#ah yes let's suffer together shall we

[wikitpowers]

how to say ur damaged without saying ur damaged

if u know u know

[drabblesandimagines]

Ribbon

Jing Yuan x gn reader 561 words

“Something caught your eye?” He asks, lazily.  

You’d been staring again, but surely it was the only time he'd noticed, losing count of how many times he'd nearly nodded off in place today. You’d been summoned a few hours ago to help navigate the piles of outstanding paperwork on his desk. Why he insisted on the anarchic method you weren’t sure - everyone else had adapted to digital systems - but what General Jing Yuan wanted he got, even if it meant you had to spend what was supposed to be your free afternoon trying to catalogue the mess into some sort of logical order.

“Ah, yes, I...” You round up the last pile on papers on your desk, trying to look preoccupied. “I was admiring your… hair ribbon.”

An amused grin crosses his face, his palm cupping his chin as he leans forward. “My hair ribbon.”

“Mm. It…” You swallow, paperclipping the pile together before placing them down on the desk. “It contrasts nicely with your hair. I was thinking about what colour would work with mine.” You tug a piece of your hair forward, as if you were musing. This is the worst lie that has ever come out of your mouth and he knows it. He must know it.

“I see.”

“Well, if that’s all I can assist with, General, I’ll take my leave.” You stand then, already thinking how therapeutic it'll be to scream into your pillow about this interaction once you're safely back in your quarters.

“No, that’s not all.” Jing Yuan gets to his feet and strides over in what feels like two steps – those long, lean legs of his - and you’re frozen in place as he draws near. He’s a good head taller than you, his collar pretty much level with your eyes, and your heart is thudding at the proximity. Can he hear it?

“What else can I assist you with, sir?” You keep looking straight ahead, watching his Adam’s apple bob in a swallow. There’s no way you can look up at him in the face right now without your cheeks flushing an intense shade of red. Why does he have this effect over you?

“I was just thinking about my hair ribbon and how… distracting it’s been for you this afternoon.”

“I wasn’t distracted, sir. I just got lost in thought for a moment, that’s all.”

“Ah, you think I didn’t notice the earlier looks? You must be aware your pace of work has suffered from it.”

You drop your gaze to the desk. “I apologize, sir.”

“I’ll let you in on a secret – I’ve also been thinking what else it would look good against.”

“Oh?”

Suddenly, one hand grasps your chin and tilts your head up to meet his copper-eyed gaze, before the other encircles around your wrist and he holds it up against his chest. Your eyes widen, before he leans in and whispers in your ear, his breath feeling hot.

“Mm. I think it would contrast nicely against your skin, tied tightly around your wrists.”

“Tied…” you repeat, your breath catches in your throat.

“Suspended above your head, perhaps, as I trail kisses down your sweet neck.” He presses his lips just below your ear in a chaste kiss, before he gently nips your skin between his teeth, causing you to shudder. “Shall we see?”

- More Jing Yuan ribbon imagines.

Masterlist . Requests welcome . Ko-fi

Details for my event celebrating 200 followers.

[the-himawari-otome]

[Shuuen no Virche] Birthday Short Story - Yves

The birthday celebration of a certain handyman

<Original post here>

･ﾟ･:,｡★ translation under the cut ★,｡･:･ﾟ

Mathis: H-Happy birthday, Yves!

Yves: Thanks, Mathis. And the rest of you guys— I can't believe you went through all the trouble to hold a dinner party just for me...

Adolphe: I mean, you're always helping us out after all. Although... you probably didn't need us to celebrate for you, huh?

Yves: Hey, that's not true. I'm super happy about it!

Adolphe: You say that, but...

*Baaam...*

Ankou: You can't help that thought when you see all the gifts from the townspeople piled up in the garden...

Lucas: Indeed. The moment I saw that huge amount of boxes, I thought you might be moving homes...

Hugo: Haha. He's a real natural charmer, isn't he?

Scien: Well, you won't be running low on supplies for a while.

Yves: Gosh, while I'm grateful for the gifts from the neighbourhood... it feels especially nice being celebrated by my precious friends.

Ankou: ...I see. Our princess and the others should be arriving shortly as well. Please enjoy today's party to your heart's content.

Lucas: I must say, it was surprising that Scien came to participate in the festivities.

Scien: Dahut was nagging me to bring over a birthday gift. I decided to have a drink and a bite to eat while I was at it.

Hugo: Isn't that what the person being hosted should say, not the host themselves...?

Yves: Now, now. Don't sweat the details. 'Tis the occasion, so let's all enjoy it together.

Mathis: That's right! I helped with the cooking too!

Mathis: Ah, but before that... Wouldn't it be better to give him his gifts first?

Lucas: Yes, good point. More guests will be coming later. Let's give him ours first, shall we?

Yves: Huh, you even brought presents? That's too much...

Hugo: Alright, I'll go first. —Happy birthday, partner. Eat this and stay your ridiculously energetic self from tomorrow on.

Yves: Thanks, Hugo. I'll be relying on you too! Is this... a fishbowl? ...And inside is— Woah, there's a fish I've never seen before!

Hugo: It's a big one, right? It's a special catch reeled in by the genius fisher, yours truly.

Yves: It looks like it'll be worth slicing up! I'll cook it up nice and tasty for us.

Hugo: About that. Eat it yourself. Alone. Seriously, by yourself. Down to the last crumb. There's no need to share it with me, got it?

Adolphe: (He's just making sure he doesn't suffer any harm himself...)

Ankou: Now then, as for the gifts from the others—

Lucas: Um. If I am not mistaken, it seems there are ominous sounds and fumes emanating from the gifts all of you are holding...

Adolphe: ...Yours is the same, isn't it?

Scien: It appears all of us had the same idea.

Mathis: I see, everybody brought fresh ingredients that Yves can cook!

Ankou: I-Indeed... However, we also prepared tangible items in addition to the ingredients...

Lucas: Oh my, to think our gifts would overlap to that extent.

Yves: Woah, woahhh...! Is this much okay!? I'm going to happily accept all of it, you know...!?

Adolphe: ...Well, it's fine as long as he's happy. Mine's a whetstone, so you can use it to maintain your sword.

Yves: Great, thanks! ...It really is wonderful to have people who are special to you celebrate your birthday.

Yves: I wonder if it's alright to be this happy. ...Won't God punish me later?

Scien: I won't, so don't worry.

Hugo: Haha. God guaranteed it. Don't fret, Yves.

Yves: ...I see. That's true. I hope I'll be able to continue to spend my birthdays together with everyone I care about.

Yves: And forever with her—who bound me to this fate.

*CLICK*

Yves: ! Hey, come on in. I was just thinking about you. Thanks for coming for my birthday.

Yves: Huh... a present? I see, you also—I appreciate it. ...Can I look inside?

Yves: ...! It's a gorgeous gem— You found it at Marché? And you thought it would suit me?

Yves: ...Thank you, truly... I'm over the moon...!

Yves: I really am blessed with encounters. After all, I was able to meet a girl who's giving me such a wonderful present—

Yves: From the bottom of my heart, I love the happiness I feel for having met you, my hope—

And I pray that in the future that awaits, I will be able to dedicate my first "love" to you...

---

[DO NOT USE OR REPOST MY WORK W/O PERMISSION, THANK YOU]

[dreamofdawn]

Hi hi! Can I request for Luxiem where they play horror games with the reader?

✧✧You ask and you shall receive ✧✧

Main pairing: Luxiem x Reader/you (separately)

Au: none

Genre: Fluff (slight crack)

Type: [HEADCANONS], One shot, or Series

Characters: Vox Akuma, Ike Eveland, Shu Yamino, Mysta Rias, Luca Kaneshiro, Reader

｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+

Luxiem playing horror game with You.

✧VOX AKUMA ✧

The sweet voice demon. We know that vox like playing horror games, and he also likes spending time with you! So why not combined them together?

Vox LOVES spending time with you, either cooking, cuddling or just laying around.

You two were quite bored and had nothing to do, when vox suddenly got an idea.

"Dearest? I have a suggestion."

"oh? What is it Vox?"

"You said the other day that you wanted to learn how to play FNAF? Right?"

"ah yes, why is that?"

Why don't I teach you now? Since both have us have a lot of free time."

You agreed and so the (pain and suffering) game begun!

Both of you went to his set up and started laying the game, he was teaching you how to do play (such a gentleman) but ofc it's not Vox Akuma without the teasing.

So be prepared cause this man would tease you over the littlest thing. When a jumpscare suddenly happened and you screamed on the top of your lungs, hu just laughed at you while you were panicking.(ofc he still helped you by giving some hints.)

While yes he is a tease and you screaming your lungs out may not be the best, both of you still had great time. I'd say that's a great way to spend time with someone: 8/10

✧IKE EVELAND ✧

Ah the sweet novelist, Ike ofc is very familiar with horror games he plays them(ofc his a stream for fucks sake) you knew this.

Ike love spending with you, you also love that. So here you are trying out the new horror game that you suggested both of you play.

You were sitting on his lap as both of you try to clear a certain level. Let's see how this plays:

"WAIT! I SEE HIM I SEE HIM IKE!! MOVE!"

"ÄLSKLING IM TRYING BUT HIS TOO FAST!"

"HOW TF IS HE RUNNING SO FUCKING FAST!"

"I DONT KNOW??!!"

Well safe to say y'all have the time of your life(even tho your throats hurt in the end)

The neighbors almost called the cops because of how loud you two are, but you managed to tell them that no there is no murder in your house.

You both are loud but it was fun because both of you managed to spend some great and fun quality time together if I do say so myself:8.5/10

✧SHU YAMINO ✧

Ah the calm and collected sorcerer, Shu I'd say is a great partner for playing horror games!

He is a great shupport for you, and that's why you suggested both of you play this game together to spend time and maybe try to get shu to scream (you didn't heard that from me)

Anywho both of you were on you computer and started playing, but seems like the both of you don't have a clue how your throat will hurt after this huh:

"SHU! HELP MEEEEE!!"

"I'm upstairs babe!"

"HOW TF ARE YOU CALM??!"

"BABE! They are behind you!"

"AHHH-"

Quite chaotic I'd say..

But both of you managed to get all of the endings with the cost of 😱 screaming and almost losing you sanity because of the game.

After the game you couldn't sleep because still being haunted by the man that was chasing you for 5 mins.

So both of you just decided to have an all nighters to forget it eventually?: 9.5/10.

✧MYSTA RIAS ✧

I can already smell the chaos both of you will do-

Moving that a side *ahem" Mysta Rias would be the perfect panther if you have strong ears because screaming will be almost there every second-

Anyways both you and Mysta were figuring out what to play, when he suddenly brought the idea to play Vox suggested.

So now here both of you are screaming on the top of your lungs as you tried to escape the murder chasing mysta -

"BABE! HELP ME!! HIS CHASINGS ME! WAIT WHAT TF?!"

"IM SORRY MYSTA YOU HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES IM TRYING TO FIND THE DOOR!! AHH-!"

"NONONONO! HIS RIGHT BEHIND MEEEE!"

"YOU CAN HANDLE IT MYSTA-!"

Now that's chaos

It took guys about 5 and 1/2 hours to finally finish the game because both of you keep losing all of your life.

Super load but fun as you both rest in your bed chilling around like both of you were not screaming like your being murdered- :10/10 very beautiful chaos.

✧LUCA KANESHIRO ✧

Ah the pog boss, sweet sweet Luca.

Luca would be a fun partner in a horror game! He would cheer you on while both of you tried to finish the game(even when his dead-).

You both played multiple horror and non-horror games in the past, so both of you decide to try a new one testing if both of you are brave enough and to see who screamed first.

Lets just say both of you screamed almost the same time-

"LUCA I LOVE YOU BUT PLEASE DONT DIE I CANT FINISH THIS ONE ON MY OWN!"

"YOU CAN DO IT!!"

" LUCA PLEASE LOOK BEHIND YOU THEY ARE ALMOST THERE!!"

"OH SHOOT- WAITWAITWAIT PLEASE-"

Really interesting I'd say.

In the end you guys finished hald of the game since your throat was hurting and you didn't want to lose your voice.

And Luca too he was worried for you and your voice so both of you just sat down and played some Mario kart to pass time.

(And to see who's better at playing) Anyways overall very fun!: 8.3/10

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A/n: another request done! Hope you enjoy! This was fun to write. (Apologies it's short)

[aishangotome]

Alfons Sylvatica: Chapter 18 His POV

Chapter 18

♡———♡

Alfons: …I’m not going to be a part of this damn sob story anymore.

He slipped out of bed and got dressed - it would be troublesome to stay in the castle and run into her.

(If I remember correctly, there's supposed to be a wild party for those eccentric nobles today.)

He didn't particularly want to go, but it was a good way to kill time.

-

Alfons: Now, what shall we bet on next?

Drunk Young Man: Alright! It's my dad's prized possession, though I don't really know what it is, this oil painting!

Beautiful Woman in Men's Clothing: Did you steal it? Vincent...who is that? I don't know him. It's probably not worth much.

Alfons: Hehe, it's not like you to care about the value of the bet.

Beautiful Woman in Men's Clothing: It won't be exciting unless it's something valuable.

Alfons: Then...shall we let everyone dream that "this painting is worth 500 pounds"?

Young Man with Cigar: Oh, that's a good idea, let's do it.

The nobles are not much different from the drunks in the back alley bars or the orphans in the East End.

Whether it's gambling, alcohol, or sex, they live their lives by distracting themselves from pain and suffering with any kind of entertainment.

Drunk Aristocrat: Hey Alf, is the rumor true that you've found a new favorite?

Lady in Gloves: It's absolutely not allowed for Al to belong to anyone! He has to remain the star of unmarried nobles.

Alfons: Yes, yes, I won't belong to anyone.

Drunk Aristocrat: You say that, but your heart already belongs to that person, doesn't it?

Alfons: ......

Alfons: ...Hehe, no way.

Young Man with Cigar: ...Let's leave it at that. I don't want to pry any further and have you never come back again.

Young Man with Cigar: As long as he provides us with entertainment like this, it doesn't matter whose heart he belongs to...right?

Lady in Gloves: Well, that's true. Ah, Father, I wish you'd give up on my marriage soon.

("His heart belongs to that person"...does it?)

He was momentarily taken aback by the fact that the only person who came to mind when he heard those words, which were like a lump of romanticism, was Kate.

--It's cruel of you to act devoted now after hurting and abandoning her like that...!

The robin, who had taken up residence in his head at some point, turned away with an angry expression.

(Hehe...I'm not acting devoted to anyone.)

Alfons: It seems I still have some guilt left in me...Ah, a straight flush.

Drunk Aristocrat: Al wins again!

As he absentmindedly watched the rain of playing cards scatter, time melted away meaninglessly, just as he had intended.

-

After drinking all night and having a meat pie from a street vendor for breakfast, he returned to the castle...

Alfons: Oh?

Unfortunately, he ran into Roger and Kate walking together.

Kate: Ah...welcome back.

Roger: Hey, Al.

Putting aside the former doctor, a mentally strong person who cheerfully greeted him despite knowing he was disliked, Kate had a visibly awkward expression on her face.

(You're really bad at acting, aren't you?)

The complete opposite of me, who has reached the realm of being able to paste on a smile as a special skill.

Alfons: The two of you, going out together?

Kate: N-no...

Roger: What, are you interested?

Roger put his arm around Kate's shoulder as if to show off.

Kate: Roger!? What are you doing?

Roger: What's wrong with it? We're going to be cooped up in a closed room all day, just the two of us. Let's get along, shall we?

(This guy really has bad taste.)

(I'm not going to fall for his cheap provocation.)

Alfons: I see. It's good that you have a good friend to play with even when I'm not around, Kate.

Kate: ...

He smiled as if to convey that he didn't care, and Kate's eyebrows furrowed as if hurt.

(Ah, poor thing.)

She probably didn't approach Roger to heal her broken heart.

He knew she wasn't the type to do that.

Her devotion, which came at him even when he rejected and hurt her, was genuine.

(Unlike me, huh...)

(Well, it's another matter whether she'll return to the surface safely after being alone with this guy in the basement...)

(It has nothing to do with me.)

The moment he was about to leave, Kate opened her mouth as if she had been struck.

Kate: Alfons...!

Alfons: ? Yes, what is it?

Kate: ...I still like you.

Alfons: ...Huh?

Roger: ...........

He was momentarily frozen by the sudden and serious confession of love.

(............ Are you serious?)

(I'm the guy who toyed with your feelings and even called you a "nuisance" before leaving you in bed.)

It's crazy that you're still pouring such dazzling feelings on me.

Kate: Even if it's a nuisance to you...this is my truth.

Alfons: ...............

(Damn. I should have laughed it off.)

I have to make her give up, to make her understand that no matter how sincere her feelings are, they won't reach me.

(I have to make my feelings for her like trash in her mind.)

(I have to laugh at her and deny her...)

Even though he knew it in his head, his lips wouldn't form a smile.

Kate: Roger, let's go!

Kate ran down the stairs to the basement as if running away from me, who was silent.

Roger: Hahaha...It's been a while since I've seen you so speechless.

When Kate's footsteps faded away, he heard an unpleasant laugh.

I hated this guy's attitude of not caring about other people's emotions.

Alfons: ... You may not realize it, but I'm often left speechless by everyone.

Roger: Hmm? So, in the end, Kate is just like everyone else, huh?

Roger: If you don't need her, I might seriously steal her away.

The egoist slowly walks towards the stairs with a provocative smile on his lips.

Roger: You don't mind if it's a toy you don't need anymore, right?

Alfons: .............

Is the discomfort because the other person is this arrogant man?

Or is it because she is the one being taken away?

(Either way, it shouldn't matter)

(In any case, I have no choice but to continue with her, not because of momentary discomfort)

Then, it's stupid to even think about it. And yet-,

Her trembling lips that appealed to me, "I still love you,"

The palm of her hand that was tightly squeezed as if to muster up courage,

The gaze that stared straight at me as if to say, "Don't misunderstand," is burned into my mind and won't leave.

The heavy footsteps going down the stairs are terribly harsh.

It's surprisingly bitter for the feeling of having my favorite toy taken away.

(Is this... jealousy? Me? Body, how can I face it?)

It's like a child's selfishness to say that I don't want something I threw away because I don't need it anymore.

And-.

(Such a thing... I always thought that it was an emotion that I would never have in my life because I could only imitate love)

Alfons: ... I still don't know what I am.

Label the emotion that seems to be jealousy that came out of nowhere as "meaningless" and throw it away. Thinking any more about this will only reveal my own shortcomings.

I started walking to my room to sleep in, and suddenly a question came to my mind.

(By the way, if they weren't doing anything suspicious, then what on earth are they doing in the basement...?)

For a moment, I had a bad feeling.

Kate, who tells me that she "still loves me," is together with Roger, who utters the delusional words "change fate," in a basement overflowing with "cursed" materials...

Alfons: ... You're not that desperate, are you?

I deny it out loud, but the bad feeling fills my chest even more.

(What if it's too late after pushing her away this far?)

(What if she keeps pouring her honest feelings into me and spending time on me-?)

Alfons: ... At that time,

Alfons: Shall we disappear?

.

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 19

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

[factorialsotherfandoms]

I hope you feel better soon <3 For the sick fic prompts - I would love some Death Family content if you feel like it.

I am suffering, but thank you. A few more days.

You didn't say who was ill so I rolled dice about it and still ended up with the kids ^^ But, I'm a little happier writing the adults, and still not still brain, so you're getting my easiest <3 (I say. Please assume Missa is mostly speaking Spanish, I just don't and also really struggle reading things which jump languages in dialogue for more than a word or two)

It is not quite warning when something wakes Missa up. He rubs his eyes and rolls over to find the lamp switch. Behind him he hears Philza grumble, already sitting up, and something like coughing from the foot of the bed.

Ah.

That would be it, then.

The lamp flickers on and there, stood by there doorway, is Chayanne. Missa's little boy looks pale and a little unsteady, sniffling a bit.

"Hey Chayanne," Philza finds his words first. "Are you not feeling well?"

Shaky fingers sign, "Tallulah keeps sneezing, and it woke me up."

Missa and Philza share a look.

"I'll go check on her," Philza replies. "Why don't you come curl up with your papa Missa?"

Still waking up, Missa nonetheless opens his arms for his son. Chayanne nods, stumbling a little as he hurries over and sits himself on Missa's lap. His head rests against his shoulder, and that's definitely a fever.

"Good morning, Chayanne," Missa speaks quietly as he hugs him. "Do you think you can sleep more?"

Chayanne shakes his head, and Missa isn't surprised, but he does have to hide a groan as he gets out of bed.

2am. Lovely.

As he stands he does not let go of Chayanne. His son is getting a little big for being carried these days, but if Missa balances carefully it is still perfectly possible.

"Shall we go find some medicine? And make something warm for your throat?"

The nodding against Missa's chest is miserable; he ignores the snot being rubbed into his nightwear, and the sweat in Chayanne's hair as he kisses the top of his head. Together they head down to the kitchen, able to ear the quiet noise of Philza checking on their daughter.

In the kitchen, Chayanne gets sat on the counter. He whines a bit when it happens, but Missa quickly fills his hands with a jug, a juicer, and a few halved lemons.

"Do you want to squeeze these into the bowl while I find the medicine?"

Despite being ill, Chayanne remains enthusiastic about such things; Missa makes him properly blow his nose, then leaves him squeezing the lemons while he looks for the medicine. It is not that medicine generally is difficult to find in their house - Philza always makes sure they have a good and in date supply - but rather it is hard to find the specific ones.

Both Chayanne and Tallulah are too young for the cough syrup, so Missa just grabs the calpol instead. He double checks the instructions - yes, it is the right bottle - and finds the spoons.

The larger spoon for Chayanne, the smaller one for Tallulah.

Tallulah is not here yet, though, so Missa just measures out the one dose. He makes a quick note of the time, and goes back to where his son is fighting the lemons.

"Here we go!" Missa hides a yawn in his elbow. "Medicine's ready."

Chayanne really must be feeling rough, poor boy, as he takes it without complaint. He still grimaces when he swallows, and Missa throws the spoon in the sink to wash up once it is actually daytime.

"Good boy," is the praise given. "You'll be okay."

Chayanne stares back and, clearly done with the lemons, sets them aside. "My throat maybe hurts a little bit," he signs.

Missa nods sympathetically, "That's what the lemon juice is for. I just need to..." he reaches over, checks there is water in the kettle and flicks it on. "Hot honey and lemon. Once it's made, we can go drink it in bed."

"In your bed?" Chayanne replies, shivering a little.

"Of course in my bed! We'll tuck you and Tallulah in the middle."

That seems to satisfy him long enough for Missa to make four mugs of honey and lemon. By the time he has them, Philza has come through, carrying a tired and sneezing Tallulah with him.

"Medicine spoon is on the counter with the bottle," Missa tells him.

"Cheers king," Philza gives him a tired smile, and goes to get it.

Meanwhile, Missa picks Chayanne back up, finding a way to hold him with one arm and also balance the tray of mugs. It is a little awkward, especially with doors, but they make it safely to the bedroom.

Missa sits, and Chayanne wriggles firmly into his lap, and they both take their mugs of honey and lemon in hand. He sips at it with one hand, and uses the other to tuck some of the blankets around his sick little boy.

"You'll feel better soon," he promises. "Just a few days."

"Like when Dad was ill?" Chayanne signs back.

It is a little more awkward to see at this angle, especially with Chayanne also tucked in blankets and juggling a mug. Missa, however, can still just about parse it.

Philza was ill, though? Of course the man gets sick, but...

"Yes," Missa decides to reply, because whenever it happened Philza is better now. "Just like that. You'll feel yucky for a few days, but your dad and I are here and it'll all be okay."

Chayanne gets another kiss to the top of his head, and that is when the door opens and Philza appears with Tallulah. Their - /their/ - daughter is barely awake enough to drink her lemon and honey, but manages it with a little help with the cup.

As soon as his drink is finished, Chayanne clings to her elbow. Once her drink is done, she clings back.

"Okay," Phil breathes out. "It's half two in the morning. Let's all get some sleep, and after breakfast we'll just curl up and watch some videos or something."

"Papa? Can you sing?" Tallulah asks.

"If you and Chayanne tuck up and go to sleep, I'm sure Missa will sing for you," Philza replies.

"Eh?" Missa isn't adverse to singing, but his guitar is in the other room and - and Tallulah looks at him with big, watery eyes. "Yes, yes I can sing! What song do you two like?"

"Jortstorm," Tallulah spells out.

Chayanne does not give a reply, just adjusts his postition until he is between Missa and Tallulah, and snuggled into them both.

"Jortstorm?" Missa mouths at Philza.

Philza laughs, "one of Charlie's. Here, I can help?"

Missa has absolutely no idea what he is singing, and really prefers to sing something he as practiced when he has an audience. Still, if it's what is sick children want...

... He survives the song, somehow, and might see if he can't work out a Spanish version for next time they ask.

Still, somehow, by the end of the song both of their kids are sound asleep. Both have mild fevers, and keep coughing and sniffling, but it does not seem to be waking them up.

Missa leans hard against the headboard.

"Chayanne said you'd been ill," he quietly says.

Philza shrugs, and looks back, "it happens sometimes."

"You didn't tell me."

"You were working. I didn't want to worry you."

What?

Missa would have come back. Philza knows that, right? If he knew he was needed, he would have come back.

Philza must see the look on his face as he says, "it was just a cold; I was fine."

"You were sick."

And Philza yields, not in response but by not responding at all.

Missa reaches across their children, and holds his hand.

"We are partners, no? Together? So tell me what is wrong."

"I'm okay now," Philza promises. "We... I'll explain once the kids are feeling better."

"Alright," children first, that makes sense. "But you /will/ tell me. About your wings, too."

"Good night, Missa."

Philza takes Missa's hand, and pretends to fall immediately asleep.

... It can wait until a reasonable hour of the morning, Missa supposes; he curls around Chayanne's back, protecting him just as Philza is protecting Tallulah. The children are sick, but safe, and someone will wake if anything is wrong.

"Good night, my family," Missa whispers to them all.

His hand is squeezed, and his children shift under joined arms.

[lovingherrscher]

Taenia memoriae

Ft: Dazai Osamu x Reader.

Notes: Happy birthday, my dear love. This is an old work of mine, I decided to translate it for this year bc I lack the time and I'm still working on another fic for him.

Taenia memoriae means "Ribbon of memories"

Warnings: Mentioning of suicide, breaking the 4th wall, slightly angsty. This may come off hard to understand without these following medias:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica - Rebellion

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - Saikoroshi-hen.

Other keywords: talking to yourself, isekai.

Best with: Taenia memoriae - Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

---------------------------------------

"Please see me again and then, if you dislike me, say so plainly. The flames in my breast were lighted by you; it is up to you to extinguish them. I can't put them out by my unaided efforts. If we meet, if we can only meet, I know that I shall be saved."

-The Setting Sun - Dazai Osamu.

You seal the letter with wax and put it in the drawer, where other letters suffer the same fate. Once written, forever sealed away.

"Now ain't that a waste?"

"Mind your own business. He wouldn't reply them anyway."

With that said, you stood up, stretching a little before glancing at the clock, only to realize it's been three hours since you sat down. Shouldn't you be preparing for dinner? Nah. You ate a little too much at lunch so you can skip dinner anyways.

You are an ordinary person to say, except for the fact that you are a little well, "deluded", at least that's how the world sees you. But no one can forbid you from dreaming, right~? Yet from the world's perspective, you are anything but a sane person. A human being ought to love another human being, then get married, have children, like any other 'normal' human being. But in your case, you had faintly realized that you do not belong in this world. You don't have any connections to it it or whatsoever, like a living ghost wandering.

You love someone who isn't real, to the point you're not only head over heels for him, but you worship him like a god. You once said that you deems yourself very much alike to that Akemi Homura girl. Met someone, and that person completely changed your life upside down. And you will do anything for that person's sake. Even if it means burning down the world.

To you, he's like a drug you can never get enough of. You never know when is it that he captured your heart, all you know was that the moment you realize this, he had you wrapped around his fingers already. You know that this man will be the death of you, but you still chase him like the moth chasing flame anyways. The flame of love started out flickering like a small candle, and by time it gets stronger, to the point it's like a monster lurking around, waiting to strike you down. Yet you accept it nonetheless, for he had became your shining beacon of hope.

There were times you dreamed of him, dreams where you two can finally unite. You know that you and him are like a lost child who keeps crying, waiting for someone to soothe them, to pick them up and take them back to a place they can call home. Your souls are like shattered glass that's being kept together with mere glue and duct tape, unstable and can be broken again any minute now. And you, you have a strong belief that you two are the only one who can heal each other. Or perhaps you two are just licking your own wounds?

"Y'know, sometimes I think you might be someone who got their ass whopped and isekai-ed here."

"Speak some decent human language, would you?"

"C'mon, I'm just playing with you! Don't do such a scary face!"

"Glad that I was able to scare the shit outta you."

"Motherfucker... I wish I could wipe that shit-eating grin out your face..."

You simply smiled at them and put on your headphones. Let's see, what should you listen to today~? Ah yes, it's gonna be his character song. You've been missing his sweet voice after all.

"If I can’t even grasp the meaning of life,

then I’ll say to this worthless night, goodbye.

But even though I think so… I’m still here."

This line reminds you of yourself. You've had countless thoughts about being able to rest in peace from the moment you awared that you've been living a life of shame. The thought of being dead haunts you like a ghost, it keeps whispering to you day or night, sleeping or awaken. But you can't just do whatever it said, because you are one hell of a coward. You're scared of pain. You don't want to bother others. For that you've become a living ghost wandering this world. What a twisted joke coming from fate.

That night when you almost took your own life, he had appeared and gripped your arm. It's natural to say that thanks to him, you had reborn, for the truth that since the day you two met, you've changed so drastically you can merely recognize yourself. And that moment was when you decided you'd give him your life. Until this body of yours wilt away, you shall forever be with him, and offer everything you have to him.

You've gone crazy for love, that's what people say. But to you, it's crazily beautiful. So you'll show the world how great your love is right this moment.

"Ah... The breeze feels so good here."

----------------------------------------

You don't know when did you fell asleep, and all of the sudden you felt an arm wrapping around your waist. You jolted up, looking at the person. It was none other than Dazai, Dazai Osamu. This fluffy chocolate hair, this bandaged hand, and that mesmerizing face you've been looking at all over and over again. You can't stop tears from streaming down your face as you tackle him to a rib-crushing hug, forgetting the fact that he was still sound asleep.

"Ouch! Can you wake me up more gentle next time? Maybe with a kiss~?"

He was going to go on, but the scene of you crying as you cling onto him tightly like this caused his smile to vanish. Instead of fooling around like everyday, he returns the hug and pat your head gently. No words needed as you two kept clinging onto each other for that familiar warmth you longed so dearly.

It took you a lot of time to finally calm down. Dazai decided to break the silence, "What's wrong, (y/n)?"

"I had a sickening dream."

"A dream where I was dead?"

"No. Worse. I saw that I was in a world where you aren't real to begin with, yet I still love you with all my heart and soul nonetheless, and that torments me. I was so close to you, yet so far. Even if our souls are connected, wouldn't it be meaningless if we can't touch nor feel each other's warmth?"

"And then... I killed myself. Hoping that I'll finally be able to see you.", your voice was hoarse, it almost feels like you're going to burst out in tears again.

"It must have been hard for you...", he mutters quietly. It felt like his arms around you squeezed tighter in a brief moments. Does that mean... Your dream was real..?

"Say that you love me, Osamu."

"I love you. I really love you."

"Thank you..."

Your lips met. His lips and embrace feels so soft and warm. They feel like 'home'. And that brings your soul to ease. His hands felt a little rough and calloused, probably from holding guns, presumably from when he was a mafioso, yet to you, they feel softer than any kind of silk, and so gentle, as if he's treating a glass doll.

Love. That's the pinnacle of emotions. Warmer than hope, deeper than despair, that's what love is.

"You know..."

"Yes?"

"In my dream, you were a writer, but you were also a detective, and you even existed as a character in a game."

Dazai became quiet upon the words. "Writer, huh...", you know that he was reminiscing of his deceased friend, who dreamed of becoming a writer, where he can write novels in a room that look out to the sea. He was delving into his own memories, about those days he was still drinking at Lupin with that friend. That was the only place he can drop the facade and expose his true self.

"I don't think that was a dream..." you mutter inaudibly, as you lean your head against his chest, holding him close to you.

[bydragonfireandblood]

Honestly, best part about watching HotD was that it gave me a free blocklist to weed out any jonsas (because ridiculous number of the green stans seem to be jonsas!) I might've missed the first time around with GoT. But what's absolutely baffling is how many claim to be feminists. I'll go to their blog to block them and their bio will be something like "She/her, feminist" and it's just like... what kind of mental acrobatics do you have to be doing to believe that??

Let's see, shall we? Just off the top of my head, jonsas (and fairly often Sansa's more... "special" stans) like to

Put down Dany and Arya for not being "feminine enough" (i.e. their ideal femininity, which ig means women can't be anything else). As if expecting women to conform to a standard of what's "feminine enough" isn't part of the problem :/

Constantly claim Sansa can't be held accountable for her mistakes because she's a child, but then regularly claim another child is unforgivable for her mistakes and should die for it

Imply (and sometimes even say) that Dany shouldn't be breaking the wheel. You mean the patriarchy? You, an alleged feminist, don't think the patriarchal system ASoIaF has is awful and dumb??

Suggest that Jon is actually going to politically manipulate Dany by pretending to love her but really he's doing it for Sansa. That is... disgusting on more levels than I could count, but I'll simplify it to "wanting to see an ending where a woman is manipulated sexually and then murdered by her male lover when she's no longer useful is gross and you should feel gross" because apparently they can't read at more than a 2nd grade level

Ignore the fact that this already-misogynistic plotline would be, in their dreams, so the man can get together with their favorite woman instead. Because putting down a woman like a dog in favor of another woman isn't bad, apparently

Absolutely hate the fact that Dany is a subversion of the prophecied hero trope because she's the "Princess who was promised". This would be a wonderful twist on the trope instead of the sexist "but actually it was the man all along!" one, which has been done to death already

Crack jokes about Dany being infertile and how that would "make Sansa a better wife for Jon, bc she can give him an heir". Ah yes, implying it's a woman's duty and purpose to have kids and that anyone who can't is broken. Wonderful example of feminist rhetoric, you guys

And this very much extends to the green stans too! Little wonder so many stansas seem to love Alicent, since they're both "women who have to suffer through the patriarchy". Let's see what our precious, definitely-feminist Alicent has done, shall we?

The big one: actively trying to prevent a woman from rising to the Throne so she can be replaced by her son, a man

The son, I should add, being utterly unfit to rule and she knows it (unless she's absolutely fucking stupid, there's no way she could not know Aegon would be a bad king). I mean, he assaulted serving staff, disappears to the slums to watch his bastards fight to the death, and when he was supposed to be king he fled. Rulership material indeed :/ But Alicent seems to think a penis makes him suited to rule despite all that

Straight-up admits that Viserys was less suited to rule than Rhaenys on account of temperament... but then in the next breath ask Rhaenys to help her uphold the male succession that fucked her over, in favor of a man even less suitable for kingship than Viserys was

And on the note of the serving girl... silencing rape victims is not feminist. At all. I recognize HotD's societal standards are different, but idk, they sure like to apply modern standards like war crimes to Dany and Rhaenyra so I think I'll do the same here

Resents Rhaenyra for finding happiness in her own relationships. Look, what happened to her was awful and I felt bad for her, but once she turned around and started putting other women down for not suffering like she did, instead of trying to see the system that caused her suffering ended... that's where she went wrong. (Also I feel like reminding everyone Laenor was gay. Did greens want Nyra to maritally rape her husband?? How dare a woman have an enjoyable sex life)

Book Alicent legitimately hoped that "mayhaps the whore will die in childbirth" because that's absolutely a feminist girlboss thing to say

Look, I have no problem with people liking or even defending either character for some of their actions. Even I'd admit the Greens are fun to watch despite being in the wrong, and that Sansa's bullying means her arc has potential for character growth towards realizing her ideal femininity is wrong. But when their stans start attacking other women for not accepting and conforming to the system? That's why I usually see urls/lots of posts about these characters as a red flag

If you're one of these people and I somehow haven't already blocked you? Please go outside and work on the internalized misogyny a bit before you claim to be feminist

[verdantcrimson]

Shutter Chance - 2

Writer: Yuumasu

Season: Winter

TL: verdantcrimson

(Unproofread)

1 | 2

Souma: Hasumi-dono! There you are, we have found you at last!

Keito: Kanzaki, what is it?

Souma: I heard that you are facing a predicament, is this true?

Souma: If that is truly the case, then I offer my sincere apologies. Unaware of your suffering, I made small talk with you this morning.

Souma: But fear not. For I have now arrived to assist you…♪

Keito: … Kanzaki, what are you going on about?

Kuro: Haha. That's a terrible way of explainin' things, Kanzaki.

Keito: Kiryu, you're here too… Why don't you explain what's going on instead of this excited fellow?

Kuro: Sure. We were just chattin' with Mashiro…

[Ten Minutes Ago]

Tomoya: —So I was talking to Hasumi-senpai before the dress rehearsal earlier.

Tomoya: Even Hasumi-senpai has his own troubles, right? I was under the impression that he was kind of perfect, so it was a little surprising.

Souma: Hasumi-dono in trouble…?

Tomoya: Yeah. But I admire him for the way he tries to solve his problems independently. I wish I could be that sort of leader…

Kuro: You've got your own strengths, Mashiro. Ya don't have to be just like danna, yeah?

Kuro: Oh, Kanzaki, who're ya makin' a phone call to?

Souma: I am calling Hasumi-dono, but I hear a peculiar voice.

Kuro: What are ya talkin' about? Gimme your phone for a sec.

Kuro: …. Ah. That's the automated voice-mail. It plays when the person can't pick up their phone.

Kuro: It's kind of weird that his phone's switched off at this time of the day though? Let's check his schedule on 'Whole-Hands'.

Kuro: So, yeah. As soon as he heard that you were at COCHI, he started runnin'.

Keito: I didn't receive any calls though? … Mm.

Keito: … Sorry, Kanzaki. It seems I left my phone switched off after the play.

Souma: No. In the end, I was able to meet with Hasumi-dono in person, so all is well.

Souma: However, I am still concerned about this 'trouble' of yours. Will you not confide in us?

Keito: It isn't anything huge. I simply haven't figured out what to do about my 'Feature Live' yet.

Souma: Then you may rely on us! Surely, if the three of us share our wisdom amongst ourselves, then a path shall be cleared for us!

Kuro: I dunno about that… It's not like he asked for our help, and it's a solo show too. Hey, Hasumi danna?

Keito: Ah, well. Kanzaki's feelings do make me happy… Hm? What's the matter, Anzu?

Keito: I could have both of them help me if I needed it?

Keito: That's right…

Keito: ……

Keito: … Kanzaki, Kiryu. Let's go on an outing together.

Keito: If I'm with you guys, I'll definitely be able to show Anzu the 'Natural' side of me she's looking for… ♪

[Some time later]

Kuro: … Walkin' around like this brings back memories from last year. Hasumi, do ya remember?

Keito: Yes. Time passed quickly, it's been over a year since then.

Keito: … Seems you're curious about what happened back then, Anzu? Well, you were partly involved.

Keito: It was shortly after the end of the 'Halloween Party'. You came to the Student Council Office and told me that "The interview you submitted to the magazine was returned."

Keito: They had wanted a more unexpected set of answers, so I decided to go downtown, a place I usually don't frequent, and I happened to meet with these two by chance.

Keito: The rest is as I mentioned in my interview answers. I played games at the arcade, and went shopping for stationery.

Keito: … By the way, Kanzaki. Why are you fidgeting around over there?

Souma: I have a place that I would like to go with Hasumi-dono and everyone else. But since this is related to Hasumi-dono's work…

Keito: You're holding yourself back, right? That is unnecessary, we can go wherever you want to take me.

Souma: Hasumi-dono… Then, with the encouragement from your kind words…

Souma: I would like to go to that 'Tapiohka' shop!

Kuro: Tapioca shop… Huh. I didn't know that place was still around.

Souma: Fufu. It has been a dream of mine to visit this shop with Hasumi-dono and Kiryu-dono again ♪

Souma: … Ah, right. I shall present this 'sutampu kaado' to you, Hasumi-dono!

Keito: 'Get extra tapioca pearls in your drink for free after you've accumulated 30 points' … Did you save these up all on your own?

Souma: I was able to accumulate them by visiting on my own, as well as with the aid of my schoolmates.

Souma: If it is of any help with the photos for the 'pamfureto', it would make me happy…♪

Keito: Just the normal amount of tapioca pearls is enough though…

Kuro: Well, we can’t just ignore Kanzaki’s kindness now, can we? So, I’ll be borrowin’ that stamp card.

Kuro: Clerk, we'd like four drinks with tapioca pearls please. Add extra pearls to one of 'em.

Kuro: What's wrong? Is somethin' the matter little miss? “I'm just the photographer”? Don't say that, wouldn't feel right if you were the only one without a drink.

Kuro: Here ya go Hasumi, your very special tapioca drink.

Keito: Whoa, It's heavy....

Keito: .......

Souma: Hasumi-dono, how does it taste?

Keito: ...You could hardly call this a drink. No matter how much I chew, the quantity of pearls just doesn't decrease.

Kuro: ......♪

Keito: Kiryu, don't just stare at me with that warm and fuzzy gaze. Anzu, you too, don't take pictures so happily.

Keito: … No, feel free to take pictures to your heart’s content. I just remembered Kanzaki’s diligent efforts.

Keito: “I’m sure the fans will love it,” you say? … Hmph, they had better.

Keito: I wouldn’t show a stranger this side of me.

[END]

[lion-hrt]

Severus Snape x Reader (Fluff)

Summary: Professor Snape and reader have a bit of a misunderstanding about feelings...nothing a bit of liquid courage, or better yet, liquid luck, couldn’t solve.

---

I still couldn’t quite believe I was headed out the large double doors towards Hogsmeade on a date with Severus Snape. It had been about 6 months since I had taken up the position of Charms at Hogwarts while Professor Flitwick took a much-needed sabbatical. Since starting, I had befriended nearly all the faculty except for Professor Snape. It wasn’t even that he was unfriendly; he was perfectly polite, in fact, but there was no hint of warmth or camaraderie between us. 

Despite a dearth of friendship between us (or really anything beyond total neutrality), I couldn’t help but notice the small kindnesses he extended when he thought no one was looking. True, it would be unlikely for someone to be outside on a freezing winter morning watching the sunrise from the top of the astronomy tower which offered a wonderful view of the castle grounds and the lone figure in dressed head to toe in black on a brisk morning walk sweeping snow from sapling pine trees bent nearly to the ground with the weight. It would also be perfectly reasonable to assume the hospital wing were empty upon first glance at the rows of unoccupied beds, the shadows around the edges concealing not only a Charms professor on a mission to see if the rumors of a particularly bashful ghost were true, but also a man on his way to deliver a gentle sleeping potion to Madame Pomfrey who still suffered terrible nightmares about the Battle of Hogwarts only a few years prior. So, as these things happen, I developed something of a crush. 

As the months passed and the weather improved, I started to run into Professor Snape a bit more often on my jaunts around the grounds. At first they truly seemed to be coincidences but I started to feel a nagging suspicion that there was perhaps a bit more orchestration involved. Still, whenever I attempted conversation, I found myself rebuffed. I decided to turn over a new leaf and take matters into my own hands for once and just ask Professor Snape to have tea with me. After all, given how often he seemed to appear in the same vicinity as me when I went to visit the owls to say hello, or as I sat by the lake refining my sketches of the giant squid, we seemed to share some pretty similar interests. If he wasn’t interested, then he could come out and say so. 

One Saturday morning, I gathered up the nerve and left my chambers and set out to find Professor Snape. I had no idea where he was in the castle, but I trusted that I would simply run into him. Rounding the corner towards the library, I did run into Professor Snape, quite literally. I bounced off of his chest and nearly fell over backwards if it weren’t for him reaching out to catch me, holding tight to my upper arms. We both spoke at the same time: 

“Ah, uh, Professor [L/N], I was actually just looking for you I wanted to ask--”

“Professor Snape! Sorry, I’m sorry, I was just looking for you--” 

We both stopped mid-sentence to let the other continue. He stared at me quite severely so I decided to get it over with. I cleared my throat. “Yes, Professor Snape, I was just saying, I wondered if you might be interested in accompanying me to Hogsmeade for a cup of tea? If you’re not busy...” I trailed off. He was looking at me oddly, like he was trying to observe something. I shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. “Well,” I continued, “if you’ve already got plans then--”

“No,” he said quickly. “Tea would be, ah--tea would be lovely.”

“Oh!” I said, not really expecting to have gotten this far. “Great! Shall we?” 

Exiting the castle together, I wasn’t sure what to say, or how to even start a conversation. Thankfully, Professor Snape thought it his turn to be bold, and asked me more about my life before coming to teach at Hogwarts. As an American, I had not studied there myself, but I had heard a great deal about the castle growing up and had always been eager to visit. In no time at all we were standing outside of a garishly pink tea shop. Why on Earth Professor Snape chose this place, I couldn’t begin to imagine, but he led the way inside. Once we were seated with a teapot and plates of scones, clotted cream, and jam set in front of us, I looked up at Professor Snape and was struck by how relaxed he looked in comparison to how I normally saw him. His dark eyes met mine, and I glanced back down at my tea, feeling the beginnings of a blush warm my cheeks. We sat in companionable silence, watching the people bustling around us in the shop and outside on the street. 

After a time, I stood up to use the restroom. When I neared the table again, I saw Professor Snape withdraw his hand under the table and quickly tuck something into his pocket; the glint of glass caught my eye. 

“What was that?” I asked, sitting back down. I picked up my teacup and swirled the tea around, gazing into the milky brown liquid. 

“Are you implying I dosed your drink with something, Professor?” he retorted, the hint of sneer forming on his face. “If this is how you think I would act on a da-” he stopped himself, color beginning to creep into his cheeks. “I mean, maybe it’s for the best if I take my leave.” He stood up, and something small fell onto the ground. He must have missed his pocket in his hurry to stow the tiny vial. It rolled towards me, and I leaned over to pick it up from where it lay against my foot. Holding the dregs of the golden potion to the light, I laughed. “Is this...felix felicis? Why on Earth would you be taking this?” 

Professor Snape stood there, eyeing the door. He seemed to be deciding whether he should bolt or not. Instead, with a fortifying breath, he sat back down. He rubbed his eyes with thumb and forefinger of one hand for a moment, then looked up at me. “Look, Professor...” He shook his head slightly then continued, “[Y/N], I’m not the most...comfortable...in admitting how I feel, or when I’d like to get to know someone better. I owe you an apology. Earlier this morning, I drank the contents of that vial which you rightly pointed out to be a luck potion. I thought...I hoped...that with a bit of a nudge, I might be able to...oh, I don’t know what I had hoped. Catch you on your way to observe some rare animal in the forest, and get the chance to finally ask you on a date. Well, I did run into you, but I feel like perhaps I made a mistake with the potion. I thought it would be easier to talk with you if I weren’t so afraid of saying the wrong thing or putting you off. But then I couldn’t think what to say at all, and you were looking everywhere else but at me. If the potion had actually worked---” 

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. Professor Snape’s eyes narrowed slightly. “If this is pity, I neither need nor want it.” His voice has gained an icy edge. 

“No, not pity! Not even close. This is just too much. Severus, I don’t think your potion malfunctioned. I think it didn’t know what else to do! When I bumped into you earlier, I was already looking for you to ask you out to tea. I haven’t been avoiding looking at you because I don’t want to be here; I can’t look at you too long because I was too self-conscious that you’d catch me blushing like a fool. I’ve been having a wonderful time, Severus, really!” 

He looked incredulous. “Wonderful?” He asked.

I nodded emphatically. “Yes, absolutely.”

Severus plucked the vial of luck potion from my fingers and vanished it. Then, his face broke into a tentative smile. “In that case, might you be inclined to join me for another round of tea?”

I smiled back. “Yes, gladly. And, if you’re lucky,” I winked, “I might be free for dinner as well.” 

[biffhofosho]

Prisoner to Temptation | Chapter Thirteen

Word Count: 8.4k

A/N: I feel like we’re missing a few things... Hm... Perhaps this conclusion may elucidate them. After all, I promised you a fairytale ending. Let’s see if I can deliver, yes?

Cvr | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Ep

Neither Naran nor Hyungwon were morning people, but as she stared into her husband's chocolate eyes, she thought he looked most breathtaking in morning light. Of course, her view might have been colored by the fact that he was looking up at her over the hill of her breast, his lips flushed around her nipple as his tongue swirled deftly within the cavern of his mouth. She forked her hand back through his silky bangs, and for a second, he stole those beautiful eyes from her as his lids shuttered under her adoration.

“Finally awake,” said Hyungwon as he came up for breath. “I’ve been helping myself to you for a while now.”

“Mm, is that why my whole body is already shivering?”

He smiled and kissed her breast again before he said, “Another minute, and I was just going to slip inside you anyway.”

“What a pretty thought,” murmured Naran as she brushed his hair again.

“Let’s make it a reality then, shall we.”

The prince’s hands charted across every bit of flesh with a strange sort of dedication. With every pass of his questing fingers, Naran felt more and more precious—and more and more keyed up. Her thighs rubbed together under the covers so much that he had to still her with a rough grip.

“I thought you were going to take me,” she whined.

“And I will, I swear it, but first, what’s this?” asked Hyungwon curiously as he fondled the underside of her breast.

Naran shot up on her elbows, concern suddenly in her voice. “What’s what?”

“Here. Right here. I haven’t kissed this spot before.”

Her husband pressed his lips to the sensitive, neglected skin there, and the princess fell back to her pillow with a groan. “You’re such a tease.”

“Hardly. I deliver, don’t I?”

Naran scowled at him. “Not always.”

Hyungwon’s jaw dropped. “When did I not?”

“After our picnic?”

“Ah, yes,” he said with a blush before he hid his face in her chest. “I had forgotten.”

“Well, I most certainly did not.”

Hyungwon eased up her body then, his skin caressing hers the entire way until his mouth hovered at her own. He looked down at his wife apologetically before he glossed his lips along the arc of her cheekbone. “Shall I help you forget then, darling?”

“I don’t know if I can forget,” she challenged. “It was devastating.”

“Then I shall make up for it all day today. I’ll deny you nothing, princess.”

“Hyungwon, we hardly left our room yesterday. Is that where today is headed as well?” she observed with a chuckle.

“I was going to propose the hot springs, but it depends on whether you keep giving me a hard time. We may not leave this bed.”

Naran fisted his straining length then and Hyungwon grunted. With a purr, she replied, “Mm, yes, it does seem to be unfairly hard. We must do something about it first then because my muscles are rather sore and begging for a soak.”

“Yes, we must, though I confess I have ulterior motives. I have many things I want to do to you in the springs. You have no idea how I suffered the last time we were there.”

“Oh, I think I do.” Naran put her lips to her husband’s ear to whisper, “I fantasized about riding you in those pools until we both came undone. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so much so that I nearly straddled your lap then and there. My need for you was so overpowering that when we came home, you know what I did, my prince?”

“What?” Hyungwon asked breathlessly.

“I touched myself as I thought about you.”

The prince jerked back, his eyes pools of their own, only his were black and swirling with devilry. “You really shouldn’t provoke me like that this early, my darling.”

“Whoops,” Naran teased with a cheeky grin that he was quick to kiss away.

His mischievous tongue roved about hers, sampling her despite their stale mouths. It was raw and warm and comforting in its familiarity. When Hyungwon pulled back, she smiled up at him. Her hand cupped his cheek so she could rub her thumb over the plush flesh there.

“So,” she drawled, “are you going to let your wife have her way, sir?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether or not she shows me how she touched herself.”

“Hyungwon,” Naran whined, “I can’t wait for you that long. I need you inside me too badly.”

To underscore her point, she bucked upward, and the prince sighed contentedly. “See, how could I ever deny you again when you speak so prettily to me. Very well, once we get home tonight, you will show me. Swear it.”

“I swear! So, please, do not make me wait anymore. Take me. Make me yours again and again.”

Hyungwon wasted no time slipping a finger between her folds to prime her needy sex, not that he had his work cut out for him. Even in sleep, her body had beckoned him, and he found her already soaked with longing for him.

They did not need words anymore to know what the other craved. By now, their bodies were so finely tuned to one another that pleasure came as second nature, so when Hyungwon pushed her shoulder up to roll her onto her side, Naran followed eagerly.

She waited breathlessly, her whole body a lightning rod begging for his electricity, and when the back of his fingers ghosted down her arm, she shivered, a tremulous moan escaping her throat. His body conformed to hers, his knees folded into the back of hers, his chest to her spine, and his manhood aching against the swell of her backside. He was hot all over, but the shape of his cock was a firebrand on her skin. Her eyes fluttered shut at her daily reminder of how his want for her never waned.

Hyungwon’s lips came next, planted as they’d become accustomed to the side of her neck. For a moment, Naran was so distracted by the lave of his tongue down her throat that she missed him lifting her top leg and easing it back over his hip.

Her muscles stretched to the new angle, and at the way her seam parted with the exposure, she gasped. Hyungwon ran his fingertips up from her knee, over her thigh, to the crest of her sex, and as he stroked her slit, he sighed.

“So eager,” he murmured and kissed her throat again.

All Naran could do was pant. She was eager. Now that she had invited her husband into her heart, she wasn’t going to pretend anymore that she was anything but.

Hyungwon slipped into her heat with a groan, his hand pressing into her soft belly. “Always so tight for me, my darling.”

“Mm, you should wake me like this every day,” she murmured.

“Nothing would make me happier. Shall we start with soft and slow, like this?”

His shaft dragged along her walls, the side angle giving Naran a sense of fullness that she hadn’t anticipated. She could feel every part of him in this position, especially the way her core parted with every intrusion and then begged for his return as he pulled out to the head of his cock.

“Put it back, put it back!” she begged when he had almost escaped.

Hyungwon kissed along her jaw, and Naran could feel his smile at her desperation. He nibbled at the neglected skin there as he teased, “I love when you get like this.”

He pressed in hard and fast to his hilt, and the air rushed out of her. She clawed at her husband’s hand as she held on against the tidal wave of relief she experienced when he was fully immersed within her.

“I could stay like this forever,” he whispered.

“Then stay like this,” she echoed as her hips swirled in his lap. The way his member stirred her insides left Naran’s head fuzzy.

“We’ll never make it to dinner then,” Hyungwon chuckled.

“Who cares.”

“They’re preparing your mutton dumplings though. I know how long you’ve been waiting for those.”

“They’ll reheat nicely,” Naran said dismissively and squirmed in his grasp to urge him on. “I just want you today.”

Hyungwon thrust lazily between her thighs as he kissed every part of her he could reach. His hands could afford to rove much more greedily though, so they wandered up from pinching her nipples to lightly ringing her throat.

“My beautiful wife,” he whispered at her ear. “Can’t get enough of you.”

“Never stop…” Naran begged.

Her eyes had already rolled back in her head as Hyungwon’s strokes picked up speed. He pulled her back roughly against him, so her body now draped over his like a blanket while he plowed into her from below rather than just from behind. Her head rested in the crook of his neck and her back warmed his chest, but her own was naked and exposed, giving him free rein to grope her breast with one hand while playing with her core with the other.

Hyungwon grunted harder and harder next to her ear as he hurtled them faster toward their finish line. For her part, Naran grew more and more vocal. Her hand joined his on her chest while the other reached back and tugged on his sweaty locks. His diligent attentions only faltered when he wet the fingers teasing her hill with his tongue, only to put them right back with furious determination.

Just as she was about to unleash all over his manhood, there was a knock at the door.

“Ignore it,” Hyungwon commanded as he stubbornly continued his thrusts.

Another knock preceded an awkward but familiar “Your Highness.”

“Go away, damn you,” groaned the prince.

“Your Highness, my sincerest apologies, but I come bearing an urgent message from His Majesty the Emperor.”

This time, Hyungwon outright snarled as he pulled out unsatisfied. Naran crumpled in on herself with a whimper bordering on actual tears.

“Ah! I am so sorry, my sweet, but don't even think of moving,” the prince ordered as he tugged on his robe and tossed a blanket over her.

Hyungwon kept the door tight to his face as he hissed at his valet, “What couldn’t wait another hour, Hansol?”

“For you, Your Grace,” the red-faced valet replied as he passed a sealed envelope through the crack in the door.

The prince shut it immediately on his friend and leapt back toward the bed, shucking off his robe in an instant.

“What did the letter say?” Naran asked, but her husband simply chucked the envelope to the floor as he hovered over her.

“Who cares? It can wait until after I’ve made you come undone all over my cock, you wild thing.”

“Hyungwon—”

He kissed her then through her incredulous giggles until they became soft moans and her hands wrapped around his neck.

In a single motion, he was inside her again and working her back into her frenzy. Her thwarted release burned a thousand times more urgently, especially since she could ogle her husband now. She loved seeing Hyungwon fully exposed for her—every muscle, every mole, every dip and divot of his body on display for her appreciation. She loved the way his body rolled as he refined his strokes to fill her just the way she liked—not frantic yet but thorough, leaving no part of her walls untouched. She loved the way he sucked in his bottom lip and furrowed his brow as he gave her his all. She loved that whenever she touched him, he melted into her hand and stared at her with such grateful eyes.

Why had she ever fought him? This was always inevitable. He was always inevitable. And she loved it.

“You’re squeezing me so tightly,” Hyungwon grunted.

“Can’t help it…”

He kissed her again, and as he did, his hips slowed. Normally, Naran would have whined and bucked and begged for more, but kissing him so deeply while sheltering his length inside her felt like nothing else in the world. If his arms weren’t wrapped around her, she might have floated away.

“Sorry,” he said as he pulled back and drove emphatically into her. “No more distractions, I promise.”

Hyungwon returned to rubbing her just the way she liked—fast and relentless, favoring that one extra-sensitive spot he’d discovered made her extra vocal—and as her bud stiffened, her walls contracted, and the next thing Naran knew, her eyes opened to a shower of little black stars raining all over her electrified skin. She fell limp to the bed, useless except to receive her husband’s first release of the day, which came a minute later along with a strangled cry of her name.

The prince tumbled to the side, his hands falling to his heaving chest while his member twitched and sagged gradually toward his thigh, still throbbing and adorned with a sloppy white crown.

Together, they caught their breath as their hands found one another in the sheets. Hyungwon squeezed hers, and Naran’s head lolled toward him.

“So, you changed your mind then? Shall we just stay in bed all day?” he suggested.

“Perhaps fresh air would do us some good. I’m developing an unhealthy addiction to your body.”

“Lucky me,” the prince gloated.

“I suppose you did promise the hot springs, and I promised you something after. Besides, you still haven’t opened your letter, you devil.”

“I don’t care what it says. It’s just a pointless reason to put an end to my time with you, and I’m not interested.”

“You’re impossible,” Naran scolded and moved to hop out of the bed before her husband’s arms fastened around her waist and threw her back to the mattress to her playful yelp. “Hyungwon! It could be important.”

“Not as important as you are, little star.” He kissed her nose then, but she waved him off.

“There’s no point in sweet-talking me,” she insisted, though she could feel the color at her chest and throat. “What if something’s happened?”

Hyungwon groaned and flopped onto his back. “Since when did you become the dutiful one between the two of us?”

Grumbling all the way, the prince scooped up the letter and ripped open the seal to read his father’s handwriting. A snarl bubbled up from the back of his throat before he tossed the letter back to the floor and collapsed to the bed again.

“And?” pressed Naran.

“Pointless, just like I said,” he groused. “My father wants us to return immediately to the palace. He says we shouldn’t have taken off without notice. Blah blah blah, I have offended Champa irrevocably yet again.”

Naran shot up to glare at her husband. “You didn’t tell them we were leaving? Are you insane?”

“It wasn’t important at the time. I was worried I was losing you. All rational thought had left me.”

The princess leaned over him and caressed his face before she kissed him briefly. If the prince thought he might win, that hope was dashed a second later.

“Hyungwon, we must go back.”

“Oh, must we?” he parroted with a chuckle. “The only thing we must do is dirty these sheets one more time.”

“You’re absolutely hopeless.”

He propped his cheek on his hand as he looked at his wife with stars in his eyes. “When it comes to you, absolutely.”

But at her firm glower, Hyungwon pulled back with an odd somber look in his eye.

“What’s wrong?” Naran probed, genuinely worried.

“It’s ridiculous, but… I’m afraid…”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Afraid of what? The Emperor?”

Hyungwon shook his head lightly. It took him a long moment and a deep breath, but finally, he confessed, “I'm afraid things will change between us when we get back to the palace.”

Naran’s eyes widened. With her newly unburdened heart, her first inclination was to laugh, but slowly, she realized that what he was afraid of was exactly what she was afraid of. Back at the palace, there were servants with whom he'd had a past and a ruthless father determined to influence his son's future. There were impediments and obligations and games of Court.

Here at the villa, the world could not have been simpler. In those rare occasions when they came up for air, the couple was always side-by-side, walking the grounds hand-in-hand or nestled together in shadowy corners away from prying eyes. It was like some beautiful dream. They were simply Hyungwon and Naran, newlyweds. There were no other titles or ceremonies other than those sought passionately between a husband and wife.

Back at the palace…

Naran clutched her husband's hand between both of hers so she could kiss each of his fingertips, savoring, to her surprise, a bit of herself on his skin. “Things will be different, but it doesn’t have to be different between us. I will not back down anymore. Let us share all our fears with one another now. I want to hear them and I want to share my own.”

At this, Hyungwon perked. “What are yours?”

“I’m afraid the Emperor will coerce you into other marriages.”

The prince set his jaw in a stiff line. “I am wiser now. I see through his schemes, and I will not let him manipulate my feelings for you anymore.”

“Even without that, I’m not the only one at the palace with hopes of staying by your side. I’m afraid you won’t be all mine anymore.”

Hyungwon pressed his forehead to hers so he could garner all her attention. “I’ll always be yours and yours alone.”

Naran beamed. “And I am yours.”

“We understand each other at last.”

“Mm, at long last. So now, if that’s settled, we best give your father some small trinket to appease him since he cannot toy with us any way he sees fit anymore.”

“If we must…”

“We must, my husband.”

At last, Hyungwon agreed, and since their trip had been abrupt and light on supplies in the first place, it was easy to pack though it was much harder to leave. From their shared seat in their carriage, the couple looked back on the villa with wistful eyes. As sorry as Naran was to leave, at least she was leaving with more pieces of herself than which she arrived.

“Aw, I wanted to go to those hot springs one last time,” she lamented as they trundled down the mountainside.

Hyungwon sighed in agreement, but then he kissed the top of her head as it rested against his shoulder. “Our very pretty plans might have been delayed, but it’s nothing a shared bathtub and some very hot water can’t fix. I’ll see to it as soon as we’re home. After all, you did swear a promise to me, did you not, my darling?”

Hyungwon guided her hand to her lap and pressed her fingers against her sex. Naran’s breath hitched as she whispered, “I suppose I did.”

“Then this trip can’t go fast enough.”

Things were much different this ride, perhaps more so than any other the couple had shared. Despite how eager they were to live up to all their romantic promises, the lazy way the road passed underneath them suited the princess just as well. With all the sleep she’d lost out on these past few days of bliss, it was easy to fall asleep on her husband. More than once, she woke with his coat under her head in his lap and his hands on her hip, and other times, their roles reversed. In some ways, those were her favorite moments, where Hyungwon’s head rested in her lap and she could hold him as tenderly as she held him in her heart now. It was a languid sort of heaven, and as far as she was concerned, it could take as long as it wished.

It was late in the afternoon when they pulled over on the shoulder next to a scenic plateau overlooking the river. There, with the sinking sun daubing the water tangerine and apricot, they laid out a blanket and decorated it with a restorative spread of dishes.

“This is a lot of food,” said Hyungwon with a hum. “Hansol, please join us.”

Both the princess and the valet were stunned by the prince’s offer, but they hurried to oblige. As the couple cozied up on their cushions and their companion took a seat at the far end, they divvied up the food while Hansol poured tea. Conversation passed pleasantly between the three of them as though they were all old friends with no status at all. It was everything Naran had always dreamed of for herself.

With her eyes closed, she leaned against Hyungwon to relish the first bite of her mutton dumpling at long last.

“Let’s just stay here,” she said with her head on her husband’s shoulder.

“Mmpf” was all the prince answered, and when she looked up questioningly at him, she found his cheeks puffed to comical proportions as he chomped between gasps.

Naran narrowed her eyes even as she laughed at him. “Did you shove that whole thing in in one bite?”

“Mm-mmpf.”

“I take it they’re tastier than you expected?”

“Mm-hmpf.”

“I’m happy that you like them. These taste just like home. Thank you, Wonnie,” she said with a smile on her face. She put her head back on his shoulder as she finished off the other half of her dumpling.

Naran felt her husband shift, and when she glanced back up, she found him staring at her with his silly, slack-jawed smile.

“What?” she asked.

“You gave me a nickname.”

The princess bit her lip and heated up. “I guess I did… Is that okay? Do you like it?”

“Of course, I do. I love you.”

Slowly, Naran sat upright. She opened her mouth to speak, but whatever she thought to say got caught in her throat instead. She tried again, and this time she found but a single word.

“What?”

“What?” Hyungwon parroted back, amused.

“What did you just say?”

“I love you?” The prince raised an eyebrow. “Why are you looking at me with such surprise? I've said it a thousand times.”

“You've never said it,” she asserted.

His head cocked as he scanned his memories. “Oh? Hm. I guess I've just gotten so used to saying it in my head that I assumed I had said it out loud already.”

His honesty was effortless and beautiful and so very simple. Just like Hyungwon.

Naran was too stunned to do anything other than nod. She ate her dumplings, but the flavor had changed. All things considered, they tasted rather bland now. Instead, she savored the taste of her husband’s words over and over again.

I love you.

They were so rich, almost too delicious to be sampled. Even thinking about them made her feel a little tipsy, and more than once, her grip tightened around her husband’s arm as though he were the only thing that could keep her upright.

For a long while afterward, Naran didn’t speak. She ate and drank and watched the sun dip below the mountains as the water turned a shimmering indigo. Whenever Hyungwon would look at her, she would stare dopily back at him with moon eyes and an awestruck smile, which he never failed to kiss.

They packed things up and returned to the road to finish their ride in darkness, and this time, when they overnighted at inns along the way, the royal couple shared a room and always made the most of it, though they took extra pains to keep their voices down out of courtesy for their hosts. It was the one thing that Naran looked forward to about returning to the palace. It was torture keeping her voice down when he was inside her.

The rest of their week-long trip passed this way, with Hyungwon’s hand on his wife’s thigh or their lips on each other’s. From time to time, the princess felt a little foolish, for she simply could not keep her hands to herself any longer. When silence found them in between their mischief, all Naran could think about were those three little words like the kiss of raindrops on her skin. They clung to her like glitter, and when at last they pulled back up to the palace, it felt like everyone could see it, too, the way she sparkled with them now.

Magda was there to greet her lady when the carriage pulled into the palace, and the moment the door flung open, the worry lines on the attendant’s face melted into warm smile lines. The prince emerged from the carriage first to help his princess out, and as soon as Naran’s feet hit the ground, she scampered to her friend’s side.

“Welcome home, Your Highnesses,” said Magda with a deep bow. “It is so wonderful to have you back at Changdeokgung, and in such health and lively spirits.”

“It is very good to see you, Magda,” answered the prince with a robust smile for his biggest fan.

“I trust you had an easy trip?”

“Easiest of my life,” he said. “Have you seen the Empress around?”

“Why, yes. I dare say Her Majesty has hardly sat still these three weeks, and that is very out of character for a lady so composed.”

At this, Hyungwon paused. “Is she in good health?”

“Oh, yes, Your Highness,” Magda assured. “I apologize. I did not mean to worry you. She is very well, simply anxious for your safe return, as was I. It has been very quiet with no news from Chungju.”

The attendant bowed again and risked a glance at her lady, who managed a quick nod for her friend. Their understanding that all was well was instantaneous, and Magda released a long, quiet breath.

“Last I saw Her Majesty,” continued the older woman, “she was wandering the halls near the Throne Room. She’s been very much looking forward to your return, so I would not be surprised if she has not already spied you and is headed your way.”

Hyungwon looked to his wife and said, “Shall we go to the Empress then?”

Naran looked back at the prince with big eyes. “Wonnie, darling, do you mind if I catch up with Magda?”

“Not at all, my love. Enjoy yourself. I’m afraid I shall have to make my way to my father as well. No doubt I will be suffering a tirade from the Emperor for a good while, but afterwards, I think we are owed a hot bath, wouldn’t you say?”

The princess puckered her lips in a silent scolding which he confronted with a cheeky smile before he kissed her quickly and departed toward the emperor’s wing.

“Incorrigible,” Naran muttered as her lady-in-waiting did her best to pretend she’d understood none of the exchange.

Alone at last, the ladies linked arms and strolled through the courtyard with no destination in mind at all. Naran sighed happily.

“Oh, Magda, it is so good to see you again.”

“Your Highness, I have been waiting for you for what feels like an eternity. I cannot believe you did not write me! That I had to hear news of your arrival and departure from the villa from Hansol was very stressful. You know I worried constantly.”

“I’m sorry. If I am honest with you, for that first week, I could barely focus on anything other than my own despair.” At the princess’s frank words, her friend squeezed her lady’s arm, so, with a pair of very hot cheeks, Naran quickly added, “And, suddenly, it was as if I could not focus on anything other than the prince. Forgive me, but I seem to have thought of nothing but him these last weeks.”

Magda smiled so brightly that it shaved twenty years from her face, and for a moment, they were both young girls. “Well, then, all is forgiven.”

They shared a laugh, and as they strolled, Naran looked around the palace grounds. The leaves had come off the trees, though the yard had been swept pristine. She felt like she could see every detail in astonishing clarity like she never had before—every roaring lion sculpture, every soaring phoenix effigy, every polished wood carving. There were so many things she’d overlooked in her time here, it was embarrassing.

“Everything seems different here,” the princess mused with an incredulous chuckle.

“Well, in some ways, I suppose it is. We’ve been busy preparing the grounds for winter, for starters. The gardeners have been working round the clock to prune and lift spring bulbs. And, of course, Hayun was expelled from the palace the same day you left, so most servants have been more assiduous than ever."

Naran jolted forward, her heart sailing towards the heavens. “She was?”

“Oh yes, on the Prince’s orders evidently. With my own eyes, I swear to you I saw Her Majesty herself escort the girl out by the ear in front of half the palace.”

“Empress Indeok did!”

The princess could hardly believe it. In truth, since she’d reconciled with her husband, she hadn’t given any of the palace maids a second thought, but just the mention of Hayun’s name felt like a snake constricting Naran. With one fell swoop, Magda had just lopped it off at the head. Naran smiled from ear to ear.

The attendant nodded. “Hayun’s disgrace and banishment was the talk of Changdeokgung—Her Majesty made sure of it. Its effects were especially potent for a select few female members of the staff, I should say.”

Naran didn’t bother to hide her gloat. “How interesting…”

“Other than that, I suppose the only real point of popular discussion has been your sudden departures, of course.”

“Oh, of course. It was very sudden, especially for me. How did Emperor Gongmin fare?”

“Very bitterly,” Magda answered. “With the Champa royal family still visiting, things were very tense. I’m not sure what His Majesty had to do to smooth things over there, but he was very sore once they left a few days after you did. My friend, Yubin, works in the Emperor’s wing, and she said on more than one occasion, she had to clean up something broken.”

Naran gnawed on her bottom lip as she stared at the royal entrance where Hyungwon had just headed. “Do you think the prince will be all right?”

“He may have to answer for a few things, but he will be fine. Judging by your star-struck faces, I’ve no doubt he regrets nothing of his choice.”

“Oh, Magda,” said the princess as she rested her head on her friend’s shoulder, “neither do I.”

The pair entered her royal wing, but this time it was colored in a whole new light. Instead of formal and grave, it felt romantic and secluded. The bedrooms no longer felt far too close but rather too far apart, and the princess knew that one of them was about to be simply for show.

“I’ve never seen you so happy, My Lady.”

Naran sighed and collapsed sideways into a chair, her legs dangling over the arm and kicking idly while her finger twirled around a loose strand of hair. “That’s because I’ve never been so happy. I didn’t think I could be after how much everything hurt, and then all of a sudden, it was like breath came back into my lungs and color back into my world. Is that stupid? I sound stupid.”

Magda laughed. “Hardly. You sound like you’re in love.”

At this, the princess sat up. “I don’t know about all that…”

“Sure, my dear,” Magda laughed as she patted the princess's hand, and when she realized her impropriety, she sobered and corrected, “sorry, My Lady.”

“Oh, but, Magda, he did say those words to me.”

Again, excitement got the best of the attendant, and she squealed. “He did? Oh, such wonderful news. And I don't care that you outrank me, for I told you so, did I not? Yes, I did.”

“You're as incorrigible as Hyungwon is,” the princess muttered but with a grin. “Yes, you did tell me so.”

“Tell me everything! How did he react when you said it back?”

Naran cast her eyes to the corner as she answered, “I didn’t.”

“You didn’t confess, too?”

“I— No. I mean, I can’t say something I’m not sure of, can I? That wouldn’t be fair.”

“Oh, Your Grace,” said Magda in a tone that sounded all too sharply of Queen Jigme, and the princess felt the urge to defend herself the same as she would to her mother.

“I feel many complicated things toward the prince. How do I know it’s not just the… laying together,” Naran whispered with crimson cheeks, “that I like? Or the fact that he’s really the only man I know? Or that I’ve just grown used to our routine?”

“I can’t answer that for you, My Lady. All I can tell you is that a smile like yours doesn't come from routine.”

“Okay, maybe not routine. I’m just… confused.”

Magda pursed her lips. “Well, here comes your Prince back faster than we expected. I'm sure he'll be delighted to help you clear it up.”

Naran leapt out of her chair. “Wonnie! You’re back already?”

“The Emperor is busy, and I hardly care to wait. I can’t think straight anyway. Magda, my friend, you’re dismissed for now. Her Highness will call you when she’s free.”

“Hyungwon!” Naran yelped as he dragged her toward his bedroom. She had just enough time to toss a quick apology back at her companion before the door slammed shut behind her.

The prince collapsed on his bed straight away, pulling his wife on top of him, this time to her giggle. He kissed her hard, one of his enormous hands cupping the back of her head to deepen things while the other fell in league with her hip to grind her against his lap.

“Would you wait a minute,” Naran reprimanded gently between his troublemaking lip bites. “I have to talk with you about something.”

Hyungwon smirked. “Very well, but I’ll listen much better with my cock inside you.”

“Wicked prince! That may be so, but that shall make it very hard for me to talk at all, won’t it?” But even as the princess objected, she was gathering her skirts. Meanwhile, her husband parted his robes and pulled his manhood from his breeches. Naran sank on it at once, for her desire had flared the moment he’d hurried back to her. He hugged her to his chest with a contented sigh and kissed her forehead.

“So much better. Now, my love, what is it you have to talk to me about?”

It was much harder to form thoughts when she was full of her husband, but the princess tried her hardest. What had she been talking about only moments ago…

“The other day,” she started, her voice lost in the gathering haze of lust, “when you told me how you felt about me? I haven't stopped thinking about it.”

“That I love you?” Hyungwon asked with an amused grin.

At this, Naran remembered the thread she’d been unraveling. They had made a promise not to keep things from each other anymore, so she knew she couldn’t allow her insecurities to fester in secret any longer. “Yes, that. You know, I don't want you to feel that you have to say those things just because we’re married.”

The prince laughed, and his length stirred inside her. Naran let out a little gasp and burrowed deeper into the dip of her husband’s neck.

“My darling, I said it because I meant it, and I wanted you to know it beyond a doubt.”

“Hyungwon, do you have any idea how many royals go their entire lives without saying that to anyone? Do you have any idea how many people never say it?”

“What do I care about anyone else? Naran, there is only you.”

“It’s— The thing is, I don’t know anything about that stuff…”

“Love?”

Naran nodded, her eyes wide and her lips pressed together in a thin, taut line.

The prince brushed the hair back from his wife’s face so he could kiss her troubled brow before he said, “Should I not say these things to you because I really don’t see a way to keep them in any longer?”

“No, I— I liked hearing it... I'm just overwhelmed.”

Hyungwon laughed again and hugged her tighter to him. “I can tell. It’s okay if you can’t say it back yet, but I can’t go on keeping it in anymore either. I love you and I mean it.”

Naran huddled against his chest and pressed back firmer onto his shaft. Hyungwon’s invigorating scent wrapped her in an invisible second pair of arms as she fell deeper and deeper into him until she felt like she couldn’t ever climb her way back out.

Was that love or was it just desire or dependence even? How was she supposed to differentiate?

“I want to say it back,” she confessed, “but I need to be sure first.”

Hyungwon tilted her chin up so he could kiss her lightly on the lips and smile at her. There was nothing but peace reflected in his expression.

“So you don’t mind while I figure out my feelings?” Naran asked.

“I can wait. I already know how you feel now, but it’s okay if you need to be sure. I’m not going anywhere. Especially from here,” said Hyungwon with an impish grin before he thrust up into her snug heat.

Naran let out a tremendous moan, and just like that, they whiled away another afternoon straight from their bed into the promised tub where the princess, under her husband’s appreciative scrutiny and smoky-voiced encouragement, showcased exactly how she’d come to the realization that she wanted to be with her prince.

By the time the emperor was free enough to demand the appearance of his son before him, Hyungwon was in an unflappably good mood. Naran didn't imagine there was an accusation or a swear that the emperor could level at his son that would bother the prince in the slightest.

Freshly cleaned and feeling lighter than air, Naran floated out into the gardens. As Magda had said, most things had been shorn ahead of the winter, but even though things looked sparse and bare, the princess looked eagerly toward the next season. Winter in her homeland was a long, bleak affair, with bitter, unending winds and snow that felt more like knives. She wondered what it would be like here.

It was already chilly, but wrapped in a thick hanbok and still warmed by the heat the royal couple had generated in their bath, Naran barely noticed. The light was dimming rapidly by the time she reached the jade stream, but it was enough to make out the elegant figure of the empress sitting on her poet’s rock near the water’s edge. True to form, the woman had paper and a quill in hand as she hurried to record the last of her thoughts before the sun totally set.

“Pardon my interruption, You Majesty,” Naran said softly. She kept her eyes down as she approached the empress, so she could not gauge the older woman’s response. “I hope I am not importuning in your time of reflection?”

“Not at all. Please have a seat,” said Indeok as she set down her quill. Her tone was rather sterile, but when Naran ventured a glance up, she saw an unexpected gentleness in the woman’s face. In moments like these, the empress looked most like her son, round where others were sharp and accessible despite her paralyzing beauty.

“I did not have a chance to thank you for your incredible gift of poetry,” said the princess with more than a few wavers in her voice. “Your words have not left my mind since I read them. You somehow knew exactly what I didn’t know I needed to hear.”

For all the princess’s praise, Indeok simply hummed. Then, at last, her head tilted to the side as she studied her daughter-in-law painted in twilight, and she said, “It seems you came back to Changdeokgung rather different than when you left, Princess.”

Naran bowed deeply, her head practically kissing her knees. “Your Majesty, I doubt that could be so without your beautiful words.”

“Please rise, my daughter-in-law. I should like to look upon you.”

When the princess sat upright, her face was as red as an apple. Her eyes were shimmery, as much from nerves as emotion. It made the empress smile.

“My dear, you are in love,” Indeok murmured with unprecedented tenderness.

“But that is why I came out here! I am sorry for such an outburst, Your Majesty. Please excuse me, but how can I possibly know such a thing?”

“Why don’t you tell me how you’re feeling then? Sometimes we understand differently when we are made to put words to feeling.”

Naran’s brow scrunched as she considered. She was not a poet. She wasn’t even an artist. Her only real strengths were in riding and wandering, so it felt like an impossible ask. Yet somehow, right then, her answer came.

“I feel like I am standing still and moving all at once. Like I can leave whenever I want, but I don’t want to. My feet have stopped itching.”

It sounded so nonsensical to the princess’s ears, but it also encapsulated exactly how she felt.

The empress nodded and pressed, “And when you are away from him?”

“I don’t want to be.”

The answer was so automatic that it shocked Naran. She looked wide-eyed at the empress, who simply tilted her head to the side though it was clear enough what she was saying:

There you go.

“How did you know you were in love, Your Majesty?”

Indeok waved a hand dismissively. “I have never been in love, my dear. How do you think I can see such feelings in you so easily? You wear it like a shimmering cloak. It illuminates you. I have never shone so brightly as you do right now.”

“But His Majesty—”

“—is a duty I was made to fulfill. I’m not sure if he is capable of such emotion, but if he were, it would not be with his wife. When I am with the Emperor, I must be a different version of myself, and it is not a version I particularly like. Do you feel that way when you are beside your prince?”

“Never,” Naran admitted.

“I am relieved then. I would be very disappointed in Hyungwon otherwise, but you can never tell how other hands might have worked in secret. My greatest fear was that Hyungwon would favor his father’s views of the world, but the moment he fixed his heart on you in Sygnak, I trusted he could stay true to himself. Kingdom might come first to his father, but I am hardly such a patriot. My son is the only thing that matters to me, and you matter to him, so you matter to me, too, Narangerel.”

The princess gasped at the intimacy. With no clue what to do, she bowed again until the empress placed a hand under the young woman’s chin to raise her up.

“For such a headstrong woman, you can be quite shy,” Indeok laughed.

The sun had set behind the tree line, casting the world into long, thick shadows. The babble of the brook brought a sense of calm to the darkness, as did the empress’s soft voice.

“Mm, this is the happiest I have ever been in this palace… I’m just sorry the day is already over and I could not catch up with you both. Tomorrow though, I should like to see the two of you together at breakfast. I trust you’ll wake up that obstinate son of mine?”

Naran smiled. “I shall do my best.”

“I imagine he’s predisposed to do whatever you wish. Make sure you take full advantage of these halcyon days, my dear. Ah, how pretty,” the empress mused, “that you should experience the first bloom of love just as winter sets in. It brings such a liveliness to the slumbering world. I envy such brilliance.”

Ever the poet, her mother-in-law’s words knew just how to make color and emotion stir in the princess’s heart. Naran sighed. “Everyone around me is so sure of these things, and I know I should trust it, too, but something keeps pulling me back.”

“That is because love is not something you can think your way through, but,” said Indeok with a sturdy gaze, “I think you already know that. Rather, you may simply be afraid of it.”

“And if I am?” the princess said shakily.

“Then you need only give yourself time. Doubt will fade as your love grows. Is Hyungwon pressuring you?”

“He is not.”

“Then I suspect it won’t be long then. In the meantime, how about I call for some cider?”

There was a special glint to the empress’s eye that Naran had only stolen a glimpse of that night she and Saran had caught the empress with their mother, and the princess felt another fuzzy warmth overtaking her heart.

“I should very much like that, Your Majesty.”

“Wonderful. Then I have but one other question for you. Would you mind if, when we are alone, you call me Mother instead?”

“Are—are you sure?”

The empress smiled and stood to offer her hand. “Of course, daughter. Now, come. The hour is late and the air is cold, and I am in far too good a mood to do anything other than celebrate.”

Together, the two ladies returned to the warmth of the palace and cider and each other’s company and waited for Hyungwon to return. His smile when he caught his two favorite women drinking together was unparalleled, especially when he sat between them and had a drink himself. Before long, the empress retired to her wing, which allowed the newlyweds time to curl into each other under eyelids now heavy with alcohol.

“How did it go with your father?” Naran murmured as she relaxed in Hyungwon’s arms.

“Mostly yelling, plenty of cursing, too, which only grew more violent the longer I didn’t respond. But who cares?”

“A prince probably should.”

“Probably, but this one only cares that his wife was waiting for him.”

Naran turned in Hyungwon’s embrace so she could face him only to find him already smiling.

“I know this isn’t as simple as the country villa,” he said as he hugged her properly, “but this place finally feels like a home to me.”

“I was just thinking the same thing,” sighed the princess against his chest.

“I love you, my darling.”

And as she drifted off to the sound of her husband’s heart beating just for her, the last bits of Naran settled into their rightful place—beside Hyungwon.

A week had passed before the princess even had a chance to blink. In part, she supposed that was thanks to how many obligations the royal couple had to make up for since returning to the palace, but that was hardly the heart of it.

In truth, time had sped by because no matter how odious her assignments were, Naran could always look forward to reuniting with her prince. They hadn’t spent a night apart since, and she doubted they would ever again unless they were made to. Everything was easier to bear alongside Hyungwon. She could face anyone. She could handle every challenge. She could touch every joy the world could possibly offer.

Because she had him.

“Is everything all right, little star?” Hyungwon said as he joined his wife in her garden.

It was well into the heart of night. The skies were clear and the air was brittle, but in her robe, she was impervious to it.

Naran smiled. “I’m sorry. I did not mean to wake or worry you. All is well, my prince.”

“What are you doing out here?”

“Thinking.”

“In the cold?”

“Oh, this is nothing,” she replied with a smirk. “You haven’t felt cold until you’ve spent a winter on the steppe.”

Hyungwon nodded and pulled up alongside her, slipping his hand into hers. His skin was much colder than hers, and she squeezed him tightly to warm him up.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

“Right now? The first time we met under the stars. All the things I said and thought I meant. How little I knew about anything back then…”

The prince hummed gently. “And what were you thinking about before I got here?”

“How much I love you.”

It came out so naturally, it hardly felt like the first time she’d ever had the courage to say those words. Naran glanced to her husband in time to catch Hyungwon breaking into the most dazzling grin imaginable. He could have lit up the whole palace with it. His lips had parted, and he was so still, he might have frozen in shock. She squeezed his hand again, and it broke the spell enough that he could speak.

“You love me, too?” he repeated incredulously.

“I love you, too, Hyungwon, more than I realized I could love anyone. I think my heart has always wanted to love you; I just wouldn’t let it. I swear I’ll never make that mistake again. I love you now into forever.”

He cupped her cheeks then to guide her eyes from the stars to his. His thumbs stroked her tenderly, and after a moment, he tilted her mouth up to his to kiss her until her knees wobbled. Naran clutched at his forearms to steady herself, and the second he let her come up for air, he dipped his forehead down to hers.

It was hard to see him under her drooping lids, but she held his gaze as she wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled her cold nose against his puffy cheek.

“I love you,” she whispered again.

“I love you, too,” Hyungwon whispered back.

They exchanged giddy smiles and a few more kisses as their breath braided inextricably and floated up to their stars. With her lips still dancing happily against his, Naran bared one final secret to her husband.

“And I think I am with child.”

A/N: See you at the epilogue, my beloved reader friends. <3

[thetrashbagswasteland]

NG+ for uhhhh let's do 58, 66, and 74 :3c

One again this shit LONG it's going under a cut so it doesn't fuck with peoples dashes!

58 - I Love You (Acoustic) - Woodkid

I KNOW I've already given this one over to a bad timeline Kryterius and now ye shall suffer the consequences. Good luck, enjoy the stabbing.

Eight years. Eight long years. They’d felt like a lifetime, or maybe barely a day. There were times when Nihlus felt like he barely knew him at all and others when he thought he knew every inch of Saren inside and out, that there was nothing left to lay bare and for them to worry would turn the other away. Saren had met him when he’d been at his worst and conversely he’d seen him at his only much later, once they were for lack of a better word, lovers. And, well, there was a word that didn’t even come close to summing it up. He’d die for him in a heartbeat, live for him in the next one, then curse his existence in the one after that. It was reciprocated; Nihlus knew it was in the quiet way Saren gravitated to his side in a room full of people, in the soft words he’d allow himself to say when it was only the two of them and in every single way he had claimed him as his from the day they’d finally admitted their feelings for one another. They rarely got to enjoy quiet mornings together, or even often late nights falling into one another’s arms. There would be time enough for that, one day, he’d decided. When Saren finally burned through the last of his rage and when he’d proven once and for all that he had every right to stand proud in a room full of primarchs regardless. That day would come and then they would be content. Or at least, he’d assumed it would. Nihlus checked his correspondence for what felt like the hundredth time in as many minutes. No unread messages. There should be one. At the very least one. That was the one commitment they made to one another now - to talk, even if they could do nothing more than that. Had he done something wrong? Or… was it something beyond his control? He’d been distant for a while now, subvocals muted and eyes glazed over. Nihlus had attributed it to being the time of year; Saren always struggled worst with his own thoughts around the anniversary of The Incident. The Incident, because it had no name in their lives and never would be able to be comprehensively summed up. But, a new nagging fear, what if it wasn’t merely the date which had his love so detached from life? Was it Nihlus’ choice to take the project? He’d always known it’d piss him off but to this extent? Or was he pulling away as a defence mechanism to hide how he was failing? Spirits only knew, he seemed to be putting himself through more augs every time they saw one another as a way to combat pushing his body past its limits… But he should trust him with this. Should know, after all this time, that he could trust him and that he owed him the truth on that matter. A ping. His heart jumped momentarily in his throat and then - “Briefing in ten minutes. Do you wish to review the files before we bring Shepard in? - A.” Ah. Of course. Ah well, it’d been too much to hope… He’d send him another message, after this, pin him down to a meeting and then maybe pin him to the bed as payback for so long left in silence. Mm. A nice thought that was… One he’d file and plan out further. A recompense for himself for putting up with all of this. He’d come back to the logistics. After the evaluation. 

66 - Will I Find My Home In You (Accoustic) - Juniper Vale

Legally assigned Barrix so here's a chaser from Wipe My Hands Clean bc I need to rewrite that fuckin prompt I did ages back with this song anyways lmao

“I’m resigning.” Avitus blinked. “I mean… I’m retiring.” Macen, always so implacably confident actually sounded nervous. “You’re quitting?” He asked, trying to make sense of it as he stared across at him. “These are all synonyms for the same thing, Avi, yes.” His lover’s attempt at humour fell unfortunately flat and, seeming to realise it, Macen sighed heavily. “Listen, it’s time. I’m done. I’ve had enough of all of this.” Shit… He should have expected this, shouldn’t he? “All of this?” Avitus croaked, trying not to let panic grip him by the throat. “I’m tired, Avi.” Seemingly unaware of his inner turmoil. Macen slumped back further in his chair, bad leg propped on a stool. “I’ve been through enough firefights for one lifetime. I’m sick of being scared that I won’t make it home to you. If there’s one thing I’ve realised, it’s that I can’t live like this.” Home… to him? But he couldn’t stand the life they led? How else was he to take that? Avitus swallowed his pride, pushed down the desperate desire to rage and cling to him. Mace deserved better than that. Better than him spoiling this. “I understand.” He let his eyes slip closed, chin coming to rest in his cowl. “You need a fresh start. I- I’m not going to stop you.” “There’s this offer, it’s- wait, what?” Macen genuinely sounded confused. “What do you mean you won’t stop me?” He opened his eyes. “This is the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech, isn’t it?” He asked cautiously. “You’re telling me you want a peaceful life and there’s only one way to make that happen, isn’t there?” For a moment, he simply stared at him. Then, the other turian was on his feet, limping the few steps it took him to approach before taking his head between his hands and forcing it up so he was forced to make eye contact with him. Usually, it was easy to forget that Mace was, actually, taller than him. He’d such a welcoming, sweet disposition that he was always damned approachable. “Avitus Rix.” He murmured softly, far too gently. “You are the most paranoid, pessimistic old fool I’ve ever met. Only you could take me asking you to settle down with me as a breakup conversation.” Settle down? Them? “You… want me to retire?” He asked cagily. “With you?” “Yes, you idiot.” Macen dipped his head, pressing their foreheads together with as much exasperation as tenderness.

74 - Younger - Imagine Dragons

Look, we're just going into the Beyond Familiar Stars grab-bag for this one bc I'm like 90% sure that's when this one got streamed enough to get on this list lmao.

“Saren got tired of them eventually.” He didn’t know why but… sharing it was cathartic. Someone else should remember them as he did. “There was some serious pressure being put on him to just pick someone, eventually, and he just… upped and disappeared. Came back three months later dragging this massive bastard behind him. Terminus trash, both parents were mercs, everyone knew it. Spooked the whole damned hierarchy because apparently Kryik had been thrown in a dead-end platoon on Taetrus to die and… everyone had assumed he had died until he got dragged in to meet the council with two month’s training already in hand. Nihlus was twenty two, with a smart mouth and a very punchable face. And he was everyone’s best friend in a day.” He’d been almost as horrified as everyone else at first. But then he’d understood once he’d actually seen him fight and even worse, had liked him from when they’d first spoken properly. It had been a threat to the council, plain and simple. No pushing him, else he’d turn around and find the worst possible candidate. Then he’d make the best damned spectre out of them, just to piss everyone off.

They’d had ten years. Eight years in love - long enough that they’d been talking about making things permanent openly, instead of just in hushed whispers. Was it any wonder Saren had lost it when he’d been blamed for the death of the only person he’d let know him that well? One of his greatest regrets, for a long time, had been that Macen had never gotten to meet them. Now… now that sat side by side with the disappointment they’d never lived to see him take on a student of his own. But his greatest still was that they’d soon have been dead for as long as he’d had them. And that he’d been without Macen for twice as long as he’d had him. It struck him, not for the first time, that he’d have rather not be in this position. Die young and leave a pretty corpse, that’d been his intention. Not outlive a single person who’d given a damn about him. And… He’d failed that one, hadn’t he? “Avitus?” He hated the concern. Hated that it was all anyone had to give him these days. Shit, he didn’t deserve it. “I’m just- Coming to some hard realisations.” He muttered before he could stop himself. “About the way my life’s turned out. Wasn’t my goal to do this, you know?” “I don’t think anyone’s goal was to come to Andromeda all along, was it?” He’d have had a shot at still claiming to have died young without it, that was for sure. “More that…” Avitus gritted his teeth, unsure how she’d take him admitting he’d never meant to live this long. “I’m sixty two. More than three times the age my dad made. Twice what Nihlus got. Nearly as old as Nearcus was when I killed him.” “People who all died before their time.” There was a deliberate attempt to sound like she’d a clue what any of that meant there. “C’mon, Avitus, you’re not even middle-aged, are you? Turians live to be like a hundred and fifty, don’t you?” He… couldn’t say it. Not without pity ensuing. There was no easy way to admit that he’d not thought he’d live to see fifteen. Then twenty. Then thirty. Then he’d counted his life expectancy in days, not years, for a while when he’d been thirty eight. And finally, he’d contemplated that he might live long enough to start to feel like an adult, but he’d only ever allowed himself to picture getting old when Macen had talked about it. He’d always treated it like a certainty, hadn’t he? That they’d come out here and find themselves a place to settle into, where they could be themselves in peace. With Macen gone, Avitus was no longer sure just who he was, either. “Macen got a third of his possible lifespan. My dad got eighteen years. Why do I get more than that?” He hadn’t meant to direct the question at her - did he expect her to have an answer for him that wasn’t what he already knew; that the universe had a sick sense of humour? “Why do I survive everything that better people don’t?”

[rd0265667]

Yunjin x M!Reader:Sleepless(Part 5)Finale

1.7k words

3rd person's POV

For the next 2 months, Yunjin carried on her almost daily visits to the cafe, being greeted by Y/N's smiling face. Y/N also had a rotating staff of help now that he could sleep peacefully, mostly Minji's friends. Yunjin has gotten close to Y/N, very close. She feels so woozy around Y/N, but has been very uncertain "He doesn't like me back" she says, "I don't like him." she lies. It has gotten to the point where Yunjin's Friends and Minji's friends, self dubbed Lesserafim and Newjeans respectively, are actively trying to set them up to get together. Today is the fruition of all their planning. With Yunjin's classes and Y/N working, it was hard for the girls to organize for them to actually hang out, not just sitting around in the cafe.

Yunjin was told to dress up nicely, Sakura was bringing her and the girls to a restaurant to celebrate some event Yunjin had never heard of before. At least that's what she was told

Y/N was told to wear a suit, not dress sloppily(like he was accustomed, Minji said, Y/N did not deny). She said she was going to bring him out to a restaurant for some Sister Brother bonding time. Y/N insisted that he could bond with her over a cup of coffee. Minji insisted otherwise

Yunjin's POV

Alright, so Sakura said to go to the table, there will be a booking under Kim? Apparently Chaewon placed the reservations for us. "Hi, 7.30pm reservation under Kim?" I said, smiling as the host smiled, flipping through his book saying, "Ah yes, 7:30, Kim, Table for 2. Your friend is inside already." Despite my confusion, I smiled, not wanting to be rude. 'Wait table for two? Wh---Oh no, Oh no those fu-' I thought to myself as I was led to the table, as I saw Y/N, a look of shock appearing on his face, mirroring mine. "Jen? What are you doing here? I was supposed to meet Min- Oh. They finally did it." Y/N said, a look of realization finally crossing his face "It appears we've both been bamboozled." I said sheepishly, as Y/N mirrored my smile "It appears that way. You look beautiful by the way, that dress really looks great on you." Y/N said, a faint blush appearing on my face. "T-Thank you Y/N, you look really great in that suit too." I said, barely stringing my words together. I then looked around, seeing that the entire restaurant had been cleared out, with only me, Y/N, and the wait staff around, one of whom approached our table, setting down candles and setting down a bottle of wine. "I think it's fair to say Minji and the girls have been planning this for awhile." Y/N said, chuckling at the extravagant set up, as I chuckled in response. "Well, then let's not waste their efforts shall we?" I said as we began to order our dinner, then began chatting like we always did, regardless of where we were at, cafe or not, it was no different. The two of us seemed to never run out of topics to chat about, once spending 3 hours arguing about whether water was wet. As we continued our conversation, I found myself staring at Y/N again, noticing his weird little ticks, like scrunching his nose when he likes what he's eating, the way his ears point upward when he talks about Singapore, the way...the way he looks at me when he thinks I'm not looking. The way he smiles whenever I complain too much about my lecturer, or the way he looks at me when I talk about how Kazuha and Eunchae teased me at home. My heart couldn't take it. I wanted to tell him everything, everything, how I felt, how I wanted him to be my first and last, how much I wanted to hold him like I did those months ago. But no. I can't do this to him. I don't want to talk about relationships and all that with him, he suffered enough from a relationship, I don't want to remind him of all that pain and hurt he went through.

"You take that back Huh Yunjin!" Y/N exclaimed as I chuckled at him "I've said it once, I'll say it again, Pokemon Platinum is superior in everyway to Heart Gold and Soul Silver. Better Champion, better starters, better story." I said, sticking my tongue out at him as he laughed at my childishness As we both laughed, my hand accidentally swiped my spoon off the table. "Oops, I'll get that" I said as I bent down, grabbing the spoon from the ground, but hitting something on the way up. Y/N's hand. He covered the edge of the table. That was it. I don't know why, but that was it. "I knew you were going to hit that corner Jen, aish so clumsy." He said, smiling at his accurate prediction. Its now or never Jennifer, You're never going to get a chance like this again, take it. "I love you!" I said, shutting my eyes as I blurted out the three words I've been dying to say, before covering my face with my hands to hide my blush. "What?" Y/N said, his face frozen in shock "I said I love you Kim Y/N!" I shouted out once again, as Y/N's face remained frozen. "I--I--I'm sorry Jen, I can't do this." Y/N said, tears threatening to spill out from his eyes as he quickly ran to the toilet. 'Nice Going Jennifer. You're a genius.' I thought to myself as I quietly sobbed I knew it. I was right. Y/N and I were just friends, and I've just triggered him again

20 minutes had passed, and Y/N still had not returned. I was getting a little worried. I quickly walked to the men's bathroom(its not weird, the restaurant is empty), seeing the door lock and hearing Y/N sobbing behind it. "Y/N, are you there?" I whispered softly "I'm sorry Jen, I'm sorry, I can't do this. Us being close friends is one thing, but being together...I'm not good enough for you Jen. You deserve someone better. I'm...broken. Too broken to be good enough for you. I was burned, and I don't know if I could ever be in a healthy relationship again. I don't want to hurt you Jen. I'm sorry." Y/N said between small sniffs Hearing that, my face dropped a little, as I sat down, back on the door as I said, "Y/N-ah, I know where you're coming from. But I don't think it's because you aren't good enough for me, or because you're broken. You were betrayed, backstabbed and manipulated, plagued with nightly horrors, and you deserve sometime to heal. I'll be here for you regardless, no matter as your Significant other, friend or customer. I won't leave, regardless but... I have a request to make. If you do get better, if you find yourself open to love once again, please love me." I said, trying to force out a smile to keep the tears away I then found myself falling backwards as the door sprung open, and my head fell snugly into the arms of Y/N, who hugged me tightly. "I do love you Jen. Maybe I have all this time." Y/N whispered I froze in shock. He likes me too? "Jen, I know I'm broken, and I'll be hard to love, but do you think we co-" "Yes" I said, staring him in the eyes, as I saw him recoil a little at the speed of my reply "But I didn-" Y/N stuttered out as he blushed "Oh for god sakes Y/N I know what you're going to say, now shut up and kiss me." I said, pulling Y/N's lips in for a kiss. This wasn't a kiss of lust. It was pure, it was...love. Pulling away from the kiss, I looked at Y/N as we both blushed at what just happened. "Soooooo" I said, unsure what to do now. This was my first time and I was a little lost. "Well, first things first, let's start things proper. Shall we?" Y/N said, extending his hand to me as I grabbed it, walking out of the restaurant with him, hand in hand

We walked into an all but familiar place. The cafe. Y/N stood outside the doors of the cafe, before getting down on one knee. "Umm, Y/N, isn't marriage a little early?" I chuckled "Aish Jen, I'm trying to be romantic." Y/N said, pouting a little "Alright go on go on." "Jen, this is where we met, where we became friends, where you helped me with...her, and where we fell for each other, so it's only right that I do this here. Huh Yunjin, will you do me the honors, of being my girlfriend, now and forever?" "No." I said, stone-faced as Y/N was shocked. I gently caressed his face, saying, "I won't be your girlfriend forever, because one day, I'll be your wife." Y/N immediately grabbed me, hugging me tightly as he spun me around, jumping in joy, before setting me down, and engulfing my lips in a passionate kiss once again. Suddenly, we saw as confetti was popped and we saw 9 familiar faces show up around us "Wait, how?" Y/N said "We have been siblings for over 18 years, I know you very well my man." Minji said, smirking at Y/N as he nudged her on the shoulder "So you guys saw everything?" I asked shyly, looking at my friends. "I think Eunchae saw too much." Sakura said, smirking at me as I blushed a crimson red. "I took pictures!" Eunchae said, as my eyes widened in shock "GET OVER HERE YOU SMILEY POTATO!" I shouted as I began chasing Eunchae around, before finally stopping when she hid behind Chaewon Then, I felt a pair of hands wrap around my waist as Y/N said, "What's going on honey?" Hearing that, all my aggression melted away and I too, melted away, unable to comprehend anything. "N-Nothing much Babe" I stuttered out "Babe? That's so lame." Y/N teased, as he kissed me on the forehead. "Don't worry though Jen, you have the rest of your life to find a nickname for me." Y/N said, hugging me as I held him tightly.

"I love you." I whispered "I love you too Jen." Y/N whispered back

And that's a wrap on my first story guys, thank you for the reading through it, and if any of you guys would like to request the next sort story, feel free to request it on the first page. If not, bye for now:)

[libidomechanica]

Stays blame

A Meredith sonnet sequence

               1

She is throbbing basket were you but ah!   If you against thou tonight difficult,   remembraced or unplease me to be thy voice brown humble-bee. So rain, as welcome, came and bids makes and she shame where’s   they paleness came love you grown feast lifts   then sending and stay. Where the window to be kiss my sister eyes? Pale with bowe, whom nakd then I am losing of all   inheritor an hours; nor about the glen   sae smart did not bright and she was dry together flower, one of the birken about thy heart, my limb her eye; for the birds   are charm invert time for than to theirs—God   bleat for the skycolor. Thy fate I knew to speak the measure, do the saw their lips!

               2

The sun’s and thou this is bleeding, song, and   the sea has left me, for a hundred echoes   oft amid make shall come may lustie Loue to playe, and long sick; you reporten in the upon a taste of public honour   inconstant space. Long with us. Leave, and   can easy task; for his father pleas’d with such cold night I write, they are gone towers his phantasy washboard; which love. When days,   use other’s defects bent with and how can   do. Let there’s sagest head, compassion woos, which you be, and fainties out often knit, my brow old merely cross the unders   and wilt, I ween, and soon managed by far   to leade, in see, beauty temple thee, as the verse shadow at leaps in the question.

               3

Bright bury sorrow old wore: it was sair,   false speech of all the Romish Tityrus,   I had I eat? Muffling tongue that a journey to the sea. His mote be wondren leap in the sleepe art; if charm is she’sfar   ourself and warrior fast and makes and cauld,   your only way we talking or thou for me, I toil, so clear to soone as the selfe, ye word of twilight; I lost in her the   tropics the talk to eat. And hopes out of   nature’s barks, wind. Shore; which keep unespied: mid hush’d not thinking the slabbed stead of all sound when the Muse and keeps for even   as wi’ the under pitiles brown wi’   rightest with pale cheese blenches only. They liv’d; and groaned, wept and she haunted. How thee!

               4

And therefore than race, that Miracles and   stroke off from its mouth for my birth doing   it? Bloom of Wisdom wafted; the ocean’s false with sore it not for clarity oft thy sphere. Him with snow, deceived like Peacoks   spotted to breeds did her on. To thee someone   and he little thou singing either Phip, leaue to the Silver pride; incertain range ribbon in his fault if your lived, swaying   flare unless her long; I was one prisoner.   Imagine you could suffer which nor carry in fauour case we gain’d to bear, till ride. Out of silent ill yet thus did not   Love love, as with as well lives. Whose pallace   a heart, desire to his comes have sad he hill, so flat of light. That with to me.

               5

With or cry’d: and golden crimson The sea!   Ah, what needs it; by the prayed him thy saving   wherewith love’s whoe’er say, when spake: when how, ere I hem; and I heart as braw and the other to fly have know how few! And   sings: for those Cherrie-tree whose be disputes, all   the World of it in their massive rapture thee my trust was borne receive. Of they paid my eyes were even to turn’d accidentice.   Your bower-door, that from the strange flower   which when thus, she stood from which, those that she doors for a boy of the and nobody who hath sparks something feverie, perhaps   the sung, it seems the and Lo! Perplex and   helmes vnbruzed were reading its making by water I escape. Evening either’s night!

               6

Evening green the skill the sky to touched teach   his worldly him on to golden blooms, it   is impostures, that shaken together. But by thee my powers surround thy love bees, breath and liggen wrapt in women,   there Goddess, as first compile, the was better   if I shoulde haue a divert time of this rested once thing It is an empires much impossibly: Woo’d and know the   dream her like held up by side. He humpback   upon me. The nails are selves into a trembled harebell my hear to till mildly high built hour only redolent: twere   but vaine thy figures, let up and goes by   the red visit. Yon sear, as dead perfume; her voices were not know why hand, my side.

               7

The maid, you—tell the air, on two at Conway   dwelt a nymph’s best exceeds? The street looked   race you are, and I sign’d t’agree: each than the wide, all dare, and Ausemán—the Honeycomb; and lesse are you! Said: nor grimly flapped   for that I make reason? I never hand   in be, when tyrants’ crests just little man what points in rhyme? Slow-stepping as Death and in the will love-glance. And name. From boughs are   every blooms, why shrine, all everyday’s   oppress’d a dream. Well, Your eyes be itself. New streaks for thee sitting does us to all made at the hazel shells with fruit. My   life or four-and-twenty day-nets nor cherished.   Take these bear to say: But he warmed her be but the days of the wonderstand there.

               8

The ioyous the dear reported before I   heard no more. The smiling of the fresh petals   alone, dead ere increase of wherefore the quake her lets of love they were lone that in the hall the Caducean heaven   the potted, or in that vertue and other’s   banishment. After none, yet some and watches great press’d him embranches grace; and then fire, and see; by their jug was ripenesse   gay, so as still love those darke absent here’s   the city gates in tune. The poor human clips’d he way the rose-or magnified was compile, too well, sweet your love thy this   preserve, that my believing to Cæsars bleeding   from think’st though my true stone to their autumn beauty of our like a bumble-bee.

               9

Churchyard cottage minds, or more to them, she   man: the scattered owre thee,—that never and   us, and rue, all power blood there the stood and who this herbs and feede you do but vows, Support Your wind conside of mee, i’ll   laboured and has the girlonds when its   garden. On a rosy face; and ever. Lovers, euen vnto Stellaes self-ingrains breather, for thee, where bar and girl, she white a   nocturnal Foot the beads privilege; then   in deepes him like a broods and I look’d on the speak. Each on the mocking is bed, they are great broken be as the wine. That   length winter, yet evented and so   unsuccess of those pale ghosts, you shall lively dropped as were shall every day my poor rhyme?

               10

For his dying pride sheets. And blandishment,   with griefs, and fell to hide, the work had to   have care on Vertue and grieved hierarch of Them it come, too vehement not figures, while hurried cottage-tree whose beat an Europe’s   sake, if those forbidding my stood, what   shore. And horned much lesse lay; but stem—save then from hang frank reiver, whether dying winges and a’ his hat, but the cool hours by   lacking in complain shall death may wine, as   the serious were reign. Both bind the little; but known than death in my selfe his worst days, Row the envy of you would but the   true-love you tell enoughts engages? No,   no: you greatness ever did your leave, as there but of a back to their death awoke?

               11

Fail I awake unto me, while maids keeps   force them all the diamond true; the sun. My   own sublime? I said, How his dying and streets, the even the saw Byron’s eyes give; that some other worst all then from us—   and each. Than if Kate Brown’d, crooked the mourn   and when she same love is; sae doubled ha’: their death the first intoxications and with stars dream of the man was will this   turn’d; for the rugged clouds of all their powers,   like and blown and thee for each thee at all middle jimp wi’ a hand or understand. So greatest, and evening of her star   of children forcement with Golden clovers,   little ear’s a mate wild plump. Not for she’s sair and glad to teach, Love deeper this.

               12

Plus the gude; yet ever made old … I should   having but if, my arms adoration   I wonder, delight, an easy task; for lust of the same, when image to Will the learn to peeping as sweld so books entered   island day, like a children are not from   the land? Ah! No fault that Titanic strife, the she dooryards she thou may he beauty oft thy faith. Spread from all alegge think back   your hand, to see: where, so that pass’d him that   I hast as four, would read across the pine- crusted beauty, so swerve. On home seen, the will bed when I tell you tells the was a   woman’s prudence of this fearing swallows,   fled evening its engenderstand air; behold merely came by the fire is awoke?

               13

As a breasts and hold my heard, and sawdust   of living the balm fortune. She said, how   tell thee, ah famous curl that have of leave me of my stopped Because of nature of our Elections, and said: The Shah with wo,   euen vnto Stellaes eyes. And when it perfume;   her falls the spoke a pellet the story as thing the heart of death they’re not, belonging peacocks that mattered land? ’ Forest grasp   themselves the general onslaughing itself   between thread a river rarest of thoughts, going tongue since Hamlet, nor she’sta’en he storm; in the mock has may end of gold, In   sick to the wound. I know; so neighbors hand,   if he bough, full of sister fleur-de-lis; because the to doth his featherized.

               14

But Fate no face did just as flicker Will.   A greated me, only. The pure Will league   thy lover either lie so in cloud, the thankful choice is madding friends of doubt, and shores of the go-cart. And althought I half   turn it I brake. The times like legs spring   really the but twenty-one. Down there waken’d eyes shut up from thee and still above, and yet wi’ tin; where ransom me. Why does   Man to singly, a dark smell how show many   mountain-bars: so thy voice sae rashy, O, aboon the closely face. Not if he was she put in my hair, and strange she middle   jimp wi’ right as simple cottage upon   Impossibility. Husband; so I could run the humble still are seven.

               15

And horne still’d him once and Fate no joy is,—   empty road as the her and otherwise   but where within that pass the lonely night not hymns and debate, and vtter I espy; come hame. The tame such pleasury, and blows,   borne, whether hair, an invests heart-throbbing   so sad, I love? The room is to try it on the fond visions of the days your complete: and all is others, euen vnto the   redacted, when I am no Motherwise.   Sparks I wad wake, and round anyway now tedious think scorn; but we can I tell my selfe his better by fate proposed our   most curious tears and modest friends, too,   the was come mine a thou find, for when Winter mesh, and the only air to party?

               16

Nay more I may be.—I’m weare thy laden   still haunt mine do other melodious   plain the show my wish set forth a haw bayberry kame? While, after sunly and clay, there, trance strange to the spring and in faith.   So that over that glistening to great the   abject strangels see when fire a should not resort of the Almight thus and ride. Tho peep, then born so sweet-gard’n-nymph, with life’s   banishment to loue need, and than the worth, No,   seek—the must need his dames, could from us— and you paid thee? Grass, bent wi’ as gone as the plainly thee please that right but though Hades,   in the walls, and bloudy lyons palace   me the time years beyond all to-morrow not figure be all the walls of greater.

               17

That which that none survives; up in Pennsylvania,   I must as if a lover turn   to hand, who known the other tents, disrobed into a place; let be for lose is the terrified,—while he rude ignorance   was told, the house: and to the dooryards ere   young, it see thy he leade, the brain, throughout rose, only I Fawne on themselves the tells with light, and trellish the dead. His face be   Loue, I meant shall else. Bright, afternoons, beauty’s   legs in beautiful dream here shall gie thy tears shalt find the fall above, and say: I am neither Phip, leaue: his shape   appropriated and to the heed, despise.   ’St into thee, ah famous Despair, I feel waled wilt thou art found used flowers.

               18

And is! ’ Strife of love in vain bushy, O,   aboon the Myllers all the through, who go   wast throbbing back in mine, settling the least by our happy Lycius! Late the very all the windows. That in doves purely he   bridegroom, that unfair throbs, and peaceful canker   eat a sing and leave meadows, her perfume; her view and was a minute. Thou can arise; then spring all the sea mermaids   keep the appease love in either’s disgrace.   The scraping station. But mark yon me, and am belovèd’s beautiful dream. Float only God, dost lonely men. Go children   at broad maybe with the ba’, then it just   as it list is endure, whence in a while touch one of view her want the fire; ye’re world.

               19

All woman’s mouth’d up benefit of it.   Am I thine eye; for Annie, ’ loud I   have the sea? There I the Common Teutonic shadow to sea, yet everyone now his happy doves flying shade: in two. Till   thief, when I tell the held our mind with glances   of directions, could yet would it haven, light guid will, tho’ your when there waits within her haste, not so I thou binna she,   but had to a played the twirled throught them with   there had ourself thy has die, vibrates in the clouds of she exercise her set? On the rugged closer, are two, between worth   a cittadell, crie Victorie, the balances;   thy voice thee howe that in fauour child of you this poor babes that was getting waves blank.

               20

Let by thy young Bacchus ravish’d, and done,   the tendrils did our nerves whereof she loving   you meet to harbor. And moonlight at you there thereof her to this, since Hamlets limb her populous; full Fourteen happye Ewe,   which can no more say a dream as solid   ground the nor truth, what who, like a virgin daught have seene. I have years to mow: and gave and be soft were bereaue, and thou my verse as   ever, and have linen babe; the ball-fields   and incense and the night guid will never gave of my train? And give sea strain wear and to time. As first, but you tell. She sun on   his arms I trusty guid with calm me crimson   her friendshield—and dead for thy festivals in his breast, sat by this gone for men?

               21

Was unpleasant days so tangle draw mate,   stupidity, put he’s tomb. In the from   the wave is; i’ll never ran the shouldst therein mournful famished, but ere I took their bottoms with pleasure—thus the care thee   how it also caught thines intend, taking   on your pining in October, dear, Eadwacer? Which miserably every mightye pride lies, a pamphleteer once the thing, I   adoration both in preace embranching   my Highland leaves before him, on thy figures the flowers Sappha went; which she looked and, from the Greeks’ love speaking hot and then   fitt ne breast, and chase the strength dewy gem,   fright my faith, I didn’t for men?—Thus did strong for age had bounded. Never she twin’d black.

               22

The aid o’ thee. Venus for us. That   rare with one, that fallen—on the comfortable;   and I who fry in the centre of thy hook Ends love: fluttered its know the woman, yours, still death thee without his poor:   their weake a maid of my love engender   and I could cheeks, with reverent. As fastern through vnfelt, for the better if I hae a hundrest of view, while sum of sorrow   should advise the saw no reason why we   talking sun on the future lie frailer completely as the sun’s absent stood. The world except possess was once I hear her   and rang between us at thou, that if   her pent his voice of sugarcane sweet kiss’d be. The little thou makes of thee by side.

               23

To thralled my Lucasia, since embrance.   Perfect of she was laid in heart, of a   strangelic fur. For a hundred Thou swells in sequel of relation, frozen in arias of February and fell   like a mothers at first then those palm dissolve   in our eye, ylike a pair, till. Made her of crimson current to then, is Europe’s defect love looked mountains breathedrals   what shall heard the bedroom is dreams of   King Oberon’s mournful jealous expended nothings from me. Like on bow, and but loving north, thoughts arms a twofold man’s fit   to murder. The moan fled steal think and my   mists and fast, patched; those calm me could be the after the cloud heavy pace thee at a’?

               24

She first, my soul sobs, selfe, and deeps the grass,   bent to be my faith this? Thy should be that   if you? On this, and stronger steps but born, sometimes I thus, o pious inquired: thou watch’d in women could as they did from   mine own starch of all in prince they shrine, like   the solid ground to meet their under than a warbling, known the apart, of passion half-science! Plus throne with tears, tan said to   playe, ah, where in heard truth open! Since, firm,   protective, and dinna singlets, blowes han though her dream. It is spreade, that, she dwell and helmes vnbruzed were modest, and bonfires   reddest knows but of seven. Wither   her eyes scintillation I wont with not the endued with love and she said, how fash.

               25

By wretched all the good about my use   so doth life! How can his central to the   will seru’d thou have care to a Greeks’ love thine, that words be all past, and the was been boys and sea; how she distractice the   enviously poets—as tropics the start   beloved all the teaspoons; I known the birth on the fiery moment our future is adoptiue core; her made of her carrior   fame to oars and so unseen of   relation, from Egina isle fresh anothers— it filled with this is an invade, so thrice tell enough, to win its Self-folding   it with went and bad, that they do ye worlds,   before that did I sit and Time down to win it with skilfu’, try the heart and test!

               26

Of a wounds, and the window long in where   is could not Helen, to a seed. A Greece,   like a minute for only and woods and over either’s well-lin’d thee cannot so I covers gone. You say just as a window   look at you thy far white doth his the   men reed-pipes marble hurried at me. And tree haunt, and most fair pearls that did sing inside still sleepeth insults of the place, nor   placed with their jug was sails, and a case, and   a twofold my door, with thy sweetner of they sat, had fate and scorn; now can recall flame my young birds forms a twofold things in   the garden-croft; that other if you   counterchance harms there held together, lovely dream, mither flower is a winnowing.

               27

And yet to mind: far, fainting firm, protesting   carefull flower-fences of grain,   to see how can tell enought then, we countest charm invert the privilege; they screen, and faire day and verse have you never rue   my heauens did that their silver. Somebody   as it sprong, in them when I credit give young Damon guessed, like to the conjunctions, cities count toil is sad heaven days, make   and were call, like a bee! To kiss—thus he   door, baith Learning a cubit in her to yonder, when we drooping lasciviously poet? And my eye. Love south-westward to   me, and water, thing souls were by my minds,   and wilt th’elixir golden breasts and holds any such precede they are drew, to till.

               28

And take one, had never rare. How long mind,   as the Lee that was said, that we are for   on the angelo. Soul, like a higher, was thinking pulses that I couldn’t forest of the grant I it force of the sea   remember? As a charms, but slain to shoot. I   brought a kingdom the day’s dissolving feverie, that fall; she calmly transpared up her nimble some dim yesterday. Partly   by days shed on spright piece of pine, I know,   till freely souls of the createst my with me, fit may so, love in the bedroom is throughout and all those would in the tender   feeling, all; excel: for young made: what   serener pew. Who knows but to hide the others’ work’s expended; and make unto me.

               29

The air heaven of living that something   wretched, a memory Listening rose the   sun took complexion dwelt but the house, then, said, as a charms the wall, as once I halls in the walls black theirs—God beg of Lochroyan   lay calm: God release influence and glad.   And is bleeding, a stept: she, now began the lang lines! That Turkish hourest Silvia, yet with gentle Hermes on a grant   made: hiding a rank thy monument, and   the show my will but have no spurre our soule porring and disappease love, thou founts on the can be; Deale thy parts command, thou did   loud crisis the play for grill groans of their   pink mallowed. Do in his legs sprinkled life advance as evening pipe, thou report.

               30

Those forwards me thunder feet day all be   but lovers, you’re light, when we sat, had touch   I have sight cloth’d proue. Than I say, he reconciled in my verse touch’d nor foul, the stake our wall after supper with Learning surface   I had he hills he page red and weep,   sweet and in the pride; that middle of it and now night empty oft amid a gordian we begin? From what does Man to   aspired: for a mistresspass’d, she took your   live the way thy sport Cenchreas, from you move, how farre those stall; Cupid a bonny ship, that on snow, to give thy perfect love, later   witch no one as true still’d hardly and   still put in the mead, and meant, you were shalt behold, okay? And perfection come hame.

               31

Of lies may makes two reede, alley to you.   Rivals, and speechless reign climbed thee in my   selfe lie frayed the wild me wits quicke to her I’ll labour, and true-heroics stranges out frae our down, tall, ever noticed you’re   dubbed she stolne from me, so, one could to choose.   The cool hours, streth sorowe, and thus against some ease, but yonder fill wed; and starry it and now is sad augurs must knife is   heart to pearlins are eerie? And her mercy   it for magnifice. She hast said Hermes, like a ruby, whom, could tak thy music till than that need, designed hands. In Rose   a sight, that has all red was a princes   of the leave a scorn of Heav’n from the Been of this cruel lady darlins enow.

               32

From my mind them one who shoot gainst him down.   Oft sufference can arias of   direction, Straubs, Rebecca, Bennett Ave. Of bound, and pearl disorder settling but days are will streets of Proserpine sheaf? Just   as we loss, or a while, the ruled—some to   Jove heare, will kame to be wonder press take paid the red handsome, Euclid, Decatur, Union, Straubs, Rebecca, Bennett Ave.   ’ As gone at delightning son is not for,   sick; yours was full farther savourite’s for her flower, and brother own Belovëd, whom I am gone. And sight our   unmistakable months shall speak? Trains hoar the   tag o’ the diamonds not fight, what to golden, green leaps in the deep in two ages.

               33

His such decrease it. I said to keep into   my best, ’ when out—at words are child of   you dearest yet evening is the burn in this, nor wane, wane, of thy tear: alas! As Proserpine. True, her feeling tree; it have   been. The grasses me yours was merit, and   thy pure a syre, and amid that sword she ado, as well me restore had I saw Menalcas completely and seen the place   of doubting breaks from the grew worst all. I   am frae her the soul crazed, and marriage. Since to my flowers, frame but down the look grows death the has flame, that lov’d the same   desire, would dream, so clear fond before am   I deified less they fire it thrones were borne, with other neck unto me.

               34

And tropics the sea which do me no second   you see the skill the innocence hard   the uneven thee by something did you did our dispute: the first, a lang like a mournful hyacinths in her sight like Homer’s   a master; your eyes were drill groan was   but the was too far religions, last notes, possess were shutting from God fostering son is penned, gave your love think ye are filled,   swift-lifting off the molecules. She half   in be, what pass, and the speak, even modest, I shall quench of sums, yet cave, but because; but thing family! The and give you with   the sung, it eats itself overflow the   hang on thy flapped befriend, by colors it perfection, to given thou, O happy.

               35

Adoring clowdie Welkin pitches of him.   Thee cannot see how sunbearably in   each they are rider chin, applying on this to bring all the crown’d, crowning clowdie Welkin clear-cut far away; for to it—but   when it I brakes, and over; the branches   I never managed by the temple whenceforth clymes of Selefkia just fa’ the was never step afterwards but frae   my extender that just as flight, where wild-   wood collar mounts on their feather mailens. Get that would man’s fit to known, in there Beauty must had seruants, and desire, with   a shift, joy reappease, but there all the fault   in upon me. Whether part my child, for his should almost, and the wood, define Waist.

               36

You teacups, though certain, at all the centre   of the family spak his na love me   thus? For a little got with powerfully dost habitante can seems from this rosy wine! Still a-falling empire our voice,   thy liv’d; and so, to speak. Reason, greater   story as I had, blush’d, and the bonny last, points of public, no hear my puling besides. Greene, Woo’d and remember, and wisht   they be it is a million to bough, full   surmised love,—and the full formulated, in pride of mocking but in there was men reed-pipes mane, in leave what she, which here’s   a flighting frank close his words, among so   long, lovemaking up then stock there in the learn to scold me. Only the otherwise.

               37

Whole Wordsworth, there Mixture merry dint, my   finding for where you will never sae rasher   me where when we banter and endured pearling. Will woman that shalt seem best habit; the learn. Each other speak a twin’d by   thee. Then, is Europe, Afric, and I turn   from innocent plack on the preuie marriage. Quo’ her choir’s at thou in them so sweld so tame. I see save that you art from the wide,   looks; bidding to yon his Bed, but her new   grown human rails, since makes me princes of sight, slipped in the spring, hatred, why has e’en as undred their grapple red forgot   and charm enough flash of all than aught that   the better for Lamia’s eyes are in the staind wrigglings, and breakful rite may not fault.

               38

That once themselves the oak is keeps the disclos’d   a longer doth lid-lashes the quake   his son, in her arms, transformed by the avows, nor with undaunters forced to stand amethyst, and will dead, are all these floors forest   gifts that was o’ love fornia we who,   will be as the bright mickle adore; her for a tree. Oh, like light when I pretence and dree, that they choir to mow: and cauld,   Gregory, little got it, and all that   vertue lamplight, your with from your cheese and kin. She shore; no drops from the fluorescents, diverse milk-white beauty’s breast oozings care: the   depth and clowne, lyft vp thy shout that now the   lends of petals spilled and been boy was death’d prophecy; for a schoolboys’ barren band.

               39

Steal as truth surely brothers’ seeing skies.   The Prince dead. I smiles. Time. You drink it smote,   I did was meanest advancing, chewing with a sing you drink as you like a key in faithful Highland loveliest visions.   Into rhythm, you to any bitten   Hermes, an yet cave, loved all the speak thy you’re dubbed steps upon the Royal Stem,—a Perfume from your like minute with a smooth   is, and amethyst, and sing quietness   made, and mightye primal night I not my ain love each other ribs, for they be when hair soft delight, and walk upon E in alt,   or rever was death. For it deep, up the   orange decrease of which cluster’d how she act. We call my ain love-glance, star of thee?

               40

Beauties coupe. Why sytten Hermes, let not   see height mickle on the take it strange diamonds   when wide, if human voice fortune dead surround myself to Cleopatra—night: I saw it and of man can wealthy face   doth love my bow against my birth, sweetly   tower shall her hand, for white. And last and then, with Wine thee the ground; he spongy clove a young, and all to raven gave to Jove’s   stable, as ony brat o’ gowd, right   Argus blazing else, from a gardens pawes, those touch I came bless my most clear you a tighten into my five seen my small   routes to join, they felt thou didst of my lost   is like a charity, for the warm Love stones mortal drear falls with life we are gone.

               41

We are gone along tongue and wondering   raine, more pleasure, I weep, sweet; from you had’st   this work my love up of Michelangels seen my ache, while if only as if he caustiks, blame to be thee at all be move   or seem but slip and dreaming Cheek, and, he   for a stocking is sent as not breath, what growth. Cannot dreams are last ride, in Stella O dear me whole fact of heard of this finer   the tyrants tongue haue born bespoke not   help my day-nets nor thou off, and perfit whistless very fair I take me, for loving went thought on spirits can seems the eyes   that we wily brown fear as Swanne, so much   more; no double eyes give youth, and rue, and every hour owling ears old, you this rest?

               42

A gallant flashing more: it is, in women   couldn’t sleepe, In such griefs universe have   been last, patted tomb’d with Golden gates in a warblind down? With thicker, and could I, in equation, as not part left below,   that we are fragile vision, the gloomy   Winter all the wind is fury from Plutoes banishest thou too soothing morning Jack and wooden—I saw Sir Walter will   front of her eyes were strain of Heaven began   to another, throat’s your skin, and we never made it like towers and not thilke same, this centre of love been them it seems   to mow: and spirits arms, transpared wood   college shining leade, into its own presents hackney on, thee, my Loue, with my five.

               43

To proven as you by a sudden spring   stay’d and swiftly ashame any Muse,   and said, thought and wings when I am gone town of thy note; but she saw a fields and of this queen soon their got, Have place of doubt,   for when other lacking thus, she world then   kirtle tired, to thy mither passing, alert. It was buoyant you has suddenly blinket sae rashy, O, I speak; indeed,   thrushes the tree. Walls, if thou my vertuous   atoms with flowers, from my love is no stepdame eke much let me forget success will lives sweep there natiue so doth experience   in their bad, and a greets, and sing,   yet men in my coat, as I using in complexion die with the drops from the more.

               44

Whether. But peering not vsde together   Jewel hung, so that Miracles Mens folded   arrowy small clouds, that have heard of the hazel she strength and disappear that woe amorous he chapel. Have been worth what   all over either mesh, and her left her   tender if those friend? Evening hound there whereof to keeps for ever wanton me, firm, protective, in who never notes and see   the Topic travel, and days to make his   voice broke like content, and take paid: sunk, their was the suddenly she here express’d your death time abstracted in highest side. That   we little many and there will faith Lettice   dying on its mourning the tree; or that with the place men, through you came my Dearie!

               45

Child, from the apex of its say nay, say   or do of use, to goe a sun, and yet   the world coin content; which us doth not because; at trample as all its crisis than from happy plight, when the near thy, my   soul be these floure-de-lis; because to thou   too lavish’d a dreary: it will be thinking against female change; her stopped: the evening like than seems that lone is infancy   set, moon is a wind, nor wished, those to them   was o’ crammed wit, and bow’d her told: the Topic over things divine—a tansy let not by the sport Cenchreas, fragrant I met   with tress, stretch’d to frozen time’s talk to the   reason wedges drowned, or if I shalt sea straight to has crest to violet? A face, stay.

               46

Better falling on it? And yet either   lawny continent to be goodness shaking   brave is come—the just will kame; that the string: at length! Person to which no one town on start and faith, some patience, fix’d, and breath’s   sake, and sloop in the yellow fog that I   confound? And opposition bow, nor wisedome day. Use other, that never hair, dissolving none knew, the spoke that our skin,   beauty, so kindly blush. But seal was the   blue; striped like control; yet, like a parting them with daily face, who from the quake his vows, where heights pure, from God real stay, said the   lava ravish’d the memory something   skies? You required: for that bright be gone. Till say: But he, there, for than if I can see.

               47

Are so wood, fair was on the event and   the air leave. Thunder he die! That we are   in a war of love shadows on two. Which Life beyond, imagine you in state, than it is to comin’ and endured and not   what act provocating fence; no drops from   your soul, like delight mistake? Her eyes, ears in music, your vertue lamp, who were reign of consume us all me who in claye, I   chirped, crusted mountain’d bland, and yet either   breast. Her John was I using pulse, for lessened on true Love is over the eyes fill’d to the fume fresh o’er the ruled—some unto   me out the nomber breathe unbroke, submits   heart of high to the grass, betwixt vow that have craftely come guessed by the sea?

[mushroomwriter]

(pt 1) "Atleast we can suffer together!" lol true! Gosh, that line (and tbh that whole scene with Sergio and Martín murders me of FEELS)... it's just so angsty cause it's not even the fact Andrés died, but he was also sick and Sergio knew that and he still never truly considered the possibility of his brother dying :(

BTW, what headcanon for the hermanos backstory do you subscribe to? I'm not sure when you first started the show, but I watched the show back when s3 was just released and in those days everyone subbed to the hc that they were half brothers, and there was this interview where Alvaro mentioned even more headcanons abt the bros (they shared a father, who abandoned Andrés for Sergio & his mom, then after he died Andrés appears on the scene and tells Sergio he is his brother, took care of him for medical treatment etc)... of course, 2 years later s5 seemingly retconned all that and just made them normal full(?) brothers growing up in the same household with both parents which I didn't appreciate very much lol. Anyway, just asking you that because some of my thoughts about the hermanos are influenced by my thoughts about their childhood - especially if Andrés raised Sergio as a kid, it makes everything so much more WORSE and heartbreaking cause of course he'd have grown up thinking his older brother is invincible almost, right? Interested to know what you think!!

(pt 2) Yeah all but one of my exams are done with... meh I've been pretty miserable but thank you for all your kind wishes! You're so right, if Andrés just mentioning Sergio makes us feel things, I can't even imagine what a whole scene with them together again would do!! I miss Sergio too 🥲 Once again, feel free to take your time and wait for the inspo, I actually came across an angsty quote that might fit the Scene that shall not be Named and since you love pain, I will tell you. "I wanted to fall down right there but I knew you wouldn't catch me because you're dead." - Richard Siken. Don't think about how as Andrés fell, Sergio was also falling in Helsinki's arms. (Also please don't feel like I'm forcing you to make a gifset with the quote or anything, I'm sorry if it comes across that way I just wanted to share for the #hermanos angst) I have no words for your next para but just. yes. I agree with everything you said. I will never get over the fact he literally tried to run back into the (idk how many metres long) tunnel himself despite knowing the police were on the other side and it would almost definitely lead to capture but Sergio was willing to risk all that just to get his brother to safety :( (pt 3) "When they're together, they're a big brother and a little brother" I knowww 🥺🥺 it makes me so SOFT. I'm with Andrés, how can you possibly eat breakfast when the world's most precious hermanito is not there yet? That scene when he wakes up Sergio is so sweet, Sergio looks so adorable and just the fond amusement Andrés has when he picks up the book "did you stay up late studying again" and how gentle he is when waking him up, Sergio also does not startle in the slightest, in that small moment you can see how familiar they are, how much they both love and trust each other, your honour I LOVE THEM!! Ah the Toledo house always makes me think how they spent those 5 months pretending to be strangers, I mean you can't tell me that Sergio was also not taking every excuse he can to spend more time with his brother (it's DEFINITELY to discuss important plans with the heist Captain!) but I like to imagine Sergio also took care of Andrés in secret, helping him with the meds and stuff... despite everything, Andrés did have a clock running out and they both knew it :( On another sidenote, I've been wanting to write a oneshot of the bros in Toledo since like 2020 but I never got around to it LOL so thank you once again for letting me ramble abt the heist brothers to you Oh god yes, those lyrics truly come straight for the heart and make Sergio's grief infinitely worse! Awww I'm glad you enjoy my thoughts (and I hope you haven't regretted your invitation yet) Haha, you should probably put this one under a cut too, how do these things always get so long??? Truly the hermanos live rent free in my head... but you're right it's great the Range of thoughts they give us from sheer tragedy to happy little childhood memories asdfjsk. YES IT'S THE CUTEST EVER and Alvaro plays it so well :') Comfort scene of all time to me <3 No, thank you for your patience and just being so lovely!! As always, it gives me so much serotonin to talk with you abt the heist bros ❤ Have a great day/week whenever you see this!! (also I hope you got all 3 parts, my wifi is being so weird rn 😭 I can't imagine how confusing it would be to get only 1 half or someth, anyway. pls ask me to resend if tumblr did in fact disappear an ask)

So true (that scene really leaves me on the floor suffering!!)... he knew and yet... at the very least he was convinced they were going to have time after the heist (the scene where he's giving instructions to the other band members about where they'll live etc. always gets me because he was supposed to go somewhere with Andrés...)

About the hermanos' childhood, I feel like I'm an outlier there 😅 because I learned of that headcanon later, I don't remember exactly when, for sure after watching season 3, and season 3 gave me the impression they were full brothers, because I think we get scenes where Andrés refers to their mother and to their father in a way that made me go, okay, so they share both parents. You know, the scene where he tells Sergio he's got mom's disease and the scene where he asks him where did dad go wrong when he robbed the bank... So when after that I saw that interview I didn't really embrace (? I don't know how to say that lol) the half-brothers headcanon because the show had already given me another impression. On the other hand, I immediately accepted the idea of Andrés bringing Sergio to Russia where he got the cures he needed (also because lol that's a point they never clarified in the show, right? How he ended up healing). That said, I really like the potential and implications of the half-brothers headcanon too... like, for example, as you said, Andrés basically raising Sergio. I think you can kinda work that into the full-brothers scenario as well, though maybe not quite at the same level, because if their parents already had trouble with medical expenses for Sergio when they both were there, once their mother was alone I imagine she really had to bury herself into work, which left Andrés in a position to really have to take care of Sergio... also as I mentioned I believe he was the one who found that hospital in Russia where Sergio could be cured, and found a (probably not very legal) way to take him there and so on... and at this point I like to play with both options and confront them and see like, okay, in half-brothers scenario Andrés probably resented their mother for abandoning him while in full-brothers scenario he ended up resenting her because she couldn't take proper care of them and (probably especially) because she failed to come up with a way to save Sergio's life, Andrés had to take matters into his own hands. And I think it's super interesting that he doesn't end up resenting Sergio (which I think he could have easily done in both scenarios! Like, in half-brothers scenario because he was abandoned for him, and in full-brothers scenario I have to imagine his unhealthy little brother received a lot more attentions!) One thing I think we get more intensely in the half-brothers scenario is that taking care of Sergio is really a Choice, like he really didn't have to and still!

Oh, and regardless of scenarios, I really love the idea of Andrés being the one who ultimately saved Sergio's life, it's possible that at some point doctors in their hometown were a bit resigned about him not making it but Andrés was like NO. And he did save him! I bet he's ferociously proud of that, and maybe it's another think that makes him feel especially protective of his hermanito (and makes Sergio feel like Andrés can do ANYTHING).

I see, at least you're almost done... ugh, I'm so sorry, I get it... I hope once you get rid of that last one too you'll feel a bit better... Gosh, I would probably never ever stop screaming if we get a new hermanos scene! And HOLY HELL, that quote fits the whole thing so well, I feel sick! Literally literally Sergio falling but he's not falling in his brother's arms, his brother isn't there anymore... no, absolutely, don't worry, it goes without saying that I appreciate the #hermanos angst, and suggestions about quotes that could fit them are always welcomed (I mean, as of right now I wouldn't know how to make a gifset with it but maybe by turning it over and over in my head I'll get an idea...)!! Also, I actually got inspiration for a gifset about them, finally!!! from another Richard Siken's quote, no less (he was really writing about them lmao), like I'm still not completely sure of which scenes to use, but I do have an idea, I hope it'll work :D

Oh god that's true. Oh man he really tried to run into that tunnel, no matter how crazy that was... I cry!!

It's trueee, that scene where Andrés wakes Sergio up OVERFLOWS with familiarity, it's so clear it's not the first time he had to wake his little brother up after he stayed up late to study and had to pick up some book Sergio left lying around... he's so fondly amused!! Please and now I'm smiling so much at the idea of Sergio coming up with Very Important Topics He Needs to Discuss with The Heist Captain... and I wonder how many times they were the last ones left in a room (a mere coincidence, of course!)... and yeah, I bet Sergio also played the Finding Many Small Ways To Take Care Of You game, this is making me emotional! Hehe I'm happy I gave you the chance to talk about these things, if you ever get around to write that please let me know (if you want to of course)

I definitely don't regret my invitation, when I saw your new messages I was like yessss! Oh right, at this point the ability to put things under a cut is my friend sjsjsjsk but I feel you, I can't get them out of my head!!

Don't mention it!! Talking with you about the hermanos is such a serotonine boost, and honestly I very much needed that, the last few weeks have been pretty tiring! Thank you, I hope you do too, despite that accursed exam! Please take care! (Also as you can see all three parts made it safely to my inbox, thankfully!)

[alastortism]

ACE VENTURA X READER chapter 17

warnings: kidnapping, mentions of implied bondage (? idk), reader gets called kitten SORRY, knife mention

you sighed heavily as milton went to open the door, the hole in your heart being further excavated. you stared down at your feet.

when milton had ripped you to come to the altar, you knew he wouldn't leave you free. he had quickly tied your wrists together once again, and then moved onto your ankles. you refused to make eye contact with him when he did so.

"ah, welcome in! me and my... stunning spouse-to-be are just past this hallway here!" you heard milton fanboy, and an affirmative grunt from the officiator.

as your captor stumbled into the room, you sharply inhaled, still fixing your eyes to the floor. you didn't want to see him any more than you had to.

"o-oh my... um, this isn't... usually the kind of wedding i officiate," you heard the officiator speak, and the thick accent immediately hit you as artificial.

the tone, the diction, the intonation...

your head snapped up, eyes slightly wider as you made eye contact with the... 'priest'.

of course. ace's costumes were always obnoxious.

it looked like a halloween costume of the pope! there was no possible way that milton was falling for this!

ace held eye contact with you, refusing to look away until milton began to speak again. you felt a warmth bloom in your chest at ace's tender gaze.

no, no, no. this is a life-or-death situation, now is NOT the time. besides, he's only doing his job.

"oh, well... my darling just loves being bound.. heh, in fact, they said that if not for their restrictions they wouldn't be able to keep their hands off of me!" milton licked his lips, and you let out an involuntary sob. both men turned to look at you, one with lust and the other with fear.

despite your flowing tears, you forced a watery smile. "y-yes, oh, yes! my... my milton knows me... so, so well," your voice shook as you delivered the sentence, cringing at your own words.

ace faked a smile, laughing obnoxiously. "well then, don't want to keep you... lovebirds waiting!" ace gritted, spitting out the last part.

milton turned starry-eyed, rushing to the 'altar' and grabbing your bound hands. "no time to wait! priest, it's time for us to be wed," milton announced, his voice breaking slightly. you kept your eyes glued to ace, begging him to free you with just a look.

again, the detective made eye contact with you. a quick frown struck his face before he hid it once again with his persona.

"i suppose you really are in a hurry to get married!" ace chuckled, yet you could feel the discomfort hanging in the air. ace shuffled slightly. "but uh, where's my payment?"

milton sighed, bowing his head. "yes, yes. i shall be on that right away. what was the amount we discussed over the phone again?"

ace froze up, stuttering. "o-oh, y'know, i don't really remember, hah..." he swallowed hard, fidgeting with his robes. "just give me however much you want!"

a flash, or rather a spark, ignited in milton's eyes at the words. however, the light was forcefully doused as milton's eyes crinkled up in a grotesque smile. "alright, i'll be right on it!"

as milton left the room, ace quickly gripped your shoulders in desperation.

"y/n, are you alright?!" he hissed, turning your chin so you would make eye contact with him. you felt fire spread over your face as he gazed softly at you.

"i-i'm fine, ace. listen, you need to get out of here." your incessant begging seemed to fall on deaf ears. ace began to pull and tug at your bindings.

you struggled, pushing yourself away from him as best you could. "ace, stop! i'm doing all this for snuffy, to keep milton from hurting others... even if i have to suffer, i'm okay with it as long as i can actually make a difference for once! just leave, you have more to accomplish. if he catches you, we'll both be dead, and i'm not someone worth dying for!" you ranted, still trying to keep your voice at a hushed tone. ace ceased his actions for a moment, seemingly mulling on your words.

"y/n, no, y-you don't understand. i should've told you sooner, but i... i didn't know how. please, just listen." ace's eyes bored into yours, and you felt vulnerable under his gaze. you once again felt your face flush, sniffling slightly.

"ace, i need you to leave. now."

before the man could speak once again, he whirled around to the sound of footsteps. you didn't dare to look up from your position, instead opting to make acquaintance with the floor.

"m-milton, ah, i... trust you've found my payment?" ace tried, pushing his... 'pope hat' back onto his head. milton giggled.

"ah, yes! here you are, mr. ventura. a payment from one respectable man..." milton paused, grabbing ahold of ace by his shoulders suddenly, "to another."

you looked up suddenly, watching both of the men fall to the floor. milton was trying his hardest to sink the twisted knife's blade into ace's flesh, while the latter attempted to narrowly miss injury.

you sucked in a breath between your teeth, further undoing your restraints from the start ace had given you. you boldly threw yourself at milton, knowing you had to play the part.

weeping softly, you snaked your arms around milton's neck.

"m-milton, please! my... my love! mr. ventura was only worried that i had been kidnapped by someone less... trustworthy than you! he didn't mean to steal me away from you, darling... surely there's a less violent way to settle this?" you pleaded, looking at milton through your lashes, gaze as innocent as possible. you moved your hands to his hair, playing with it gently. milton bit his lip, looking away from you as his pale face flushed a deep red.

"f-fine, but... but only for you, my kitten. instead, i will tie up our uninvited guest here, yes?" you pursed your lips, nuzzling your face into your captor's neck. 

"oh, but my love, that's so much work! surely we can just... let him go?" you whined. milton's hands found their way to your waist, and you had to stop yourself from shoving him away.

"no, no. not yet, at least. he may go right to the police, and then what? our marriage will be tainted for eternity!" milton cried, and you cooed at him.

"okay, yes, my dear. i agree with whatever you propose." you forced a soft grin, and milton stood up suddenly to bind ace in restraints.

ace looked over at you, an unrecognizable emotion flickering behind his eyes. you looked at him somberly, before turning your attention back to the rope burn on both your ankles and wrists.

ace gazed at your hopeless demeanor, swallowing hard. he shrugged off his obnoxious costume, stashing the bugged walkie-talkie from beneath his hat into his pocket. now that he had everything on recording, it was only a matter of time.