#a truly magnificent gem

[banannabethchase]

LISTEN MOX AND NICK ARE WEIRD LITTLE CREATURES AND LIKE BEING WEIRD TOGETHER. i really did think it was crack-y 😂

I am old as BALLS so when I see someone say cracky I expect fourth wall breaking, hamsters as main characters, somebody romances a flower pot who rejects them verbally, a giant raccoon becoming god, levels of chaos. While yours was cracky, it was also weirdly realistic and that's what made it amazing. Seriously that was so good. I had a rough day surviving work, cuz I'm still so sick, so seeing that as I got in my car was like a reward for surviving the day. Thank you so much for writing it.

[starogeorgina]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬

Pairing: Criston Cole x reader

Warnings: Swearing

1.01

The great hall was alive with the sound of fast-paced music, played by the kingdom's finest musicians. Torches flickered along the walls, casting dancing shadows across the ornate tapestries that adorned them.

Making your way through the crowd, you nod and say thanks to the lords and ladies who congratulate you, while your mind races with the thought of what urgent excuse you could come up with to leave your own wedding early. The news of the sudden wedding between King Viserys second-eldest daughter and Ser Gwayne Hightower, the brother of the queen, had spread like wildfire. A magnificent feast has been made, with the finest foods and wines from across the kingdoms being laid out on ornate golden platters. The scent of roasted meats and baked bread filled the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of freshly cut flowers. The walls are adorned with banners of House Targaryen and Hightower.

Salt in the wound.

With a cup of wine in hand, you manage to place yourself by the edge of the hall, on the outskirts of the crowd. Your gaze falls upon Rhaenyra; the sight of her elaborate red gown with the outlines of black dragons sewn into it takes your breath away. She looks utterly beautiful—a true Targaryen princess chosen by the gods themselves.

And in comparison, you felt invisible.

Your hair is meticulously braided and woven into an intricate crown atop your head, adorned with gleaming gold threads and shimmering gems. The luxurious white fabric drapes gracefully over your form, its skirt flowing outwards in a lavish cascade of emerald green that seems to move with a life of its own. The gown's intricate design features delicate embroidery and beading that shimmer in the candlelight, highlighting the regal bearing of the woman who wears it. The corseted bodice hugs your curves gently, accentuating your femininity without being overly revealing.

You hadn’t lived in Kings Landing for so long that you felt like an outsider. Saying goodbye to the loyal friends you had made over the years, along with the family unit you had built, was devastating.

A knight from the king's guard bows before you, “princess.”

“Ser Criston, isn’t it?”

“Ser Criston Cole.”

The knight glares at something behind you, and you’re mortified to see it was Ser Gwayne. You let the first glimpse of your real emotions show when you observe your new husband getting a little too handy with the lady he was dancing with. Ser Criston opens his mouth to say something, but a member of House Hightower approaches before he has the chance to say, “Congratulations, princess; this truly is a grand affair.”

“Thank you, Ser Hobert; I do hope you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Hopefully you will be blessed with another child soon, a male heir, just as Queen Alicent has been three times.”

Your nostrils flare as you take a large gulp of wine. Ser Criston locks eyes with you and clenches his jaw. It seems he didn’t appreciate the unwanted comments either. When you say nothing back, Ser Hobert swiftly leaves, spotting another member of his house and going to join them. It wasn’t just the added pressure of having another child that offended you; it was the complete disregard of Alicent’s daughter, Princess Helaena, who was just as important as your brothers.

“There is little good to say about Ser Hobert Hightower, princess,” the knight says. “Pay no mind to him.”

“I believe he has a tendency to overshare his thoughts. Earlier, he was saying, Otto's daughter holds the king's ear and cock, and now a Targaryen girl will take his son’s cock to produce more heirs House hightower.”

“You want me to kill him?”

Feeling an unstoppable smile pulling on your lips, you raise your cup to your mouth in an attempt to hide it. “It’s not often I turn down such an honorable offer,” you giggle. “But unfortunately, you would be a very busy man if you cut down every man who spoke about a woman as if they were broodmares.”

“I shall be at your beck and call from dusk till dawn, princess.”

His playful tone has a calming effect on you, helping you drown out the worries inside your head. You chew on your bottom lip, trying to think of something clever to say, but you’re overcome with excitement when you spot your uncle Daemon walking towards you. You smile at him brightly but become concerned when the frown on his face deepens.

In High Valyrian, he states, “I’ve told that Hightower cunt if he tries to insist on a bedding ceremony again, I’d have his head on a fucking pike by sunrise.”

You stare at him, speechless.

“My brother is a fool. He is so oblivious to the High Tower's blatant power grab that he’s allowed you to marry below your station. You are a princess, and he is a—”

“Uncle,” you cut him off when Daemon's voice became louder, attracting attention from others in the room. You kiss him on the cheek, an action that doesn’t go unnoticed by the Hightowers. “We shall speak further about this in the morrow.”

—

Feeling your feet starting to throb from dancing for so long with Rhaenyra, you go and sit at an empty table. Once your legs are under the fabric, you lift your feet up in a very unladylike fashion.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself, princess.”

Knotting your fingers together, you look up at him. “In truth, I’d much rather be reading a bedtime story to Meera.” The small laugh he lets out makes you think the night doubts your sincerity. “You think I jest?”

“No, I believe you, princess,” he smiles. “Most brides would reveille in the attention.”

“I was never one for attention,” you say quietly.

Growing up, you were practically a ghost living in the shadows of Rhaenyra, but in truth, you enjoyed it. Your elder sister was confident, intelligent, rebellious, and confrontational. You always did as your father asked, and only after entering motherhood did you start sticking up for yourself. Life away from the Keep did wonders for you.

“It must be strange for you to return after all this time. Princess Rhaenyra speaks very highly of you.”

You glance over at your sister, who was dancing with a knight named Ser Harwin Strong, then back up Ser Criston. “I’m glad to hear that; I’ve missed her terribly living so far away. I just wish I had more time to settle in before…”

“Getting married.”

“Yes,” you say. “I’d never even met Ser Gwayne before today.”

“Well, he is a lucky man. I’m sure the king had many suitors to choose from.”

“Hmm,” your opinion on the matter of who you wished to marry meant very little to your father. “In the morrow, my father is going to pick up a personal sworn shield for me.”

Grinning, the knight leans in a little closer, saying, “Hopefully the king will make a better match.”

“Hopefully, Ser Criston.”

[dollwrites]

the brainworms are brainworming soo… let’s talk about how possessive king!Griffith becomes over his queen.

ivory veils crafted from silk. parasols that catch the white rose petals the commoners rain down upon you. headpieces adorned with pure, white wings whose span careens around from the back of your head to spread across the bridge of your nose. your own kingdom’s population have never been allowed to gaze upon your countenance ( and you, in turn, never able to know what your subjects look like as their eyes gleam with awe at the king and his queen ) — only the lowest quarter on rare occasion. your soft lips as they curve to form the syllables of his name in a whisper before he juts his left shoulder into view, concealing you behind the glittering silver of his armor.

not even inside the palace walls are you permitted to be perceived. you are to hold on to one of his hands with both of yours, allow your husband to be your sight and guide you through seemingly endless corridors. each step you take, you count. you know how many it takes to reach each room in your palace, though you rarely see its magnificence for yourself. once inside the destination, your ladies in waiting as well as royal guard must leave the bedchambers before Griffith will run his willowy finger along the shape of your jaw. “Closed?” you know what the inquiry means, and you close your eyes behind their shield, before giving a subtle and obedient nod. the gentle tilt upwards, as his svelte digits slip beneath your eye covering, lifting it slowly, so as not to shock the delicate gems he keeps hidden away in darkness all day. “Slowly now, my pet.” he murmurs, the once rough pad of his fingertip feeling soft and delicate as it traces your temple, over your cheekbone, and down to your lips.

you are eager to see, but you allow your eyelids to flutter for a few beats before you open them. your vision restored, you glance around the familiar environment. the only room in your own home that you’d truly recognized.

“Very good girl. Take a moment to gather your bearings.”

you look around for a moment— take in the atmosphere. dim candles cast a warm, orange glow on the bed of silken sheets and on the man who sits in front of you upon them. “My love,” you utter, your eyes sparkling with curiosity as they flit upwards to catch his visage within them. he was as stunning as ever, with striking icy eyes and hair as soft and silver as the moon’s glow. “Why must I always hide myself?” it seemed almost disproportionate. if anything, it would be Griffith’s unearthly beauty worth concealing.

Griffith watches you with a stoic expression for a moment, his pout etching upwards into the ghost of a smirk that most would’ve missed. “You are mine, sweetling. As are the people of this kingdom. Every stone, every drop of rain, every blade of grass in this domain. But you are far more precious than any of those.” Griffith’s sapphire eyes seem to darken ever slightly, before he traces the shape of your lips, staring at them for a long moment. after a breath, they flicker back up and lock on to yours. “These eyes are priceless gems, finer than any that have ever been mined. And no man, woman, or child shall look upon them except for your king. They will never tear up, they will never glare. These eyes will only ever gaze up at me with desire and devotion. Your king. Your savior.”

[enpr-ss]

LOL Also the way Grian and Mumbo just pranced and loudly announced their perfect baiting of the tnt trap... and then had the audacity to be shocked when jimmy set off the minecart... what goes on in their brains I wonder. Can't believe the session ended even more clownish than how it started. From Matrix soundtrack to Circus music

Bdubs really committed to the Gandalf bit: didn’t let Joel pass and also fell into the depths. Also the range on his vocal emotional tones from saying goodbye to Scar and immediately switching to indignant offense at Gem is so good! Also how are those 3 like this. How long have they been professional minecrafters. They are literally the redstone - builders legends....

Joel really is a sucker for his wife. Lizzie really just did the whole honeypot / I'm baby pwease and he just folded like a tissue.

Scar giving up on his failed traps and just going for the pvp kill was not the pro gamer move I expected but nonetheless it's still funny and on brand. And that Lion King Mufasa kill on Etho was well deserved. Etho looking like a parkour master while still committing to the life's tuff bit was truly magnificent. The fact that every red and yellow in the vicinity went straight for his throat was also absolutely fantastic and honestly deserved.

Pearl on her "god forbid women do anything" villain arc. Cleo living in her reality tv drama. Gem not even trying to save herself because these idiots need a win after everything.

[dontforgetukraine]

Illia Ponomarenko shows us one of the many gems Kyiv has to offer: The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (or the Kyiv Lavra of the Caves). It is considered the most significant and holiest of places in Eastern Slavic Orthodox Christianity. This is an example of what is at stake for Ukraine as Russia continues its efforts to eradicate Ukrainian history and identity.

So, about 1,000 years ago, Kyiv was living its golden age as the center of a large medieval kingdom of Rus under Prince Yaroslav the Wise—very possibly the greatest ruler of Kyiv ever. The official residence of the rulers of Kyiv Rus was located in the town of Berestove outside Kyiv (it's now where Kyiv's Park of Eternal Glory is). The Berestove priest Illarion sought comfort and solitude, so he dug a lonesome cave in the hills at the Dnipro riverside, where he could spend his time alone in prayers. That happened around 1051 A.D. That guy soon became the head of the Kyiv Church and left, but more hermits followed his suit and established their shelters in those caves. Over many years, they burrowed long mazes of catacombs and established churches and monastic cells. The monastery gradually became a grandiose Lavra, a magnificent center of religious and cultural life, the greatest in this corner of human civilization. As early as 1073 A.D., the Cathedral of the Dormition (or the 'Great Church') was established (and you can see the modern iteration of it, the magnificent white cathedral bearing images of the saints on its walls. Just like Kyiv, the Lavra was ruined and resurrected from ashes several times over its 1,000-year history. Mongolians seized and desolated Kyiv in 1240, and the Lavra was devastated so hard that it spent well over a century in empty ruins. Yet, it would always rise again in all of its glory. During WWII, the Great Church was blown up just as many other iconic locations of Kyiv, such as Kherschatyk Street (in my opinion, what happened was that the Soviets planted bombs at the Lavra upon their withdrawal from the city in 1941 and failed to detonate them on time; and Nazis took out the treasures of the Lavra and got rid of the Soviet bombs by blowing up the cathedral. Like many other significant treasures of Kyiv, the Great Church of the Lavra was resurrected by independent Ukraine by the 2000s. The Lavra is indeed a city within a city—I'm only showing you a tiny part of it that is popular with tourists. Unfortunately, the ancient monastery caves have been closed to visitors for over a year. Technically, the Lavra is a giant museum with many art exhibitions, collections of historical artifacts, and recreation zones for anyone. Right now, for instance, the Lavra Historical Museum exhibits ancient Scthyntian gold from Crimea that was recently returned to Ukraine. At the Lavra, you can easily find the resting places of many historical figures of the past, such as the one of Kostiantyn Ostrozky, the legendary ultra-rich magnate of the 15th and 16th centuries and the Lavra's lavish sponsor, or Petr Stolypin, the Russian imperial prime minister who was assassinated at the Kyiv Opera House in 1911. Of course, the Lavra is about the iconic Great Bell Tower, one of Kyiv's most legendary landmarks. The tower is 96 meters high and can be seen from around 30 kilometers away from the Lavra. It takes over 370 stairs to reach the tower's top -- but I'm telling you, it's 100% worth it as the Great Bell Tower shows you a truly stunning view of Kyiv, especially when the weather is fine. Fucking legend. For centuries, until recently, the Lavra was under complete control by the Russian Orthodox Church, which is fundamentally loyal to Russia. In 2023, amid the war against Russia, Kyiv authorities and the Zelensky administration tried (and failed) to terminate the Moscow clergy's legal presence at the Lavra in 2023. Currently, the Russian church and its monks remain in control of the so-called Lower Lavra. In the Upper Lavra, which has most of the iconic places and locations, the recently re-established Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the de-facto successor of the old original Christian church of the Kyiv Rus, now has its divine service again. Welcome to the beautiful ancient Kyiv.

[multific]

Perfect Match

K'uk'ulkan x Reader

Requested by @namorkawaiiwife​​

Warnings: smut, slight size kink, PinV sex

Often you didn't understand what he was saying. You knew they were words of love and affection, judging by the way his eyes shined when he said them.

You couldn't understand, yet it always made you weak.

K'uk'ulkan was a very handsome and muscular man.

He always made you feel tiny against him. And he absolutely loved to hold your smaller figure with his.

One would call it size-kink. 

K'uk'ulkan would call it adorable. 

You were his small little surface dweller. No, you were his small little love.

He would whisper sweet things into your ears, in the beginning, you didn't ask, but lately, it had been bothering you.

So, as his gorgeous lips ran down your neck, his voice reaching your ears, you finally had the courage to ask.

"What does that mean?"

He wanted to laugh at you, at how absolutely gorgeous you were.

"My Queen." he replied and you swore if he wasn't holding you, you would have fallen.

He held you in waist-deep water.

You were enjoying the calm weather when he decided to go and find you. He emerged from the water like the God he is, taking your breath away, making you run into his arms as he began to kiss you.

"You always call me such sweet things, I can tell but I never understand them, Mi Amor." he smiled as you felt his hands run up your back, pulling you closer, your hands met with his chest piece as he smirked.

"You are my sweetest little gem. Back in my home, I have painted you on my wall, the gorgeous woman that you are."

Now, you were really impressed, any other man these days would just ask for a nude, but he freacking painted it!

"You always look at me with such beautiful eyes. Taking my breath away each time, My Queen."

"Mi Amor..." he once again moved to your neck, leaving his marks behind. "Please make love to me." you begged and soon you felt him remove your clothing.

Soon, you found yourself leaning against a rock as his mouth played with your nipple.

Your fingers were in his glorious hair as you pulled on the strands. You were thankful that no one was around you two. You moaned so loud, you were almost embarrassed about it. 

Then his lips began to move further down.

You often forgot how strong he was, but you were soon reminded when he easily put your legs around his shoulders as he wasted no time drinking up your juices. You almost screamed when his tongue met your dripping pussy.

K'uk'ulkan was always a giver, but you had enough of his teasing.

"Mi Amor, please. I need you inside of me." you begged when he pulled away. Grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him up to meet your lips. You tasted yourself on him and it drove you wild.

"My Beautiful Goddess, who am I to say no to such a request?" and as he put his arms next to you, once again he was reminded about your smaller frame, something that immediately sent him into a darker mindset.

You guided his cock inside you as he began to sink in. Both of you let out a moan at the feeling. 

You felt him reach your deepest point as you felt his balls hit against your skin. It was truly a magnificent feeling.

Knowing that you are able to take him all, feeling every inch he can give. 

You slightly moved your hips, making him begin his thrusts. 

K'uk'ulkan was a giver, that you knew already, and what an absolutely amazing man he was.

He had a way of moving his hips, thrusting just a little upward, making you see stars as you dipped your head back and arched your back, making your nipples meet with his.

You felt him smile into your neck as he began to kiss your skin, not ready to let go of it unless he is assured tomorrow every single mark can be seen.

"My Love," he would whisper into your ear, making you look at him, your eyes looking into his gorgeous ones as his movements continue. He would never stop, never slow down or speed up. He was a man of sheer fucking will. And he knew just how to make you cum.

As he continued to fuck into you, his eyes staring into your soul, you reached up to pull him in for a breathtaking kiss.

"Faster, please." you begged. You swore you could almost hear him purr into your ear as he began to move faster, deeper. 

It would always start off soft and slow and as you would begin to lose your mind, he would end up possibly nailing you into any surface.

And you were more than okay with that. You wanted him, you needed him, deeper, faster, and more.

And he would always give it to you. 

K'uk'ulkan would be careful always, making sure his strength doesn't hurt you, while still fulfilling both of your wishes.

He would often look down, seeing himself disappearing into your tight wetness, it would be another reason for him to keep going.

He would hold your waist, not letting you move as he would begin his deeper and rougher thrusts. 

At that point, you would lose your mind as you could hear yourself be incredibly wet. 

"My Queen, will you come for me?" he asked and all you could do was nod. "Look at you, being fucked so good, you can't even talk." he would smirk but never stop. He would never deny you pleasure.

"K'uk'ulkan." you moan as you would start to feel your end near. "Please don't stop, I'm so close." you knew he wouldn't but you also knew he liked to hear you beg. 

He would groan into your neck as his hands would grab the back of your knees, moving himself up just a little as he would pound you. Deeper, harder and faster than before.

He would feel your smaller body slightly shake against his as you would come. Taking him with you to your high, he would come deep inside you, you would feel him filling you up. He would bite down on your shoulder, the pain and pleasure mixing as you would slowly come down from your high.

Letting out deep breaths, trying to come back to reality.

He would move back, never pulling out of you as he would pull you with him, deeper into the water.

He would place soft kisses on your skin.

"My Love, my beautiful little Queen." he would whisper before he would switch back to his native tongue. 

Yes, you were his Gorgeous Little Queen and he was your Handsome God.

It was a perfect match.

Namor Taglist: @lunamoonbby​

Taglist: @fleursirvart​ @greenarrowhead​ @thisismysecrethappyplace​ @sincerelyfan​ @theoneanna​ @aestheticsandmarvel​ @rororo06​ @castellandiangelo​ @destynelseclipsa​ @spilledinkindumpster​ @capsiclesdoll​ @puknow​ @alwayshave-faith​ @alex12948​ @lxdyred​  @imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl​ @anonymoussherlockandmarvelgeek​ @praline357​ @trshngyn​ @avengers-r-us​ @violet-19999​ @top1bbgloak​   @manduse​   @jacalineiscomingforyou​  

~Masterlist~

ˇAO3ˇ

DO NOT STEAL, PLAGIARISE, REPOST OR TRANSLATE ANY OF MY WORKS  

[twstgarden]

❀ ❝ 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 ❞

━ malleus draconia x gn! reader ━ hating how your body works will always be a feeling you've grown accustomed to. at one point, your dearest lover found you breaking down and loathing yourself and he attempts to comfort you and show you just how much of a gem you truly are. (f/n means first name)

cw: (including, but not limited to) topics of self-loathing, talks of dysphoria

requested by: @meleanorsslave <3 <3 request type: oneshot - hurt/comfort trope requester's message: i'm hungry for some hurt/comfort and i saw that your requests are open. May I request fluff oneshot of malleus with a reader who is physically weak? like, malleus comforts the reader while the reader vents out their frustration about the way their body works totally not bcs that's relatable. oh, not to forget, I hope you're feeling alright, eating 3 meals a day and having a good rest!! don't overwork yourself, mina!! <3 florist's note: this request hit a liiiittle bit too close to home. apologies it took a while~ my own writing is making me cry with how realistic this is lololol. and to everyone who self-loathes or those with bdd, please know you are loved and you matter. you are perfect the way you are <3

this work does not contain spoilers for chapter 7, diasomnia's arc.

do not steal or translate without my permission.

within the confines of your dorm room, there you stood once more by the mirror, unable to look at yourself in the eye yet brave enough to stare at your own body with so much hate and disgust.

it's not your fault, they say, but it feels like it is. every physical education class always ends up with you either getting left out of the activities or getting to work twice or even thrice as hard as your other classmates - all because you were physically weak.

why were you like this?

why were you born so weak?

what mistakes could you have possibly made in your previous life that you ended up being cursed this way?

all those thoughts roamed in your head as you kept staring at yourself in the mirror. it's not like you haven't tried to improve yourself. you've done a lot of things to improve your weaknesses. every suggestion and every advice was taken into consideration, yet it never seemed to work.

your eyes glazed over yourself as you stared at the mirror, looking at your arms, legs, shoulders, and even your torso with great hatred. i would trade everything i have just to not be like this, kept chanting in your head until you started tearing up.

not only am i physically weak, but it was enough to send me crying like a goddamn baby, your voice echoed in your head as your tearing up turned into soft sniffles and sobs.

unbeknownst to you, someone was passing by your room and heard your muffled sobs through the door. footsteps were then heard entering your room before he knelt down next to you.

"f/n? what's wrong? did someone hurt you?"

malleus' voice somehow made you sob even more. you felt pathetic now that even your boyfriend caught you like this. he immediately brought you close to him, holding you in his arms as you kept crying and mumbling words that sent him worrying.

"why am i like this...?"

"what?" malleus responded in shock as he continued holding you, but looked down at you to see you crying into his chest, completely surprised at your question.

"why am i so weak? why was i born like this?" you sobbed as you tightened your grip around him, making him caress your hair as he realized what you were saying.

you sniffled as he held your hand and brought it up to his lips, planting a soft kiss on them as you looked up. he continued to trail kisses from your hand to your arm before moving to your forehead and cheeks.

"every spot that gets a kiss means they are perfect," whispered malleus before he continued showering you with soft and gentle kisses, "i don't ever want to hear you doubt yourself, my love. you're magnificent the way you are."

"you're not weak," whispered malleus once more as he placed a kiss on your shoulder before placing a finger under your chin to make you look at him, "what made you loathe yourself so much?"

you cast your gaze away from him as you mumbled in reply, "i just... it was always like this, but... today, i... was left out in class again..."

he frowned at your words before pulling in for another hug. you felt comforted and safe in his arms, his warmth and loving touches gave you a sense of security, almost as if he was your safe space.

well, he is your safe space.

"my treasure, let no one in this world make you feel like you are anything less than worthy because they think you're weak. you're not. you've always been one of the most resilient people i've met," spoke the dragon faerie as he gently rubbed your back for some more comfort while hugging you close.

"but..." you trailed off, making him look at you as he tucked your hair behind your ear.

"you're not weak just because you aren't as physically resilient as everyone else. strengths come in different forms, my love." his words brought a sense of comfort in you, especially with how gentle and loving his tone was. he then placed a kiss on your forehead as he whispered, "i love you, f/n. if you feel this way again, please don't ever hide from me."

you nodded a little in response as you hugged him tight, sniffling softly as your crying died down a little, "...thank you... for being there for me..."

a faint smile ghosted over malleus' lips as he caressed your hair, "why are you thanking me? i'm your beloved. i'd consider myself a failure if i could not even comfort the person i love the most in this entire universe."

you didn't know how to respond to that as you looked up at him, "i... but still, thank you... you've been the best partner to me and..." malleus placed a finger on your lips to make you stop talking as he smiled, "don't thank me, love. how about we buy your favourite dessert? we can stay in and eat your treats while watching your favourite movie."

you smiled in response to that and nodded, which gave him permission to carry you in his arms while walking out of your room and leaving the dormitory to buy some snacks in sam's shop or visit the cafeteria to see what they have in store.

while he was walking down the main street with you in his arms, you kissed his cheek with a sweet smile and said, "oh, and i love you, too. more than you could ever know..."

a sweet smile found its way onto malleus' lips, "how cute of you, child of man, and because of that, you can buy as many treats as you want."

© twstgarden 2023 || please do not steal, translate without my permission, or use this to train a.i.

[fillingthescrapbook]

Let's Talk About: Mentopolis and Case Closed

This is arguably the best Dimension 20 finale of 2023… so far. Sure, Dungeons and Drag Queens gave us one heck of an emotional ending that was elevated by Jujubee's personal stakes in the story. The Ravening War was a fun romp through time that delivered cinematic-quality twists, plot developments, and tension-filled moments in the finale. And Neverafter's finale was more scary serious and needed a lot of processing.

Mentopolis though… With the mix of catharsis and a table of players that really focused their talents on the fun of role-playing… This finale was just so enjoyable. It gave me everything I didn't even know I wanted.

And the whole episode was truly bonkers. The fight, the player decisions… Danielle/Anastasia Tension glugging down some room-temperature vodka after a wild chase, Hank/The Fix setting the mood with some genre-appropriate steam, and Freddie/Dan Fucks making the ultimate in-character choice of distracting the enemy with his diamond-hard balls.

Trapp rolled the most cursed Nat 1 from Dimension 20 history--and still survived! Siobhan found the best coda for the whole adventure.

And Alex… Alex has done something no other Dimension 20 player has ever done for me: they made me cry for four episodes straight. Maybe five. I'll have to go back to what I said in previous talk-abouts. But Alex was very masterful with how they delivered their emotional gut-punches. As well as the physical ones Conrad delivered.

Hank didn't want to get left behind either. His final scene with the reunion? Magnificent. And the "did you know" speech in the fight that wasn't meant to be menacing but still managed to scare the shit out of everyone (including myself who is watching months and months after they finished wrapping)? Inspiring.

I need to see Alex, Hank, and Freddie in future Dimension 20 seasons. I would love for them to be together, but I would love it even more if we see them interact with other Dimension 20 cast members and/or newcomers. I want Hank to come back in a season with Murph and Emily. I want Alex on a season with Aabria as the game master, and maybe with Oscar Montoya as a fellow player. And Freddie… Freddie, I feel, could fit in with any table composition. I want to see his chaos with Zac and Lou's though. Or Zac and Ally's.

And I want Danielle partnering with Siobhan again. Maybe in another Good Society-run season by Aabria. Maybe in a different system run by Jasmine Bhullar. I feel like we only got the tip of the possible shenanigans we could've gotten from the two… Thinking about it now, what if Murph guest DMs a side quest season with Danielle, Siobhan, and Emily?! The possible combinations are endless.

While I fantasize about possible casts for future seasons of Dimension 20, I leave you with a few gems I will treasure from the finale of Mentopolis:

"The greatest pleasure is punching your boss."

"Mr. Fix? Duck!"

And "57. My favorite number."

See y'all next time. In the stars. In the soup. In the dome.

[gemsbuild]

Painite: The Undisputed King of Rare Gemstones

Step aside diamonds, there's a new king in town! In the realm of gemstones, where rarity meets magnificence, Painite reigns supreme. This gem boasts the Guinness World Record for being the rarest mineral on Earth, making it a true collector's dream.

A History Shrouded in Mystery

Painite's story began in 1951, when a British geologist stumbled upon a stunning ruby-red crystal in Myanmar. Initially mistaken for a ruby, it wasn't until 1957 that scientists discovered its unique composition, christening it Painite in honor of its discoverer.

Rarity Beyond Compare

For years after its discovery, Painite remained elusive, with only a few specimens known to exist. Even today, despite new deposits being found, uncovering high-quality Painite suitable for cutting into gemstones is incredibly rare. Estimates suggest there are less than a thousand facetable Painite stones in the world, making them a true rarity.

A Gemstone cloaked in Mystery

Painite's extreme scarcity keeps it hidden away in museums and private collections. This exclusivity adds to its mystique and allure, making it a legend whispered about amongst gem enthusiasts.

More Than Just Rare: The Enchantment of Painite

Painite's appeal goes beyond just being rare. Here's what truly sets it apart:

Brilliant Fire: When expertly cut and polished, Painite explodes with exceptional brilliance and fire, rivaling even the most coveted diamonds. This play of light makes it a sight to behold.

A Collector's Holy Grail: Owning a Painite is a pinnacle achievement for gemstone enthusiasts. The opportunity to possess such a rare and exquisite piece is a privilege reserved for a lucky few.

So, if you ever have the chance to lay eyes on a Painite gemstone, consider yourself incredibly fortunate. Its rarity, captivating beauty, and intriguing history solidify its place as the undisputed king of the gemstone world.

[acefaun]

Hi!🌹 Are you willing to write a fic, where Thorin falls in love with a girl, but the problem is she is half elf and half human, who resides in Dale before Smaug destroyed it? Years later he discovers her working in a pub and finally approaches her. The ending is up to you. 🙂💖✨

Thorin~ Pieces of a Puzzle.

Synopsis: Thorin falls in love with a half-elf and half-human girl who resided in Dale before Smaug destroyed it. Years later, they reunite in Lake-town where she’s working for a pub and he finally has the courage to approach her. 

���Masterlist🍃 Female MC! A/n: This was absolutely less dialogue than I’m used to, but I feel like it worked out. Sort of. I didn’t reread/reedit after writing this at a horrible time of morning. But I hope you like it anyway despite its flaws! 🥰

–Word Count: 1,788– 

He first met you when he was passing through Dale. It was a chance meeting, something that Thorin didn’t think much of. But at the time, he was simultaneously awestruck as he was taken aback. He had been under the impression that he would fall head over heels for another dwarf… but you were so beautiful—and you were no dwarf. 

Nay… You were the most magnificent being he’d ever laid eyes on. A half-breed… a half-human, half-elf. He should have turned away immediately, but he was enraptured with your grace. You seemed to be idly shopping, none aware of his royal presence in the city.

Frustrated with this odd predicament he found himself in, he turned, determined to, even faster, make his way back to his kingdom under the mountain. 

He was hell-bent on neglecting these sudden feelings, it was what was best. He was a prince, after all. Romanticizing such an impossible relationship with a commoner was… well… beneath him. 

It was supposed to be beneath him…

But somehow you seemed to consume his thoughts. As a resident of Dale, it made sense that he would never be too far from you. Still, how was it possible that he would continue to catch glimpses of you during his trips through the city? Was it a deliberate twist of fate to continuously meet with you, or was it simply a trick of his love-struck eye? 

It couldn’t be trickery… not when he first meets you up close and within arms reach. It might’ve seemed like a passing glance, where the two of you locked eyes for the longest few seconds of his life, but it tugged at his heart strings. Unable to escape his feelings after this fleeting meeting with you, he acted on his feelings as only a dwarven prince would. With the sense of longing that plagued his chest, he would send you gifts and treasures that he personally thought would compliment you. Though, in his mind, no stone or gem or treasure could outshine you, nor the way the light reflected in your eyes as if your eyes themselves were crafted deep within the depths of the earth. 

Likely, it was obvious where the gifts were coming from… After all, where else could such precious stones be coming from? The jewelry? The sudden gold coin? While it might have seemed like a bit of an overreaction from your one encounter, that was exactly how he wanted it. He wasn’t a prince if he wasn’t showering his love interest with the best. Besides, it was in a dwarf's nature to display the most beautifully crafted stones and gems to a potential partner. Well… this was, as he said, just a passing infatuation. 

Still, it was necessary. Would you be so bold as to desire another man when you had Prince Thorin’s attention? 

Absolutely not. It was unthinkable.

So, there went his plans of neglecting his feelings and ignoring your presence in dale. He made sure it was fairly inconspicuous, of course. He wouldn’t want to draw any unwarranted attention your way, the same as he wouldn’t want his father or grandfather getting involved. This was purely a personal affair. If he chose to low-key court a half-elf-human without actually making anything official, then that was his decision as prince.

Besides, it wasn’t like he ever got a chance to truly meet with you and see you before… the unthinkable happened. How were they supposed to know a dragon would come and destroy all they held dear? Their home… brought to its knees before the great and terrible dragon, Smaug. 

He recalled briefly stressing over your safety, but there were many other things for the young prince to place his attention on. His Kingdom was in shambles and needed his attention and tending to, first and foremost.

Over time, what felt like a great many years, Thorin was sure to forget his fleeting fancy for you, the beautiful elven-human that was just beyond his reach for so long. He was sure such would be the case, not to mention, he was positive you would scorn both he and his family name for bringing such a dragon to your homeland, destroying everything in sight.

These thoughts briefly flickered through his mind’s eye, as he and his company returned to the lonely mountain. Many feelings stirred in his chest the night before their mission to retake Erebor. There was a lot riding on his shoulders, and he now had the full support of not only his company, but also the small town of Lake-town. 

He thought nothing of it… until he saw you again, someone who had evaded his busy thoughts for quite some time. All at once, his feelings seemed to rush back to him as he realized everything that rode on this quest of his. 

He hadn’t expected to see you here at this celebration, of course, but it did him well to see you doing well for yourself. You were in attendance, invited by the Master of Lake-town, a caterer serving from the best pub in all of Lake-town. After all, the Master would have nothing but the best for the dwarves, soon to make Lake-town a great civilization beneath the foot of the mountain again. 

During this celebration, however, Thorin found his feelings winning over, and for the first time since laying eyes on you all those years ago, he took this opportunity to speak with you. A lot was bound to happen over the course of the next few days… He wasn’t about to squander what could be his last opportunity. 

When he first asked to speak with you, however, things were awkwardly silent. Well, that was more-so because you were both lost in each other’s eyes, each waiting for the other to speak first. Regardless, Thorin was the one to call you there and he would speak first. “I’m sure you don’t need my admiration spelled out… You’ve been in my thoughts near constantly. Ever since that day I saw you in Dale…” He trailed off, his eyes showing much more than his words ever could. He didn’t want to bring up the past. Thorin had to focus on now, on the present. This was something he could control. But he only found himself asking, “How have you been?”

“Well,” you timidly answered. You thought about how this interaction might one day occur, but this wasn’t how you saw it happening. After the desolation of your home, you disregarded your thoughts of Thorin as nothing more than a fantasy, something from your past that would never be regarded again. Yet, here he was, finally speaking with you. After a tired sigh, you continued, “I’ve been better than most, but poorer than some.”

This was good news, he had to admit. It seemed that all his time adorning you with fine jewels served you well during your time after the crisis. His admiration and actions of the time didn’t go with regrets. “I am glad to hear that. Your well-being is important to me… I often thought of how you fared whilst I was away.” 

Of course, he did… you thought of him too, though you wouldn’t admit it in so many words. After a tense pause, you brought up the subject that seemed to be the elephant in the room. “Do you really intend to go and face the dragon with that little hobbit?”

“I do.” 

There was a lack of hesitation in his voice… something that scared you. It had been years since your fantasies of being with the dwarf prince were laid to rest with the dragon under the mountain. Here, with him standing before you, those feelings and fleeting fantasies were at your doorstep once again. 

“I heard the legends…” You spoke, a hint of desperation in your tone. You genuinely were frightened, and rightfully so, with the stories you’d heard—he’d heard them too. “Many say that the dragon may have already gone or passed but… I don’t believe them. I can’t- You can’t afford to treat this so carelessly. We’ve already lost our homes once; we’re not prepared to do that again…” You paused. “And… I… I don’t want you to leave again.” You had waited too long, and this chance was presenting itself to you. 

This prince seemed like he would do anything for his people and his home. It was a noble effort, but you had lost too much to let him slip through your fingers when you had a chance to stop the worst from happening. 

Worst of all, the small, reassuring smile that crossed his lips made the ache in your chest grow all the more bittersweet and painful. Quietly, between the two of you, he promised, “I will do all that I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. A story is just a story… A prophecy is just a prophecy. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you and reclaim Erebor.”

He was determined, and though it hurt you on the inside, this was what you found yourself loving about the young dwarf prince. Why a dwarf? You’ll never know. Maybe it was their stubbornness, maybe it was their determination to so fiercely follow their hearts and do what they believed to be right. 

Regardless, you had to smile in return. You had to support him with all your heart. But more than that… you had to give him an incentive to be careful, and a reason to come back. “I’ll be waiting with high hopes…” you said, gently caressing his cheek in a sign of affection. “For you to succeed, or to return alive.” Your chest ached in pain; you didn’t want to imagine him forfeiting his life for an impossible future.

All you wanted was for Thorin to choose whichever outcome would be more favorable in the end.

[explicitred]

Zhongli Headcanons - (Male Reader)

June 28, Post 24 of the "30 Days Fanfic Event"

Future Events Poll! - You can vote in this poll to let me know what events you're interested in seeing from me in the future :D

(hint of xiao x reader?)

Exquisite, glorious, magnificent, brilliant.

So many words, yet none can truly speak perfectly of you.

To Zhongli, you’re more beautiful/handsome compared to gems, yet even gems cannot replicate your glory.

Xiao, a yaksha under Zhongli, cannot help but agree.

Zhongli would be the type of man who would open doors for you and do gentlemanly acts all while calling you sweet endearments.

He’d gift you flowers of all kinds, explaining the meaning of each.

Glaze lilies, Cecilia, Silk flowers, etc.

So devoted and trustful to you. So loving and caring of you.

If you asked him, he would gladly strike down Liyue for you.

I scrambled small ideas together lol 

[vewyscawywriting]

Glittering Riches

Fandom: Overlord

Pairing: Pandora's Actor x GN!SB!Reader

Wordcount: 2678 words

Tags: Just some fucking in a pile of gold

Summary: You've never gone to the treasury yet, and as such haven't personally met Pandora's Actor. He worships you like you deserve in a pile of treasure.

As a newly isekai'd Supreme Being, you hadn't visited every floor just yet. The treasury was one of the yet to be visited areas, and the moment you remembered all the treasure that was there, just for you to bask in the glory of, you started figuratively drooling. It was then you also remembered Ainz' creation: Pandora's Actor, and a wave of guilt washed over you. That poor dear had been there all alone all this time. It was high time  you visited the area guardian, and check out the riches the guild had collected with your own two eyes as well.

As you stepped through the hallway towards the seating area where Pandora was, you could hear him humming to himself. The moment you stepped into view however, his hum stopped abruptly, as he turned your way, clicked his heels together and saluted you.

"Welcome to the Treasury, my exalted Supreme Being! NEIN, meine Gott/in!"

You couldn't help cringing just a bit at his voice, but you weren't too surprised. You knew what the floor guardian was like, and you secretly chuckled a bit as you didn't think he was annoying as much as he was endearing in his earnest honesty. Poor Ainz would have a headache despite having no brain every time someone new would meet Pandora, but you were unsure if he would be happy that you did in fact like his creation. Relieved perhaps. A little disturbed at your taste more likely. Then again, he was the one that created Pandora's Actor, so there was no way the overlord himself truly held no love for the guardian. 

"Thank you, Pandora's Actor, please be at ease. I merely wish to see the treasury, and the floor you so proudly guard."

He saluted again, as he started rambling about the treasury and how no gold inside of it measured up against your radiance, but you were too interested in the treasury to pay much attention to his words. 

You had a craving to see gold, glittering riches, gems, items that were so hard to get the entire guild had to grind for weeks, months even... You wanted to lay eyes upon it and bask in its glory. The urge to touch it was overwhelming to you, and you decided that: what the hell, you were a supreme being and you wanted to, so you would.

After all you had collected said treasures together with your friends back in Yggdrasil, so there was no reason for you not to be allowed to do such a thing.

First, a shy hand slowly reached forward, letting gold coins and precious stones run through your fingers, but then you pushed your entire hand inside, feeling the cold treasure dig into your skin. There was so many. Everywhere you looked glittered invitingly, and slowly, as if in trance you moved forward, body itching to lay in it. 

You barely heard the muted gasp from the floor guardian behind you, but it was enough to snap you into reality, catching yourself before you fully laid down. 

"Apologies," you said, arms crossed to keep them from touching all that was in front of you, a gesture that felt more like holding yourself back than anything. "I don't know what came over me."

Your sentence had barely come out of your mouth before Pandora yelled out a "Nein! It is only natural for a supreme being like yourself to want to bask in its MAGNIFICENT glory! Please, I can only be blessed to watch as you take what is yours. I can get the world items as well, and other special treasures that have been kept on this floor! All for you to touch and experience as is your right!" You looked over your shoulder, surprised, and caught him saluting once again, body almost twitching in anticipation of your order.

Well, you supposed it couldn't hurt.

"Yes," you almost whispered, "Show all to me."

Laid down in your riches, you watched as Pandora disappeared and reappeared, face blank, but excitement visible in his rushed movements as he placed the most prized artifacts you had access to around your prone body. Jewellery was put on you, until you felt like you were a ton heavier, but it was done with such gentle yet intense movements that you let him place yet another necklace on your neck, watching with rapt attention as he held the stone up to his eyes before gently placing it back down on your chest. You felt like a piece of art almost, and by Pandora's reverent movements you looked like one too. Pandora's Actor had stepped away, keeping a respectful distance from you that you were unaware he itched to close it again. The aura of power and decadence of the items  you felt should make you feel small in comparison instead made you feel strong and accomplished, a pleased sound escaping you as you enjoyed the feeling. 

Lo and behold, you weren't the only one enjoying if the tent in the floor guardians pants was any indication. The moment you realized your effect on him your breath hitched, speeding up instantly as your eyes met his empty sockets. Once again you could read nothing from his face, but his body spoke for him as he took a hesitant step forward. Hands grasping the air at his sides as you heard him mutter assumed compliments in German. 

You reached an arm towards him and he instantly took your hand, bringing it to his mouth and kneeling at your feet.

"Du bist so schön, meine König/in," he muttered reverently, cool air hitting your hand as he spoke, and you suppressed a shiver. "I wish to- nein, it would be disrespectful to- I'd sully-"

His broken sentences, and the actions you realized were kissing your hand reverently made you lean back even more, basking in the attention he was lavishing on your hand. 

"What, Pandora?" you asked, urging him to continue his sentence as you could almost say the answer in tandem with him. 

"I wish to touch you, my Lord/Lady." he said, his voice so filled with need that you couldn't help but bite your lip, back arching towards him as you replied with a: "Then do it."

He was upon you in a second, arms falling beside your head as his legs cradled yours, but he wasn't touching you yet; hovering unsteadily as if he was still afraid you'd rebuke him. With a small chuckle you reached your arms around his neck, pulling him towards you in a strange approximation of a kiss as you felt warm breath against your lips. The moan that fell from him was sinful, as if you'd done something much more intimate than kiss him and you smiled against his open mouth. 

"Meine Geliebte," he whispered, and you gasped as a tongue appeared seemingly out of thin air to lick your lips, asking permission. The tongue was long, much longer than a human tongue, and your eyes fell shut as it ran over yours, curling around it and tasting you as he finally lowered himself onto you- but only slightly. His crotch was still hovering, but you weren't paying enough attention to notice, your own hips bucking up to rub against his as he moaned again, shivering above you as your tongues intertwined in a sensual dance. "So schön," he murmured as you broke apart, face a mask of indifference, but his body and the way his voice sounded so needy spoke louder than words. His hips moved with yours now, gold coins rattling as they fell from their place, rolling down the heap you were laying on. 

Your eyes were sparkling brighter than the gold as he leaned back to take in the sight of you, blushing and batting his eyelashes at him as your arms fell back, hands grasping at the treasures you were laying in. His dick twitched, uniform too tight, too constricting, but he was holding himself back. This wasn't about him; it was about you. You were a work of art, and he was going to treat you as such, though he was sure he could fuck your beautiful body forever without tiring if you'd let him. The thought made him rut into you harder, but he caught himself, moving back as you whined. "Let me," he murmured against your skin as his tongue ran along your neck, hands slowly pulling at your outfit, undressing you with the reverence you deserved. The clothes fell away from you as he kissed down your jawline, moving down to lave attention to your sensitive spots with that long tongue of his', and you arched your back languidly, a low moan escaping you as you let him worship you. Your chest got ample attention as he ran thin fingers over your nipples, pebbling them and making you sigh, bucking up into him for more friction. 

He moved to sit up again, sitting on his knees with your legs on either side of him. His fingers indented your thighs as he pulled one of you legs up to take off your shoes, slowly, one foot at a time. Then he slowly moved to take of your pants, fingers running up and down your legs as he uncovered more and more of you, greedy hands mapping your skin as soon as he laid his eyes on it. Murmured praises fell from Pandora's lips as you whined for him to give you more friction, but he held himself away from you. Slowly kissing from your knees to your inner thighs, first the left leg, then the right, and you were about to sit up and just pull his face to your core that he kept skipping. You needed him so bad, arousal leaking from you as you throbbed for him. And you knew he was affected too, a dark spot appearing on the yellow fabric of his uniform, showing you his feelings for you too.

The moment he finally leaned down to move his mouth over your arousal you let out a high pitched moan, hands flying down to his head where you grabbed at him, toppling his hat over in the process. A long tongue came out to taste you as he voiced his appreciation for you taking control over him. "Yess," he hissed, "You taste divine-" his voice was wrecked as he laved your core with attention, and it almost sounded like he enjoyed this more than you, so needy were the moans coming from him as he brought you closer and closer to your peak. 

"Yes, Pandora," you moaned back, arching into him, "You're doing so good, don't stop!"

He didn't stop, swiftly making you reach your climax as you bucked up harshly, thighs constricting around his head and pushing his head down so he couldn't escape you. He wasn't planning too, and you felt him shiver and groan against you. 

Slowly you came down from your height, hearing apologies tumble from his mouth for a reason you weren't sure about. Greedy hands pulled him towards you as you kissed him, uncaring of the ring of your glistening arousal that covered his mouth and the taste of you on your tongue. You still needed more, you needed him to properly fuck you in this pile of gold that moved and rolled with every twitch and thrust you made.  

As you leaned back you saw the wet patch on his pants had grown, and you realized that he had come while servicing you, making you pull him into you. Everything he did made you feel so amazing, from how he treated you to the orgasm he gave you, it was like everything you did was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and you needed more of it. He had made you greedy, and he was so very willing to give. 

"Fuck me, Pandora," you groaned to him as you pushed your hips together, feeling him already hard again as he rutted back into you. 

"Ja, wie mein Meister es befiehlt!" he roared, and you were almost taken aback if he wasn't about as enthusiastic about filling you as you were about being filled by him. His clothing morphed away from him, leaving him as naked as you, and you took in what he had to offer. And what he had to offer was far from what you expected, but left you drooling none the less. Below his pale stomach was a dick unlike any you'd ever seen before, thick, tapering at the end, and... did your eyes deceive you? Moving towards your heat. The tip was dusted pink, like his cheeks and his chest, and dripping with fresh pre cum. It twitched, as if it noticed your eyes on it, and he slotted your hips together, already rubbing against your opening. 

A shuddering groan escaped him as he collected your leaking slick on his tip, your arousals rubbing together as you felt him throb against you. A moan tumbled from your mouth in return as he finally breached your tight opening. Slowly pushing all the way in as you threw your head back, jewellery clinking together on your chest as the floor guardian finally bottomed out inside of you. Almost pulling all the way out before pushing back in with a snap. The rhythm he started felt desperate, but so were you, and your hips moved with his as he found that sweet spot inside you seemingly without even trying. 

"Pandora-" you gasped, as he replied with your name, your title, and 6 different pet names in varying states of coherence as loud moans escaped him with every thrust. He made no point of trying to stay quiet, making sure you knew how much he enjoyed you and how much he was honoured, his warm breath hitting your face as your eyes scrunched shut, your pathetic little moans answering his' as you tried to keep your grip on reality. Every thrust felt like electricity went through you, his cock hitting you in your sweet spot every time with perfect efficiency. Your orgasm hit you like a brick wall, a silent scream on your mouth as your back arched, chest against his face as he took this chance to lave it with attention once again. Long wet tongue running over your nipples as he fucked you through your orgasm, thrusts turning sloppy as he groaned about how tight you were. When you felt him pulling out your legs closed behind him, trapping him inside of you. 

"I- Meine Geliebte-" he stuttered, dick twitching inside of you as he tried not to take more from you than he already had, "I have to-"

"Come inside of me, Pandora," you gasped, wanting to feel him inside. 

The sound he made was almost pornographic, shuddering as he thrust once, twice, then emptied himself inside of you with seemingly random twitches of his hips. "Y/N-" he gasped, slowly pulling out as the pale skin of his face and chest reddened under your loving gaze. 

The reality of the situation seemed to hit both of you at once. As he pulled out his come splattered out of you, dirtying the gold and treasure you were laying on, and the sound made your face turn red, sweat dripping from you when you realized what you had done, and where.

But you weren't sorry, you'd do this again in a heartbeat. As you looked at Pandora's Actor, hands shivering as he cleaned you slowly, shivering getting worse with every stroke over your core when more and more of your combined come dripped out of you, sullying the treasure you were laying on you saw a thin tongue come out to lick his lips. You realized he wasn't sorry either, and you grinned wider than you had any right to. His hands ran through the coins, clinking against each other as it seemed he wanted them all to be covered in the result of your coupling, and you blushed as you chuckled. 

This wouldn't be the last time you'd fuck in the treasure, that much was for sure. 

[jenreadsstuff]

Guards! Guards! thoughts...

It's not hard to see why this is many people's favourite book of the series, or why it's often recommended as a good starting point for Discworld newbies. It's both a classic story about a hardened detective tackling a crime, and a subversion of police stories, with some genuinely funny comedy and fantasy elements that don't require much suspension of disbelief.

* Some of the Roundworld parody in the series sometimes feel clunky (see my thoughts on Hwel's comedy inspirations in Wyrd Sisters) but I adore the Dirty Harry references in G!G! Pterry's mock-Latin (Latatian?) jokes are wonderful, and FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC is a gem.

* One thing I like very much about the series is Pterry's approach to writing romance. He manages to capture both the grand sweeping cinematic moments and the small awkward moments, and sometimes moments that are both at the same time! There's a moment near the end where Vimes realises that "someone who thought you were worth smiling at" is about the best one can hope for, and I genuinely teared up at that.

* Also Sybil Ramkin is truly magnificent. While I'm still sometimes uncomfortable at early-Pterry's tendency towards fatphobia, I do love that here is a large woman who is magnificent partly because she is large - she has presence and takes up space and knows she deserves to do so.

* Fantasy casting thought: Vimes is always played by Sean Bean in my head.

* I enjoy the philosophical aspects of the Watch books, Vimes' pessimistic optimism contrasted with Vetinari's optimistic pessimism, and the misguided ambitions of the Brotherhood.

* All in all, this is a terrific book which still makes me laugh more than 25 years after the first time I read it.

[tarak-manspread]

RATING NANDAMURI TARAKA RAMA RAO JR’S MANSPREADS ON A SCALE OF 1 - 10

I’m back, with avengeance!!! Young Yama’s very existence is the APOTHEOSIS OF MASCULINE ARROGANCE, so you don’t need a full review to tell you this is an absolute, complete, zero doubt, GOD TIER, PERFECT TEN!!!! The JEWELS!!!!!! The GOLD!!! The SPLENDOR!!!! The POSE!!!!! It’s magnificent beyond words, it is beauty, it is hatred, it is divinity, it is aggression, it is hubris, it is pure, unfiltered, unencumbered, firey, burning, smoking hot CAMP!!!! I absolutely love it!

Catch Raja dripping with pearls and gems, glittering gold in the firelight of ten thousand torches, slamming his foot down onto his red velvet cushioned footstool, bracing that two-ton mace proudly in a clenched fist, snarling with the universe’s deepest frown, and only then can you truly behold MANSPREAD PERFECTION.

FINAL VERDICT: 10/10

✨ANY DOUBTS?!✨

[dragonnwriter]

Inviolable Bindings

Aemondxfem!OC and Aegonxfem!OC

All Chapters Here!

***NSFW Chapter!!!*** 18+ No Minors!

Chapter 29

The early morning came quickly and Viserra had been awakened by her chambermaids and a warm plate of food. She was grateful that Aegon had left earlier in the night because she truly did feel rested, her mind clear and focused for the day ahead. 

While forcing herself to eat through the butterflies in her stomach, she let the girls braid her hair neatly in hopes she would not have to bother with it over the next few days.

In the final moments of finishing her braids, there was a knock to her chamber door before it swung open and a set of footsteps came into the room. Turning to see who the intruder was, Viserra was pleased to see Aemond. Cassella quickly tied off the last of her hair with a ribbon and they moved out of the way as he approached.

Like always, he was neatly dressed, his features and hair standing out against his black clothing. In his hands, he carried a long and slender package, something wrapped in a leather cloth and handled with care. As soon as they made eye contact, he greeted her with a warm smile and she saw that his violet eye was shining unusually bright.

“I have something for you,” he announced, walking to her before taking himself down to one knee. Carefully unwrapping the item, he revealed a sword held in a decorated scabbard.

Her eyes widened at the display and she reached up slowly to receive it in her hands. Though she had a hunch at what had just been presented to her, she was hesitant to unveil it. For a brief moment, she continued to study it before slowly unsheathing the blade. Her breath caught in her throat. The dark metal and the waving pattern gave way to what she held in her hands.

The magnificent piece had been forged with both metal and sorcery like all other blades made of Valyrian steel. The hilt was decorated with the black heads of two dragons and a blood red gem set beautifully on the pommel.

Viserra knew this blade well, she had wished it to be hers since she was a small child. Her grandmother, Saera, had come into possession of it during her life in Volantis, and as it tied them to their only blood across the narrow sea, she had kept and cherished it until her passing. For the last decade, Viserra believed that the blade had been lost. Her father had denied knowing of its whereabouts and had discouraged her curiosity in finding its location.

“Aemond,” she breathed, looking up to him with her eyes still wide. She had always dreamed of wielding a sword made of Valyrian steel, this sword, and somehow he had made it a reality.

“Though I would like to take responsibility for acquiring it, your father is the one who deserves your gratitude.” He stood and offered his hand to Viserra to join him.

“My father?” She gasped. “You have heard from him?”

Aemond nodded and watched as she tested the weight of the sword in her hand. “It came with the last ship of sellswords that arrived yesterday.” He pulled out a small piece of parchment and before he could present it to her she snatched it from his hand.

Quickly scanning over the letter, she noted that the content was mostly about the sellswords that her father gifted to aid them in their war. At the bottom, Viserra found the words that were intended for her.

My daughter will soon fly to war carrying your King’s banners. Within the crate of Volantene wine lies yet another sealed box. It is a gift from her late grandmother who entrusted me to determine the right moment to bestow it upon her.

Viserra felt her heart skip a beat as she read and reread her father’s writing. Looking up to Aemond, she took in a shaky breath and handed the letter back to him. “You cannot begin to comprehend what this means to me.”

He tucked his hands behind his back and smiled at her unusual display of emotion. “I can see that it means a great deal,” he observed, “I understand your grandmother was a force to be reckoned with and I can only imagine that she saw the strength of her blood that courses through your veins.”

Moved by his words, she reached forward and pulled him into an embrace. She knew her grandmother saw her for the Targaryen she was. It was like she knew Viserra would be the one to return to the family that she had once held so dear.

Aemond wrapped his arms around her and held her until she was ready to let go. When she finally pulled back, he noticed that the overwhelm of emotion had now changed into fiery determination.

“Are you ready?”

She smiled, giving him a quick nod. “Would you help me dress?”

It did not take long for the armor to be secured to Viserra’s body. She placed the new blade on her hip and let Aemond walk her down to the front of the Red Keep. Waiting there with a dozen knights, was the King and his Hand on horseback. Aegon was also dressed in dark armor, the black and rubied crown glinting in the morning sun that had just begun to rise on the horizon.

Looking to the sky, she saw two dragons circling around the castle. The beautiful gold and salmon coloring of Sunfyre was quite the opposite of Rhyn’s black and red. Her sense of purpose and determination was only heightened when she took in the sight all together. But suddenly, she felt nervous.

As if he could feel it radiating off of her, Aemond placed a hand on her shoulder to ground her. “The next time you are riding out into battle, I will make sure it is by my side.” His voice was low yet determined. “Duskendale should fall easily. Consider this practice.”

His words brought a small smile to her face, and the realization hit her that there was no time for dwelling. With a nod, she left him behind and swiftly mounted her horse. Glancing one last time in search of Aemond, she noticed he had already begun retreating into the castle. Her attention was brought back to the departing party, finding that Aegon was watching her, a gleam of wild determination in his eye.

"Ready?" he asked.

“More than ever,” she affirmed, taking the reins and directing the beast to follow the others.

The ride to Robsy took a day and a half, their pace quicker than planned as everyones’ spirits were still high and they had yet to be drawn into battle. Aegon and Viserra took turns every few hours mounting their dragon and circling the skies to look for unexpected visitors.

As predicted, Lord Rosby did not hesitate to bend the knee again under the threat of bloodshed. The turncloak reaffirmed his loyalty to Aegon, offering him more soldiers for his army and inviting the King and his party in for supper and a place to sleep for the night.

They moved on to Stokeworth the next day and were pleased to find that the house bent the knee just as easily as Lord Rosby. With even more soldiers added to their forces, their numbers now reached almost three-thousand.

By this point, the men had again marched on from sun up to sun down before settling into camp. It had been agreed upon that the wisest plan would be to fall upon Duskendale with well fed and well rested soldiers. As the sun set on the Crownlands and the royal tents were being perched, both dragon riders took to the skies.

Viserra much preferred riding atop her dragon, finding horseback to be uncomfortable and lacking. As she soared through the open skies, she reveled in the sensation of the freedom and power that the ground could not give her.

Riding with an equal amount of satisfaction and fulfillment, Aegon flew Sunfyre up and around them both. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the fading light as the evening sun bathed them in its warm glow. The dragons’ scales reflected the rays with contrasting beauty, a seeming parallel to the daylight that was quickly turning into night.

The skies had been cleared by the dragons and their riders. As the last of the sun set behind the horizon they descended back down towards the camp. Each time the dragons touched down on the earth, the men seemed to scatter. There was something about watching them scramble from her dragon that brought a swell of pride within her chest.

Viserra climbed down the ropes from her saddle and dismounted her dragon into a large cloud of dust. She watched as Aegon climbed down himself and made his way over to her side. The dragons took off nipping at each other, but it was only their riders who could make out that their exchange was playful.

Slowly, they made their way back to the royal tents. The day had been long and the upcoming siege weighed on their minds. When they reached camp, Viserra was not surprised to find that her designated tent had been placed next to Aegon’s. The guards were already set up outside the entrances and she was welcomed in with a nod.

The moment that she stepped inside, she found herself surprised at the accommodations. The interior was decorated with ornate tapestries, soft cushions, and a makeshift bed that was still nicer than any common folk would ever sleep on in their own homes.

She had traveled all across Essos in the days of her training, sleeping on the ground in small tents. Her expectations from traveling had been far exceeded. Though giving it some thought, she knew Aegon had a love for luxury and extravagant embellishments and it should not have taken her by such surprise.

An older woman stood waiting inside, her hands clasped in front of her and her expression respectful and welcoming. Viserra recognized her from the Keep, but she had not personally had much interaction with her before today.

“M’lady, my name is Ayla. I have been assigned to your care while traveling,” she spoke with a warm smile.

Viserra furrowed her brows for a moment before reluctantly accepting the woman’s presence. “If I were in need of a lady’s maid, why would I not bring my own?”

“With all due respect, they are rather young to be…exposed to all of this,” Ayla suggested.

“Indeed,” Viserra hummed as she realized that the woman had a valid point. There were many reasons that the girls would be unsafe there in camp and she did not want to dwell on those thoughts.

Without any delay, the woman approached her and carefully began to help her doff the armor. She found herself lost in her thoughts as the pieces were removed from her body. With the weight of it being taken away came the uncomfortable sense of vulnerability. Once the simpler padded garments were all that remained, Viserra held on to them, rejecting Ayla’s attempt at completely undressing her.

“I can manage the rest myself,” she spoke, reaching out to take the clothing from the lady maid’s arm.

“Are you certain?” Ayla asked, her voice and eyebrows raised in surprise as she held fast to the clothing in her hands.

“Most certain,” Viserra snapped as she pulled hard on the fabric and finally came to victory in their tug of war. Turning away from her, she finished doffing her battlewear and dressed in the simple tunic and pants.

She welcomed the silence that hung around the room for the next little while. Laying on the bedding she mindlessly studied the tapestries that hung on the walls. She thought about how she was exactly where she had always hoped to be, but she had never considered being in this position with not just one, but two others that had a hold on her heart. Even more, the worry she carried for Helaena at home was a notable weakness when it came to others that could influence her decisions here in the midst of war. It had already been a personal blow when Aegon’s heir became a target, there was no telling who or what the next strike would be.

Just as her thoughts were beginning to spiral, the tent door flapped open and a guard cautiously entered inside. Ayla stood to attention but Viserra only turned her head and seemed less than pleased to entertain yet another guest.

“My lady,” he spoke with a respectful bow, “His Grace, the King requests your presence to share a meal this evening.”

A sense of relief washed over her that she would not need to spend the evening ignoring the tension between her and her new lady’s maid. His invitation was a reminder that no matter her newly realized concerns, there was no denying that this was now their reality.

Swinging her legs around she quickly jumped to her feet. Before Ayla could follow, she motioned to her to remain there. She did not want to carry the weight of that tension into the next tent, knowing the last thing she wanted to have to do was watch her tongue.

Following behind the other man, she observed the liveliness of the campsite that was now starting to bloom. The fires were bright and in turn the men were pleased with their wine and meal. But as Aegon’s tent was only a few paces away and it did not give her much time to watch.

The two guards at the tent entrance nodded their heads as Viserra approached them, opening the makeshift door and letting them in. A smile found its way to her face as she laid her eyes upon the King.

Aegon was lounging in a chair, casually selecting fruits from a platter presented by an unfamiliar woman. It did not surprise her that he maintained a luxurious setup, even housed within a tent. Apparently, his need for indulgence persisted, perhaps forgetting they were currently in the midst of a war. The moment he realized Viserra had made her way into his presence, his eyes lit up and he pushed the woman and tray aside.

“Leave us,” he commanded, motioning for everyone else to depart.

In the brief moment before they found themselves alone, Aegon rose from his seat and approached her. He held his usual cup of wine, and she momentarily glanced at it before meeting his gaze once again.

“And what if we all indulge ourselves in many cups just to find that the enemy is waiting for the moment we settle in camp?” She asked, reaching out and taking the cup from his hand.

She raised the stolen vessel and took a drink of the sweet liquid. A smirk playing at her lips as soon as she had finished. Aegon’s eyes glimmered as he picked up on the game she was starting to play.

“Then I suppose we are fucked,” he replied, closing the distance between them and trying to take the cup back from her hands.

Viserra quickly moved the wine from his reach, turning herself around to take it further from him. A familiar warmth suddenly became flush with her back as two arms wrapped snugly around her waist. As soon as she felt the hot breath on her neck, she closed her eyes and let herself sink into his hold.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Aegon grabbed the cup from Viserra’s outstretched hand, quickly downing the last little bit of the wine before tossing the cup aside. He felt a childish sense of victory in his accomplishment, wrapping his arms back around her waist and bringing his lips down to her neck. After running his hands down over the curves of her hips, he brought them up underneath the hem of her shirt.

Viserra’s breath caught as soon as his fingers began to make their way up her bare skin, Both of them reveled in forgetting about where they were and their purpose there, the electricity between them distracted them from reality.

The shirt was quickly pulled off of her body and discarded on the floor somewhere near the empty wine cup. Aegon’s warm hands returned where they left off, roaming over her body.

As his hands moved upwards, his fingertips grazed over the sensitive skin of her waist and traveled upwards to cup her breasts. He gently rolled each of her pert nipples between his fingers, eliciting a throaty breath in response.

Viserra could feel the hardness of his body against her, a delicious friction that made her need for more. Surrendering to her desires, she turned to face him while remaining encircled in his arms. As soon as their eyes met, the fire that connected them surged with a sudden intensity.

Aegon’s lips captured hers before either of them could form a coherent thought. He held her firmly as if worried there was a chance she would pull away from him. However, the fear was unfounded as Viserra happily let herself melt into the moment.

Their kisses grew more urgent, as if they were both starved of attention. His hands slid down to her hips, firmly gripping her as he hoisted her up onto the nearby table. The sound of objects rattling and falling to the ground went unnoticed as their focus remained solely on each other.

Viserra raked her fingers through his silver waves, tugging at them gently. Aegon groaned against her lips, his desire for her more evident with every minute that passed. Pulling away for a moment, he looked deep into her eyes as he tried to steady his ragged breathing.

“Nuha Dāria,” he whispered, bringing his forehead down to rest on hers. My Queen.

The words caused Viserra’s breath to hitch in her chest again as she seemed to regain just the slightest bit of clarity. The deep seeded worry that these feelings could be used against them bubbled up out of nowhere. She furrowed her brows and closed her eyes, trying to push the unpleasantries away.

Feeling the energy shift just slightly between them, Aegon again pulled away with a hint of confusion. When she looked back to him, he saw the worry in her eyes.

“What is it?” He asked, starting to feel a bit of uneasiness himself.

Pursing her lips for a moment, she seemed reluctant to answer.

“Aegon,” she breathed, bringing her hands up to hold his face. “Does it not bring you worry knowing there is the chance I might be killed out there?”

He studied her face intently, unsure of what had brought this thought into her mind.

“Of course that is something I fear,” he replied. “I already voiced these worries shortly before our departure. Why are you asking me this now?”

“Does it not concern you that your feelings for me might wrongly influence the decisions you make?” Viserra’s voice was soft and strained.

“Of course they do,” he spoke, his words laced with confusion. “Why else would I have accepted my duty as King if not for those that I care for?” He was being honest and it was evident by his face that he still did not understand her question.

Viserra took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words to express her concerns.

“I worry that if something were to happen to me, it would cloud your judgment. These feelings are a dangerous thing, especially right now,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Aegon furrowed his own brow and leaned in to press a soft kiss on her forehead.

“If those I love meant nothing to me, I could not have found the will to sit the throne,” he confessed. “And it is because of you that I continue to be motivated to make wise decisions.”

Bringing his hand up, he softly caressed her cheek with his thumb. His words did little to reassure her concerns, but it was enough to bottle it back up for now. He focused his attention back to her half naked body, his hands again finding her breasts in an attempt to bring back the fire between them.

“You will not find me content until my sister’s head is on a spike and you sit next to me on the throne.” His words were filled with determination while his fingers expertly played with her flesh.

Though he had spoken many times of this desire, it was only that Viserra realized just how serious he had been. The truth of his words rang through her head. She did believe that he would not have had the motivation to sit the Iron Throne without both the death and love of those he cared for. She toyed with the idea that he might truly need her by his side to remain strong in his reign.

Viserra’s thoughts became cloudy as her body began to respond to his hands. Her previous worries twisted and she was suddenly not sure of where she stood with it all. To secure her complete distraction, Aegon pressed his lips to her neck, sucking at the flesh as he made his way down to the dip on her shoulder.

Without another thought, Viserra let her hands roam over his body, tugging at his shirt and desperate to feel his bare skin against hers. He eagerly obliged, taking a moment to pull it up and over his head, tossing it carelessly to the ground. As he brought his lips back to hers with a greater intensity of hunger, he clumsily began to work her pants off of her seated rump.

It took only a brief moment before they were both fully disrobed with their bodies pressed together with a sloppy desperation. Viserra’s legs wrapped around his waist as they continued to enjoy each other's kisses, his now exposed cock resting uncomfortably against her abdomen.

Breaking their lips apart, Aegon looked down to adjust his position at her lower lips. In a few careful motions, he made his way completely inside her. A quiet gasp left her mouth at the sudden fullness and she slowly brought herself back to lean on the table.

They remained still for a moment, savoring the satisfaction of finally joining in union. Aegon’s gaze slowly trailed up her body. He admired the way she looked laying there bare and sheathed upon his most treasured part. Placing his hands to her hips, he pulled her more firmly towards him and watched as she grimaced slightly in response.

Without any more delay, Aegon started to move within her. His thrusts were measured and deliberate, slowly picking up his pace as he fell into a rhythm. Viserra leaned her head back, focusing on trying to receive her pleasure without making too much noise. She reminded herself that the walls of the tent were much worse than those of the castle when it came to stifling the sounds that came from within.

Each thrust pounded into her upper walls, gradually tightening and building her peak from within. Viserra arched her back and in response Aegon tightened the grip on her hips making sure she remained anchored there.

The air quickly grew heavy with their heated breaths and the sound of their bodies colliding. It was Aegon’s sudden reach for her breast that seemed to bring her back from the dazed trance. She looked to her chest and then met his eyes with the hint of a smile, watching as he seemed to also gain a bit more consciousness.

“I can’t help it,” he breathed out a laugh, bringing his thrusting down to a slower pace. “Your tits bouncing in front of me like that are absolutely irresistible.”

“I did not say a word,” she smiled, bringing herself back up into a seated position.

Viserra let her hands roam over his pale chest, nails grazing over his skin as she leaned in to meet his lips in yet another passionate kiss. As she pulled herself back, she unwrapped her legs from his waist and gently pushed his hips away from her. As he came free from her body, she felt an unsatisfying emptiness left behind.

Aegon’s previously joyful smile had now settled into one of confusion. She slid herself off the table and grabbed his hand to lead him back to the small bed where she intended to finish what they had started.

She turned him around as one would turn their partner in a dance, guiding him to sit. As she climbed onto his lap, each knee found its place on either side of his own. Gently pushing on his chest, she waited patiently until he slowly reclined himself back onto the bed.

Without another moment of delay, she took his cock into her hand and gently guided it back to her entrance, bringing herself down to take him within her.

“Gods, Viserra,” he moaned, overwhelmed to feel himself within her once more. He did not finish his thought before she began slowly rocking and riding her body in a methodical manner. He gradually started to meet her movements with his own, their bodies soon synced up in perfect harmony.

Aegon brought his thumb to her sensitive bud, eager to help her obtain the most out of their union in that moment. He enjoyed the sight of her working the length of him at her own pace and angles, having no shame of taking her pleasure by her own means.

Each of their climaxes approached, though Aegon was desperately trying to hold back until Viserra had been satisfied. As the intensity grew, her movements became more urgent and desperate and in turn he attempted to maintain a steady rhythm with his thumb.

Finally, Viserra let out the start of a moan, though catching herself halfway and biting down on her lip instead. As her inner walls began to pulsate around him, he was quickly driven over the edge himself.

Aegon did not hold back his own grunt of pleasure as he felt himself release himself deep inside her. She finished riding him until her body trembled with the aftershock and she brought herself down to meet her sweaty body with his own.

They laid there in a tangled heap of limps for a few moments before either had the energy to move. Viserra slowly brought herself off of him, settling contently down to his side. Breathing heavily, Aegon turned to her and captured her chin with his hand. He pressed kisses along her jawline and carefully down the side of her neck.

"That...was..." Aegon panted between kisses. "Incredible."

Viserra met his gaze and gave a small grin. It was absolutely futile at this point to try and deny that at least a small part of her could see her staying there by his side. Though the rational part of her screamed that she was making foolish mistakes, her heart seemed to only be truly satisfied when she let their fires ignite and burn together.

Aegon brushed her hair from the sticky skin on her shoulder, leaving another gentle kiss in its place. He then turned to lay on his back, staring at the ceiling of the tent and not saying another word. Feeling just slightly conflicted within herself, she leaned her head into his shoulder and watched the rising and falling of his chest.

The reality of their circumstances seemed to have come crashing back. The weight of their responsibilities, the challenges they would face, and the danger that loomed over them all seemed to settle back into her mind like a heavy fog.

Having sensed the shift in her mood, Aegon wrapped his arm around her and pressed another soft kiss to her forehead.

"I will do everything in my power to have you by my side, nuha Dāria," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of concern and determination. My Queen.

Viserra did not respond, only letting out a long breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Aegon had meant those words and it was obvious that at this point, she was now truly caught in a web that was much more complicated than she had initially intended. But for now, in those quiet moments after satisfying each other's needs, Viserra closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the warmth and security of his arms.

Author's Notes:  

It has been a while since an update! My apologies. Life is busy and having two jobs is kicking my ass. I am hoping to continue to get an update out every 3ish weeks at this point! But I promise I still have so much for this story. I go to sleep thinking about it at night. :)

[padfootagain]

You and the King (II)

Chapter 2: The Announcement

Hello!! Here I come with the second chapter of my sequel for The King and You! Things are being slowly set up into motion…

I hope you like this new chapter! Let me know what you think!

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Pairing: Caspian x reader

Warnings: None

Summary: Sequel to The King and You – After meeting Caspian in your own world, you decide to follow him to Narnia, your love for him too strong for you to keep your old life. But as you discover the magic of Narnia, you soon realise that this extraordinary world is as dangerous as it is magnificent. Will your love for Caspian be enough to defeat your new enemies?

Word Count: 3314

Masterlist for the series – Caspian’s Masterlist – Main Masterlist

As soon as Caspian entered the room, there was nothing but silence.

It was impressive, to say the least. The way he stood in front of the crowd assembled in the throne room. Tall, straight, kingly.

It was time to announce your presence, to set things into motion for the two of you. In the throne room were gathered most people living in the fortress, the entire court… you were trying to forget about all these people you would soon have to face, there were too many of them for your heart not to pound at the mere thought. Instead, you focused on Caspian who was standing there, before the entire room, looking like a King you could barely recognize, and yet still wore the features of the man you loved.

And yet when his dark eyes fell upon you, his gaze softened, like it always did. Same familiar love held in his irises…

It was still him. It felt a little strange, still.

“Thank you all for coming,” Caspian spoke in a loud, firm voice.

Instead of taking his usual seat on the throne now, he remained standing. Many were surprised. It wasn’t the protocol… something important must be happening.

There were rumours about you going around the Castle, about this woman who had burst into the signing room, and single-handedly destroyed an alliance. Lord Cirvan had been thorough as he spread the words. But almost no one knew what you looked like, and even less people knew who you truly were.

You spotted the small group of friends Caspian had introduced you to earlier that day. He had warned you that tonight would be a long evening: after the announcement, he would conduct a meeting with his advisers, ministers, and generals, to introduce you to them properly. It would be boring, he had warned you about that too. But he had also promised to hold your hand, so everything would be fine…

You spotted Diego and Ammos as well, your bodyguards, although Caspian had not called them that. Ammos was impressive, standing near the entrance of the room, taller and larger than everyone else. But then again, he was a minotaur…

All of this was pure madness…

“Many things have happened in the last few days, and I have no doubt you have heard many versions of these events. It is time you hear about the real story.”

Silence was heavier than ever as Caspian spoke again, it made the air thick, almost palpable. Everyone was hanging to his words.

“A woman from the other world has come to Narnia.”

There was a true commotion throughout the room. Instead of silence, now there were whispers shaking the air, eyes growing round, exclamations ringing across the room.

You really did have a better welcome here than Caspian had in your world…

“She is from the land of our Queens and Kings of Old. And just like them, she will rule.”

A new commotion shook the room. You couldn’t say there was animosity, it was more of a global sentiment of disbelief.

“Please, welcome, Lady Y/N Y/L/N.”

Caspian turned to you. You were sitting in one of the front-row seats, he had chosen a beautiful velvety dress for you. Had given you jewellery too. It felt heavy, all of it. The fabric falling around you, the necklace and its gems at your neck, the gold at your wrist. It felt heavy, like royalty, like something you weren’t…

You stood up as he extended his hand towards you, and he met you at the base of the five steps leading to the thrones, holding your hand as you climbed with him.

When you turned towards the crowd again, your head was spinning.

So many faces gathered, all staring at you. All silently asking a thousand questions about you.

You read one in almost every stare: who is she to the King?

You tightened your hold on Caspian’s hand, and he did the same. But the gentle squeeze of his fingers was reassuring, when yours was made of pure panic…

So many people before you… at least two hundreds… how could so many fit in a room like this anyway?

You could feel your heart beating faster and faster, the air struggling now to travel to your lungs… Your head was spinning… dangerously so…

And I cannot believe that even after twenty chapters I – your loyal narrator - still have to come to your rescue, and yet, here we are again. Because you need to calm down, now. You can’t faint in front of the entire Narnian court. So, take deep breaths. Deep breaths… that’s it… your head is spinning a little less now, that’s good.

I really am not paid enough for this… in fact, I’m not paid at all! You’re lucky I like you…

By your side, Caspian was still perfectly calm, waiting for the whispers to shush down again by themselves.

“We will remain here for one more week before going back to Cair Paravel. Once we are there, we will have a celebration to plan.”

You felt him looking at you, and you were much calmer again once you had caught his dark eyes with yours, once you had exchanged a smile.

The feeling was gone as soon as he looked away though, and you were left to deal with the stares from the crowd with merely my not-so-efficient breathing exercises.

I’m doing my best here… Sorry if I can’t compete with King Caspian X…

“We will celebrate our engagement there.”

This time, there were no whispers in the hall, only gasps and cheers and claps and everyone was smiling, everyone was laughing.

You smiled, relieved… and when Caspian turned to you again, you were both grinning, like the two lovesick fools that you were.

And everyone was clapping, chanting even. Cries echoing down the hall and escaping through the windows to spread the words beyond the boundaries of the fortress.

Long live the King and Queen of Narnia!

The Queen! The Queen!

And it was a moment of great joy, of celebration. You were relieved. Nothing else seemed to matter in the room. The King was to be married, to someone sent from the world of the Kings and Queens of Old. She had to be a friend of Narnia. All was well. Happy days were on the horizon.

Everyone in the throne room was happy…

… or well, almost everyone.

Caspian had told you about a small meeting, but actually, there were about thirty men in the room.

Only men, you noticed that immediately.

Great start, to boost your confidence…

You felt reassured when you recognized Drinian and Reepicheep. Trufflehunter and Trumpkin were there too. There was an empty spot though, close to Caspian’s chair, you wondered who it belonged to.

All rose as you and Caspian entered the room. A long room, with walls of stone. Cold. Tapestries hung on the left wall; and on the opposite side large windows of stained glass painted crazy shapes and colours onto the wooden table sitting at the centre of the room. It was easy to spot Caspian’s chair, it was much taller than everyone else’s.

A King’s chair…

He gave the men in the room a kind smile as they bowed before the two of you. You were too nervous, and tried to smile, but it came out shy and hesitant.

Caspian guided you to the chair on his right, and you noticed that it was bigger than the others too, more richly carved.

A Queen’s chair…

He gave you a discreet nod, and you both sat down. Only then did the rest of the men stood straighter again, and then sat down as well.

An awful lot of etiquette, that you needed to learn as fast as possible, you reckoned.

You were calmer now than in the throne room, but you were still scared, it was obvious. And Caspian was worried. Because you were unwell, but also because you were not as used to hide your emotions, not as much as he was.

He liked that about you. But would you fit in the court if you remained this way? He hoped you would…

“I reckon we should start this meeting by addressing our newcomer.”

There was humour in his smile, and many of the lords and generals smiled as well. You relaxed a little bit, unsure if it called for a response on your part or not.

But you didn’t need to speak for now. Caspian started by explaining the situation with Lord Cirvan, and the true reason behind the loss of their previous arrangement. You.

“Lord Baras,” Caspian called, turning to a tall man in his forties on his left, “you have followed the progress of our negotiations since the beginning. We will meet together tomorrow morning to discuss the new treaty.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Lord Luis and General Amiraz,” Caspian went on, giving away his orders. “You will be in charge of our travel back to Cair Paravel. Get the preparation started, we will meet in three days to discuss the details.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

On his right, Drinian seemed lost in thought, and Caspian noticed it at once. He didn’t address him for now, though.

He went on, giving orders, planning things out, and you felt quite useless for a while. You glanced over at the empty chair on your right. You wondered who was supposed to sit there…

You were surprised when Caspian reached for your hand, but his touch was welcomed, it always was.

He offered you a kind smile.

“I’m sure you have many questions, it will be easier to answer them than to tell you everything from the beginning. So, go ahead.”

There was a moment of silence, of hesitation. And then, the first hand was raised. It was Lord Baras’s.

“For how long has lady Y/N been in Narnia?” he asked, his voice hesitant, clearly unsure if he meant to address himself directly to you or to Caspian first.

But Caspian didn’t answer, instead he turned to you with an encouraging smile.

You needed to talk now. You needed to learn how to address people in this kind of meetings. You were to be Queen, after all. And Caspian reckoned it was not his place to speak in your name. You were far too strong and independent for that kind of game.

You cleared your throat, your hands clammy with anxiety, and you wondered if it bothered Caspian. But he was still holding your hand in his.

“I’ve arrived only yesterday,” you answered with what you hoped was a kind smile.

“Have you come to Narnia before, my Lady?” Baras went on, talking directly to you now.

“No, never, I’m afraid.”

Someone else spoke, this time without asking for permission, a rather old man, at the far end of the table.

“You must be quite unfamiliar with our ways then, my Lady. Is it not something we should worry about?”

“I have already asked for several of my must trusted advisers to teach Lady Y/N all she will need to know about Narnia,” Caspian answered. “Still, it is true that she will need a little bit of time to adapt to our ways. I am counting on all of you to help her, if need be, and to be benevolent with her, even if she makes mistakes at the beginning.”

“But… if I may speak plainly, Sire?” asked Baras.

Caspian nodded, giving him a silent authorisation. But you read in the way his smile had tightened that you were right, as you guessed that this kind of question could only mean that the remark that followed would not be pleasant at all for you.

“If Lady Y/N has arrived only yesterday, and if she knows nothing of her ways… Of course, I understand that she comes from the same world as the Kings and Queens of Old, and I do understand then why you would choose her for a wife, but… is it not a little rushed, My Liege? Maybe… a few months of courting could be wise.”

But Caspian smiled.

“I have already met Y/N before. We know each other well. I am certain about my choice.”

“But if she has never come to Narnia before…”

Caspian took a deep breath.

“I have travelled to her world.”

The room was shaken by exclamations and questions, but Caspian rose his hand, and all fell silent again.

“I have no intention to share with you what happened there. As you can see, I am here, perfectly well. Y/N and I met in her world. I trust her. I have chosen her to be my wife, and that is all you need to know. And to reassure you, Lord Baras, Y/N and I know each other enough. There is no need for courting anymore.”

The Lord nodded, and he seemed to relax indeed.

“Actually, it could be to our advantage to hurry the wedding,” the lord went on. “It would prevent Lord Cirvan in his plotting to build an alliance with Narnia through marriage.”

“That is why the announcement was spoken today,” Caspian nodded.

“After we have celebrated your engagement at Cair Paravel, everything will be completely official, and we will be more at ease to plan the actual wedding,” said Reepicheep.

You answered a few more questions, although you couldn’t claim to relax even if you spoke more. It was still impressive to be the focus of so many stares, of so many questions…

The meeting went on for a while; when you all got up to leave it was night time already, and torches had replaced the colours of the stained-glass windows.

You were about to leave and follow Caspian when Lord Baras called for you.

“My Lady, I simply wanted to bid you an official welcome to Narnia,” he told you with a kind smile. “In the name of all of us here. We understand your situation must be difficult, and we will help you, if we can. We are but servants to the Throne.”

“Thank you, Lord Baras,” you nodded, still hesitant but your smile was earnest this time. “I have to admit that I’m not very at ease for now, but… I will learn to be. And I can assure you that I will do all I can to learn your ways and… to… do what I’m supposed to do.”

He seemed a little amused, but he smiled kindly all the same.

“I have no doubt you will, my Lady. And I congratulate you for your engagement.”

“Thank you.”

Caspian was waiting for you a couple of steps away, listening closely to the conversation. You turned to leave with a last kind smile towards the lord, and followed Caspian outside.

Lord Luis and a couple of others lingered by the door with Baras, waiting for most of the room to be empty again.

“Are we going to mention the fact that our King has apparently left Narnia?” Baras asked the small group.

“And seemed quite unbothered by it. What if he had not come back?” added General Amiraz.

“Indeed… We need to learn what happened. Where he went…”

“And what do you think of the woman?” Luis asked his colleagues. “Is she a good one? Or is she crawling her way up to the throne through him?”

Baras heaved a sigh, staring at the high chair where you had sat.

“For now… hard to tell…”

You spotted Ammos and Diego before the door of your chamber. Caspian had walked you back to your room, but you knew what the presence of your two bodyguards meant.

“Caspian… can we have a moment?” you asked him in a whisper as you walked closer to your door.

He nodded, but glanced over at the two soldiers, who stood straighter as you approached them.

He couldn’t walk inside your bedroom, not if anyone was to witness the scene. It would make too much of a scandal.

He smiled at the two guards.

“Leave us a moment, make sure we are not disturbed,” he ordered, and the two soldiers bowed before him and left the corridor, each one securing one end of the hall.

“What is it, my love?” Caspian asked in a whisper.

You frowned a little at his tone.

“We cannot enter, they saw me accompanying you,” he explained. “And I always fear eavesdroppers.”

“Nice…”

“You get used to it.”

He reached up to brush his knuckles across your cheek, and your heart skipped a few beats under his touch.

“Is everything alright?” he asked, his tone more tender now, more worried as well.

“Did everything go fine today?” you asked in a trembling voice.

“Yes, it went fine. Everything went as planned.”

“Who was absent during the meeting, then? Was someone sick?”

Caspian clenched his jaw, looked away, but didn’t answer. You frowned at the sight.

“Who was it?”

“It was Dalia,” he answered.

He heaved a sigh, but shook his head.

“She might be sick, she was not herself this morning either.”

“Or she simply doesn’t like me,” you argued, but Caspian shook his head.

“No. Why would she not like you? She does not know you at all.”

You shrugged.

“You said that she was your oldest friend. Perhaps she’s trying to protect you.”

He wanted to deny it all, but he had to admit that it made sense. Maybe that was what was wrong.

“Do not worry over this, though,” Caspian answered. “I will talk to her in the morning, see what was wrong with her.”

You nodded.

“So… you’re not coming in?” you asked in a whisper even lower than before, barely audible, just a breath.

“Not tonight. We must be careful. Now that the announcement has been made, many will try to track our movements, many rumours will run through the Castle. There is no need to fuel them.”

You nodded, but couldn’t hide your disappointment.

“Good night, then,” you gave him a smile.

“Doctor Cornelius will come to your chamber tomorrow morning. Dalia will help you during the afternoon. I am not certain to be able to see you before tomorrow evening for dinner. I will have a busy day.”

You nodded.

“I’ll see you then. But… Caspian?”

“Hmm?”

“Can we get away with a kiss?”

He gave you sad smile.

“Not tonight. Let us be irreproachable tonight.”

You nodded, moving to the door.

“I love you,” Caspian whispered as you reached for the doorknob.

You turned to him with a grin.

“I love you too.”

He waited until you had disappeared, until he had heard the loud click of the lock, before walking away.

He found Ammos down the corridor with Drinian, they were talking in whispers as well, but they stopped when their king approached them.

“Ammos,” Caspian spoke louder now, but his voice was still low, just above a whisper. “You and Diego will remain stationed before Y/N’s door for the rest of the evening. Make sure guards are stationed there too before going to sleep. No one is to see her but Doctor Cornelius tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, Sire.”

The minotaur walked away, leaving Caspian and Drinian alone.

“We have much to discuss, Your Majesty,” Drinian sighed.

“Bad news?”

“Many. And more to come.”

“Cirvan?”

“Indeed. But there are others who are starting to look for answers too.”

“Baras and Luis, I guess, are among them.”

“Indeed. I am not certain if their intentions are evil or good though, not yet.”

“Let’s go to my office. We have a long night ahead. Oh, and Drinian?”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“While I go change into more comfortable clothes, send someone to Dalia’s chambers, I will see her tomorrow at dawn.”

Drinian bowed slightly, and turned on his heels.

Caspian heaved a sigh, alone in the corridor again.

Dalia? Of all people?

********

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