#The Kiss of a Viscount

[jolieeason]

Top Ten Tuesday: Bodice Rippers

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Every Tuesday, a new topic is assigned from the schedule below. Then, you take that topic and fly free with it. You can do as little or as much as you want to (I have…

[dearabsolutelynoone]

Kanthony’s Kisses

[sea-owl]

I GOT MY ILLUMICRATE BRIDGERTON BOOKS AND THEY'RE GORGEOUS!

[hug-kiss-marry-kill]

[etherrealsx]

The Bridgerton couples as Taylor Swift songs

Daphne & Simon: Haunted

"Come on, come on, don't leave me like this. I thought I had you figured out. Something's gone terribly wrong, you're all I wanted. Come on, come on, don't leave me like this. I thought I had you figured out. Can't breathe whenever you're gone, can't go back now I'm haunted."

Anthony & Kate: The Great War

"We will never go back to that bloodshed, crimson clover, the worst was over, my hand was the one you reached for all throughout the Great War. Always remember we're burned for better, I vowed I would always be yours, 'cause we survived the Great War."

Benedict & Sophie: Enchanted

"This is me praying that this was the very first page, not where the storyline ends. My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again. These are the words I held back as I was leaving to soon. I was enchanted to meet you."

Colin & Penelope: You Belong With Me (🥹)

"Dreaming 'bout the day when you wake up and find that what you're looking for has been here the whole time. If you could see that I'm the one who understands you, been here all along so why can't you see, you belong with me."

Eloise & Phillip: seven

"I've been meaning to tell you I think your house is haunted, your dad is always mad and that must be why. I think you should come live with me and we can be pirates, then you won't have to cry, or hide in the closet, and just like a folk song, our love will be passed on."

Francesca & Michael / Michaela: I Almost Do

"I bet you think I either moved on or I hate you, 'cause every time you reach out there's no reply. I bet it never ever occurred to you, that I can't say hello to you and risk another goodbye. And I just want to tell you, it takes everything in me not to call you, and I wish I could run to you, and I hope you know that every time I don't, I almost do."

Hyacinth & Gareth: I Can See You

"I can see you in your suit and your necktie, pass me a note saying "meet me tonight", then we kiss and you know I won't ever tell. And I can see you being my addiction, you can see me as a secret mission, hide away and I will stop behaving myself."

Gregory & Lucy: Speak Now (duh)

"I hear the preacher say speak now or forever hold your peace. There's the silence, there's my last chance, I stand up with shaky breath all eyes on me. Horrified looks from everyone in the room but I'm only looking at you."

[bridgerton-bard]

Bridgerton Audiobooks Included with Spotify Premium

I just thought I would put out a note to let anyone who was unaware that all of the audiobooks in the Bridge-verse written by Julia Quinn are now free to download/stream for Spotify Premium subscribers.

Obviously this isn't paid promotion, but if you had wanted to pick them up, this is a great time if you're a spotify subscriber. I was surprised they were included due to the popularity of the show, but they're all there. I'm currently listening to To Sir Phillip, With Love.

Happy listening! 😘

[asadfangirlbitxh]

My favorite Bridgerton books

1) When He was wicked - Francesca Bridgerton

Michael Stirling the man you are.

2) The Viscount who loved me

I personally prefer the book's story to the show because of the dynamic between Kate and Edwina. But I loved Kate Sharma with all my heart

3) An Offer from a Gentleman

Sophie Beckett is going to be beautiful i just know it . I hope they keep the last jail scene it was my favorite

4) It's in his Kiss

Gareth St Clair and Hyacinth

✨chef kisses✨

Hope she finds the jewelry in the show

5) Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

Pen and Colin. The ultimate friends to lovers with a spice of girl boss x boy himbo

6) To Sir Phillip with love

More excited for Eloise to bond with the twins then the actual love story. Hope the show makes it Spicier

7) On the way to the wedding

Gregory and Lucy are cute. But it could have been better but the family scenes are amazing.

8) The Duke and I

Could have been amazing but that SA scene just ruined it.

[checkoutmybookshelf]

You Have My Attention: Bridgerton First Lines

I literally cannot believe I haven't done a First Lines for Bridgerton yet!!! Thanks to the Netflix series, Bridgerton itself needs little introduction. However, Julia Quinn still had to catch her readers, and those first sentences are crucial for that. House rules for this one are that we will do the prologue and first chapter first lines (with the exception of When He was Wicked, which just doesn't have a prologue for some reason), because let's face it: We want to meet both our love interests. Let's see how she does it!

Prologue

The birth of Simon Arthur Henry Fitzranulph Basset, Earl Clyvdon, was met with great celebration.

Chapter 1

"Ooooooooooohhhhhhhhh!" Violet Bridgertin crumpled the single-page newspaper into a ball and hurled it across the elegant drawing room.

Her daughter Daphne wisely made no comment and pretended to be engrossed in her embroidery.

-- The Duke and I

Prologue

Anthony Bridgerton had always known he would die young.

Chapter 1

"Please don't tell me," Kate Sheffield said to the room at large, "that she is writing about Viscount Bridgerton again."

-- The Viscount Who Loved Me

Prologue

Everyone knew Sophie Beckett was a bastard.

Chapter 1

"Sophie! Sophieeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

As screeches went, it was enough to shatter glass. Or at least an eardrum.

-- An Offer from a Gentleman

Prologue

On the sixth of April, in the year 1812--precisely two days before her sixteenth birthday--Penelope Featherington fell in love.

Chapter 1

"Look at this!" Portia Featherington squealed. "Colin Bridgerton is back!"

-- Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Prologue

It was ironic, really, that it had happened on such a sunny day.

Chapter 1

Eloise Bridgerton smoothed the well-read sheet of paper across her lap.

-- To Sir Phillip, With Love

Chapter 1

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and clear that one feels as if one’s been hit in the chest, all the breath knocked out, and one knows, absolutely knows without the merest hint of a shadow of a doubt that one’s life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

Chapter 2

For all his faults—and Francesca was willing to allow that Michael Stirling had many—he really was the dearest man.

-- When He was Wicked

Prologue

There were four principles governing Gareth St. Clair's relationship with his father that he relied upon to maintain his good humor snd general sanity.

Chapter 1

"Why do we do this to ourselves?" Hyacinth Bridgerton wondered aloud.

-- It's In His Kiss

Prologue

His lungs were on fire. Gregory Bridgerton was running.

Chapter 1

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believed in true love.

-- On the Way to the Wedding

[island-in-ignorance]

Now that everyone has Bridgerton brain rot again I'm gonna drop my ranking of the books.

An Offer From a Gentleman (Benedict): Unmatched. My favorite historical romance. The fact his season was skipped makes me so angry I could throw hands with Shonda herself.

The Viscount Who Loved Me (Anthony): Beautiful. Perfect. I have no notes. It's a good time and Kate could 100% step on me and I'd thank her.

It's in His Kiss (Hyacinth): FLAWLESS. Absolutely Flawless. The fact that Lady Danbury is also involved in the plot only adds to the appeal. I loved it.

When he Was Wicked (Francesca): I am a SLUT for the pining in a historical romance. And the pining was absolutely impeccable. And also the spice was obviously spicin.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Colin): Book Penelope supremacy!!!! She was so great in the books. Her and Colin together was so fun. I loved their friendship and the way it grew to a romance. In love.

To Sir Phillip With Love (Eloise): I really do love romances where one of the partners has children. I don't remember much of this book but I know I enjoyed it.

On the Way to the Wedding (Gregory): This was certainly a book. And a boring one at that. I forgot everything that happened in this book.

The Duke and I (Daphne): not only is this book boring but I am simply not down for the way she assaulted her own husband. Simon did not deserve that. I don't care about historical accuracy I don't read romance for that. Gross.

[hyarethweek]

Hyacinth Bridgerton, always asking the right questions in the show! 🤪

[itzr4v3n]

I got a bit of motivation so probably going to draw some Fulfftober Prompts (I know those are meant for writing, shhhhhhh)

Day 1: First Kiss

Cape was totally not an excuse to not draw the side perspective of them

[dearabsolutelynoone]

“The family is noted as full of perfectly handsome sons…

…and perfectly beautiful daughters.”

[varyathevillain]

Sebastian Vael would've been such a better character for the Dragon Age fandom to enjoy if in act 3 instead of the shitty "here, have a Leliana cameo and another proof there's Blood Magic Everywhere in Kirkwall, go fetch!" quest, we had a different one.

Let's say... Hawke has an option of investigating a weird deal between a chantry sister and a Starkhaven diplomat, and during it you uncover that the chantry has been embezzling from Starkhaven's treasury, as well as putting "former chantry members" (read: malleable or outright Chantry puppets) in the ruling circle which is currently holding Starkhaven afloat in absence of Sebastian as their Prince.

If Sebastian is not in the party as you uncover this, you have an option to either tell him about it, or investigate the questline further. If he is, however, in the party as you find the first notice of something being wrong between Chantry and Starkhaven relations, Sebastian will exclaim that this is a mistake, someone posing outside (or within) a Chantry to implicate either Starkhaven royalty, or Grand Cleric Elthina, and reference Sister Petrice. The moment you involve him in the questline, however, he'll be locked in for the investigation missions, and start getting special points in the code, one for each encounter (including the very first one starting the questline), for the final confrontation of the questline. The same happens if you start involving Sebastian at any other point of the questline, but with less and less points available.

As you progress, there would be three more quests to go through, one of which even takes you to either the outskirts of Starkhaven, or to the busy streets of it, allowing 1) to show another city state of Free Marches, 2) where Sebastian comes from, 3) actually be worth your money for the DLC, if ideal DA2 still had him as a DLC companion. Which I still hate with burning passion a decision, same with Javik being DLC in ME3.

The questline has chantry sisters and nobles implicated, Flora Harriman reaching out to Hawke about weird decisions made in Starkhaven politics, resembling what her mother did, and at a second quest there's even a possibility of you uncovering a chantry brother in a contract with a Desire demon. It seems like it all leads up to corruption in the political sphere and stragglers in the Chantry circles, right?

Except. On the final quest. It is revealed that Elthina, in her own handwriting, no forgery as confirmed by any rogue in the party, has forced Grand Cleric of Starkhaven to resign, installed her own puppet (one of the chantry sisters you might see in Act 1) as a new Grand Cleric, all for a bid of "uniting the Free Marches under the Chantry banner". It also implies that Sister Petrice was telling the truth, and that Elthina was, in fact, more involved with the unrest against Qunari than one would believe in the base game (I believe she was involved, but it's not majorly pertaining to this post in particular). There's a letter that implies Lady Harimann was allowed to do what she did, because Elthina believed she'd be able to manipulate Sebastian in favour of the Chantry. It also unveils how many people of Starkhaven were hurt by this. Turns out, a lot.

Then, you can go about this questline ending several ways.

This is where the points counting in the background come into play.

If you did not bring Sebastian alongside you on any of the missions, or if there aren't enough points for you to sway him... Sebastian will claim the evidence as plot against his support of the Chantry and Elthina specifically, and burn the letters in particular, calling them a "bad replica of what sister Petrice tried to do". Elthina, on prodding, feigns innocence, or if you have not talked to Sebastian yet, calls him in to discuss "this silly accusation", which gives +15 rivalry if you're not in a locked relationship with him. He still burns the letters, and accuses you of believing the conspirators, or even being one of them. There are some undertones in Elthina's dialogue to imply she's ready to blackmail you back if you press the matter, and Hawke has no choice but to back off.

If you bring Sebastian along and your relationship with him at this point is so-so, neither a full friendship or a rivalry, you'd need at least 3 points with favourable dialogue, this makes Sebastian question the Chantry, even Elthina. You'd need all 4 points (bringing him from the get go in your party when they rock up to the start of the questline) without going further into discussion for him to buckle. With friendship, you'd need to bring him on at least 2 missions, or 3 with favourable dialogue. With rivalry, however, you need for him to be brought only on one mission with favourable dialogue, the final one, after which he'll even say that "You (Hawke) were right about me needing to step up and rule Starkhaven". On two missions if you want to bicker with him throughout the quests instead.

If you would manage to sway Sebastian by the end, you'd have one final choice: support him in standing up and demanding answers from Elthina, or asking him to forgive her involvement.

Supporting him on Friendship is the simplest, but supporting him on Rivalry ends up in Sebastian switching to Friendship, like with Merrill reversing her Friendship in Mirror Image if you don't give her the Arulin'Holm. This ends up in a calmly voiced, but very angry Sebastian Vael, pure venom in his words, listing how Elthina has abused his trust and his people by using faith in the Chantry, and manipulating a Prince of a sovereign nation for her own means. If you supported him on Rivalry, he'll have additional lines on how you've challenged him to see problems with Chantry and Templar order, as well as to come back to Starkhaven, and outright thank you right in front of Elthina, whose eyes will throw daggers in your direction. At the end of the speech, Sebastian will actually start removing pieces of his armour, them clattering to the floor at Elthina's feet, and walk out alongside you out of the Kirkwall chantry.

However, if you ask him to forgive Elthina, he'll have the biggest rivalry (+30) jump in the game if you aren't in a Friendship, and will briefly lash out at you, saying that complacency with his devotion to the Chantry is what got him and his people into this mess. On Rivalry, it's worse. Instead of a calm but angry and vicious reprimand of Elthina's actions, Sebastian will SCREAM at her, throw evidence in her face, and then scream at you on Rivalry for good measure, about how you can't simply forgive someone who would seek ruin his city, and is actively ruining Kirkwall. How he was blind to Elthina's actions, but sees now that blood magic isn't the rot at the city's heart that is dividing the Circle and Templar order, it's Chantry politicians like Elthina. And instead of armour pieces clattering to the ground, they're thrown at the feet of the Andraste statue, while Sebastian outright declares that if Elthina doesn't cease machinations in Starkhaven, he'll rage war against her, specifically, and everyone who would support her. Then, he storms out, alone.

You can insert either a "there's nothing to talk about" with Elthina afterwards in both endings of this form, or promises of Hawke "never holding a position in this city aside from carrying the Amell name".

After that, you can find Sebastian, clad in a new armour (simple, reminiscent of what Alistair wears in his introduction scene in DAO, only with the Starkhaven symbol emblazoned on an archer chest piece), with a box in his arms, on the steps out of Hightown into Lowtown. He jokes about how his whole life in Kirkwall can, at the same time, be put into a small box like this one, and be something world encompassing. After a dialogue, where he tells you he is going to live in a small hovel in Lowtown, since he doesn't want to even see the chantry building, or talk with nobles who'd gladly eat him and people of Starkhaven alive, until the moment Kirkwall unrest is over, since he wants stability for you and your city as well. Also, he'd rather spend money on his people and those in need, not himself.

If romanced, or with certain persuasion options, you can invite him to live with you. You can still try to invite him with a couple of options, but he'll deny them for various reasons. After that, he'd live near the market; or, if you managed to convince him, in Hawke's mansion.

If in a romance, there's a hot makeout scene in the library which fades to black implying a proper sex scene. If not, he'll have amusing additional scenes with other companions, especially other love interests, with a bit of hostility from Isabela and Anders, and a lot of genuine fun from Fenris and Merrill.

When you talk with him alone (at either Lowtown hovel or at home in the Library), Sebastian discusses, on Friendship, how he is still Andrastian, even if Chantry failed him and his, or on Rivalry how he feels that blind devotion blinded him to Chantry mistakes.

Banter between party members also changes, with one dialogue from Merrill implying that Sebastian is now helping refugees and the poor, Fenris talking about his efforts in making an organisation for former templars/chantry members expelled for one reason or another, Anders being surprised at a late night visit where Sebastian covered in blood (not his) brought him herbs and potion flasks as a peace offering, et cetera. There's still tension over Sebastian belief in the Chant and Andraste, but it's not anymore about him having to perform for the Chantry and his public image.

If you don't complete the quest with this ending, Sebastian Vael still demands Anders to be executed, or he'll wage war. But if you do... he confesses that Anders has asked him to warn as many people in Lowtown and Darktown not to come to the Hightown and chantry, but assumed this would be because of Meredith and Orsino outright fighting in front of Elthina, not this... murder.

He will, however, draw his bow and point an arrow at Anders, saying that this was not the answer to help his cause, and Anders needs to pay now. Hawke can allow him to do that, or step in.

In a so-so relationship, if you choose anything else but "I will execute him myself" or relent to Sebastian's demand and let him shoot Anders? Vael will spit at your feet and leave your party and the conflict, resulting in a very similar ending to his character as in the original DA2, just less anti-mage and pro-Chantry.

However, in a Friendship or Rivalry, it's very easy to convince him to still stay at your side and see it through. With his unknowing help, many innocents of Kirkwall were saved, and now he has to stick around to help as well, and to either see Anders pay for his crimes with work and healing, not redemption through martyr-like murder, or to understand that this, inadvertently, would be every city across Southern Thedas, including Starkhaven, if Chantry dogma supported by Templars will continue murder, physical and emotional, of mages. He'll have additional dialogue depending on whether you're a mage Hawke, or if Bethany died/is in Circle.

In Romance, Sebastian will lower his bow immediately as Hawke steps between. You'll have to mess up really badly in dialogue for him to storm out.

[in-my-loki-feels]

🧡 for the kiss game! Thomas Sharpe/Benedict Bridgerton if your status as the patron saint of rare pairs is so inspired 😉 but Lokius would be perfect for this too! 🥰

I accept your challenge of writing Thomas Sharpe/Benedict Bridgerton! We are going to manifest this pairing into existence! I just hope I did them justice. 🙈 Also, I do have a not yet filled 🧡 prompt for Lokius, so you'll get that wish granted too (eventually, lol).

(Caveat: it's been a loooong time since I read the Bridgerton books so hopefully my attempt to mimic regency romance prose isn't too awkward.)

🧡 kissing in bed / lazy kiss / cuddling

Benedict awoke overwarm and feeling as though he’d been buried during the night, but in the most cozy fashion. It took him a moment to understand what had happened.  Thomas was so often cold, perhaps still recovering from the icy horrors of his home, that in his sleep he often drifted across the center of Benedict’s small bed and ended up wrapped around Benedict. Benedict would not normally mind, except as the weather turned warmer, the added body heat led to waking up sweating. Without any of the fun that normally came along with that. “Thomas,” Benedict said into the pillow his face was smashed against. “Wake up, Thomas.”  Ah, now there was a glorious feeling Benedict could never mind waking up to. Thomas, still draped completely over Benedict’s back, coming to awareness slowly before stretching his long limbs. Benedict could feel Thomas’ muscles tensing and relaxing all along his body. The arm around Benedict’s middle tightened briefly as Thomas nosed into Benedict’s throat and exhaled a sigh.  “What has made you so slothful?” Benedict teased. “Surely it cannot be my influence.”  “Perhaps I have simply found cause to enjoy…taking my time in the mornings.”  Benedict shivered. Thomas had a lovely voice at any hour, but it was an even more delicious rumble when he was just awakening. That sinful pause, paired with the fingers Thomas was trailing just above the waistband of Benedict’s drawers, made it difficult to want to rise and greet the day.  “Well,” Benedict said, “unfortunately for myself, I am meant to breakfast with my family. I cannot be late again, or they will start to ask questions.”  Benedict wasn’t overly worried with his family’s questions. His mother’s attention was diverted by his younger siblings for the moment, though he knew it was only a matter of time before it returned to him. He chose his words for the way they made Thomas squeeze him close again. “We cannot have that,” Thomas murmured in his ear. “Benedict Bridgerton, disappearing every night to who knows where, only to return late every morning. Whatever would Lady Whistledown say?” Thomas finally drew away, rolling onto his back and withdrawing his arm. Benedict missed the heat of him immediately, even if this did allow him to push himself up from the mattress’ clutches. He wriggled around until he could lay on his other side, facing Thomas.  Sir Thomas Sharpe, baronet from the blustery bluffs of Cumberland, was a sight for sore eyes indeed this early in the morning. His dark hair, normally neatly swept back from his face, was a mess of curls against the pillow. He’d tucked one hand behind his head, emphasizing the taut lines of muscle beneath the skin of his bicep and chest.  The familial duty that had previously been pulling Benedict from the bed wavered now. Thomas’ sly smile revealed he knew exactly the sort of tempting picture he made. Benedict rolled his eyes but gave in, lowering himself down to meet lips that parted with anticipation.  There was no time of day when it was not enjoyable to kiss Thomas, but first thing in the morning, when Thomas was still loose-limbed and drowsy, that was a real treat. That was a time of slow, leisurely kisses, of Thomas freeing his hand from behind his head to cup it behind Benedict’s, to hold him there as though Benedict had any real desire to leave.  Time did not exist in these moments, only the sweet, gentle movement of their mouths together, and Thomas’ greedy hands reaching for more.  When Benedict pushed himself up, he was unsurprised by the little moue on Thomas’ face.  “I suppose I could be a little late,” Benedict said with a sigh. “Give Lady Whistledown something to write about.”  Thomas’ countenance transformed, brightening with wicked delight as he tightened his hold on Benedict and drew him back down.

From this ask game. Other ficlets here.

[quotes-and-recs]

Tell me why it's your favorite in the tags