerced. Tricked by this- this woman, who used me.” His lips pursed, eyes lifting to yours. Your features softened, pulling into a look of sympathy.

“She used me. Used me and my wealth to escape.”

“A district girl?” You whispered like you were scared, frightened that someone might hear, even in the room with just the two of you. “Coriolanus-”

“-I know.” Coryo nodded, turning with the shake of his head. “You-You see why I didn’t tell you? I’m ashamed, my love. This,” He took a shaky breath, turning to look over his shoulder at you. “This is the darkest secret I’ve ever harbored. Not a soul, no one, knows of this.”

You stood still, unsure, finger twisting around your ring finger, absent of the ring you’d grown so fond of. Coriolanus watched you carefully, over his shoulder, hoping you’d believe him. You’d forgive him. He was so close, so close to his inauguration. Your father had practically promised it when he asked for his permission to marry you. “You take care of her, I’ll take care of you. Make sure you give my darling girl the life she deserves, and I’ll make sure you get the life you deserve.” Coriolanus prayed you hadn’t told your father any of this.

“But… The earring.” You looked at his closed palm. “Why would you keep it if she was so horrible to you?”

Coriolanus paused, letting his mind still. He was close, you were close, inching towards forgiveness. Towards forgetting the Baird girl who haunted his dreams.

“Truthfully, my love, I-I didn’t even-” Coriolanus ran a hand down his face, and out of the coroner of his eyes he saw you take a step towards him. “I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know?” Your brows furrowed, halting your quiet crawl towards him.

“I was in such a state of-of distress.” Coriolanus shook his head, swallowing the hard, burning lump in his throat. “You have to understand, I shamed my family getting kicked out of University, my friend, Sejanus, he-he was hung, found out to be a traitor-”

“-The Plinth’s son?” Your wide eyed, sympathetic gaze melted Coryo’s heart. Nearly felt it to be too much. Nearly made him feel guilty.

Nearly.

“Yes.” Coriolanus nodded slowly, a wave of pain washing over his features, eyes dropping at the name of his fallen friend. “Yes, all of that.” Coriolanus swallowed, eyes gleaming in the low light of the apartment. “And this deceptive, devious girl, she used that. Took advantage of my weakness. Used me.”

Your small hiccup of a gasp, heart wrenching in an ache that Coriolanus shared with you. Burned in the fact that you felt so strongly for him, chest swarming in an unfamiliar heat.

“I was so… distraught. Positively sick with grief and-and betrayal.” Coriolanus’ eyes met yours, closer now, with every silent step over the carpet. “I can’t tell you why I kept it. What possessed me, truly, I had forgotten about it entirely, because-” Coriolanus let himself fall silent, eyes cast to his freshly shined shoes on the carpet, so bright he could see his own reflection.

“Because why, Coryo?” You whispered, stepping so your house slippers were touching the tips of his shoes. Your hand soft, cradling his face sweetly. “Tell me, please.”

“I met you.” Coriolanus said softly, his hand cradling your own, the engagement ring pressed between your skins. It made your knees weak, swooning at his softness, his kindness.

“I didn’t lie, petal. From the moment I met you, my life has known nothing but joy.” His eyes held yours, repeating the very same words from his vows weeks before, on bended knee in your parent’s rose garden overlooking the Capitol.

“She is a sad, dark spot in my past, but you,” Coriolanus’ free hand moved, letting the earring fall to the ground, cupping your face. “You, my love, are my world. My bright, shining future. The sun, the stars, everything to me.”

Your lip wobbled at his words, eyes shining with tears, moved by his words, the sincerity in his eyes and in his tone. Coryo’s stomach settled, relaxed at your sincere reaction. He let the ring fall in his hand, holding your hand in his, slipping the ring back onto your finger- and you let him. Of course, you let him, how could you not?

“I didn’t mean to make you feel like I was lying, like I was withholding the truth.” Coryo’s hand wrapped around your fingers, thumb ghosting over your ring, pressing it into your skin. “It pains me to talk about, to even think about.”

“I’m sorry.” You whispered, your hand squeezing his affectionately. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t, my darling.” Coriolanus bit back the smile that threatened to grace his face. It was easy, too easy to convince you. You leaned into his hold, eyes lingering over the dazzling sapphire on your finger.

Coriolanus swallowed. “Thank you.” He muttered, your eyes flashing to him in surprise.

“For what?” You frowned carefully.

“For putting my father’s compass away.” Coryo hummed, fingertips trailing down the shell of your ear, over your own earrings- clusters of diamonds and emeralds, not cheap freshwater pearls like the other, a stark difference between the two of you.

“For being kind to me, always.” His eyes met yours, icy even in the burn of affection. “So forgiving and gentle.”

You blushed, cheeks burning in his hold, heating the palm of his hands. He grinned, lips brushing over yours, taking you in slowly. A soft kiss that crescendoed into a passionate one, pressed into the wall, hands grabbing, fisting at the others clothes, hair. Shoving and pulling clothing, limbs, breathy whines and whispers into your skin, his skin. Fingers intertwined with every thrust of Coryo between your legs, teeth grazing over your delicate pulse points, primal.

The earring stayed on the floor, discarded like his feelings for Lucy Gray- for now, anyways.

Coriolanus stood over the earring the next morning, the light of the day catching the bits of gold in its rays. Coryo’s jaw set, tongue running over his teeth. In the mirror of the hall, he could see you- still in the bed, sprawled onto the pillows after he’d had you that morning, rougher than the night before.

Memories of Lucy Gray flashed before him, how she’d never let him do the things he wanted to with her, never let him be himself- not like you. You embraced him, every part of him, welcomed it and celebrated it, where she had rejected it.

A polished shoe hovered above the earring, Coryo’s body weight pressing down fully, satisfied with the crunch he felt under his sole. A snap, a crumbling and shattering of pearls, the thin gold snapping in half, leaving a shattered disaster under his feet. The earring was her mother’s, and her mother’s before her, passed down through her family. Now, destroyed, discarded, and forgotten just like her family.

Just like Lucy Gray.

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assassinmidnight · 4 months ago

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Flufftober day 22: Heirloom

Jason/RedHood xVigilante!AFAB!Autistic!Reader

Not proof read, I have dyslexia (sorry for any mistakes)

“Hey, Bruce?” Jason knocked on the mahogany door, waiting for a moment before hearing a grunted “come in.”

Upon entering the office, Jason looked around, eyes grazing over the photos on the walls, picture perfect family photos of the Waynes. He’s surprised to find himself in a few of them, dressed in a merlot suit, next to Dick, who was in a neat azure suit. Tim, Damian and Bruce were all dressed in black suits, typical if you asked Jason. They all had matching handkerchiefs in the pockets though, white with embroidered initials, golden of course.

“Richard did say you were planning on stopping by, although he didn’t mention why,” Bruce signs off on some paper before looking up at Jason, motioning with his hand for him to sit down, “He did hint at it being connected to young Score and your current living arrangements,” Jason noticed the glint in the older man’s eyes. “Thank you for letting us borrow the cabin and for letting us get out of that event, the’res still not fully used to it,” Bruce smiled at the words “I’m hoping to meet them again soon, Alfred has informed me of their food preferences so there won’t be anything to worry about there.” Jason wanted to respond but Bruce continued “But you’re not here to thank me either, so why are you here?” Jason stood up, hands clamming up with sweat. “Um, Dick said that you, um, had a jeweller, a family one,” he took a deep breath “I need a ring.”

Bruce felt a wave of emotions go through him, he hadn’t expected this. Maybe he would ask for a house for them, so they could finally move out of that one bedroom apartment that Score had, or maybe even ask for a better suit for them. He hadn’t expected this.

Jason watched with nervous eyes as Bruce stood up and walked over to one of the photo frames, it was one from a family dinner a few years back. Pushing it to the side revealed a safe, and after a minute he came up to Jason. In his hands was a jewellery box with a glass lid, inside a multitude of rings, in different sizes and cuts, were visible. “My mother got a lot of rings from my father, and I have very little use for them,” Jason looked up and saw Bruce smiling at him. “I would recommend a pearl for the engagement, and a diamond for the wedding,” Bruce pointed first to a ring with a white pearl on a silver band then to one with a diamond with a gold band. “But you know their tastes best.”

“Jay? I still want those almonds,” your voice brings him out of his thoughts, grabbing your hand he slowly leads you away from the crowd and the bonfire. “Yeah, I’ll bring you this time so I don’t forget,” you smiled at him and followed with a pep in your steps.

The two of you eventually sat down on a bench, one bag of roasted almonds each. “This has really been perfect,” you say, chewing on the almonds while watching the fire, Jason nodded, watching you.

“Remember when I said I could make sure there's a bonfire on our anniversary?” Looking at him you respond “That’s not exactly what you said,”

“No but it's what I meant,” you can’t help the smile growing on your lips and nod, “Well, what if today was our anniversary?”

“And which anniversary would that be?” Jason sees the confusion on your face and moves from beside you to in front of you, on one knee.

“Our engagement anniversary?” He holds out a little red velvet box, opening it to show a pearl ring. “Princess, will you marry me?”

*I DO NOT ALLOW THE PLAGIARISM OF MY WORK, FOR IT TO BE USED IN AI OR FOR IT TO BE REPOSTED ELSEWHERE*

#flufftober 2024 #reader insert #jason todd #autistic reader #red hood #jason todd x reader #fluff #flufftober #flufftober day 22 #heirloom #bruce wayne #batman

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foggystarrs · 8 months ago

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A Step by Step Guide on Mermaid Courtship [MASTERPOST]

“Read the complete guide explaining mermaid courting rituals, gestures, gifts and more!”

or basically, I info dump about my mer! Sun, Moon x reader fanfiction and what all of their gestures toward the reader mean. Some of these will be seen on future chapters!

Section 1.1:

Shells

“In mermaid courting, it is typical to gift potential mates: shells, trinkets and sea rocks to show their interest in the other. Each shell has a different meaning, similar to victorian flower language (in human terms).”

Here are some of the meanings:

- [ ] Sea rocks/Sea glass (romantic intentions. If they are bioluminescent it could mean “You brighten my day” or something similar, although the colors are also important. Typical courting practices make it so that the gifts are the color of both of the mer’s scales. If the mer doesn’t have scales, then of their favorite color.)

- [ ] Conch shell (romantic, usually in a shade of a mer’s scales to indicate who the gift is from. The first ever gift received as an announcement of their interest in courting you.)

- [ ] Olive Shell (friendly or romantic intentions, usually means “I love spending time with you.”)

- [ ] Scallops (friendly or romantic, usually used as an apology, “i deeply regret everything”. The amount of scallops gifted is equal to how regretful the mer is of their actions.)

- [ ] Sand Dollar (friendly or romantic, usually used to say thank you or express gratitude.)

- [ ] Queen Conch Shell (romantic, usually meant to say “you’re beautiful” or to compliment a mer’s appearance. Is used when trying to ask the mer to be their mate and is the next step in courting a mer. If the queen conch shell is given with a pearl they are asking you to “go steady” or to “start dating” in mer terms.)

- [ ] Banded Tulip (romantic, essentially means “be my mate” or “i am interested in you”, more casual like saying you have a crush on someone.)

- [ ] Pearl (romantic, essentially means “be my forever mate”, the equivalent of an engagement ring for humans.)

- [ ] Scales (romantic, “be my forever mate”, the final step to courting and most obvious one for mers who are more straight forward. Essentially asking you to be theirs. The equivalent of marriage for humans. After all, merfolk mate for life.)

“The act of rejecting a gift given to you by a mer would be rejecting the courting itself, letting the mer know you aren’t interested in them in that way. Be very careful how you react toward a gift, as they are extremely important in mer culture.”

Section 2.2:

Gestures

- [ ] Placing your hand’s knuckles against a mer’s forehead is the equivalent of kissing your hand to humans. Something more gentlemanly and polite. Can be used while introducing yourself, as a greeting or just a general act of affection.

- [ ] Nuzzling is another act of affection, if a mer nuzzles your cheek it would be like they’re kissing your cheek. It is typically done with potential mates, mated pairs, or between mothers and their young.

- [ ] Scenting is something done only with mates,, but on special occasions it is done between friends or pods to ensure the other mer is safe. It’s essentially saying “this person is mine so back off” to potential predators or other mers.

- [ ] Cuddling/Touching/Hugging is obviously affectionate similar to humans. Not all mers are cuddly or like physical touch. Sun and Moon are both cuddly in general, but even more so toward someone they are interested in romantically.

- [ ] Sharing food or hunting together is only done between pods or mates. If a mer offers to share food with you they are probably trying to test the waters to see if they have a chance at actually courting you.

- [ ] Bioluminescence has a huge significance for mer culture. It can be used as a threat display or to attract mates. Body language is a huge indicator on which is the cause, however. For Sun and Moon, the most obvious indicator is their eyes. When threatened, their pupils are not visible anymore, and the bioluminescence on their bodies are almost blinding. When flustered or trying to court someone, their pupils are fully visible, the glow from their bodies softer and easier on the eyes.

- [ ] Bioluminescent mating dances are another aspect of mer courting culture. They often do intricate dances while flashing in bioluminescence for potential mates, in order to attract them (similar to how male peacocks use their feathers to attract mates).

“Surprisingly enough, mers have a lot of traits similar to cats. If they are purring, they are very happy and relaxed. The ultimate trust a mer could give someone is being comfortable enough to sleep while in their company. It indicates that they feel safe enough around you to rest, leaving them in such a vulnerable state in front of you.”

Section 3.3:

Sun and Moon

“Sun and Moon are both salt water mers, with markings on their tails similar to koi fish, yet sharp teeth and claws similar to sharks. They are both 7 feet long in size and can breathe both in water and on land. Being siblings, they each have similar markings along their bodies, each with respective colors to match their environments (with Moon being nocturnal, he has darker scales).

Sun is often friendly toward others, the happy and cuddly mer excited to make friends, while Moon is more cautious and suspicious, often taking up the role of protecting them both. That being said, both are equally protective of what they consider theirs (and equally as deadly toward potential threats). However, if you show Moon that you truly mean to harm, he can turn out to be the biggest sweetheart, oftentimes just as cuddly as his Sunny counterpart.”

How they hunt:

Sun often uses his bioluminescence to blind his prey, flashing it to life in a bright orange flash and using their temporary blindness to strike when they are disoriented. He can hunt, but often more than not can be kind of clumsy and end up missing, getting too excited in his thrill to try and get his catch (Moon tells him he should be more patient, but that’s so boring!! How can he stay still when the fish is right there??). That beginning attack is crucial for him, and if he misses, his prey can more often than not be able to slip away. If he does manage to get that initial bite, then the rest is easy, his claws allowing him to slice through his prey neatly and easily.

Moon is more of an ambush predator, choosing to hide in the shadows and blend in with his surroundings. He chooses rocks, corals and darker places to hide in where his scales can blend in better. He waits until the perfect moment to strike, often using the lure at the end of his head appendage to attract his prey. He is always very precise. He almost never misses an attack, if he does it’ll be by unforeseen circumstances, like unknown terrain, underestimating the prey’s strength or being outnumbered for example. His eyes help him hunt better in the dark, and although he can’t see the best during the day, he can sense the vibrations of his prey swimming through the water (Sun has this ability as well).

Affection:

They both love hugs and nuzzling, often quite touchy and cuddly with someone they are interested in.

Sun loves holding someone close to his chest, he loves the feeling of having his arms wrapped around you while he wraps his tail completely around you like a snake. If you are already mates, however, he is also very big on kisses. Often covering your face with kisses all over and melting when he receives some in return.

Moon loves curling up around you, not exactly trapping you like Sun but still being able to feel your warmth. He also loves holding hands, he loves the feeling of your fingers intertwined, feeling how different your hands are between his webbed fingers. If you caress his face or pet his head appendage he absolutely melts. His favorite moments, however, are when you are in each other’s presence. It could be just sitting near each other, talking amongst the stars or swimming together, he doesn’t mind.

Regarding love languages, both of them would be physical touch. Alongside that, however, they each show their love differently. Moon’s would be gift giving and quality time. Sun, on the other hand, would be acts of service and words of affirmation.

And with that we conclude our guide on mermaid courtship and culture!!

We hope our book was of use to you, and hopefully next time you encounter a merperson, you will be better versed on what their intentions with you may be.

#fnaf fanfic #fnaf #fnaf security breach #fnaf daycare attendant x reader #fnaf daycare attendant #five nights at freddys security breach #five nights at freddy’s #mermay 2024 #mermay #mer sun #mer moon #a step by step guide on mermaid courtship #fanfic #sundrop #moondrop #au info #dca x reader #fnaf dca x reader

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theroyalsims · 7 months ago

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ROYAL WEDDING: WHICH TIARA WILL ANYA WEAR?

Aside from guessing which designer has been tapped to make Anya's dress, people are also taking bets on which tiara she'll wear on her big day!

The recent banquet only intensified people's curiosity over which tiara Anya will be wearing for her wedding. That's not exactly an easy decision to make, considering HRH has quite a lot of tiaras at her disposal. So here's a quick look at some of the sparklers that we *might* see atop HRH's head come her much-awaited wedding day. We split the tiaras under four categories: The Favourites, The Diamonds, The Necklaces, and The Emeralds, plus a bonus category!

THE FAVOURITES

The Brindleton Foliage Tiara

The diamond and ruby piece was given a rebirth by Queen Emilia when she dusted it off and had it repaired and slightly altered. The tiara, considered a blood princess tiara, can only be worn by blood princesses. It's been a hot minute since Her Majesty has worn the piece, and it's now perhaps more associated with The Crown Princess.

The Stafford Tiara

The impressive tiara, which features a graduating scroll motif, is an 18th birthday present by the Stafford Royal Family to the Crown Princess. Personally dubbed as "her favourite," HRH has worn it through the years, and she even wore it for her official portrait a few years ago. We won't be surprised if HRH picks this stunner for her royal wedding!

THE DIAMONDS

The Brindleton Comb Tiara

The Brindleton Comb Tiara is one of the most unique and versatile pieces in the royal collection. The all-diamond diadem is composed of three individual combs. Each can be worn individually, or they can be locked into place to form the tiara. HRH has worn it a couple of times, and she seems to prefer to wear all three combs in one go, making it seem like she has a halo of diamonds that goes all around her head.

Brindleton-Rennaux Tiara

Speaking of versatile, the latest tiara to join HRH's collection is also quite customisable, thanks to its removable central diamond, which can be replaced with accompanying "extra" stones. The piece has garnered the nickname "Brindleton-Rennaux Tiara." It was commissioned by Prince Jacques for Anya's thirtieth birthday. The diamonds used for the piece were derived from the private collection of Prince Jacques' mother, the late Queen Theodora of Rennaux.

THE NECKLACES

The Queen Astrid Necklace Tiara

This all-diamond tiara was an anniversary present to Queen Astrid (Anya's maternal great-grandmother) from her husband, King Frederik. It was originally meant to be a necklace, however, the late Queen commissioned the royal jewellers to transform it in such a way that it could be worn as a headpiece, too. The Crown Princess has worn the tiara twice - at Princess Katrine of Arendahl's wedding, and more recently during last week's Selvadoradan Banquet.

The Debonne Tiara

Another necklace-cum-tiara Anya seems to love is the Debonne Tiara. The piece was a present from Lady Amarie Debonne to the late Queen Astrid. It features a dainty floral motif, which includes diamonds and pearls. The headpiece is set in yellow gold and it matches Anya's engagement ring perfectly! HRH has also worn this tiara twice - first during her state visit to Tartosa, and she also wore it for her engagement photoshoot.

THE EMERALDS

Queen Ophelia’s Birthday Tiara

This now-iconic tiara was a birthday present from King Leopold to his wife, Queen Ophelia. The piece is also very flexible, and can be worn with emerald pendants, pearl pendants, worn with just the diamond hoops. The Crown Princess has donned it a handful of times, and should she wear it for her wedding, it would be a wonderful way to honour her grandmother.

Brindleton Lace Tiara

According to Brindleton customs, brides are encouraged to wear emeralds on her wedding day for good luck, so The Brindleton Lace Tiara definitely fits the bill! It forms part of the Brindleton Emerald Parure, and most people probably remember it as the tiara that Anya "stole" from her sister Eleanore during the latter's wedding a couple of years ago. Whether or not Anya will be petty enough to wear it to her own wedding, guess we're going to have to wait and see!

Queen Emilia's Birthday Tiara

This meaningful diadem that features a large central emerald was an 18th birthday present from King Leopold to his daughter, then Crown Princess Emilia. Through the years, many royal heads have worn the tiara including Crown Princes Anya herself. There's a chance Anya might choose this as her wedding tiara given its relevance and history, and of course, as a way to honour her mum.

BONUS CATEGORY: THE HONOURABLE MENTIONS

While some say that brides should not wear pearls because their tear-shaped appearance symbolises tears to be shed due to a sad marriage, others claim that pearls are good luck and signify a fruitful and successful union. Some pearl tiaras that could be worn by Anya include The Queen Astrid Diamond and Pearl Tiara (L), which she wore to her visit to Selvadorada; The Brindleton Bow Pearl and Diamond Tiara (C) which features an array of suspended teardrop pearls; and the Brindleton Clam Tiara (R), which HRH once wore in an official portrait.

Of course, Anya could surprise us all and pull out a long-unseen tiara from deep within the royal vaults, or even a newly-commissioned piece for her wedding day! Either way, we're quite certain it'll be a stunner, just like all the other tiaras HRH has worn in the past.

One thing's certain, though. All this tiara talk has us desperate for more royal wedding updates!

#ts4 #theroyalsims #ts4 simblr #simblr #ts4 royal simblr #royal simblr #ts4 royals #ts4 royalty #ts4 royal family #ts4 royal story #ts4 royal legacy #mystory #anya #royal wedding #ts4 tiaras #tiara

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persephoneggsy · 1 month ago

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an idea i've been rattling around in my head for a while: Phryne Ingellvar, as a Mourn Watcher, has her own collection of grave gold. When she got temporarily exiled from Nevarra, she opted to leave her collection with her daughter for safekeeping. Once she gained access to the eluvians, she went back home and retrieved her collection.

While she doesn't wear every piece daily (being a frontline warrior, she's worried about damage), she will wear everything for special events. Otherwise, she can most often be seen wearing the earrings.

More detailed descriptions of each piece below (I spent all of last night thinking about this lol):

Crown: Phryne was adopted by Prudence Ingellvar, a Mourn Watch necromancer and noblewoman from a minor Nevarran house. As such, she had access to a lot of fine jewelry. The crown supposedly belonged to Prudence's great grandmother. She was originally going to have it for her own grave dowry, but decided to pass it down to Phryne shortly before she passed away. The gems are lapis lazuli and turquoise.

Necklace: Made of pearls and sapphires. Prudence had this made for Phryne as an 18th birthday present. Unfortunately, before said birthday, she and Phryne had a massive argument that ended with Phryne running away from Nevarra. She eventually returned, heavily pregnant, and later gave birth to her children, Rothe and Elke. Prudence gave her the necklace on her twentieth birthday to show there were no hard feelings.

Earrings: When Phryne was turning 30, Rothe and Elke wanted to buy her a piece for her grave dowry, having recently learned about the tradition from their grandmother Prudence. Prudence escorted them to a fancy Nevarran market, only for the then-ten-year-olds to become enamored with a simple pair of pearl and green-glass earrings that were not worth very much. However, they insisted, so Prudence relented and purchased the earrings for them. It's one of Phryne's favorite pieces in her collection.

Shoulders: This elaborate set of gold, pearl, and amethyst gems was Emmrich's formal engagement gift to Phryne. I like to headcanon that couples will gift each other pieces for their grave dowries throughout their lives, usually in the form of smaller trinkets, like rings. However, Emmrich is not one for small gestures, and says that he's making up for lost time, since he and Phryne found each other later in life. Phryne joked that he gave her something that draws even more attention to her breasts.

Belt: Phryne joining the Mourn Watch was a contentious thing. When she showed no sign of magical ability like her mother, Prudence planned to instead have Phryne live the typical noblewoman's life; namely, by arranging a suitable marriage for her. This was the source of the argument that caused Phryne to run away. When Phryne returned and had her children, she maintained that she did not want an arranged marriage. She had learned fighting skills while abroad, and so asked her mother to put in a good word for her so she could join the Watch as a warrior. Prudence agreed, and had the belt made upon Phryne's formal induction into the order. It, of course, depicts the Mourn Watch beetle-and-skull emblem.

Bracelet 1: A simple gold band that Phryne bought during her year away. This one is from a market in Starkhaven, one of her favorite places that she visited.

Bracelet 2: This gold bracelet has an inscription on the inside: Knock 'Em Dead. This was given to her by the captain of the mercenary group she had joined while traveling. He was amused by her connections to necromancy and would often say the inscription to her. Phryne still has fond memories of the man.

Bracelet 3: Though he died before Phryne had been found in the crypts, Prudence had a husband named Romauld. He'd been a dwarven stonemason who left Orzammar after Prudence visited (studying dwarven funerary customs) and fell heads over heels in love with her. Though he worked mostly in stone, he dabbled in metalwork and made a few pieces for his wife. Prudence kept most of these for her own grave dowry, but gave a gold cuff bracelet to Phryne when she was a child. It depicts geometric patterns typical to dwarven jewelry. Phryne got her name from him, as he'd once told Prudence that if they ever had a daughter, he'd want to name her Phryne.

Ring 1: A delicate band with a jasper gem, purchased from a jeweler in Orlais during her year abroad. She simply likes the look of it.

Rings 2+3: After the dust had settled after defeating Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain, Phryne sought out a Nevarran jeweler to make this piece. It's two rings which slot together, depicting the emblem of what the people of Thedas came to call her little group: the Veilguard. She also had matching rings made for the other members of the group.

Armor Ring: While in Orlais, Phryne befriended a struggling artist, encouraging him to pursue his craft. When he sold his first painting, he used some of the funds to buy this intimidating yet elegant piece for his muse. He actually went on to become a successful artist, and his most sought after painting is one depicting a Nevarran mercenary reclining... in the nude. The model for the painting was, of course, Phryne.

Ring 4: Upon hearing about the grave gold tradition, Bellara gifted a pair of rings to Phryne and Emmrich. Phryne's is a wide metal band with a strange blue stone set into it. Bellara has sworn up and down that it's a harmless, deactivated trinket she'd found while exploring. Phryne trusts her, but swears that she can sometimes see a shimmer around the stone.

Ring 5: Purchased for herself after she was exiled from Nevarra, during her travels with Varric and Harding. She was homesick and bought the ring to remind herself of Nevarra and its traditions. It's from a caravan they encountered on the road.

Mirror: I figured grave gold doesn't have to be exclusively worn, just stuff you're buried with. So Phryne also has a hand mirror that she commissioned for herself. She adores rats, and has an undead rat named Melchior, so the mirror depicts a rat skull on its back.

And I didn't draw it, because it wouldn't have been visible anyway... but I'm playing with the idea that Phryne has certain... piercings. Emmrich's seen them, and they're arguably his favorite of her collection. B)

#my art #phryne ingellvar #rook #datv #dragon age: the veilguard #emmrook #emmrich x rook #grave gold #grave dowry #anyway yeah she and emmrich have def fucked while wearing nothing but their grave gold #someone walks by and hears jingling coming from phryne's room and then they walk faster #jingle jangle jingle >:3c

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drydenjewelry · 1 year ago

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We will be launching a series of nature-inspired collections in Jan 2024. Please stay tuned to our launch!\

#Buy Demi-Fine Necklaces for Women Online #Best Demi-Fine Jewelry in US #Designer Demi Fine Jewellery #Demi Fine Necklace for women #Mother of Pearl Jewelry & Necklaces #Shop Handmade Mother Of Pearl Jewelry #Mother of Pearl Jewelry Collection #Buy Mother of Pearl Jewellery Online #Mother of pearl Choker Set #Shop Women's Pearl Necklaces #Buy Mother Of Pearl Rings Online #Mother of Pearl Engagement Ring

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a-d-nox · 5 months ago

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lenormand cards: key phrases and an example of a card combo (part 3)

this is just a beginners guide to the lenormand. these are key phrases that come to mind when i think of the cards - NOT how they should be directly applied. they needs to be thought about situationally - the card / when it is in specific combos can change or alter its meaning in a reading.

ring: unity, attachment, alliance, marriage, vow, affections, commitment, engagement, agreements, promises, partnerships, mergers, valuable objects, jewelry, completion, solution, full circle, etc.

ring + cross = joint suffering, spartacus energy, feeling burdened by your commitments, relationship trials, bad karma, being "cursed", being humiliated by your partner, disappointed by your partner, etc.

book: curiosity, knowledge, education, wisdom, intelligence, hidden things, mysteries, secrecy, information, facts, data, learning, education, projects, cases, assignments, audits, research, monetary accounts, research, exams, school, esoteric studies, discoveries, breakthroughs, confidential information, books, journals, files, deck of cards, etc.

book + ring = marriage license, wedding planner, knowledge about prenuptial agreements, combined assets in a partnership, a finished project, final exam, etc.

letter: news, messages, information, notes, memos, documents, reports, written correspondence, awards, certificates, licenses, credentials, diplomas, records, permits, authorizations, warrants, liens, titles, contacts, advertisements, flyers, brochures, junk mail, invitations, announcements, cards, posters, etc

letter + book = lecture notes, hidden messages, literary analysis, awards for intellect, learning permit for driving, etc.

man: brother, lover, father, spouse, fiancé, etc.

man + letter = a guy with news, a message from a man, doctor, educated man, famous man, etc.

woman: sister, lover, mother, friend, spouse, fiancée, etc.

woman + man = siblings, twins, couple, etc.

lilies: royalty, honor, nobility, purity, innocence, knowledge, respect, wisdom, maturity, happiness, protection, pregnancy, aging, peace, slow down, etc.

lilies + woman = queen, maid of honor, a nun, baby girl, a virgin, woman teacher/professor, grandmother, mother, motherhood, etc.

sun: new beginning, life, warmth, heat, success, glory, victory, happiness, glory, desire, courage, hope, recognition, fame, power, reputation, ego, pride, high self-esteem, charisma, alluring personality, summer, beaches, positivity, optimism, masculine, etc.

sun + lilies = pure joy, contentment, joan of arc energy, being well liked and trusted, invincibility, king, patriarchy, etc.

moon: imagination, musing, passion, unconscious, feminine, maternal instincts, intuition, psyche, dreams, creativity, inspiration, innovation, honors, fame, recognition, popularity, celebrity, emotions, passions, seduction, romance, intimacy, affection, desires, fantasies, motherhood, the womb, menstruation, hormones, instincts, perception, sensitivity, awareness, mystics, mediums, psychics, etc.

moon + sun = prologue, dream life, "the warm and fuzzies", psychic power, pearl energy, charming personality, awareness of yourself and your power, etc.

key: wishes, hidden things, success, unexpected results, karmic lessons, breakthroughs, etc.

key + moon = manifestation, creative success, overnight success, karmic lover, awareness of your lesson, etc.

fish: abundance, water, fertility, spirituality, prosperity, eternity, unity, happiness, transformation, femininity, adaptability, knowledge, creativity, freedom, luck, intuition, independence, self-employment, entrepreneurship, sales, purchases, exchanges, abundance, wealth, emotions, beaches, independence, etc.

fish + key = having a lot of wishes, murky water, the unknown, things working out, a gamble paying off, etc.

anchor: stability, security, safety, immovability, trust, faith, loyalty, stubbornness, consistency, endurance, destinations, support, reliability, lifestyle, etc.

anchor + fish = stability income, stubbornness paying off, enduring beliefs, freedom to choose, supporting yourself, lifestyle that supports the self, etc.

cross: suffering, martyrdom, burdens, challenges, worries, troubles, trials, pains, hardships, concerns, hardships, obstacles, hindrances, regret, remorse, guilt, shame, humiliation, disappointment, religion, faith, belief, esotericism, psychics, mediums, empaths, etc.

cross + anchor = financially struggling, lacking faith, being in your own way, struggling with consistency, regretting your life's choices, being disappointed by where you are, faith worth relying on, being a psychic/medium, etc.

like what you read? leave a tip and state what post it is for! please use my "suggest a post topic" button if you want to see a specific pac/pile next. if you'd like my input on how i read a specific card or what i like to ask my deck, lenormand combos centered on specific card, etc. feel free to use the ask button for that as well.

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bellebridgerton · 2 years ago

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His Diamond: Chapter 3 (Anthony Bridgerton x plus size!fem!reader)

✨Masterlist✨

✨Previous Chapter✨

Y/n's morning was filled with many callers, her plan had worked.

Among the many callers, Anthony Bridgerton was there. Y/n was only slightly surprised, he must just be keeping up appearances. She graciously accepted the flowers from each caller, while her mama stood off to the side. Y/n knew her dear mama must have been giddy on the inside.

Finally, it was time for Anthony to have time with Y/n, he gave her a wicked smile, then bowed to her. Y/n curtsied, noting his expression, she sat down on the sofa with him. Anthony sat so close to her that their knees touched. In polite society, especially if they were in public, that would be the start of a scandal. Anthony was the first to speak, "How are you this beautiful morning?"

Y/n shifted her legs a bit, if they were in the Bridgerton home, she wouldn't have minded the physical contact, but this was an event, she had to remain composed. Y/n smiled, "I am very well, how are you, Lord Bridgerton?"

Anthony smiled a genuine smile, "I too am well, busy, but well."

Y/n giggled, "No more falling asleep in your study?"

Anthony chuckled, "I cannot promise it won't happen again."

Y/n nodded, understanding Anthony worked hard and he did important work. She smiled softly at Anthony, "Not that I don't enjoy your company, you know I do, but are you intending to court me? We did dance together twice last night, and you're here this morning. It's just, you made it very clear what you want in a marriage, that's not what I want. It wouldn't be right if we courted, knowing that we want different things."

Anthony gently placed his hand over hers, he looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, "I can provide for you, you would want for nothing. My family already loves you, and I know our children will be beautiful, kind, and smart. Y/n, I am not the most romantic man, but we are friends, is that not the best thing for a man and wife to be?" Anthony sighed softly, "I know what I want, dear Y/n, and I know I could give you a good life."

Y/n didn't know what more she could say to him, "I see, you have certainly thought this through."

Anthony nodded, "I have." He stood up, only to get down on one knee, "Y/n Y/L/n, will you marry me?" He removed a small, black velvet box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a beautiful pearl ring, the ring his father gave his mother.

Y/n looked between Anthony and the ring, she tried to rationalize. They are friends, she does love him, he would give her a comfortable life. A thought entered her head, maybe he would eventually learn to love her. Maybe she could change him. She smiled widely, nodding, "Yes."

As he slipped the ring onto her finger, he noticed it was a perfect fit. Anthony stood up, Y/n followed suit and looked at the ring. Anthony smiled softly, "It was my mother's ring."

Y/n gazed up at Anthony, "It is beautiful."

He figured since they were now engaged, he could keep her close to him, he hand rested on her lower back, "We should tell my family at dinner tonight, they will be happy for us."

Lady Y/L/n witnessed the whole proposal, she was so excited and proud, her daughter was going to be a viscountess! She approached the new couple, "This is indeed a cause for celebration, we shall host a ball tomorrow, in honor of your impending nuptuals!"

Y/n looked at her mama, "Mama, there is no need for that, dinner with the Bridgertons is enough for me."

Her mama waved her hand dismissively, "Nonsense, darling, we are having a ball tomorrow night!"

Anthony chuckled softly, slightly hiding his amusement behind Y/n, "It would be a fun way to publically announce our engagement."

Placing a hand on Anthony's chest, having been obviously overruled, Y/n sighed, "Fine, fine, we're having a ball."

Anthony placed a kiss on her cheek, "Thank you, wife."

Laughing, Y/n looked at Anthony, "We're not married yet, my lord."

Anthony smiled his playful smile, "Practicing, my dear."

That night at the Bridgerton home, the air was electric, everyone was waiting in anticipation for Anthony to explain. Anthony had informed his mother they'd be having guests, but nothing of who they would be and what the occasion was.

The head butler entered the drawing room, "Lord Bridgerton, your guests have arrived."

Anthony arose from his chair, "Thank you, I will be there momentarily."

Gregory and Hyacinth blocked the doors, Hyacinth spoke first, "Brother, will you please tell us who they are?"

Gregory followed her up, "Please?"

Anthony's face softened, "You would already know by now if you were not standing in the way of the doors." The two youngest Bridgertons quickly opened the doors, running down the stairs. Anthony smiled, "Slow down, do not crowd our guests."

Hyacinth quickly saw Y/n come into view, "Y/n, you're here!" She hugged Y/n, exctied to see her. Y/n returned the hug, holding Hyacinth close, but Hyacinth pulled back, taking Y/n's hands in hers. She sees Y/n's ring, "It's beautiful, who are you marrying?" Hyacinth hadn't remembered her mother's ring.

Anthony finally caught up with his youngest siblings, "Y/n is marrying me. That is the reason for celebration tonight. In two month's time, my dear Y/n will be a Bridgerton, my viscountess."

Violet's hand covered her mouth, then rested on her adbomen, "Oh, dearest, I'm so happy!" She hugged Y/n, gently pulling back to cup Y/n's face in her hands, "Welcome to the family, my dearest. Although, you've always been another daughter to me, it does seem only fiting that you should join our family, especially at Anthony's side." Violet loved Y/n and she knew Anthony did truly care for her.

Y/n blushed, "Thank you, Violet, that means the world to me."

Hyacinth interjected, "We are to be sisters!" The rest of the Bridgerton siblings smiled at that. Hyacinth cheered and danced around, earning laughs from everyone in attendance.

Eloise snickered, "My best friend and my brother, how perfect."

Violet turned to Eloise, "Perhaps seeing two people you love find happines will inspire you, dearest."

Eloise linked arms with Y/n, "I highly doubt that, Mama."

Everyone entered the dining room together, Eloise at Y/n's side, Anthony on Y/n's other side. Violet stood at one head of the table, "Y/n, dearest, you will be lady of the house soon enough, sit here, my love."

Y/ walked over to Violet, "You're still the lady of the house, it is your seat."

Anthony couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest at witnessing the kindness of his future bride. He spoke up, "Yn, my dear, sit beside me this evening, I would like my wife to be close to me."

Y/n walked to the other head of the table, sitting down on the right side of the head of the table, as Anthony pushed her chair in for her. After everyone was seated, Y/n spoke, "Thank you everyone, for being so supportive of our engagement, it means a lot to us."

Anthony took her left hand in his, so her engagement ring was visible, "It certainly does." As he looked around the dinner table he saw only people he cared deeply about. That worried him, he had so much to lose.

✨Next Chapter✨

Taglist: @unholyhuntress

#anthony bridgerton #anthony bridgerton x reader #anthony bridgerton x reader smut #bridgerton

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clockwork-ashes · 4 months ago

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Something Lonesome - Part I (as we know it)

Read also on Ao3 :)

Summary: Elain dies when she’s thrown into the cauldron, but she doesn’t stay dead for long. Over and over, again and again, something brings her back, and every time she finds her way to Lucien.

Note: This is a romance, but it’s also just a story about Elain. There will be a happy ending <3 Also, completely dedicated to the lovely @nocasdatsgay because I have so many ideas and every time I yell them into the tumblr void (the tags) she has something nice to say <3

Elain screamed as her foot hit the water.

No words fell from her lips, not as terror gripped her like a vice. It felt as though she had stepped onto a frozen lake, the surface so cold that it burned her bare skin.

Elain kicked at the guards as they hauled her forward, her neck twisting painfully as she tried to capture the king’s attention.

Pretty, he’d called her. Perhaps it would be enough to spare her life, Elain thought. Beauty had always been the best of her qualities, a weapon she’d been taught to wield even before she’d been old enough to understand it fully.

Smile, sweetheart.

Her mother would say.

Women are always lovelier when they’re happy.

Elain wanted to rip out the king’s throat with her teeth. He kept his dark gaze on Feyre, taking her sister in with an ancient amusement. She remained unseen, desperation clawing at her throat as a sense of familiarity washed over her.

Something tugged gently onto her rib, a thread being pulled. Elain’s eyes were drawn to the handsome lord who had ultimately betrayed them. His voice had been rich as gold and sweet as hone when he’d demanded the guards stop.

He’d surged towards her, staggered as he’d attempted to reach out. Magic had leashed him next to the High Lord of Spring, pinning him in place, useless. Elain tracked the vicious scar that cut across his features, a cracked piece of glass that had not broken completely.

He looked horrified, expression pained as he refused to turn away from the sight before him.

Lucien.

Elain couldn’t remember when she’d learned his name, but she was certain that if she called out to him, he would respond. She knew it just as surely as she knew herself.

Stay.

The word was written all over his face, an echo in her mind just as she felt her heart shatter. She couldn’t breathe, her body unable to comprehend what had occurred. She felt the same, and yet entirely different. She was not given the time to examine the sudden shift, no chance to analyse what it might mean.

In a single movement, Elain was shoved carelessly into the Cauldron’s whirling waters. She gasped, tasting blood on her tongue. Her limbs were pulled in opposite directions by phantom hands, joints groaning at the pressure. Skin peeled back like tree bark, revealing the white bone beneath.

Elain witnessed none of it. There was a golden thread keeping her from sinking, looped around her ring finger, bright as the sun. The darkness danced along the edges of her vision, her curls floating in a blurred mess around her.

Old friend.

Recognition flashed in Elain’s mind, and she reached for it. As if she were threading her hands through a field of grass, the gesture was enough to ease her nerves, rhythmic.

Wait a moment longer.

Everything seemed to pause, the world no longer spinning. A sense of calm lingered, the silence lovely.

Please.

Elain felt light. Ripped apart, but she was tenderly being put back together. Apology and understanding was a soft caress as the water rippled. It felt like an eternity, time endless like the Cauldron she had been forced into.

She shut her eyes, but the darkness had already begun to ease back. It trickled like a stream until everything was crystal clear. Elain could see the elegant pearl of her engagement ring, the gemstone dull in comparison to the golden thread coiled around her finger.

The universe tilted, and Elain allowed the waters to carry her back. She’d nearly forgotten about the throne room, had hoped for a moment she would have returned to the false safety of her home.

The tiles were warm in comparison to the Cauldron, Elain thought, her cheek pressing uncomfortably against the smooth surface as she regained feeling in her arms and legs. She pushed herself onto her elbows, tremors making her unsteady.

Elain breathed in sharply.

Nesta was next, she knew. She could hear the howl of anger her sister roared in response, the king speaking as well but her ears couldn’t make out the words.

“Don’t just leave her on the damned floor—”

She caught only Lucien’s sentence, anger in his tone as a flash of sunlight flared in the large space. It reflected prettily against the black water on the tile, golden like the strange thread that had slowly begun to fade. It swirled like a winding river on a hand drawn map, one end leading to Lucien as he knelt like a knight in front of her.

Elain winced, shoulders curling inwards just as he draped his jacket onto her trembling form. She pulled back, staring at the brown skin of his throat. She couldn’t bring herself to look away, not even as she heard the guards throw a still thrashing Nesta into the Cauldron.

Lucien pulled Elain into his arms and she fell onto his chest clumsily. Ice water poured around her feet, but the coat kept her warm. The thick fabric smelled like fresh apples and early mornings, throwing her into memories of summer days spent gardening beneath a cloudless sky.

Elain breathed in, comforted instantly despite what had been done to her. She tucked her chin beneath the collar, using it as a makeshift shield in order to hide from her surroundings.

Lucien kept a respectful hand between her shoulder blades, and Elain was aware of the heat of his palm leaking through the material.

Nesta slammed into them roughly, undeterred by those watching, unbelievably brave in the face of what they’d just suffered. Elain felt slender fingers grab onto her waist, pulling as she snarled at Lucien. “Get off her!”

Elain slipped when he moved back, but Nesta’s grip was unforgiving. Her sister sobbed, the sound heart wrenching but not capturing her attention as it normally would have.

If Nesta or Feyre had cried as children, Elain could never stop herself from doing the same. She’d always felt their pain, caring to the point where it became embarrassing. A desperate hand ran over her still wet hair, almost as though Nesta was checking to make sure they were both still alive, the touch grounding.

Elain was staring over Nesta’s shoulder, though, eyes locked onto a mismatched pair. She gazed up at him, close enough for her to hold onto if she wished. She heard the rapidly beating rhythm of his heart, thunderous in her ears.

Lucien’s voice broke like waves against the shore as he whispered. “You’re my mate.”

#acotar #acomaf #a court of thorns and roses #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #elucien #elain archeron x lucien vanserra #nesta archeron #i love nesta she was such a legend for scaring the king of hybern #ashes writes sometimes #something lonesome #elucien time loop fic #thank you for reading <3

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gotham-ruaidh · 1 year ago

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Little Bit Better Than I Used To Be

Catch up: Chapter 1 (Starry Eyes) || Chapter 2 (Save Our Souls) || Chapter 3 (Dancing On Glass)|| Chapter 4 (Merry-Go-Round)|| Backstage (1) || Backstage (2) || Chapter 5 (Danger)|| Backstage (3) || Chapter 6A (Love Walked In) || Chapter 6B (Without You) || Backstage (4) || Chapter 7 (Stick To Your Guns) || Chapter 8 (Time For Change) || Backstage (5) || Chapter 9 (Take Me To The Top) || Backstage (6) || Chapter 10 (Home Sweet Home) || Backstage (7) || Chapter 11a (Nightrain) || Chapter 11b (Nothing Else Matters) || Chapter 12a (Handle With Care) || Chapter 12b (I’m So Tired of Being Lonely) || Chapter 13a (Angel) || Chapter 13b (She’s My Addiction) || Chapter 13c (Patience) Chapter 14a (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 14b (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 14c (Where Do We Go Now?) ||| Also posted at AO3

Chapter 15A: Dreams

Wilmington, North Carolina

Labor Day Weekend, 1988

I'm hung up on dreams I'll never see Help me baby, or this will surely be the end of me…

- Dreams, The Allman Brothers Band (1969) [click here to listen]

“I’ll be upstairs in just a few minutes. Did you finish your reading?”

Ten-year-old William MacKenzie shook his head. “I was going to, but that’s when Daddy arrived with Jamie and Claire – I mean, Mr. and Mrs. Fraser. And then it was time for dinner, and then - ”

Gillian Duncan MacKenzie bent to kiss her son’s forehead. “All right then. Why don’t you get yourself all caught up?”

William’s eyes darted over to Claire, seated across from his mother at the kitchen table, sipping sweet tea.

“Jamie and I will be here all weekend,” she smiled. “You’ll have plenty of time to talk with him about music tomorrow.”

His face brightened. “OK! See you in the morning!”

Claire couldn’t help but smile as William darted out of the room, footsteps quickly thudding on the stairs.

Gillian turned to face her guest. “He’s so excited. It’s not every day that a bona fide rock star is here in sleepy Wilmington.”

“Thank you for asking him to not tell his friends at school. I’m used to the attention now – ”

Gillian raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Are you?”

Claire shrugged. “Well – no. I don’t know if I ever will be. But one thing that won’t change is how much we value our privacy. So – thank you.”

“Of course, Claire. Privacy and discretion are what I do professionally – how could I not extend the same courtesy to you, when you’re a guest in my home?”

“Still. Thank you.”

A beat. Claire sipped the sweet tea Gillian had made – the same recipe she’d grown to love, those months at The Ridge. Gillian gently pulled Claire’s left hand across the table, studying her rings.

“You said this was his grandmother’s engagement ring?”

Claire nodded. “He inherited it when she died. His sister Jenny kept it for him, until he asked her for it. Called her the day he got home from The Ridge, and went to see her the next day. He gave it to me a few weeks later.”

“A man who knows what he wants.”

Claire smiled. “And I’m a woman who knows what she wants.”

Gillian returned the smile, then focused on the wide band next to the engagement ring.

“I love how solid and simple your ring is. Silver?”

“Platinum. His is the same. Wide enough for an inscription on the inside.”

“I do,” she had whispered. Smiling through the tears. Thinking he looked just a bit ridiculous in his suit. Sliding the band inscribed “Forever My Love” across his knuckle.

“I do,” he had whispered. Eyes burning, full of awe. Agape at the simple gray dress she had chosen, his mother’s pearls around her throat. Sliding the band inscribed “Forever My Heart” onto her finger.

“I am so pleased to…” Professor Quentin Lambert Beauchamp loudly blew his nose into a polka-dotted handkerchief. “Excuse me. I am so pleased to pronounce you husband and wife. Jamie, you may kiss your bride.”

He did. To the applause of the ten dear friends gathered in Joe and Gail Abernathy’s Boston backyard.

“That’s beautiful.” Gillian lay her own left hand on the table, adorned only by a thin gold ring. “Dougal never gave me an engagement ring, and he insisted I have the gold band for our marriage. His is silver. He had just sunk all of his money into building The Ridge, and we couldn’t even afford flowers at the reception.”

“That’s beautiful, too, Gillian. And I understand why you wouldn’t want to upgrade. Because what you have now, is that much more meaningful.”

“I was sitting here, when Joe and Gail staged the intervention.” Jamie looked over at his wife – his wife!! – gazing up into the arbor behind the house. “The vines were heavy with grapes. I remember thinking, how appropriate that I’m looking at what could be wine.”

He pulled her closer against his side, and kissed the top of her head. Careful of the tortoiseshell combs that Jenny had so lovingly placed in Claire’s hair as she got ready this afternoon.

“Ian confronted me in a hotel room in…Sacramento, I think. I had been so wasted on stage the night before, slurring through half the songs. Jenny had come to see Ian, and she was so scared for me. She had already done the research, made a few phone calls. I puked the whole flight across country to North Carolina.”

“It’s always the ones we love who we hurt the most,” she murmured.

“I’m never going to hurt you, Claire. You know that, right?”

She turned to face her husband – her husband!! – and smiled. Reassuring.

“I do. And you know I’m never going to hurt you, Jamie. Right?”

He nodded. Couldn’t help but kiss her.

“Ah!”

Dougal MacKenzie and Alec MacMahon turned the corner, and cheered. “Here you are! Come on – don’t let us have all the fun without you. Can’t miss your own wedding reception!”

Gillian nodded. “I don’t need it. I have the life we’ve built together, and our son, and a man who somehow thinks the sun rises and sets with me. I’ll never understand it.”

Claire swallowed.

Of course Gillian noticed.

“Don’t ever doubt how much he loves you, Claire. I’ve seen you two together – you’re so natural with each other. That’s never going to change.”

She clenched her hand into a fist. Centering herself.

“It’s…it’s just so…intense, with him,” she whispered.

“We don’t have to tonight, Jamie. We have forever, now.”

His hands shook as his thumb softly, softly traced down her neck, across the pearls, and settled into the cleft between her breasts.

“I want to, Claire. I want you so much I can scarcely breathe. I just…”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Gillian asked gently. “I can be your therapist, or I can be your friend. But I will listen.”

Claire took a deep, calming breath. “Being on tour – I see now how he developed the addictions. Every aspect of it is so stressful. He feels so much pressure to lead his band, to write music, to live up to the fans’ expectations. And he has to deal with the label and the tour manager and the production guys, and do media, and somehow find time to eat and shower and sleep on top of all of that.” Her thumb twisted her wedding ring. “He’d use the drugs to come up, and the alcohol to come down. And the women to just forget about everything for a while.”

“Are those groupies?”

Colum had organized a small gathering for the band and crew to celebrate the first show of the acoustic tour. No alcohol or drugs in the room – though Claire quickly learned that the rules by no means extended to hallways and bathrooms and storage rooms at the venue.

Jamie squeezed her hand, standing side by side in the corner, both of them holding a can of Tab.

“Yeah. I can ask them to leave, if you’re feeling uncomfortable.”

“No need.” She dropped his hand and quietly approached the four women giggling on the other side of the room.

“Ladies. I’m Claire Beauchamp. I’m with him.”

She turned slightly, looked at Jamie over her shoulder, and then turned back to her audience.

“So?” A girl wearing a strategically ripped Def Leppard t-shirt popped her gum. “That’s not what I heard about the last time he was here.”

Claire’s eyes narrowed. “That was then. This is now. I will say this only one time. If you even think about flashing a boob, or smiling at him, or trying to get him alone? I will end you.”

The girls gaped.

“Tell all your friends here in Albuquerque, please. Are we clear?”

“And now, that you’re there with him?”

Claire smiled. “He’s eating and sleeping a lot better. Has a lot more energy. He so desperately wants to do everything right. And I’m not going to lie, Gillian – seeing him perform the songs he wrote for me at The Ridge, and then being there when he comes off stage, all keyed up from singing and playing the guitar…”

“It sounds like in many respects he’s replaced his additions with you.”

Claire looked up, meeting Gillian’ gaze. “Of course he has. The album and lead single will be called She’s My Addiction. Doesn’t get any more obvious than that.”

“And how do you feel about that, Claire?”

She lay her hands flat on the table. “I’ve never felt more…loved, and cherished, than when I’m with Jamie.”

She frowned and opened her eyes when he stopped brushing her hair, one morning in Minneapolis.

“What – ”

The pads of his fingers swept the left side of her neck, still a bit tender from his kisses after last night’s show. “I bruised you. I’m sorry.”

“Hmm. I’m not.”

She swallowed. “But it’s so, so hard sometimes. He loves me for who I am, but I don’t want to do anything to fuck it up. And he stresses over so much that he doesn’t have to. Gillian, he’s been having panic attacks all tour.”

“My God. Is he seeing anyone to help with that?”

Claire sighed. “You’re looking at her. Thank God I did that psych rotation when I was in med school. I’ve helped him recognize the signs, and he knows enough to tell me when it’s happening so that we can get away and I can help him through it. But I’m not a psychiatrist. I can’t be everything he needs. He has to do a lot of work to explore what’s triggering him, so that he can manage that. Because after we take the break at the end of the year, we’ll be on the road for most of ’89. The label has booked more than a hundred shows.”

“And you’ll be with him?”

“Of course. He’s the air I breathe. I know this sounds insane, but we want to try for a baby next year. That way he can be off the road, off touring, to be with me if the timing lines up.” She sighed. “So I’ve talked to him about bringing a therapist with us on tour. He needs to have that kind of support from someone other than me. Especially when we’re in Europe and he’s playing soccer stadiums and dealing with a next level of bullshit.”

“Do you want some recommendations? Between Dougal and I, we can definitely help you find someone.”

Claire smiled thinly. “That would be wonderful. It has to be someone we both trust. Who can deal with all the craziness.”

Gillian nodded. “Consider it our wedding gift to you. I – we – really want to help you. You know this, Claire – getting sober is hard, but staying sober is so, so much harder. It does and doesn’t get easier with time. Dougal would say the same thing.”

“Do you ever miss it?”

She settled her chin into his shoulder, nestled securely in his lap. Together they watched the cornfields of Iowa glide by, thousands of feet below.

“No. Not really. The pills helped me deaden the pain. And my life doesn’t have that kind of pain at all, now.”

The private plane had four clusters of four seats, two seats on each side facing each other with a table in between. Jamie and Claire always had a cluster to themselves. Ian, his bass tech, Jamie’s guitar tech Arch, and Angus’ drum tech always sat together. Colum kept to himself. Leaving Angus in the final cluster – which he shared with the two groupies he’d been surprisingly faithful to since Albuquerque. He hated flying, but the girls certainly made it easier for him – plying him with snacks, rubbing his back, squeezing him between them in the big seat.

Claire turned slightly, and inhaled at his temple. Kissed his earlobe as he shivered. “I know you miss it, Jamie. And it’s OK.”

His grip tightened on her hip. “You taste so much better,” he whispered. Eyes far away.

Claire wiped the corners of her eyes. “I just love him, Gillian. So fucking much.” She took a deep breath. “I’m so proud of him, for everything he’s done, and for the man he’s worked so hard to become. I’m not going to lie – sometimes it’s so damn hard to deal with everything. With all of his past shit, and how he still lets it mess with his head. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve told him that none of it bothers me. Not the drugs, or the alcohol, or the destroyed hotel rooms, or what is probably hundreds of women. I can’t let any of that bother me, because that’s not the Jamie I know. But Gillian…”

Gillian reached across the table and took Claire’s hand.

“He makes everything so fucking hard sometimes. He starts to spiral, and he worries that I’ll have had enough and walk away. But then we just take a deep breath, and we look at each other, and all the bullshit is gone, and it’s just so easy again.”

“You need a day off!”

Jamie rubbed his hands over his face, exasperated. “I do have a day off tomorrow, Claire. You know as well as I do that there isn’t a show.”

She huffed, hands on her hips. “Not the point, Jamie. I saw the call sheet for tomorrow. You’re meeting with the label, and then with Colum to talk to the merch guy, and then the lighting team, and then you’re doing some local radio spots. That’s NOT a day off!”

He shrugged. “At least we can get dinner together and it won’t be shitty venue food.”

She pursed her lips, trying so hard not to scream. “Do you not remember the panic attack last night? You were sobbing in my arms, Jamie. It was really, really bad. And then you were so exhausted, but you wanted to be a hero and do the show anyway, and then you tripped over your fucking amp when you went on stage and could have broken your arm. Where would that leave us, hmm?”

He reached out to her – and she stepped back.

Not done with him yet.

“You need rest, Jamie. Your body is going to shut down. And that won’t be good for anybody.”

“Is that your medical opinion, Dr. Beauchamp?”

A hint of a smile. Good.

“Yes. I’m your personal physician. I’m prescribing a day in bed, sleeping.”

He smirked. “OK. But only if you’re in it, too.”

She shrugged. “I’m not making any sense.”

“Yes you are,” Gillian smiled. “You said it’s intense between you – there’s no way it couldn’t be. Set aside his being a musician, and being in just about the biggest band in the world right now. Think about how and when you met. What had happened to both of you beforehand. All the changes you’ve made in both of your lives, in a relatively short timeframe. It’s overwhelming. And being on the road with him this summer had to have just upped that intensity.”

“We’re together non-stop. Which has been great, because we have so much time. We have what nobody else has, and I treasure that, I really do. But it’s also exhausting sometimes.” Claire paused, considering. “Nobody else knows what I’m about to tell you, but it’s another factor. We…we didn’t…” She closed her eyes. “We waited until our wedding night.”

Gillian’s silence was a gift.

“We were both so scared. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I think we were worried that…that it wouldn’t be good, for some reason. And it was good, Gillian. So fucking good. We both cried.”

“You’re everything.” He kissed her nose and cheeks and forehead and mouth over and over and over again, his tears mixing with hers. “My heart is going to burst.”

She hugged him tighter, nails digging into the flames tattooed on his shoulders. “Love you,” she whispered, breathless. “Love you love you love you love you…”

“I don’t need to tell you this, Claire, but I will anyway. It’s been a really good decision to spend so much time together, to really get to know each other, before you were married. Both of you deliberately wanted your relationship to be different from anything you’d known or done before. And now that last barrier is gone between you. So everything has changed, am I right?”

Indianapolis. Married one week. He couldn’t stop smiling at her, standing side stage during the show. She couldn’t stop giggling when he found her after the encore, threw her over his shoulder, and ran to his dressing room. His breath hot against her lips, breathlessly pleading for her to stay quiet, as they loved each other on the sofa and the techs and roadies and catering people and production staff bustled by the locked door.

“It has, Gillian. But in many ways it hasn’t. It feels like yesterday, and it feels like forever.”

New Haven. Married two weeks. The morning after a powerhouse show at the Coliseum. A penthouse suite overlooking the water. She had slipped out of bed in the dark, opened the curtains wide. Watched him watch her as she returned to bed. Held his gaze as they loved each other, dawn breaking over their faces.

“I get that. You’ve introduced another layer to your relationship. Probably the most complex layer that there is.”

Providence. Married two weeks and two days. Holding each other in a bath, Jamie’s hand splayed across her belly, Claire’s nose buried in the curtain of his hair.

“So, be patient with yourself, Claire. Cut yourself a break.” Gillian reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “And just enjoy yourself! My God – what an incredible life you have.”

Claire’s smile was the widest Gillian had ever seen.

“Holy shit. I married a rock star.”

“I heard that!”

And then Jamie was there, smiling, and kissing Claire’s smile.

Dougal hung back in the doorway. Exchanging smiles with his own wife.

“Come on, rock star. You said you’d help me hook up the new CD player.”

Jamie pulled back. Rubbed his nose against Claire’s.

“Hey, Dougal?”

Dougal crossed his arms. “What?”

Jamie stood. Squeezed Claire’s hands. Kissed her wedding ring.

“Love is a much better high than any drug.”

Dougal rolled his eyes. “I’ll put that on the new pamphlets we’re printing up for The Ridge. But the stereo won’t install itself. Help out, and I’ll even let you play that new stuff you brought.”

#outlander #outlander fanfic #little bit better than i used to be #jamie and claire

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