#and if I do the Ready Or Not wedding dress which version of it is the most recognizable?

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for making my sister change before we went to our cousin’s wedding?

Right, so I (25f) am currently guardian for my sister (16f) because her school is nearer where I live than our parents. She lives with me, sees our parents at weekends/holidays and stuff. My parents pay me rent for her staying here, covering living expenses and stuff. So, my sister and I have a bit more of a parental figure/child relationship than a normal sibling one. We’re chill most of the time, but she’s really annoyed with me over this, and I’m questioning whether I did the right thing.

So, our cousin (31m) was getting married last month, and he and his new husband wanted to have quite a relaxed wedding. What they did specify though was that people should be in “whatever formal attire was most comfortable for you” on the invitations.

I asked my sister if she wanted to come do wedding attire shopping (be that a dress or a suit or whatever) with me, but she said that she already had what she wanted to wear and that she was good. So, I assumed that she had picked something that fit with the theme, because well it’s a broad theme hard to mess up, and didn’t pry further.

When we were getting ready to go though, she came out of her room in what can only be described as Japanese schoolgirl style lingerie. It was a little “dress”, more like a camisole really. It was dangerously short, quite sheer and tbh the whole dressing up as a sexified version of a schoolgirl outfit thing is deeply repulsive to me, so I was not impressed.

I told her that it was a formal event, not a clubbing night, and that she needed to wear something else. She started on about how our cousin said we could dress in whatever we were most comfortable in, to which I replied that I didn’t believe she was comfortable in that outfit to begin with and that he said whatever FORMAL attire we were comfortable in. He meant not to enforce the gender binary, not have people in “pedo-bait lingerie.”

I admit that “pedo-bait lingerie” was a bit too harsh on my end, but I mean really what other reason do they make lingerie like that? Its no different to the “sexy schoolgirl” outfits they make of Western school uniforms, I’m not going to give it a pass because they’re sexualising pre-teens from a different culture. But we didn’t really have time for a philosophical discussion about the ethics of sexy schoolgirl costumes and calling it “pedo-bait lingerie” was poor wording on my part. I didn’t mean that she was attempting to bait in pedos, but that is what she took from that.

Anyway, we got into a fight about whether clothes are inherently sexual or not which was very stupid and went on for far too long, before I said “it doesn’t matter if its inherently sexual or not, the invitation says formal and showing up in that is only going to cause a scene and take the attention away from [cousin and fiancée] on their wedding day, and you don’t want the memory of their wedding to be tainted by people talking about how you kept accidently flashing people, do you?”

At that point she stomped off, and came back wearing a dress she’d worn to our brother’s graduation and then we went to the wedding. She avoided me the whole wedding, and our mother ended up calling me the day after to ask for my side of the story, because my sister had told her that I had slut shamed her and forced her to change. After I explained, our parents are on my side, but idk they do lean more conservative so getting outside opinions would be appreciated.

AITA?    

What are these acronyms?

[divinesolas]

Hello!

Could you do Aemond and his wife having sex for the first time?

Theres a first time for everything

Summary: Your wedding was beautiful after weeks of pining after each other. You and Aemond are now standing alone in his bedroom.

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Fem!Reader

Warnings: not proofread, fingering, loss of virginity, p in v, nsfw, talk of pregnancy

A/n: Thank you for the request, I'm still not very confident in my smut but i hope you enjoy!

The prince slams the door shut behind him as he finally enters the room. You were allowed in first to take off the extravagant dress and hair they had put you in today. You know sit in front of the mirror, taking out the must be hundreds of pins that are laid in your hair.

He stares at you freeze and look at him in shock. Silently he moves towards you and begins picking the pins out of your hair, moving yours hands out of the way so he could do it alone. "My prince..." You're breathless. Seeing you are alone with him suddenly causes weeks of teasing, scandalous letters that would cause your mother to faint, generous gifts all from him all catch up to you and your face burns.

"My prince-" He shushes you as he continues to pull pins from your hair, "Not yet, Ñuha ābrazȳrys." (My wife)

He's clearly holding himself back, his hands shaking slightly which causes them to struggle with the pins. There you sit, beautifully in front of the mirror the only thing covering you is a white silk nightgown. It hides nothing of your figure and when he sees your nipples harden he groans.

He has done nothing but deny himself from what he truly wants for weeks now. The days leading up to today were the worst, all he wanted to do was drag you to an empty room and take you but he didn’t, and that would only make tonight better.

He pulls out the last pin and suddenly you stand to face him, “my prince-” He slams his lips against yours in a hurry, swallowing any words you had as he runs his tongue against yours. You are taken off guard, the calm, collected, patience Aemond seems to be gone in this moment and all that is left is a disheveled, hungry version of himself. His hands grope at your breasts and you whine, “My prince-” “Say my name.” One hand remains on your breast while the other trails below and under your dress. “Say it.” He runs finger along your slit and he lets out an oddly animalistic sound when he finds you bare. 

You moan loudly, “Aemond.”  He slips one finger in, then another, pumping them in and out. All you can do is moan and press your head into his chest, the straps of your nightgown fall down your arms leaving your chest exposed. He leans his head down and wraps his lips around one of your nipples, the hand thats not inside you plays with the other nipple. The simulation is too much and your walls tighten around his fingers, “Are you about to cum Ñuha ābrazȳrys?" (My wife) You nod frantically but he pulls away. 

You whine as the nightgown hits the ground, “Aemond….” He frantically moves to strip himself of all his clothing before pulling you towards the bed and laying you down and climbing on top of you. He kisses you and sticks his fingers back into you. You moan as he kisses along your jaw and down your neck leaving marks in his wake. “Please Aemond.” He smirks, “please what?” you whine as his fingers slow, “no..” “Please what?” “Please make me cum.” Satisfied, he brings his other hand to your clit and rubs you until you climax. You pant as he stares and smiles, “are you ready for me wife?” He’s teasing you but you can't seem to care as you nod. “Please.” 

“You sound so pretty when you beg Ñuha jorrāelagon (my love).” 

He lines himself up and pushes into you, it hurts and you struggle to relax as you can tell he’s clearly holding himself back. Once the pain subsides you tell him he can move, he gives you a hesitant look but you nod and kiss him. He smiles into the kiss as he moves his hips slightly before moving them more frantically motivated by your moans. 

You're seeing stars as he begins to move more aggressively, “Aemond.” you moan. “You want me to cum, you want me to fill your womb with child, watch you swell knowing it was me that out the babe in there.”  You only can moan louder, “Answer me pretty wife.” “Yes!” you can only shout, “Please aemond please fill me please.” He groans as he begs you to come with him and you do. 

Panting the two of you lay, sweaty and tangled together, his seed seeping inside of you and you whine as you feel his cock still inside of you. “Did you think we were done, my sweet wife?” You can only stare as he smiles down at you, “It will definitely take more than one attempt to get you with a child and I must make sure you are.”

[scarlettjemily]

Latch

I have a Jemily playlist on spotify and I shuffle it and write a fic inspired by the song

Song: Latch (acoustic version) - Sam Smith (suggested by @pascaleledumbo)

Pairing: Emily Prentiss/Jennifer "JJ" Jareau

Summary: Season 17 Emily and JJ finally getting married. This is their wedding day. This fic is just pure happiness, not a single thing goes wrong. It's just all love.

Word count: 2.2k

Posted on Ao3 as well

*Not my pictures*

“You’d think with it being my second wedding, I wouldn’t be so nervous,” JJ laughed, smoothing out her dress with her hands. She looked at herself in the mirror, a rush of excitement hitting her.

"Yes, but your first wedding wasn’t with Emily,” Penelope pointed out, handing JJ her bouquet. “You look so beautiful,” she gushed, looking at her best friend. She had to stop herself from crying; she couldn’t believe Emily and JJ were finally getting married after all these years.

“Hey! Don’t you start! I don’t want to ruin my makeup before I get out there.” JJ turned away from Penelope, waving the girl away.

Penelope took the most dramatic deep breath, trying to compose herself, “I think I’m okay; let’s go. We can’t keep Em waiting,” she said, ushering the bride out of the room so they could get to the wedding.

“Nervous?” Tara asked, handing a glass of whiskey to Emily. She sat down on the arm of the couch, watching as Emily took a quick sip of her drink, then placing it down so she could fix the buttons of her suit.

Emily chuckled, her shoulders shrugging. “A little, but I’m more shocked. I never thought we’d be together, let alone get married.” She picked her drink back up and turned to face Tara. “How do I look?” She asked, giving her a spin.

“You’re an absolute smoke show, Emily; you look amazing.” They both laughed and clinked their glasses together, throwing back the rest of their drinks. “Okay, the car is here; we better head off.”

Penelope held JJ’s hand as they walked up to the entrance of the little garden; she could hear soft piano music playing, which was her cue that the ceremony was about to start. She saw Rossi standing at the entrance; he smiled and held his hand out for her.

JJ felt tears well up in her eyes. “Dave, really? Am I not too old to be walked down the aisle?” She joked, trying to stop herself from getting too emotional. She was already feeling overwhelmed, in the best way possible. She just wanted to see her soon-to-be wife.

He grabbed her hand and linked his arm with hers. “Oh hush, I already walked Emily down 5 minutes ago.”

JJ couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Rossi walking the woman down the aisle. Her usual stoic self, probably struggling to compose herself and to hide how much it meant to her. “How’d she seem?” JJ asked, watching as Penelope walked around the bend of the aisle.

“She was happy, Jennifer, so unbelievably happy." Dave looked at JJ with a warm smile. He lifted her chin with his finger so she was looking at him. “Are you ready?” His smile was so comforting for JJ; he really was like a father to her. To them both.

“I’m so ready,” she beamed, walking arm in arm down the aisle. When she walked around the bend, the first thing she saw were all their friends in their seats. Granted, there weren’t a lot of people, but the most important people were there. It made it more special that way.

As soon as JJ’s eyes locked onto Emily, she felt her throat tighten. She was beautiful. The most beautiful woman she’d ever laid eyes on. There was no stopping the tears that dropped from the corner of her eyes. That was her soulmate.

She was dressed in a completely ivory suit that cinched at her waist perfectly. The wide-legged pants covered a pair of pointy white heels. Her silver hair pinned up loosely, stray curls falling around her face perfectly. It took every ounce of control JJ had to not sprint down the aisle and jump on her fiancée.

Emily had to look away for a moment to collect herself; the pure shock of seeing JJ in a wedding dress stole all the air from her lungs. She looked back and let out a quiet laugh when she saw JJ crying. She knew all too well how emotional JJ could be—a change of pace from her usual lack of emotions. Well, lack of expression, Emily felt a lot; all the time, she just compartmentalised better than most.

JJ looked radiant, walking down the aisle in an ivory dress that matched Emily’s suit perfectly. More proof the women were made for each other; they complemented one another without needing to plan a single thing. Emily’s chest felt warm when she looked at JJ; her blonde hair was loosely curled and falling over her tanned shoulders. Emily could swear that JJ’s skin was glowing under the warmth of the sun; she’d never felt more in love with the woman than she did in that moment.

JJ took the last few steps down the aisle; she gave Rossi a kiss on the cheek, whispering her thanks. She handed her bouquet to Penelope before she turned to look at her fiancée. She laughed as she began to cry again. She couldn’t control the emotions that were spilling out of her; every time she looked at Emily, she just felt so overwhelmed with joy; all she could do was laugh and cry.

Emily reached her hand out, taking a hold of JJ's hand, the other resting on her hip. “My love, you look so beautiful,” she whispered, planting a kiss on her cheek. JJ’s hand rested on Emily’s cheek, shaking her head, her eyes taking in her facial features. Something she’d done a million times before "here,” Emily said, pulling a tissue out of her jacket pocket and handing it to JJ. The small crowd of people laughed at the sight, all of them knowing what JJ was like.

“Thank you,” JJ chuckled, using the tissue to dab her cheeks. “I just can’t believe we’re finally here,” she said, still not believing that they were about to get married. Emily agreed, giving JJ’s hand a firm squeeze, not planning to let go anytime soon.

“They will both now read their vows; who would like to go first?”

The two women had a silent conversation with their eyes, deciding that JJ would start. Penelope handed her a piece of paper that had her vows written on it; she unravelled them, her hands shaking slightly. The paper was covered in her neat and precise handwriting—not a single letter out of place. Emily smiled knowingly; her paper was the complete opposite: covered with scribbles, words crossed out. It represented them perfectly.

“Emily, my Emily." JJ started, glancing at her fiancee for a moment before deciding to keep her eyes on her paper; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to get through the vows. “I can’t believe I’m standing in front of you right now, at our wedding, about to call you my wife. You started off as my co-worker, then you quickly became a friend. Then all of a sudden you were my boss,” the crowd laughed along with Emily and JJ. “Then you finally became my girlfriend, my fiancee, and now my wife." JJ let out a shaky breath, a small tear rolling down her cheek, but she was able to continue reading through it. “After everything we’ve been through together and separately, I’m so grateful to say that you have been the most consistent thing in my life. No matter what, you were there. Always.” She used her arm to wipe her tears because she refused to let go of Emily’s hand. “You were there for me when I didn’t even know that I needed you, but I think I’ve always needed you, and I’m certain I’ve always loved you. Even if it took me a while to come to terms with it,” a soft chuckle sounded from the crowd. “But now that I’ve got you, I promise you, there’s no way I’ll ever let you go.”

Emily quickly wiped a tear from her eye as JJ finished her vows. She squeezed her hand and gave her a warm smile. “That was beautiful, darling,” she complimented. She pulled her own piece of paper out of her pocket and shook her head. “Not as neat as yours,” she admitted sheepishly. JJ gave Emily an amused look, assuring her it was okay and waiting to hear her vows.

“Jennifer, Jen, JJ, my darling, my love... I can’t keep track of all the names I call you, and I’m sure there will be a million more that I’ll come up with, seeing as you’re stuck with me for the rest of our lives,” she laughed, looking up at JJ. All the people around them seemed to disappear when Emily watched JJ giggle; she stopped for a moment, getting distracted by how beautiful she was. "God, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” she stated, practically dazed.

JJ couldn’t help herself; she planted a kiss on Emily’s cheek. “Thank you, baby,” she whispered. “Keep going,” she encouraged, giddy about what might be on the paper.

Emily let out a quick breath, concentrating on her paper again. “I truly believe I fell in love with you the first day I met you, but I thought you’d never feel the same way. So I decided that I’d have you in any capacity I could, and that was as my best friend. Now that you’re going to be my wife, I promise to always be your best friend first, to always be by your side, loving you and supporting you and annoying you just as much,” she gave JJ a quick wink before continuing. “I’m so grateful you chose me to be your wife. I wake up next to you every day, and I’m still pinching myself because I can’t believe that I get to call you mine." Emily folded the paper back up and returned it to her pocket. “I promise to love you until the day I die, and then in my next life, I promise to find you and love you again and again and again,” she croaked, her cry getting stuck in her throat.

JJ shook her head, crying at Emily’s words. She grabbed Emily’s face, not caring about the traditions of the wedding, and kissed her deeply. Emily’s hands landed on JJ’s hips as she kissed her back; there was no way she would pull away. She also didn’t care about traditions; her and JJ were by no means a traditional couple.

“Well then, you both may keep kissing the bride!”

The crowd erupted with loud cheers and continuous clapping. Both women laughed into their shared kiss, pulling each other closer, not wanting the moment to end.

“After you, my wife,” Emily held JJ's hand as she stepped into the car; she didn’t let go as she slid in the back seat next to her wife. “Thank you,” she aimed at the driver as he began to drive off.

JJ scooted closer to Emily, wrapping her arms around the woman as best she could. “I love you,” she hummed, smiling contentedly when Emily wrapped one arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. Emily mumbled the sentiment back, placing a series of small kisses on JJ’s forehead. “Did you have a good day?” She asked, pulling back slightly so she could look at her wife’s face.

Emily placed her finger under JJ’s chin, running the pad of her thumb across her bottom lip. “It was better than good, baby; it’s been the best day of my life,” she whispered. Her heart swelled seeing JJ’s face beam; she captured JJ’s lips in a kiss, still holding her chin. “I can’t wait to get you to the hotel,” she mumbled against her lips, clumsily kissing her at the same time.

JJ swore her body shivered at the thought of getting back to their hotel. She gave her wife one last squeeze before pulling away. “We’ve got to stop; otherwise, I won’t be able to control myself in the back of this car,” she stated under her breath, only for Emily to hear.

Emily smirked, holding JJ close to herself, letting her chin rest atop her wife’s head. "Soon, my love, we’ll be there soon,” she reassured, letting her hand rest on JJ's thigh.

JJ squealed when Emily lifted her in her arms in the traditional bridal carry. “Emily! Don’t drop me!” She laughed, holding her tightly around her neck.

Emily stepped through the door of their room and swiftly kicked it shut behind her. “I would never, baby girl; I’ve got you.” She headed down the hall into the room, aiming straight for the bed. She threw JJ onto it, chuckling at JJ’s overly dramatic squeals. Emily kicked her heels off and walked to the edge of the bed, simultaneously unbuttoning her suit jacket.

JJ giggled, hopping up on her knees and crawling over to Emily. “Let me,” she purred, pulling Emily’s jacket down her arms and throwing it to the floor. She frantically kissed her while making quick work of her blouse; she moaned deeply when Emily’s hands made their way into her hair. Pulling it tightly into a makeshift ponytail, “I love you,” she groaned as Emily pulled her hair back, beginning to kiss down JJ's neck.

“I love you too, my darling,” Emily declared against JJ's skin, her hand snaking around her back to unzip her dress. “I can’t believe you’re my wife,” she divulged, watching as JJ's dress pooled around her knees, leaving her in just her underwear. “You’re all mine,” she professed, wrapping her arms around JJ's bare waist.

JJ wrapped her arms around Emily’s neck, pressing their foreheads together. “I’m yours, Emily, forever,” she beamed, both women still basking in the shock that they each finally got to marry their best friend.

[sparksqfly]

⭒❝Speak Now❞ ࿓

there's the silence, there's my last chance, i stand up with shaky hands, all eyes on me

synopsis: modern au - you're about to get married; you should be happy, but on your big day, all you can think about is that redhead you were in love with your whole life, who is now determined to disrupt everything just to win you back.

author's note: this is a short story to celebrate the release of "speak now (taylor's version)," which I am very happy and excited about! this story is literally inspired by the song "speak now," and it's a multiverse full of references to taylor swift and her lyrics bc i have her songs tattoed in my head hehehe, this references won't ruin your reading experience if you're not a fan. english is not my first language, so i apologize for any mistakes i may have made. ty for readig <3

warnings!/about the story: the image is not intended to represent the reader; it's just there for aesthetic purposes. mentions of the reader wearing dresses. the reader is kinda forced to marry an idiot and be in a heterosexual relationship, and that mf is an idiot. joel is referred to as ellie's father, and both ellie and the reader are between 21 and 25 years old.

wc: 3,3k

what the fuck am I doing? you asked yourself looking at yourself in the mirror, you had possibly been doing it for two hours, or three. you came out of your trance when you saw your friend, dina came into the room where you were getting ready. you had asked the girls who had come to help you with your appearance to leave for a while because you wanted to have "your rituals before your big day" which so far had consisted of looking in the mirror, feeling like throwing up and being about to cry.

"hey sweetie," dina said closing the door behind herself. she was holding something white in her hands, you'd had enough of that color. she put it down on one of the couches that was somewhere in the room and dragged a chair over so she could sit in front of you. she gently caressed your cheek and grabbed your hands and looked at you. "you always look beautiful, but today you look stunning." you smiled at her, not wanting to reject her compliments, but you really didn't feel beautiful today, you felt even disgusted with yourself.

dina took your hands in hers and smiled at you, "i have some gifts for you," you sighed. "you don't have to give me anything, dee. there are already too many gifts, too many," you sighed. "ok but listen to me. I already know you got something new, the dress," you looked in the mirror again. when you went to buy the dress you were with dina and your sister, you were already not liking the idea of the wedding and you already felt uncomfortable surrounded by so much white. she had already shown up and you tried to make up for how wrong it felt to do what you were doing with the greatest traditions possible, buying the longest and most "princess-like" dress you could find, a dress that perfectly covered your tattoos, buying pink flowers and golden decorations because that's how it was supposed to be.

"not that tradition again," you joked. you were too sick of tradition. "i know, i know but you know how i am. look, i'll help you" dina without waiting a second longer, knelt in front of you and started trying to lift your dress. obviously, it was difficult for her because of the number of layers it had "fuck..." she cursed, and you couldn't help but laugh listening to her. she gently grabbed your ankle and showed you a small blue ribbon, you smiled at her, and she gently tied it to your ankle, just above your shoe. "something blue," she said with a little girlish smile. she sat back down, sat back down across from you and pulled a necklace out of her pocket, a delicate chain with a small paper airplane charm on it. she put it on and tucked it inside your dress "something borrowed?" you asked raising an eyebrow and dina denied, "something used". you nodded, finally dina pulled something out of her pocket. you froze in place and felt dizzy. "something borrowed" she said and showed you a bracelet. a bracelet you had seen a thousand times, a brown bracelet with three leather straps. two hands pointing to a turkish eye in the middle. her bracelet. the bracelet that ellie always wore on her tattooed arm and that you sometimes played with when she ran a hand across your shoulders, hugging you.

taking advantage of your trance, dina fastened ellie's bracelet on your wrist and smiled at you as you stood up "i know you will make the right decision and i will always be there to support you," she said and bent down to kiss your forehead. as quickly as she came she was gone. you looked in the mirror again, touching the bracelet as you did with ellie and as if you had called out to her she appeared through the door and closed it behind her. you saw her in the mirror and immediately turned around in disbelief. the last thing you expected was to see her, much less the way she was now, dressed in a suit and all dolled up. the last time you had seen her was two weeks ago, you had met for the last time, you had touched each other for the last time, you had memorized each other entirely and finally you had said goodbye with a last kiss. you hadn't had the courage to cross her name out of the wedding list, it pained you to even see her name.

"you don't know what I had to go through to get in here, it looks like your lovely future husband uninvited me" said ellie playing with her hands, "you look beautiful". really? was that really all she had to say? "ellie, what are you doing here?" you got up from your chair to stand in front of her. you watched as ellie admired your dress, as she carefully analyzed your face and after what seemed like an eternity she took courage to grab you by the waist and bring you to her. "don't do it" said ellie gluing her forehead to yours. "meet me behind the church, we can go wherever you want, we'll do whatever you want. but don't say yes" you sighed, ellie williams was begging you to stay with her, to run away with her.

"els, i can't be this kind of person," you didn't know if you were trying to convince yourself or her. "no, you're not the kind of girl who should be marrying an idiot." "els, please. i can't do this, i can't let him down like this. i can't let everyone down like this" ellie sighed heavily and cup your face in her hands "don't do this to yourself, don't do this to me. neither of us deserve it." you were about to burst into tears, your thoughts were starting to run through your head too fast. "ellie" you sighed but she shook her head "you need to hear me out. i'm sorry, i'm really sorry for not telling you when we were little, i was 14 and I knew absolutely nothing, i didn't want to lose the friendship we had because i was afraid i was confused. i'm sorry I didn't tell you in high school when we were both teenagers and I'm sorry I didn't tell you when we started getting closer. i was so scared but i really love you, i have loved you since you walked into my house that day with a book about dinosaurs for my birthday. and i still love you, i was too scared to tell you and I don't want to lose you."

in that moment you saw the weight that ellie seemed to be carrying disappear from her back. ellie, the 14 year old girl you gave a book about dinosaurs to when she turned fourteen because your parents wanted you to meet her since they were friends with her father. the girl you became inseparable with when you both entered high school and when you started to like her. the best memories of your life were with ellie by your side, you could always be yourself with her and you never had the arguments you had with john, your fiancé. ellie had always listened to you and had always made you a priority. "can you say something?" ellie brought you back to reality with her voice. "ellie..." you were about to speak when you heard footsteps approaching the room they were in and you opened your eyes in complete alarm when you heard your mother-in-law speak. "ellie, you have to go" you said grabbing her by the wrists and pulling her to the back door "y/n, what the fuck? " she asked unfocused "please, john's family is coming, they can't see you here" you followed her leading her to the back door and when you opened it you pulled her inside being careful not to make her fall "what-" ellie asked again and before she went on you gave her a quick peck, that made her calm down immediately "keep going up those stairs, you're going straight out to where the ceremony is being held. don't let anyone see you els, please" she seemed to understand immediately and you closed the door. what had you just done?

you turned around just to see your fiancé's family walk in. all dressed in pastel and with smiles which now made you uneasy. they were talking about how beautiful you looked, how happy they were with your union and fantasizing about how many children you would have. yeah, sure. as those hellish minutes passed all you could think about was ellie, she had confessed to you how long she had been in love with you and now you were thinking how obvious it was. you realized that you had spent half your life loving her without telling her and you were about to spend the rest of your life regretting not telling her. when john's family finally left you sighed and sat back in your chair stroking ellie's bracelet and at that moment you saw your fiancé walk in. you didn't feel anything when you saw him, you weren't even angry that he broke the tradition of not seeing you before the ceremony, it was just like him not to pay attention to you. you thought about how you had felt when you saw ellie walk in and how empty you felt now.

"you look beautiful" he said. "thank you" you sighed looking at him "what do you want?" "is that how you talk to your fiancé? you're not mad because i broke this stupid tradition of not seeing you, are you?" you sighed. you hated it when he was like that. "is that your little friend’s bracelet?" that comment made you put your hand on the bracelet defensively and you turned around "maybe, what if it is?" "that trinket doesn't go with the expensive dress my mom bought you" you didn't know if it was a joke but you felt too annoyed. "leave me alone, it's tradition and ellie gave it to me, it's something important for both of us" john just rolled his eyes and grabbed the door to leave "see you in a little while, wifey".

you were left alone in the room; the silence was deafening, and you began to rethink absolutely everything. you liked Ellie since you were little, she was the person you loved the most after your family and you had hurt her with thousands of cuts just because of your eagerness to please people with what you were supposed to do. but on the other hand if you decided to be selfish you would disappoint your fiancé's whole family. those people you really loved as well as they loved you and had paid for that whole wedding. tour family too, they were so happy for your engagement and on top of that they didn't even know you liked women. how could you call off your wedding being only a few minutes away to run away and tell them that yes, you liked women and you had been in love with your best friend for more than seven years.

there you were, with a bouquet of roses and several decorative plants adorning your bridal bouquet. as you looked at it you laughed to yourself thinking that one of the plants sticking out of the bouquet looked just like the plant ellie had tattooed on her forearm. "lover" by taylor swift was playing on the speakers, she was singing about always wanting to go where your person goes, about always being close and that was all you wanted with ellie. "you look beautiful" your father's voice made you turn around. he intertwined his arm with your free arm and you smiled at him, the guilt was eating you alive. "pa'" you called out to him and he turned around "yes honey?" "if anything happens today, i just wanted to say i'm sorry" he frowned but couldn't say anything as the song ended and that meant there were only seconds left before you had to walk down the aisle.

the doors opened and the organ began to play what now sounded like a death march. the doors you were standing in front of opened. the light blinded you for a brief moment and then you saw eyes. what felt like thousands of eyes on you watching for any movement and surely noticing your disgruntled expression. you started walking on the red carpet towards the altar where there was a priest, john and some friends. were you really going to humiliate him like that in front of so many people?

as you continued walking you started to look for some eyes. ellie's green eyes, which you couldn't find anywhere, made you want to cry again. it was possible that she had really gotten tired of the back and forth and you didn't blame her. she deserved to be happy with someone who always put her first. maybe it was for the best.

as you walked down the aisle the only glances that caught your attention were from dina and Jesse, your best friends. who were possibly the only ones who knew and that was what their eyes reflected. concern and sadness. dina even tried to force a smile but jesse couldn't. they knew you even better than you knew yourself.

your father let go of your arm and you handed one of your bridesmaids your bouquet of flowers. then, your father-in-law helped you up the aisle and you stood in front of john. he said something with his lips that you didn't even bother to understand. the wedding music stopped and the priest began to talk and talk about love and various things that you didn't pay attention to. you could only think about her because you didn't even want to look at the audience. you were terrified of what might happen in the next few minutes. had you really dodged a bullet or you just lost the love of your life?

john's expression changed and you quickly got back in tune with the priest's speech. did the vows already need to be said? when you heard what followed you felt like you were about to vomit. "if anyone wants to interrupt this union speak now or forever hold your peace". you looked at the audience completely scared even though you didn't know why. did you want her to show up? you heard the priest take a breath to speak again but another noise came even louder.

you heard footsteps and the wooden benches where the guests were sitting creak under someone's weight and finally behind jesse and dina's bench ellie came out and stood in the middle of the red carpet. her hands were shaking and everyone turned to look at her in complete silence. ellie was only looking at you and you at her. the horrified looks from everyone in the room increased when she uttered the single word "y/n" obviously the expectations of the guests had led them to believe that ellie was there for ojhn and not for you.

john grabbed one of your hands, the one with ellie's bracelet in it, and you looked at him for a second. what reaffirmed what you were about to do was that he didn't look sad, he looked angry. he was losing you and he wasn't even worried. you shook your head at him and he opened his eyes wide when he realized it, although only he did it. you saw your father-in-law signal to security to possibly get ellie out and with that signal you grabbed your dress and went down the small stairs. ellie's relieved face made you gasp but there was no time. you ran out and pushed the door with your body. you felt ellie's footsteps running hurriedly behind you. you turned to look at her for a second and saw her closing the door. you kept running towards the room where you were getting ready and ellie came in behind you closing the door.

"ellie" you called her and she ran to hug you burying her face between your neck and shoulder. you brought a hand to her hair and stroked it. "thank you" she said in an incredibly low tone of voice. you pulled away from her "so now what?" "we're leaving" ellie said looking all around and you nodded, you turned around showing her your back "take it off" you said decisively "what?" "fuck els, take off my dress. it's the only thing I bought it for and i can't go out like this" you quickly felt his hands on your back and how he unbuttoned it. you stepped out of the dress without bothering to grab it and obviating that you had no bra but it was ellie, she had seen you a thousand times. you grabbed the short satin dress you had for the party after the ceremony and put it on without thinking. you went to the door where you had dismissed your ellie a few minutes ago and motioned for her to come downstairs with you. ellie nodded and before you started downstairs she gave you her suit jacket so you wouldn't be so cold. she grabbed your hand and the two of you started down the stairs at a brisk pace.

once you two came out, turned into the street and you saw her car parked nearby. she squeezed your hand and they ran to the car. there were some guests on the street watching the show but ellie didn't even pay attention to them, she put a hand on your back and opened the passenger door of her car for you. you looked at her and got in, without wasting time she closed your door carefully and got into the driver's seat, she started the car and when you realized it, they had already turned the block and started on their way. "are you okay?" ellie asked you, putting a hand on your knee and caressing it. "what did i just do?" you wondered aloud to yourself. ellie looked concerned "you regretted it?" you turned to look at her. Her gaze shifted between your face and the road "no, I've never been more sure of anything in my life, it's just that this wasn't the way I would have liked things to go, neither for us nor for him" ellie nodded and continued stroking your leg "where do you want to go?" she asked and you smiled at her, she knew what that meant.

finally you arrived at ellie's house, where she lived with her father. you smiled as you walked through the door and ellie hugged your waist. many of your happiest memories were in that house, you had lost a lot of time but they were willing to make up for it. "ellie? is that you?" Joel's voice echoed from the kitchen. "yeah” ellie screamed in response. joel came out of the kitchen with a rag in his hands and his eyes widened as he saw you dressed in white and completely ready to get married. "well congratulations, he was an idiot." He said and as he came he left, heading to his room like a ghost.

you looked at Ellie and both burst out laughing. she carried you with her arms and took you to the living room sofa and laid you down on it and she got on top of you. you hugged her as she showered you with kisses "remember you asked me what you had just done? when we went out?" you nodded. "you had just run away from your wedding to your future wife" she joked and you hugged her again joining her lips and she hugged you too. that was the first thing you felt confident about all day. you had made the right choice.

[grapejuicestyless]

Endless Empathy(People Pleaser pt.2)

Harry Styles x fem!reader

Summery: A continuation of the People pleaser short writing that is both linked in my master list on my page and on the top of this part!!! This Can be Read separately!

Angst to fluffy(kinda!)

Read part 1 here!

If you asked Y/n Y/l/n what her favorite feeling in the world was, it wouldn’t even be a second thought as to what her answer would be. It was so obvious to everyone who was lucky enough to be consistently surrounded by her energy. Y/n loved love.

It wasn’t necessarily the feeling of being loved. The girl, as much as she had drifted off into daydreams, fantasizing about her silky white wedding dress and her ideal bridesmaids, her desire for the feeling of love cut much deeper.

It was the knowing feeling that she could give back to someone who needed it. The fuzziness she gained every time she could provide a sense of reliability to someone close to her. The idea she was able to earn their trust because they were just that close made her feel less alone on the nights she spent across the world from her home.

Y/n loved that feeling. The way it would spread from her chest and expand into the pit of her stomach, making it all fluttery and warm. So much so, she found herself altering herself to fit the impossible standards she held herself to.

She found herself doing things she really had no desire to, her passive aggressiveness only grumbling through her lips when she was sure enough she was alone, out of ear shot. Quickly, her lack of want would be overtaken by that euphoria she felt again, the intense sense of happiness making up for her discomfort she subjected herself to.

From afar, it looked like an addiction. The girl constantly itching to do good, to be better. To be the best version of herself in order to lift those up around her, to make everyone proud of her. She wanted people to not feel ashamed when her name came up in conversation. An addiction so bad, the girls need for approval and longing to please everyone at once, her body often moved before her mouth could catch up. Her mind could be screaming no, but she would already have said yes.

It’s not like it had a cure. How can you cure a pathological people pleaser? You can dote on them and smother them as much as you want. Do anything they need, go out of your way to make their life easier, but ultimately your effort will only make it worse. Devoting your time to someone who doesn’t want it in that way. They begin to feel like a chore, an inconvenience that they need to make up for. And the cycle begins again.

——————————————————————————

A burden is often what I felt like these days. Feet swung over the arm of the couch, head pressed back on the cushion that was Harry’s lap. His hands brushed between my hair, which had been stuck on my forehead in an intense sweat that I had broken into while rehearsing for our upcoming show in Cardiff.

We’d only reached As It Was by the time Harry decided it was time for us to conclude our soundcheck.

It was confusing, the way he said it. Almost like it was directed towards me. He sounded like he had been worried, eyes focused in on mine carefully.

Maybe it was because of the scene I’d caused just the show prior or the fact I was sure I was probably shining under the stage lights in my pooling sweat that caused an uneasiness to rise in Harry’s mind.

“Y/n? You ready to call it?” I blinked rapidly, opening my mouth, I was a fish out of water. Sentences became impossible to correctly piece together as an extra layer of heat covers my face. A blanket of blush covering my already irritated face, I felt embarrassed.

Why would he stop such a crucial part of each show for me? What if something had happened during our closing songs tonight? The unsettling lump in my throat expanded into what felt like vomit rising, even with my throat completely dry. The idea that something could be jeopardized, ruining the great experience that is Love On Tour, could all be caused by my inability to keep pushing for just a few more songs made me sick.

Yet, the look Harry gave me as his hands slipped around my waist, lips caught in a worried line sent an all familiar struggle in my bones.

I wanted to make it right, make sure everything was double checked. There would be no issues and everyone could have their two hours of love promised by Harry and the love band, but I also longed to make sure Harry was content, constantly unbothered. If I continued to push the bile down hard enough, I could focus on doing what’s best for one person, forget about everyone else involved.

So it became a blurry mess, between the moment Harry called soundcheck quits to where we found ourselves now. Cuddled up in the relief that was well filtered air conditioner. Harry’s hands tangling and detangling between my hair, pulling lightly on my scalp to relieve any possible pressure, his eyes fixated on the TV which played some ninety’s sitcom with a beautiful group of friends that the public was made to believe were considered average.

While he seemed content in the position he was in, in the moment, I couldn’t put my mind to ease, the anxiety that I could do exactly what I feared most poisoning any sense of relaxation I had previously.

How do you make everyone happy at once when nobody seems to be on the same page? How can you spread love evenly when you’ve already spread yourself so thin? My face was greyed, mind plagued by my deepest fears. My harshest wounds.

Realistically, Harry’s final decision had benefitted the entire crew greatly. Everyone tired and worn from the continuous heat wave that was a blanket over the earth at the moment. But the way it was phrased, the way I was shot sympathetic smiles made me uneasy. As if their benefit was more of a loss and a waste of time.

Looking up at Harry, I studied his face carefully. He seemed at ease. Unbothered by it all. His eyes trained on the screen, a soft laugh escaping his throat. Completely relaxed. Like he didn’t realize I was just barely a foot below his eye level, eyes watering as I slowly died. I promised him to stop being such a push over, such a people pleaser, but you can’t cure a sickness that’s not truly an illness.

How can you love someone you don’t know is sick?

——————————————————————————

I wish I could say I stuck to my word. Continued to be the person I vowed to become after my incident weeks ago. Stopped being a push over, stopped forgetting about myself. Stopped putting on other peoples shoes before my own. But I’m not a liar.

The air was thick, the humidity unforgiving and unrelenting all morning. Everything felt off from the minute my foot left the hotel room booked for the crew. Yet, I took no time to dwell on my own feelings, pushing back the unsettling pit in my stomach and focusing on the day ahead.

Elin sent a quick text to our band group chat. An old one we’d made without Harry to surprise him for his birthday. It was short and simple. The flags were there, ruby red and waving in the wind. The fact that the request was hidden from the one person who pushed back for me. The only person who could say, “no” for me without anyone protesting.

She wrote, “Hey, y/n/n! I’m running a bit late. Would you mind picking up some coffee and treats for everyone? I’ll send the address for the shop!” It was less of question, I realized, reading it back. More of a request or even a demand. Still, it was short and a simple task. Nothing unmanageable.

She sent the location, and only then did I fully recognize my regret. The shop was almost thirty minutes away from the arena, without traffic. Considering morning rush hour was in place, I could count on being late.

But I had agreed. The guilt of being late ate at me, but even the thought of letting everyone down was nauseating. Making my head spin and eyes water at even the slightest vision of their frowning faces and furrowed brows.

So, I got in my car, ignoring every text as I broke every law of the road to reach the coffee shop as quickly as possible. Eyes squinting at the morning sun and arms sticky from condensation.

——————————————————————————

When I arrived to the arena, it was bustling. The stage crew rushing around to find parts of equipment needed for the upcoming soundcheck, managing security debriefing down the hall for barricade procedures. The heat almost unbearable in each hallway.

It all led to the one room that everyone gathered in. A larger dressing room that was more of a living room. Colder than most of the building and more decorated too.

Laughter filtered through the cracked double doors, cold hair slipping through like a small taste of what heaven felt like in that moment. You could see everyone standing in a circle, cups of water held loosely in each one’s hand as they joked around as a tight knit group of friends would.

They must of smelled the goods, it must have wafted because without even a noise being made, Nyoh, Pauli and Mitch were looking straight at me. Smiles painted on their faces wide and welcoming, reflecting their actions as I was swarmed by every single band member at once. Hands grabbing at the donut box and tray of coffee all but ripped out of the palm of my unsteady hand.

Their gratefulness was overwhelming at first. Supplying me with that addictive euphoria I longed for with each task I put myself through. They hustled around to take a peak at what I had bought. Ready to stuff their faces with a little of each as I settled in for the day.

Silence fell over the room suddenly, a deep breath being inhaled only to be held. Almost as if someone was trying to find something to say, but had come short. Unable to figure out the right articulation of their statement.

“What, is something wrong?” I smiled sweetly, walking over to the table. Sarah shrugged, turning to me with a sweet smile, hand on my shoulder almost like it was a support for what was about to be said.

“Oh, nothing. We just don’t really like these flavors.” Nyoh shared bravely, smiling halfway, still focused on the opened and not crinkled donut box.

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry guys, I wasn’t told if you guys wanted anything specific. I can run back and get some more?” Somehow, even in my greatest efforts, I still came short. Guilt eating at me that I had probably ruined their morning. Delaying their breakfast because I had to be a screw up. It made me sicker than the pit in my stomach this morning had made me.

“No, no. It’s okay. I’ll just order some online. It’ll be here quick.” My face looked just as blank as my mind was.

In that moment, I lacked all ability to respond. Thoughts running wild, much to fast to say anything except a pathetic squeak.

“Oh.” Is what I said. If I wasn’t such a coward, such a push over, a walking talking door mat, I would’ve yelled. Ripped the hair from my scalp.

“Why did you make me drive all the way there this morning if you could just order it? What about the money I spent? Are you going to pay me back or is this just another involuntary favor I’ve gone out of my way to complete?” If I was Harry, which I’m not, I would’ve said that. I would’ve yelled and cried and defended my name with all my willpower. Not letting anyone interrupt. I’d have some self respect but that wasn’t me.

I am Y/n Y/l/n. The girl who sits in the back of the stage, doing so much for so little. The girl who gives up everything for everyone because she can’t control it. Because she’s sick in the head.

So I said, “Oh.” Like an idiot. My throat dry and my eyes watery. I nodded, firm and short. Ready to make my exit.

Everyone turned back to their circle, laughing again as the order was placed. In a room full of my brothers and sisters I couldn’t help but feel out of place. Unappreciated. Suddenly, it was like my endless empathy and compassion wasn’t enough for them. It wasn’t good enough. And if that wasn’t good enough, I wasn’t good enough.

And as I disappeared behind the double doors, not a soul called back for me. A ghost to everyone. Unappreciated and unaware of the intense heartbreak I was facing.

In this moment, I believe it’s where it got bad. Worse than ever before. My brain no longer silently resisting as my entire being longed for that nod of approval and the appreciative conversations that came after it.

It continued, like this, all day. My feet padding against the pavement and onto the tiles of the hallways. Sweat sticking to my forehead and dripping down my neck. It looked in my shirt.

All day I’d been running around helping. The itch to be better, to do better overwhelming. If it was fetching a water bottle for the sound guys or searching up and down religiously for a missing headset for the lighting crew, I was first on the scene to assist in every way possible.

Each nod and smile sent my way fueling my addiction. Each action I pursued further breaking my promise to Harry more and more. I felt myself slipping away.

I just wanted to be good. Longed for it every waking minute. Like if I kept pushing, kept reaching that desired feeling, achieving each goal to make another persons life easier, I lost more and more of myself. Stress building like a ton of bricks throw on my shoulders. The weight unbearable. Heavier and heavier each minute.

Harry had finally shown up, ready to begin soundcheck. His in ears hung around his neck carelessly. White shirt stuck to his body in sweat. The words crinkled to a point where they were unrecognizable. His shorts were short and shoes light on the floor. He looked satisfied, light and well rested. The opposite of everything I felt.

“Hey, angel!” He called enthusiastically.

For the first time that day, my cheeks lifted from a genuine smile. Not one caused by a success in helping another person, or a result of devoting all my time and energy to another. But because someone who never asked anything of me and still held as much if not more appreciation for me had welcomed me into his arms without any requests.

I let myself melt into his touch, eyebrows relaxing and heartbeat slowing for the first time all day. His lips rested flat against the top of my head, arms held tight around mine, chest pressed against mine. We were a sweaty tangled mess but I couldn’t have been happier.

“Ready to do some test runs?” He questioned, moving back to brush away beads of sweat that had collected on my rosy face. I nodded eagerly, though inside I felt weary and panicked at the idea of having yet another long task to do.

Another swift peck was delivered to my forehead, Harry’s hold retreating from my body. He led the way to the stage before stopping.

“Shit, I forgot the waters. Y/n, would you mind grabbing them? I left them by the water fountain.” I nodded, blinking harshly. My feet pivoting away from him, shoulders hunched and muscles tensed.

My feet moved quick, running down the halls to find the pack of water bottles Harry had instructed me to grab.

The plastic was soon in my line of vision. Full and cool to the touch. They were heavy. Nothing I couldn’t carry normally, but the unforgiving tension within my muscles made it hard to move. Multiple times I stopped to set it down, breath jagged and heavy. Hands slipping away from the plastic cover as my palms were lathered in sweat and leaking water from inside the package.

And suddenly, the hallways that was once so short became longer and longer. A never ending straightaway that only felt hotter and hotter with each step. My mind weighed me down. Pulling me into a spiral of negative thoughts and emotions. I began to believe I couldn’t do it. No, I knew I couldn’t do it.

No matter how much I wished, longed to do the only thing Harry, my best friend, my lover, had ever asked of me, I couldn’t physically continue. The bricks building finally reaching the maximum and breaking the camels back. This final request dealing my final blow. And each thought, each straining muscle crashing underneath it.

The crash was loud, when I went down. Knees hitting the floor, the sound of bones hitting concrete muffled by the squeak of water exploding throughout the thin passageway. The plastic breaking and the singular packages of the liquid bouncing around. Running off and away.

Only then did the panic reach an all time high. As if the severity of it couldn’t get worse. It did. My hands reaching out to grasp at any stray bottles. Holding them close to my chest. Keeping the few I could reach close to my body. I shook, unable to breathe suddenly.

Maybe it was the humidity, or the heat. Maybe it was another heat stroke. But no, to anyone passing by, or anyone who could have seen it from an outside perspective, it was clear that this was not the weather. This was deeper than that. This was pure panic. Something I’d buried for years all surfacing at once like a tsunami of pain washing over my lungs and drowning me in it.

A sob racked through my body, the cry escaping my clenched jaw with such force, my throat burned after. The rising nausea Id felt all morning turning out to only be a lump of anxiety that had grown ten times its size and finally escaped its cage.

Everything hurt, in that moment. My lungs on fire and my eyes crying themselves a river. The tips of my finger scratched at my throat. The only breaths that manages to get in and out being the gasps for air between each sob. I tried to grab my throat, grab my chest. Anything to make it easier to breathe. Yet, my hands were locked around the water like a vise. I couldn’t pry myself away from it if I had tried.

My head pounded, my body growing weaker, aching into less of a dull pain and more of a searing sensation pricking across my skin like pins and needles.

My ears were ringing, downing out everything other than the heaviness of my breathing and volume of my cries. So much so, I hadn’t heard the heavy footsteps rushing in my direction. I hadn’t seen Harry in a full sprint rushing to my aid.

No, in my full blown panic attack, I hadn’t even been able to process he was there with me until his fingers curled around my shoulders and his green eyes looked into mine.

I watched his mouth move rapidly, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. Still unable to hear, eyes moving too fast to read his lips.

“H-Harry I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” I all but yelled. My breathing loud, sounding of a wheeze.

Even in my state, the dining intense and my body still burning, I understood he was doing his best to calm me. Familiar with the feelings that had overtaken my body.

In the mess, he has somehow managed to rip the water from my grasp. My hands flying to his shoulders, head buried between his shoulder and neck. His shirt wet with my tears.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” The words came out like a prayer.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I didn’t know why I was sorry. Maybe for not doing my job I promised him. Maybe for adding stress to his already full plate. Maybe it was me convincing myself I was only becoming more of an inconvenience to him. Either way, I felt him shake his head.

“Don’t say that. No, stop apologizing. Fuck, stop it.” He begged gently, hands rubbing along my spine in an attempt to soothe me.

In some ways, it worked. The ringing fading into the background and my lungs becoming a little less tender. But the burning was still there and breathing was still a struggle.

I shook my head against his skin, eyes shut in embarrassment.

“I’ll pick it all up. I’ll clean everything that spilled. I’ll-I can fix this.” I pleaded, more for myself than for him. He held me tighter.

“No. No you won’t. It’s not your problem. Y/n, stop. Stop. Please, listen to me.” He sounded more stern than calm now. A different approach being taken to get me to snap out of it.

“Y/n you did everything you could and that was more than enough. You are more than enough. Please, believe me. Please, try to understand my perspective.” By now, my eyes were dry, all my tears used up. My breathing heavy but manageable. The gasps fading into soft hitches of breath from my intense sobbing.

“You promised me, you promised that you would stop doing this. Stop overworking yourself for the benefit of others. And I believed you, but I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have because I know you. I know you better than anyone here, so I know you’ll never change.” I looked at him through my eyelashes, slouching further into myself, I sat away from him. Head pulling itself off of his shoulder to face him.

“I’m so-“ He cut me off, not wanting to hear another apology slip past my lips.

“I wish. I wish you could see what I see. How everyone else sees you. How you’re more than enough even without all these extravagant attempts to ease our stress. Y/n, you do so much more for us in one week than we could ever hope to do in one year. You put yourself last in every single situation. You’re selfless and the most empathetic person I have ever had the privilege to know. You’re brave, a-and passionate about everyone. How can you not see that? That this enough? You just being here is enough?” It was like the roles were swapped. My eyes drying while Harry’s filled with tears. Filled to the brim along his waterline. He blinked them away, my thumb quick to find the few that fell past his eyelashes and wipe it from his skin.

“I wish I could promise you that I’ll change, Harry. I wish I could tell you I’ll never do this again, but if I’m completely honest, just for a second, I can’t do that. It’s like, my brain is wired specifically to aid to everyone else’s issues. I can’t rest until I’ve done everything I can, Harry. I just can’t. And my chest hurts. It physically hurts me not being able to make everyone happy. I just feel like I’m always doing something wrong. Like I’m disappointing everyone.” I ripped myself open completely with my confession, showing a vulnerability I hadn’t even had the courage to admit six inches away from a mirror.

“I don’t expect you to change, love. I just hope that one day, you’ll be able to see what we all see. What we all recognize everyday. That you’ll figure it out.” His hands held mine. His steady hands drilling my shaky ones.

My eyebrows furrowed into a sad expression, but it was a good sad. One that needed to be expressed.

“I love you.” It was quiet, barely a whimper. My throat dry and eyes puffy. He smiled, sighing softly. Not out of irritation, but admiration. A soft smile playing on his face.

“I love you more.”

In that moment I felt less of a failure and more like a success. Like ultimately, even if I had failed myself in more ways than I could possibly count out loud, ultimately, in some odd, twisted way, I had won. Guilt continued to eat at me and my stomach would always twist at the idea of letting someone down, but it was lesser than before. Being told I was more than enough sparked something small inside of my brain. I couldn’t promise to change, I couldn’t promise to stop overthinking and pushing myself down. But I knew I could get better. I could work on it. I know that, and I’m thankful for that.

[efingcod]

Go All Night Chapter 3 (explicit version)

One | Two | Three* (sfw version)

Minors DNI

I never posted the explicit version of Chapter 3 here. I really don't remember why. But today I say fuck it. Also, I really do love this fic, it came out of a series of separate writing prompts the lovely @nanobyting sent to me. As well as a snippet of an idea about stockings and garters another friend put it my head.

Also, you do not need to know anything about Black Ops to read this. It is just a sexy cool fic that I wrote for funsies.

“All right,” Mason said as he handed her a beer and held up his own to cheers her. “Thanks for saving our asses.”

Bell tapped the neck of her bottle to his.

The room was packed, which was not surprising for a hotel bar on a Saturday night. She hadn’t planned on coming down here. In fact, she had been about to get ready for bed when Mason knocked on her door and practically dragged her out. He had been so damn insistent.

At least he let her redo her makeup before they went back downstairs. She’d get some looks with smeared lipstick and mascara running down her face, that’s for sure. Though she was still wearing the dress - with the straps adjusted to make them even. 

Luckily, she didn’t have to feel too overdressed, the hotel had hosted a wedding earlier, and from the looks of it some of the guests had made their way to the bar after the ballroom had closed.

Bell crossed her legs and took a sip of her beer. 

“God, those guys are having fun,” Mason said, beer in hand, pointed to a group of wedding guests who were very over-served dancing and singing to music that wasn’t even playing. 

Bell looked over her shoulder and, at that moment, caught the eye of one of the guests. She noticed that someone was looking at Mason as well.

“Shit!” She hissed and turned back, “Think we’re about to have company.”

“Yeah, me,” Woods said as he walked up to their table and set his beer down. 

“Good timing.” Mason nudged him in the ribs. “Bell was gonna have to beat them off with a stick.”

At that, Woods turned to Bell and rested his hand on the back of her chair.

“That so? Should we leave you to it, Bell?” 

While he had a smile on his face, there was an odd look in Woods’ eyes when he said it. Was he upset ? Had she taken things too far in the van? Bell meant what she said, but she wasn’t so sure she should have said it out loud.The adrenaline from their escape had still been coursing through her system, so she took a risk. And then Mason had interrupted them before Woods could respond. 

“One of them was checking you out, Mason,” Bell deflected.

“Don’t mention that. I even look in that direction, and Em’s gonna know.”

“You like to pretend you’re on such a tight leash.” Woods rolled his eyes. Then he explained to Bell, “Em used to be in the CIA with us. She knows how it is.” 

“Oh, how is it in the CIA, exactly ?” Bell asked with a faux innocent tone before taking a sip of her beer.

“How do you think she and Mason ended up together?” 

Bell pressed a hand to her chest, looking at Mason wide-eyed, pretending to be scandalized.

“ Mason. ”

Mason sighed. “Not you, too. Come on, Bell, I bought you a beer.”

“That’s true you did,” Bell said as she leaned forward and placed both hands on her beer. 

Woods was still resting his hand on the back of her chair. She caught a whiff of his cologne. Unlike her and Mason, he had taken the time to shower and change before heading downstairs. That surprised her. Bell thought he’d be quick to grab a beer, or even something harder, after the night they just had. He had also changed into jeans and a sweater. He looked good and was getting his share of glances from the wedding guests around them.

Mason checked his watch.

“Oh, I told Em I’d call her tonight,” His said, his tone was a little strange, “Guess I’ll go do that.”

Bell and Woods both watched him go.

“That was abrupt,” Bell observed.

“Yeah.” Woods took the seat across from her. He set his drink down close to hers. 

She began to feel nervous. He wouldn’t want to talk here, right? Or would that be better? Get it out in public, and she could hide in her room until morning.Bell cringed at the thought of talking about it at all. 

But instead, Woods gestured to the wedding guests. “They seem like a fun group.”

“Very different from the party this evening,” She agreed but did not turn to look. Accidentally catching the eye of a drunken wedding guest again would only add to the awkwardness she already felt.

“Oh yeah, so after all that, what did you think of that party?”

“It wasn’t so bad. I was able to skirt the ballroom pretty easily.” She played with the label on her beer as she spoke, “I don’t know what I was so worried about.”

Bell glanced up at him, he had been looking at her face as while she was talking, but his expression wasn’t revealing much. 

“I did manage to catch a waiter and try some hor d’eourves,” Bell went on, “I wish I could have gone back for more.”

Woods chuckled at this statement.

“Like you wouldn’t eat the food!” 

“Oh I definitely have. It’s just that Mason and I were joking about asking you to smuggle some food in for us.”

“In what?” She gestured to her dress, “This doesn’t exactly have pockets.”

His wide grin faded slightly as he looked her over. “Yeah, guess you’re right.”

“Though this dress is surprisingly versatile, isn’t it? Great for dancing, cocktail parties, late-night weddings, and shootouts at French arms dealer’s mansions,” Bell said with a smirk, “Would have been interesting to poke around that panic room, though.” 

Woods hummed in response. He had a strange look on his face.

“What?”  

He placed his hands around his beer as if studying the label intently. Then he took a swig, wiped his mouth, and cleared his throat before setting it down again. Bell looked at him expectantly.

“You shouldn’t have been in there.”

“Oh, come on, Woods-”

“You’re dressed like that because you were supposed to be a guest, so you could walk out with them when the shit hit the fan,” He said gruffly. His blue eyes flicked up to meet hers. 

He was serious. 

Bell couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was he scolding her? Yeah, she had told them to stand down, but she had handled it, hadn’t she? She did her job. Adler certainly didn’t have a problem with it.

“Don’t tell me you were worried?” The side of her mouth turned up, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. When he didn’t respond, her smile faded.

“I thought you were impressed,” Bell said in disbelief and shaking her head. “Isn’t that what you said in the van?” 

Fuck she didn’t want to bring up the conversation from the van, but he wasn’t making sense to her.

“Yeah, Bell, you did great. I keep running it over in my head. It was a huge risk-”

She could feel her ears getting hot, she barely heard what he said.

“I’ve taken risks before,” Bell interrupted, “You didn’t think I could handle it? I saved you and Mason twice.”

“No, Bell-” Woods started to say as he put his hands up.

But she didn’t want to hear what he had to say. It was apparent to her that he hadn’t thought she could handle it. But why? They had gone on dangerous missions before. Hadn’t she proved herself? Maybe she didn’t have as much experience in the field as Woods and Mason- who did really? But she thought she had at least gained some of his trust and respect. 

“Is this because of what I said?” She didn’t wait for him to respond before continuing. “I felt insecure for a moment. I thought I was confiding in a- I thought you were someone I could trust with that.”

“Whoa, hang on,” Woods said as he pointed to himself, “After everything, you don’t think you can trust me ?”

I can trust you in the field. Sounds like that’s about it.” She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away from him.

Woods huffed and picked up his beer. He leaned back in his chair and looked anywhere but at her. 

A silence fell over them. Bell leaned back in her chair and pretended to scan the room as well. Conversation usually flowed easily between them, so the silence magnified the tension. She didn’t think he would judge her so harshly for telling him that she felt out of place. If anything, Bell had thought, based on everything she knew about him, he might understand. It sure seemed like he had. Well, that was a mistake. 

Bell stood up. “I’m tired. I should head upstairs.”

Woods looked surprised. “You haven’t finished your beer.”

Bell shrugged. 

“Fine. Guess I’ll see ya,” Woods said dismissively as he took a drink from his beer and appeared interested in something on the other side of the room.

Bell set her jaw and turned towards the exit. She strode out of the bar and headed for the elevator bay. While Bell waited for the elevator, she felt her anger quell. Maybe she had reacted too quickly. She hadn’t let him speak. But did she need to? 

She had to admit she was a bit disappointed. But she reminded herself that she didn’t know Woods that well. There must have just been this idea of him in her mind formed from hearing all the stories people told about him- and Mason. Bell had only met them, what, a month ago? Maybe less?

Well, that’s fine. No one else on the team was particularly warm with her, so why should he be any different? Once this mission was over, she’d probably be back behind a desk, anyway. So who cares what he thought of her personally? 

It was her fault anyway. She knew she couldn’t be vulnerable with these people. She should have known they would have judged her for it. The only reason why she thought Woods might be different is that she wanted him to be different. And that was stupid. 

Her heels dug into the soft rug under her feet. Bell sighed. It would be nice to get out of the dress and take a shower. 

Against her better judgment, she glanced back at the bar. Woods was still sitting at the table, but he wasn’t alone. Someone had taken the seat she had vacated. It looked like they were in conversation. As much as she’d like to tell herself she didn’t care, she still did. But that feeling would fade if she could just stop focusing on it. 

Bell turned her attention back to the elevator, which was still making its achingly slow descent to the lobby. Likely held up by wedding guests going back and forth between their rooms and the bar. 

Looking down the other side of the hallway, she saw Mason sitting in one of the private phone booths. Why didn’t he use the phone in his room? Maybe to give Woods some space, she realized. 

She shifted her feet, anxious to get upstairs. A melodic sound caught her ear. The elevator had finally arrived.

A crowd of drunken wedding guests flooded out of the elevator once the door opened. They parted to make room for her and immediately joined back together behind her. 

Bell stepped inside the elevator and leaned against the handrail, sighing. The doors were nearly closed when someone caught the bumper, triggering them to open again. 

It was a man in a suit. He had his arm around a woman in a cocktail dress. They staggered into the elevator and huddled in a corner. They were drunk. Thankfully, they kept their voices low, but occasionally the woman let out a soft sound.

Bell gritted her teeth and stared hard at the floor indicator panel, willing the elevator to move faster. 

The numbers lit up in turn as the ancient elevator slowly ascended.

When the elevator reached her floor with a ding, she felt relieved to finally be able to step out and head for her room.

“...should have asked her….” Bell could hear the woman say before she burst into giggles, and the door closed, muffling any other sound.

She turned her key and walked inside, letting the door shut before bolting it. Then she sighed and sat at the vanity. Unclipping her hair, she shook it out and picked an errant piece of glass out of it. Under the focused vanity light, even under her makeup, it was easy to make out the cuts and bruises on her face. 

“Ugh, aren’t you a mess,” Bell said grimacing at herself in the mirror. 

Looking down, she inspected the shoes. They seemed to be the only thing still in good shape, which was a surprise. Running in heels was challenging, but she thought she managed pretty well. Though she hoped she’d never have an assignment like that again. Turtleneck, boots, and armor were preferable to heels, makeup, and nothing between her and a bullet but some silky fabric. The scar on her chest peeked out from under the edge of the dress. She traced her finger over it. 

“Armor didn’t help you much then, now did it?”

She had gotten lucky, then. She had been lucky tonight, too. 

Every night any of them came back alive was at least partially due to luck, wasn’t it?

A knock on the adjoining door shook her from her thoughts. Rising from the vanity, she walked over and opened the door.

“Woods? I thought-” She stopped. 

What did she think? That he’d be spending more time at the bar? That he wouldn’t be going upstairs alone? Well, he wasn’t alone now was he?

“Place suddenly wasn’t so interesting,” He said with a grin, “Miss me?”

Bell studied his face impassively. She noted that he had removed his sweater and was only wearing his undershirt and jeans.

“Look-” He started but stopped mid-sentence. He was looking at something on the side of her head. Raising a hand, he touched- her hair? No, something was in her hair. When he pulled away, he showed her a tiny piece of glass in his palm.

“Oh, I thought I got all of those.” Bell frowned at the fragment in his hand. “Thanks.”

She raked her fingers through her hair to shake out more.

“Whoa, hang on,” Woods put his hands out to stop her, “You’re gonna cut yourself.” 

Woods stepped into her room and guided her to stand by her vanity. He placed the piece of glass on the countertop. 

“Lighting is better here,” He said as he raised his hands to her hair again. 

“I don’t need help.”

“Getting these out of short hair is impossible,” Woods shook his head, “I can only imagine what it’s like with long hair.”

“Yeah, well, normally I have my hair up and under a beanie, don’t I? It’s fine. I’ve got it.”

“Bell, not everything is criticism.” 

Tentatively he raised his hands to her hair again. When she didn’t push him away, he carefully combed through her hair with his fingers.

He still hadn’t said why he had knocked on her door. She should be annoyed. He was acting as if nothing had happened. Though she had to admit it was so much easier to pretend. 

Because she was still wearing the heels, her eye level was at his shoulders. Standing this close to him, she noticed that his white undershirt wasn’t hiding much. She could just make out his muscle movements under the fabric. Bell felt the urge to reach up and touch him, run her hands over the rough white cotton covering his chest, and feel his body heat on her skin. Slip her fingers under the hem of the shirt and pull it off him. 

But of course, she didn’t. Instead, she closed her eyes. The feeling of Woods’ hands in her hair was so soothing. She was surprised to be touched with such gentleness from this big man with whom she had escaped a shootout only hours ago. 

A shootout he thought she couldn’t handle. This guy doesn’t trust you. Remember? And here she was, allowing him to take care of her again. Did he think she was so incompetent she couldn’t even clean herself up?

“All right, Bell. You’re good.” 

She opened her eyes again to Woods giving her another unreadable look. Well, she supposed she couldn’t blame him. She probably looked like an idiot standing there with her eyes closed and mouth open.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

He was still giving her that look. Then his hand went to her chin as he tilted her face up. Bell felt a thrill in the pit of her stomach. With their faces so close, she could smell mint on his breath. 

“Need help getting bandaged up?” 

Bell realized then he was examining the bruise there. 

“No,” She found herself saying as she brushed his hand away, “I’ve got it, thanks.”

She didn’t want any more of his help. Even if it meant feeling his hands on her again, it wouldn’t lead to anything except her wanting him more. And what she needed to do was to shake him from her brain.

But he didn’t leave, so she met his eye.

“What?” 

“Took me a while to learn,” Woods said as he stroked the hair of his mustache with his thumb and index finger. She could tell he was thinking things through, being careful with his next statement. 

“But you know it’s ok to accept help sometimes,” He finished.

“Well, when I need it, I’ll ask for it,” She said in a tone that was sharper than she had intended.

“All right,” He said softly, tapping her shoulder as he moved to leave.

“Woods-” 

“It’s ok,” He said held a hand up, “I was being pushy.”

Woods walked to the door and opened it. 

“You’re wrong about me, y’know.” He turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. “I’ll be honest, it pissed me off to hear you say it.  But I think I know why you did. You can trust me, Bell. I know you don’t believe me, but you really can.”

Bell kept her expression even. She’d like to believe it. It would be easier in the short term.

He let out a soft sigh and moved into his room, placing his hand on his door as if he were about to close it.

“Goodnight, Bell.”

“Goodnight, Woods.”

He gave her a little smile, before saying, “Frank. At least call me Frank.”

Something about his tone seemed a little sad. Disappointed. She could have stopped him, but her heels were rooted into the soft carpet of her hotel room.

“Goodnight, Frank.”

With a soft grin he closed the door. Once she heard the lock slide into place, she moved to close to the adjoining door on her side. Even after it was closed, Bell held her hands against it as if she was bracing for something to burst through it. But nothing would. And Woods wasn’t going to knock on her door again. 

Quietly cursing herself, she roughly unzipped her dress and dropped it to the floor. She kicked it in frustration. The silky fabric skidded across the carpet but stopped short. 

Very unsatisfying.

Sitting down at the vanity in a huff, Bell frowned disdainfully at her reflection. She needed to shower and go to bed. She shifted her body to stand up again when something on the vanity caught the light and drew her eye. 

It was the glass Woods had pulled from her hair. Bell turned it over in her fingers, examining it. A flash of light reflected in the mirror, and she looked at herself again. Setting the glass piece down, Bell placed her hand on the garter belt she was still wearing. 

With her thumb, she traced the stiff top edge of the fabric. She fought the urge to rip it off.

She remembered how it felt when Woods ran his hand over her stomach as he put it in place, how the corners of his mouth had turned up when she flinched at his touch. At the time, she assumed he just thought it was funny that he got a reaction from her.

It was easier to pretend he didn’t care. To think of him as just some asshole. To push him away at the slightest perceived infraction. But she was the one who decided that he had judged her. Her snap reaction to her letting her guard down. He had seen her nervous and uncomfortable. She had let him in for only the briefest moment, which was terrifying. 

That’s what it was about. Woods had helped her.  And he hadn’t deserved her shitty attitude. She should at least apologize.

Bell stood up. Not wanting to deal with the dress again, she picked up the button-down she had discarded earlier in the evening and threw it on. 

“Time to get this over with.”

She opened her door and stood behind it and raised her hand to knock. 

What was she going to say? Sorry for being a stubborn ass? Not the best opener, exactly. But Woods might like it. He might have a few adjectives of his own to add. 

“Fuck it,” Bell muttered to herself and rapped gently on his door. 

He didn’t say anything when he opened the door, and his expression was once again unreadable.

Bell opened her mouth to apologize. To say she misunderstood him. She was an idiot. But Woods spoke first. 

“I know you can handle yourself,” He said as he folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe, “It wasn’t about that.”

“Then what was it about?”

Woods ran his fingers through his hair. 

“Me, Bell.” He stepped past her and into her room. “My own stuff.”

She gave him a curious look.

He sighed, “I- when you were stuck in that room. You didn’t have armor. You had that little peashooter some people like to call a gun -”

To her surprise, Woods sat on her bed. Was he expecting a long conversation? 

“You were worried.” She took a step toward him.  

“I was worried,” He agreed, “But you were great. I just keep thinking, because you weren’t prepared, I could have made a better call that didn’t put you in more danger. That’s it.”

Bell put her hand to her forehead, exasperated with herself.

“And then I got pissed off-”

“You didn’t even let me explain!”

Bell sighed and sat on the bed next to him, staring at her shoes.  

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I think I can sleep easy tonight,” Woods sighed, he sounded relieved, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. 

He followed her gaze to her feet.

“You’re still wearing those shoes. I thought you would have kicked them off by now.” 

“Me too, if I’m being honest-” Bell admitted and stretched her legs out in front of her admiring the way the shoes sparkled, “But I like them. And I’m surprised they’re in such good shape considering everything. Anyway, they’re… uh….”

She trailed off, dropped her legs, and crossed her feet. 

“They’re what?” Woods asked. 

Bell glanced up at him. He was looking at her over his shoulder.

She huffed and tucked a hair behind her ear before responding, “They’re pretty, ok?” 

Then she braced herself for the teasing.

“So, you are actually a girl.”

She playfully shoved his shoulder. “What was your first clue?”

“You did look pretty good in that dress.”

Reflexively, Bell tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, again.

“I seem to remember you telling me that- in a friendly way. ”

Woods looked away from her and rubbed the back of his head. The clean smell of the hotel shampoo wafted in the air around him. She remembered then that he had showered before joining her and Mason downstairs. That his breath smelled like mint. He had cleaned himself up. 

She had to wonder. 

“About that-” He said, turning his head to look at her again. Then he sighed as if he were rethinking what to say. A slight grin appeared on his face.

“I think I like this outfit better.”

“Oh, you do, do you? Well,” She braced her hands on the edge of the bed, pushing her shoulders down and tilting her head back before continuing, “That’s good because I’m probably stuck in it.”

Bell crossed her legs.

“Stuck in it?”

“Well, yeah. I couldn’t get them on- so obviously, I have no idea how to take them off. Maybe you could help me?”

She was joking.  Once she had seen him put the garters on, it was easy to figure out how to remove them. 

“Oh, yeah?” Woods said as he leaned closer to her, “I guess it’s a good thing we made up, huh?”

Then he kissed her.  

After all that build-up, it took every bit of Bell’s willpower to not just pull him down on the bed on top of her. It seemed like he was trying to do just that as he leaned into her, but that’s not what she wanted to happen. Not yet.

And it wasn’t what she had asked him to do anyway.

Bell let him touch her lips briefly before placing her fingers on his chin and pushing his face away. 

“You said I should ask for help,” She said matter-of-factly.

Woods smirked at her. “I did, didn’t I?”

Leaning back on her hands again, she looked at him expectantly. 

He slipped his fingers between her skin and one of the straps and traced it down to where the clasp met her stocking. 

When he moved to undo it, she stopped him. 

“No.” 

And when he looked at her questioningly, she placed one heeled foot on his shoulder, guiding him down.

“Like before. On your knees.”

Woods complied. She allowed her leg to slide over his shoulder while he kneeled. Her stockinged thigh rested next to his cheek. He reached up and ran his hand up the outside of her leg. Then he trailed his fingers along the inside of her thigh, bringing his hands to meet at that first strap. 

“No,” She said again as he was about to undo the strap. 

He stopped and looked at her, amused.

“First things first.”

Bell dropped her leg from his shoulder. Then gathered the bottom of her shirt and held it against her stomach.

Woods nodded and slipped two fingers under the waistband of her underwear. He looked to her for confirmation, but she just raised an eyebrow at him. She lifted her hips as he slipped them off of her. 

Bell let out a breath. 

Once again, Woods moved to undo the straps.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Bell said, “I think I’m going to leave them on.”

The side of his mouth curled up. 

This time she threw both legs over his shoulders and crossed them over his back, encouraging him to come closer. He gripped her thigh and pressed his lips to it. The bristly hair of his beard and mustache brushed against her sensitive skin, sending a tingle through her body. Dragging his lips over her skin, he left the occasional soft kiss there as he moved up her leg. He paused for a beat when he reached the top of her inner thigh. Her toes curled in her shoes as she awaited his mouth on her.

And then he moved along to her other thigh.

The bastard was teasing her. 

Bell wanted to kick him lightly but willed herself to keep her composure. 

After a few lingering kisses on her thigh, he stopped and turned back. Again she felt how close he was to her, and a thrill rose from the pit of her stomach.

Trying to stay cool, she ran a hand through her hair, tossing it to one side, and looked down at him.

“Need an invitation?” Bell braced the tip of her heel against his back. Mock-threatening.

Woods grinned and kept his eyes on hers as he gently pressed his lips against her. His tongue traced her slit. The sensation of his mouth finally on her elicited a pleased little sound from her.

Reaching his arms around her thighs, Woods held her there, locking them into place. He prodded her slit with his tongue as he pulled her apart with his thumbs. 

Here Woods paused again and looked up at her. His warm breath on her exposed flesh was driving her wild. She wanted him now.

Finally, he dragged his tongue over her folds, overwhelming her with the incredibly smooth and gentle sensation. A cry caught in her throat when he reached her throbbing clit and drew circles there.

She could have sworn she saw the edge of his mouth turn up. Moving his hands to her hips, he pulled her forward, closer to the edge of the bed. He seemed determined to take his time with her, slowly working her over. However, his steady movements were quickly building her up. With one hand, she clawed the bedcovers into her fist as heat began to rise in her face. With her other hand, she raked her fingers through his hair as she held him firmly to her and bucked her hips up into him.

He responded by sucking on her clit.

“Frank,” She let his name escape her lips in a moan. This only seemed to encourage him, and he ramped up the intensity. Her thighs began to shake, and Woods tightened his grip around them, holding them in place. Her head was fuzzy, and she thought she heard herself say his name again. 

He grasped at her hips, his fingers digging into her skin, pulling her even closer. He was relentless. An intense heat threatened to overwhelm her as sparks fired through her body. 

Bell cried out just as she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, and suddenly, everything went white-hot. Her grip on his hair tightened for a moment as he continued to work her through the orgasm. And she was hit with light-headed relief.

Bell fell back into the bed and placed her hands on her forehead.

“God, Frank-” She worked to catch her breath.

After a moment, she felt him gently lift her legs off of his shoulders. He crawled onto the bed next to her and pulled her into him. Then he kissed her again—the faint taste of her on his lips- how their body chemistry mingled together- was intoxicating. Gripping the collar of his shirt and wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled his body into her and kissed him deeply. Guiding him onto his back, she climbed on top of him. Her hair curtained around them as she bent down to kiss him again.

Woods ran his hands up her thighs and hips, then cupped her breasts over her shirt. With his thumbs, he traced her nipples through the fabric. She trembled at his touch, still feeling sensitive, and pushed him away. 

“Can’t I at least see you?” Woods asked as he played with the hem of her shirt. 

Bell sighed and sat back, purposefully pressing her hips down into him, causing him to gasp. She began working at the buttons of her shirt. Woods’ eyes softened, and his lips parted slightly as he watched her. With his hands, he traced anxious circles around her hips. 

When her shirt was completely unbuttoned he tried to touch her skin underneath it, but she slapped him away and smirked at him. 

“Patience,” Bell mock-scolded.

He chuckled. 

Holding the front of the shirt against her chest, she allowed it to slowly drop down from her shoulders before removing it and tossing it to the floor. Bell did not miss the sharp intake of breath nor the way his cock twitched beneath her. She was pleased to have that effect on him. 

Bending down, she kissed him again, but this time he slipped his fingers down her sides and firmly grabbed her ass pressing her into him. 

She made a surprised sound, but she had to admit she liked the rough feeling of his clothes against her naked body. The way his jeans felt against her when he pushed his hips into her. Leaving one hand firmly on her ass, Woods reached up with his other and combed his fingers through her hair as he kissed her. He moaned softly into her mouth as she playfully bit his lip. Bell moved away from his lips, down his body, kissing him over his shirt. She traced a hand over his chest until she reached the hem of his shirt and slipped her fingers underneath. His abs flexed at her touch. His skin was warm against her cool hands. As she pulled his shirt up, she kissed his exposed skin.

When Bell had pushed the shirt up to his chest, she sat up again and yanked on it playfully. “Little help?”

Woods looked down and then sat up, making her back up. He brought his face close to hers as he pulled the shirt over his head. Throwing it somewhere, he then kissed her.

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” She nodded very seriously. Her hands went to the waistband of his pants.

“Pants, underwear, socks, I want all of it off.”

Bell moved off of him and lay on her side with one hand propped under her head as she watched him get undressed. She bit her index finger and tried to keep her expression even, but even still, she allowed the slightest whine past her lips as he removed his boxers. He winked at her. 

She pressed her legs together, feeling the ache for him return. 

She wasn’t sure she ever wanted anyone more, but she was still determined to play it cool. Getting up on her knees, with one hand she pulled him towards her and ran her manicured nails through the hair on the back of his neck. Brushing his cock with just the tips of her fingers, she elicited a soft gasp from him. Then she wrapped her hand around him. Woods placed his hands on either side of her face and crashed his mouth down on her. He wanted it too. 

“Let me fuck you,” He groaned into her mouth, still holding her face, his lips brushing against her as he said it. 

Goddamn, it almost sounded like begging. 

Bell wanted to fuck him, too, but she knew to enjoy the thrill of anticipation. That ramping him up would be more fun for both of them. She bit her lip and looked him in the eye.

“Not yet,” She whispered, shaking her head. 

Seeing how his face fell, she tightened her grip around him, pumping her hand up and down his length.

He let out a soft sigh, kissed her lips, then her cheek, and rested his parted lips on her ear. She enjoyed hearing the soft little sounds he made as she touched him. 

Turning her head towards him, she kissed him again, slipping her tongue just inside his mouth. His tongue met hers, giving her a taste of their intermingling chemistry again and sending a thrill through her body. She deepened the kiss, pressing her body into him. Then she moved down, dragging her lips over the dip between his collarbones. Raking her fingers over his chest, she continued down his sternum, allowing herself to linger there, appreciating the slight flex of his chest muscles. Her hands dropped down so she could brush her fingers along his sides. She looked up at him with a grin when he twitched at her touch. 

Bell gently pushed his hips, and he moved back so she could sit on the edge of the bed in front of him. 

Lazily she stroked the inside of his thighs with the backs of her fingers before once again gripping his cock. She ran the point of her tongue from the base up to the tip, taking in the taste of the salt of his skin, listening to his soft gasps become moans. Woods’ hands combed through her hair again, and then finally, she placed her mouth around him. His breath hitched in his throat, and she looked up at him then. 

“Oh fuck,” He groaned when they made eye contact. 

If Bell could have grinned, then she would have. Instead, she moaned on to him, knowing the vibrations would bring him closer to the edge. 

God, the noises he made were intoxicating, and when he tried to suppress them, they only served to sound needier, more desperate. 

He fucking wanted this. He wanted it as much as she did. Hell, maybe even more. 

Bell rolled her tongue over the tip of his cock before giving the underside a few long and slow licks. Then she wrapped her hand around the base, steadily pumping as she continued to work him over with her mouth. She took in as much of him as possible, letting her hand handle the rest. 

It wasn’t long before she felt him stiffen in her mouth. His hand gripped her hair. He was close. She stopped. 

Woods made a confused sound and looked down at her. Bell placed her knees back on the bed and rose up to stroke his collarbone with her finger, noting how he reacted to her touch before kissing him again. 

“I mean, you still want to fuck, right?” She said into his mouth. She could feel the corners of his mouth turn up as he kissed her back. His fingers combed through her hair as he held her to him.

“Oh fuck yeah,” He said when he came up for air.

She smiled at him, looking over his face. A fading soft pink flush contrasted nicely with his blue eyes and dark hair. 

He looked so fucking good to her like this. She moved back, allowing her fingers to linger over his skin before completely letting go and laying back on the bed. Without hesitation, Woods joined her on the bed caging his arms around her head. He lifted his hand to brush a hair out of her face. 

He had a surprisingly soft way of looking at her. She was sure it was just the way he expressed lust or desire, but the way that look made her feel- she couldn’t take it, she looked away. 

This was just sex. 

Just a good time. 

“Everything ok?” Woods asked, drawing her gaze back to him. The look was gone, replaced with one of concern.

“Yeah, of course.” 

She stroked his beard, studying the little white hairs that stood out against the black.  

“You’re so handsome it hurts to look at you sometimes.”

“Oh, you gotta be kidding me,” He slipped arms around her back and buried his face in her neck, “What a cheesy line, Bell. I’d expect better from a smart gal like you.”

Bell laughed partly because of his reaction and because his beard tickled her neck. 

“What you are!” She said in protest, pushing her hands against his chest. 

He laughed and pulled away. She placed the tip of her index finger between her lips and grinned at him again. Despite everything she had just done to distract him, she wanted him to look at her like that again. 

That lingering look. The way his blue eyes shone as he studied her face. It made her feel a bit like an idiot to want it. 

But he wasn’t looking at her face now, he was leaning on one arm. His eyes were traveling down her body, and his fingers too. Bell bent one leg as his thumb found her clit, and he pushed a finger inside her. 

Woods breathed something she couldn’t quite make out and pushed another finger inside her. 

She trailed her hand along his abdomen, and he made a little pained noise as she touched his cock again. 

“Frank,” Bell said, trying to sound commanding even though her voice shook as he pleasured her. 

“God, you’re wet,” He said.

“You may have had something to do with that,” She chuckled but cut it off with a sharp breath.

Woods suppressed a grin as he looked up at her. 

“You look good like this.”

She made a sound of confirmation and then found her commanding voice again, “Frank, I need you inside me, now.”

Bell spread her legs as he moved between them. He wrapped a hand around her hip as he eased himself into her. 

“Oh,” She breathed and tilted her head back, closing her eyes. 

Every nerve in her seemed to react to him finally slipping inside her. 

“You ok?” he asked, giving her hip a little squeeze.

“Yeah,” She sighed, opening her eyes, “Feels good.”

Holding soft eye contact with her, he thrust with gentle and steady movements first, allowing her to adjust to him before picking up the pace. 

Of course, he had to look so goddamn sexy when he fucked her.

Her breath caught in her throat as he resumed stroking over her clit with his thumb. 

The initial sensations were overwhelming. It had been a while since she felt this good. She wanted to hold on to it. The hand still holding onto her hip dug into her flesh. 

She ran her fingers through her hair, enjoying every feeling. His hands on her hips, the way his thumb circled her clit. Her breasts swayed with the rhythm of his thrusts. She let herself go limp, allowing his movements to take over. Pleasure coursed through her. Bell whined as a particularly well-timed thrust set her nerves alight. Her cheeks began to warm as a soft tingling spread over the surface of her face. 

“Oh fuck,” Her voice was a whining gasp as she grabbed his wrist. Her thighs were aching. For a moment, it felt like she was caught, held tight, and couldn’t breathe. Heat rushed up her body. Bell raked her free hand over the pillow behind her head. She felt like she would be stuck here forever, her grip tightened on his wrist, then finally letting out a sob she was pushed over the edge. 

He let her catch her breath, entwined his fingers with hers, and kissed the back of her hand. 

“Frank,” Bell reached for him, and he smiled at her before bending down to kiss her. He pressed her hand into the bed and squeezed it as he moved down to kiss her neck.

“You ok?” 

“Mmm-hmm,” She managed.

“Can I keep going?”

Bell nodded.

He lifted himself onto his arms, his face hovering just above hers. She looked away. It felt almost too intimate to look him in the eye right now. 

You’ve got it bad. 

Woods sat up and guided himself back into her. Her muscles tensed as her overstimulated flesh reacted to him entering her again.  But she bit her lip against it. She didn’t want it to end yet.

Starting slow again, he began to find a rhythm. Then he placed his hands on either side of her as he bent over her. His arms slipped under her, one hand resting under her lower back and the other under her shoulders. Woods pressed his face into her neck, his hot breath hitting her skin, holding her close to him as he began fucking her again. Bell wrapped her legs around his waist, taking a moment to get used to the new angle. To enjoy the intense way the sensations in her body changed. 

His body rubbed against her overworked clit as he thrust into her. She grabbed his shoulders tightly, bit back a whine, and jerked her hips into him. He groaned into her neck. 

Encouraged, Bell scraped her fingers down his back and ass, holding him there and pressing him into her. 

Woods sucked in a breath, “Damn, Bell.”

She heard his muffled voice say, baby, as his fingers wrapped around her upper arms.

His beard tickled her neck as he moved his mouth by her ear, breathing soft grunts next to it. 

She felt his body begin to tense. His muscles tightened as he deepened his movements. She stroked the back of his sweaty and surprisingly soft hair. 

He came deep inside her, breathing heavily into her skin. He moved his hand from between her shoulders to the back of her neck, stroking her hair there. They lay there like that catching their breath.

Woods shifted and pressed his forehead into her chest.

“That was good,” He said.

“Yeah,” Bell agreed.

A contented silence fell over them. Bell could feel herself fading, but she needed to get up, get this lingerie off of her. Finally take a shower?

“Frank?”

“Mmm?”

“I need to get up.”

He groaned and playfully squeezed her, like he wasn’t planning on letting her go, then rolled off. 

Sitting up on the edge of the bed, she turned back to him. 

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I really need to shower. I didn’t before-”

“What you don’t like smelling like a battlefield? Smoke, grease, sweat-” He grinned at her as he settled into the pillows. V

She gave him a horrified look and sniffed at a lock of her hair. 

“Oh god.” She scrunched her nose up. She did smell like smoke. And after he had cleaned himself up too. 

“Bell, if those smells bothered me, I’d be in the wrong business.”

She gave him a tired smile and moved to stand up. Then realized was still wearing the heels from earlier. She wanted to kick them off.

“Wow,” Woods said behind her. 

Bell turned to look at him.

“Your ass is amazing,” He offered by way of explanation. 

“Oh.” She sat back down on the bed, her calves were aching, “It’s the heels.”

He drew himself up and sat next to her on the bed, slipping her shoes off before she had the chance.

“Nah, I think you’ve just got a great ass,” He said, setting the shoes down on the ground, “Now come on, I said I was going to help you with this.”

“You know I don’t actually-”

He put a finger over her lips to stop her. Then he detached the garters from the stockings in turn. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he removed the belt and tossed it on a chair. Then he carefully slipped the stockings off her, tossing them next to the belt.

He looked her over. His fingers traced where the lingerie had made indentations in her skin.

“Shit, did I make it too tight?”

Bell looked down to see what he was referring to and shrugged, “Oh no, that’s just how it is. Binding. Gotta keep everything in.”

Woods frowned at the indentations again.

“They’ll go away,” Bell assured him as she stood up. 

“For the record, I’m good with everything out.” Then he grabbed her hips and turned her around, “Yeah, perfect ass. No torture devices needed for that.”

She looked over her shoulder at him and chuckled, “Can I take a shower now?”

Woods slapped her ass, “Now you can.”

“Hey!” Bell turned and placed her hands on his shoulders, pushing him back down on the bed.

“Oh, change your mind? Looking for a round two?”

She sighed, shook her head, and climbed off of him.

Bell walked to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and waited as it heated up. Then she stepped in and let the warm water run over her aching body. She was so tired she felt like she would fall asleep standing up. Picking up the tiny hotel shampoo bottle, she stared at it, willing herself to wash her hair, but she couldn’t. Bell leaned against the cool tile and closed her eyes. 

“Hey,” Woods said from the other side of the shower curtain, “Room in there for one more?”

“Of course, but I thought you showered already.”

He carefully peeled back the curtain and stepped in.

“Some gal got me dirty since then.”

“Some gal?” She chuckled and turned to him.

“You ok?” He held her shoulders and tried to look at her face, “Oh wow, you are tired. Don’t fall asleep in here.” 

She made a non-committal sound in response.

“Guess you still need my help,” Woods chuckled. He took the shampoo bottle from her and pulled her into his chest. Then he started washing her hair.

“This is ok, right?”

“Yeah,” She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. He helped her clean up, and when they were done, he wrapped a robe around her.

“Ok all clean.”

“Great, want to get dirty again?” She asked halfheartedly.

“Don’t tempt me, baby” He turned her around and guided her to the bed, “You need to sleep.”

“Baby?”

“Yeah, what you don’t like it?” 

Bell considered this as she walked to the bed. She tossed her robe over a chair and pulled the covers aside. Then slipped between the sheets and settled in. 

“Maybe I could get used to it,“ Bell covered her mouth, “I mean- I didn’t-”

She started to speak when he got into bed and placed his arms on either side of her head. He looked into her eyes as he stroked her hair.

“Don’t tell me this was a one-time-only kind of thing.”

“Just didn’t want to assume anything.”

“Yeah, I get that. But we gotta do this again,” He rolled over and pulled the covers over himself, settling in bed next to her, “This ok?”

She nodded, “Yeah, I want you to stay.”

She wrapped one arm around him and placed her head on his chest.

“I think-” She paused. Then Bell lifted herself on her hands and looked him in the eye. Her long hair pooled on his chest. 

“I think I might like you, Frank,” She finished. 

“You think?” He stroked her cheek with the back of his index finger. “I like you too, Bell.”

[pbandjesse]

Today is labor day! And it feels thematically appropriate to finally. Finally. Tell Tumblr the secret I have been holding from the Internet for a month. I am 11 weeks pregnant! And today we finally got to tell my family. So I can also finally tell all of you. It has been incredibly hard to write my posts since July 31st when I first found out. And there are other versions of my posts I had written. So I will have to go back and edit those back. It wasn't all of the days but there is a good handful from the beginning of August!! It has been so hard to not say anything! It's why I've been so sick!

I was so nervous to tell my parents. How would they react?? Would i get the emotional excitement I hoped for?? It's basically all I wanted to talk about yesterday. And thankfully when I got home last night I was able to shower and settle and I was able to sleep pretty well, despite the nerves.

I had brought two flower arrangements home from the wedding. One for me and one for my parents. I was smart and dumped the water from the vases but would fill them up for the overnight. And in the morning they still looked great.

I woke up at 8. With the plan for us to leave at 830. James was making crepes and they looked so cute in their Uganda soccer kit. And I really love my denim dress. I felt good. I was nervous but I didn't feel sick. And I really hoped I could keep that going. Ride that wave as long as I could.

Right before we left I noticed one of my frogs was dead. Covered in snails. And I was so sad. So I think I have no frogs anymore. And it just bums me out so bad. I am just going to have to completely start my tank over. I can't get the snails to stop. It's ruined my tanks environment and it just sucks so bad. James would handle getting my baby frog out and buried. I was just really sad. But I tried to not let it ruin my day. We had a big thing to do.

I went out to the car to move stuff around so there would be room for us to bring our laundry with us to my parents. And soon we were on the road.

I brought a pillow and that made me more comfortable. I never fell asleep but I enjoyed resting and we listened to a podcast and it was not a bad drive at all. We wouldn't have to deal with any traffic and we got to my parents at 1030.

We didn't discuss between, me and James, how we were going to tell them. We had packed a little gift bag, with the ultra sound from my last appointment (remember when I went to see that 'specialist'?) and James picked a fig from the tree to bring with us. I packed it like a gift. And when we got to the house we put the flowers and the gift bag in the kitchen table and just didn't mention it. I would have to decide on the right time.

The dogs didn't bark when we came in. It was like they were so excited they were basically honking??? Mom would come out and was very surprised. But I was so happy to see her.

Dad was still getting ready for the day. So I would have to wait.

We would chill in the living room. And talked about life and just catching up. It was hard to redirect the conversation when Mom would talk about me feeling sick, but also when she brought up our planned Scotland trip. The problem being my expected due date is two weeks before the trip. So I was pretty sure we were going to have to reschedule that. Which makes me a little sad but I knew she would understand.

I went to bother Dad and tell him to hurry up and join us. And soon he would. But I wouldn't tell them yet still.

Around 1130 mom asked if we wanted to order pizza. I had had my two crepes in the car but I absolutely wanted pizza now. I love the pizza place near them. So we would order pizza and James got a cheese steak and mom got a quesadilla.

While we waited for the food to be delivered, mom brought up Scotland again. And I decided it was the right time. I honestly wish I got it on video because she had such an amazing reaction. I told James to get the gift bag and mom was like. Why do I get a gift?? And I'm like well it's kind of a thing for both of you.

She brought out the framed ultrasound first. And she literally stopped mid sentence and goes. No??? You're fucking joking?? Jesse??!! You're joking?? And I go right into explaining, this is why I've been sick. And she ran over to me to give me a hug. And dad is like ??? What is happening, Sharon stop cursing!!! And mom hasn't shown him the frame yet and he wasn't getting it. But we finally hand it to him and he gets it and he go no!! Omg!! And they were both so excited. She claims she didn't cry but I saw the teary eyes. She was so excited. Dad was so excited.

Then I explained the fig. And dad goes. Wow. My grandchild, as he holds it up. And then I explain the whole story. When we were on the cruise I was nauseous. Jess's parents kept saying I was pregnant. I didn't want to take a test until August 1st, despite missing two persons. But when I got off the cruise and was still nauseous I spoke to the camp nurse and she convinced me to take a pregnancy test on July 31. And that evening I did and it was immediate. "PREGNANT". And then I told James. And we high fived. And then the next day we told Charlotte because she was leaving for Spain. On August 2nd I made an appointment for an obgyn but I let them know I had been sick but also I was spotting and they said I needed to go to the ER. So I had to tell Alexi and Heather and Elizabeth because I had to leave camp.

And when I got the the er I got fluids and they confirmed the pregnancy but I also got an ultrasound. Based on my last missed period they thought I might be 10 weeks but I was actually more like 6/7. And I got to see it early. It didn't look like much but I got to see it! And I drew a pictuee of it to show James later.

And then in the ten days between the ER and the OB-GYN appointment I lost 10lbs from being sick. And the midwife was so nice and James got to see them and they still didn't look like much but we got to see their heartbeat. And now I have my next appointment tomorrow. And I'm so nervous because anything and everything can go wrong. And I can't see them because my belly isn't see through so I just have to believe they are growing safely. And I really hope we get to see them tomorrow but I don't actually know if we will because I don't know how often you get ultrasounds. I want to see them every time though, only seems fair.

But they were just so excited. And when the door bell rang with our friends it took everything in mon not to just tell the pizza man that her daughter was pregnant. But it was the main point of conversation for the rest of the day.

Lunch was great. I actually ate 4 pieces of pizza! And I would actually feel pretty well through around 230. We would talk about the research and reading we have done to get ready. The book I'm reading. Things we have learned. Mom told us about her experiences and James finished the laundry between topics. It was just so nice. It was so nice to be able to talk about everything. About the scary things. About me accidently ripping my boobie skin off with kinesiology tape. About how I have had all my eggs since I was a baby inside of Mom. So this baby has always been with us, our whole lives. And it makes me just a little emotional to think about.

And like I am still scared. It could not be growing. It could not be growing correctly

It could be missing organs, or a skull. It could be perfect and then die at the end. Or it can be totally fine and I can come home with a new little person. That looks like me and James. The person I love so much.

And I just have to believe that no matter what happens I will be okay, and it will all work out how it's supposed to. Just how I have always believed.

And James got to talk about their excitement too. They are a little more focused on my health. They are just so worried about me being so sick. But they are also such an amazing support. And I love them so much.

I started feeling not amazing. And we had one more stop at Xavier and Kaitlyn's house. So at 3 we would give hugs all around. Mom and me had gone down to the basement and she gave me a nice new basket and a bunch of pencils for camp. And we got all of that in the car. And said goodbye. It was exciting that we got to give them something to be excited about. I love them so very much.

We left there and headed to our friends. They are about 40 minutes from my parents. And it was really nice to see them. They are expecting as well, and she's only a few weeks behind me! How crazy!! We talked about our different experiences. She said her mom was barely sick and that's been her experience so far, while my mom was sick the whole time and that's my experience too. Rough. But I enjoyed hanging out. They brought us a few little Pokemon things from Japan. And we just talked and caught up and spent an hour and a half there. It was fun.

But I was losing steam. So it was time to go. We said goodbye and headed not. See them soon!!

We would stop at Wawa on the way home. We got drinks and snacks. I got a small hoagie. And it did help me feel a little better. But the drive home would be a bit tough on us

Not much traffic, but our cord wasn't charging right. My phone would get down to 2%. And people were driving terrible. James couldn't stop sneezing. And the sun was so strong and directly in our faces. We couldn't block it no matter what we tried. So it was not a super fun trip back. But we were fine. And we would finally get home at 7.

We got everything inside. And I was just like. I gotta go lay down. James would put our clothes away. And we would just enjoy hanging out and doing our own thing in our bedroom. James worked on writing. I watched videos and scrolled. It was calm.

Eventually I took a bath. I have so many blasters on my feet from last night so the I put in the water hurt but I am sure it helped. And now we are in bed. And I am so ready to sleep. There was so much emotionally charged moments today. Like in the best way but man. I am exhausted.

And tomorrow we get to go to the OB-GYN again. This time we get to meet Dr Hoffman. Of Hoffman and associates! Which is the name of the practice. I get to have appointments with all the drs and midwives so we get to know everyone. I think it's smart. But also a little nerve wracking. You never in now what they are going to tell you. I just hope it's all good news you know?

But now it's time to sleep. I hope you all sleep great. I love you all so much. I will start editing the redacted posts and when I finish that (probably Thursday) I will make a post with the dates of the changes posts! If you want to go back and read them.

Goodnight everyone. Have fun tomorrow!!

[skulls-soul]

What’s this another prompt for bowuigi?!?! of course!! this is my hiprfixsation folks what else would I be posting about ? …well other than stupid jokes but still that’s besides the point I hope this inspires someone either to make art or fanfiction who knows ?? Either way enjoy my idea <3

Bowser‘s wedding could never be truly simple Can it. even when the groom is someone who loves them back and who said yes. even when their brother who they fought several times finally gave them their blessing. even when everything was ready from the cake to the dress to the guest BUT NO someone of course Hass to come in and ruin it by taking the most important thing of all.

King boo took Luigi and refuses to give him back… that’s it. Why does he refused to give him back? you can decide. Did I think of this prompt because of that one my little pony song that goes 🎶no I do not love the groom and in my heart there is no room🎶 yes!! did my brain immediately think of a ghost replacing Luigi to only one after the celebration is over reveal themselves causing everyone to both be pissed off and scared of course!!!

am I thinking of doing something with this? who knows! I’m currently still working on chapter 2 of my soulmate au so that’s a bit of a tricky one it all depends on whether or not if I have enough people saying “hey I want this” and if I find time. But also someone else might do this so…. I say that like if someone else doing this will stop me from posting my version which would defeat the point of a prompt cause a prompt is for anyone and everyone so yeah anyways I have to get back to work <3 

[are-they-all-sims]

Bridget's Room, 7PM

It's been a few days since wedding dress shopping, and Bridget is getting antsy waiting to see which dress she gets. Her mother hadn't mentioned anything about ordering a dress yet, and Bridget didn't bring it up. She was sure that Carla hadn't talked to Billy about it at all and would just make the decision herself using Billy's checkbook.

She was writing her nightly journal entry.

Dear Journal,

Today was good. I spent most of the day wedding planning with Mama. With the wedding only two months away we are really kicking it into high-gear. I can't believe I'm going to be Mrs. Andrew King.

Andrew will be moving into our future townhouse next month to help Daddy get it ready. They're planning to remodel the kitchen and bathroom. Andrew currently lives in Brindleton Bay - I can't wait to have him only a few doors down from me! I'll get to see him everyday. It's so hard having a long distance relationship, but it does make it easier for us to honor the Lord and not commit any sins before our marriage.

I'm currently working on sewing some new curtains and can't wait to decorate my own house. Mama said she'll help, too, but I'm not sure if her style is the same as mine. I don't want to hurt her feelings, but sometimes I think she wishes I was a miniature version of her in everything - personality, likes, dislikes, looks. I'm 24 now, almost 25, and she and Daddy very much still control my life. I hope having Andrew as my guidance and headship will be better.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm going to SimTime Andrew and talk about Corinthians 13:2-7. Each night we read parts of the Bible and discuss it to help strengthen our relationship with each other and God. It was Andrew's idea and I am so glad he thought of it. Mama has to be on our SimTime calls too, to make sure we aren't doing anything impure, but she usually mutes herself and turns off her video so it's like she's not even there.

Write again soon! - Bridget.

[adridoesstuff]

Elisabeth das musical Plzeň production review

Date: April 28th 2023

Cast: Michaela Štiková-Gemrotová (Elisabeth), Pavel Režný (Smrt/Death), Martin Holec (Lucheni), Jozef Hruškoci (Franz Joseph), Renáta Podlipská (Archduchess Sophie), Pavel Klimenda (Rudolf), Tadeáš Prokop (little Rudolf), Jan Ježek (Max), Stanislava Topinková-Fořtová (Ludovika/Frau Wolf)

Review and thoughts below the page break:

• We don't start with a hanged Lucheni puppet, the entire time it's actually the actor, who's hanging off of the noose

• And he stays that way for most of the Prolog

• Death lurks in the background for a moment during Alle tanzen mit dem Tod before Lucheni notices him

• And Death cuts Lucheni down from his noose

• During Death's verse, we get to see how Death works in this production's world: he kills on merely touch, which is demonstrated by the dead flying at him with outstretched arms and he just gets rid of them

• Death does give Lucheni a dirty look after "she loved Heinrich Heine"

• Little Sisi comes in in a short skirt and bloomers and during the second verse of Wie Du, her governess comes in and to Sisi's displeasure puts a long skirt onto her

• We also get a glimpse of Helene in Wie Du (she is very blonde in this version) and that she and Sisi at this point have a good relationship

• Everyone in Schön euch alles zu sehen gets a tea cup with saucer and a spoon and they do a collective spoon drop when Ludovika announces Helene is to be empress

• We get a shadow play of Sisi balancing on a tightrope with an umbrella

• After she falls, they carry her out onto a sofa and everyone groups around her, only for her to come out from the wings, so KKOG is done with the context of Sisi's soul already separated from her body and her literally being a touch away from dying

• And she does get really close, but at the last moment, Death pulls away

• As she sings "Ich erkenn dich schwartzer Prinz", Sisi goes towards Death with outstretched arms ready for a hug and Death just gets this mini panic as he backs up

• I don't like KKOG as a song, but the mutual fascination Pavel and Michaela showed here was *chef's kiss*

• During Jedem gibt er das seine, Franz and Sophie are almost shrouded behind the austrian flag colored curtains, separated from everyone around them

• And once Franz rises from his table, he moves strictly in straight lines and 90° angles

• Also, the entire show, Lucheni watches what is happening onstage from the side, sitting huddled up next to one of the set pieces, so the Lucheni actor has very little break time

• And since we're here, Martin Holec as Lucheni is so wonderful. He is a sarcastic asshole, but an extremely sympathetic one with an underlying remorseful side to him. Like, you can't help but laugh and nod along with him

• And he gets some alternate costumes for So wie man plant und denkt: a coat, tophat and fishing rod for verse 1 and an apron for verse 2

• And he hands out tea for everyone during the second verse

• Franz and Sisi see one another before the family meeting and Franz just keeps on looking at her from the moment they meet

• Sophie: "What, her?" Franz, while holding onto Sisi's hand as he was instructed to do and completely visibly in love with her, with the proudest look plastered onto his face: "Yes..."

• Nichts ist schwer has Sisi and Franz act shy at first and they slowly warm up to one another, coming closer to eachother

• Sisi being extremely shy once she is put into her wedding dress

• Death observes the wedding from the side and once Sisi says yes, you can hear the sound of a bird taking flight and Death says yes back to her three times

• Sie passt nicht has Sisi and Franz taking audience with the nobles after the wedding and Sisi is trying to be nice and friendly to them but they progressively just start behaving more rudely and dismissively towards her and she just progressively wilts on spirit until Franz takes her to dance

• Also, Helene just straight up walks by Elisabeth and ignores her when she's supposed to congratulate her

• Lucheni strutting through the dancing ballroom crowd until Death shows up

• Death strutting in flanked by all the death angels was a serve

• Der letzte Tanz had Death dance around with some of the ballroom guests, thus slowly killing them and provoking Sisi with it

• Sisi does defend Franz by hugging him in front of Death

• And Death does have some telepathic powers in this version, so that's how he dances around with Sisi

• Liebe mit Gaffern got the ensemble grouped up and obsessively staring at Sisi from the side

• Sisi has a gorgeously long wig in Eine Keiserin muss glänzen

• Sisi rising on a hydraulic platform during the last part of Ich gehör nur mir

• We get Sisi doubles in the background during Stationen eine Ehe during Lucheni's parts, showing her current life situation

• Franz just straight up leaves on Sisi when she asks him to give her back her child

• When they come to Hungary, Sisi and Franz are followed by a lady in waiting carrying the bundled up little Sophie and Death slowly stalks towards them, killing the child by gently touching her forehead

• So far, with every person Death has taken, he was rather rough with them, either throwing them, strangling them or just roughly pushing them away, even if with one finger, but little Sophie is the first time we see a more gentle side to how he takes lives

• I got literal chills during Pavel Režný's Act 1 Shatten

• As the café guests keep on talking about the rumors about Sisi and gazing into their newspapers, her very visibly sad shadow can be seen passing along the backdrop and Lucheni tries to make some of the people notice her, but they keep on ignoring him

• Lucheni jumping through the café guests and leaping off of the tables when he talks about how Rudolf was born

• The playout for Fröhliche Apokalypse got some super interesing newspaper choreo, which ended with the newspapers being left tossed all over the stage

• The kid playing little Rudolf was super adorable

• Also, he is forced into the blue austrian uniform jacket and the poor little kid says "ouch" as he is forced into it

• Sisi in her room looks like she is trapped in it and only when she stands her ground, she leaves it

• So far, Sisi was the one to draw back once Death starts approaching her/he pushes her around the stage, but once she says no to him here, she intentionally pushes him back for the first time and Death just completely shook

• Milch had the ensamble come in from the sides of the audience

• And there was plenty of very agressive banging with the milk cans onto the stage

• Schönheitspflege has a Sisi double with her back to the audience in a bath up on a pedestal and the maids are brushing her hair and taking care of her

• Once Franz comes in, they draw a changing screen closed in front of her and it kinda looks like a triptych altarpiece

• And then it opens and she is there in her Star dress

• Death appears for the Act 1 finale on ground level and Elisabeth is higher than him

• Also, some of the ensemble angrily come in at the end of Act 1 finale in their Milch costumes, but they stop in admiration when they see Elisabeth

• Lucheni gets a black glittery frockcoat and tophat for Kitsch

• And he tries to sell his kitsch souvenirs to both the hungarian ensamble and the front row

• We don't see Franz and Elisabeth during Éljen, the focus is purely on the happy hungarian populace

• Wenn ich tanzen will has Elisabeth giving one massive fictive middle finger to Death with her teasing him by dancing with whichever man she pleases in front of him, while he can't touch her

• And Death is just so upset/infuriated by not being able to dance with her and he is just left alone on stage completely upset

• Also, paralel scene to Der letzte Tanz!

• Little Rudolf trying to hide underneath his blanket was so precious

• Death is just so fascinated by Rudolf wanting him to stay and he also looks at him kinda weirded out like this is his first time interacting with a child

• Also, Death does almost touch Rudolf's head to take him, but he holds himself back

• The mad woman in the insane asylum scene being carried around on the shoulders of other of the patients

• Elisabeth in this scene is so compassionate and trying to be so patient with everyone

• Wir oder sie had Sophie and the court men huddled around a dimly lit table to discuss

• Nur kein genieren was lit very red and the way they tilted the lighting rig was so interesting

• The ensamble for this scene was very stripy with a lot of colored tulle ruffles

• Also, Stanislava Topinková Fořtová as Frau Wolf? Slayed and ate

• Lucheni doesn't have as much chemistry with Frau Wolf as in the original, but he did get to fool around with some of the ensamble ladies

• Elisabeth falls down when she's attempting to excercise on rings, but she climbs up on a vault to get to them and falls down from there, so pretty big fall

• And they included a lot of coughing from Elisabeth's side

• Death gets a nice cloak and tophat as his doctor disguise! And it suprisingly had little gaping and the way he threw it off was so effortless

• Death and Elisabeth circling around the vault during Maladie

• Elisabeth ends up on the ground and Death goes down onto the ground to her, offering her his hand for her to take

• Elisabeth doesn't throw the necklace at Death, but onto the ground

• Death does come for Sophie in this production, but we don't see him touch her, just her visibly acknowledge him and he follows her offstage

• The passage of time in Rastlose Jahre was shown by little Rudolf first coming out and Elisabeth just breezes past him and then he went offstage and the next time, Rudolf came onstage as an adult

• We get a Fanny Feifalik namedrop from Lucheni!

• At the end of Rastlose Jahre, Lucheni holds up a picture of young Elisabeth next to her, but she snatches the picture from him, agressively stares him down while tearing the picture up and then she stuffs to torn up pieces into Lucheni's mouth

• Rudolf does give himself a dose of morphine on the side of the stage during Rastlose Jahre, so I'm guessing Shatten here is partially a drug induced fever dream

• Other than that, Pavel Klimenda's Rudolf is so goddamn tragically sad, desheveled, sopping wet, traumatized and affection starved, like, you just want to give his Rudolf a hug

• At the end of Rastlose Jahre, there is a tiny moment when Sisi notices Rudolf looking like a complete mess and he cries out to her, but she looks back at him with disgust and leaves him alone, crying

• Shatten had Death come in with a whip and kind of invite Rudolf onto a ride on his carriage (I'm saying kind of because it was very minimalistic in set)

• At one point, Death touches Rudolf with his whip by lifting up his chin and Rudolf snatches the whip from him, prompting a very "what is this weird kid doing now" look from Death

• Death gives Rudolf a gun at the end of Shatten and Rudolf does consider using it, he even puts it to his head while surrounded by the death angels, but he reconsiders and hides the gun

• Strait Vater und Sohn has Rudolf more upset than angry

• Hass was lit very starkly and dimly, so for a lot of the scene, you couldn't make out their facial features

• Death does appear during Hass, not directly involving himself, but banging a drum to the rhythm of the song in the background

• During Wie Du reprise, Elisabeth writes with a quill that looks like one of Death's feathers

• I almost cried during Wenn ich dein Spiegel wär

• Rudolf comes in with some papers, looking kind of ready to discuss his worries with his mother, but as soon as he is faced with her, he falters and lets go of the papers

• The entire time Rudolf begs Elisabeth for help, he is on his knees in front of her

• And she lashes out at him before leaving him alone

• Before Mayerling, Rudolf faces the audience and says "so, you will leave me alone in this", and he starts sobbing and curls up on the ground as the death angels come in and he cries out for his mom to help him

• Mayerling at first has the angels throw Rudolf around before Death starts dancing with him

• At the end, they touch/embrace and Rudolf ends his life

• Rudolf gets surrounded by the death angels, who create his grave with their wings

• Death looks very remorseful after Rudolf dies. This production doesn't really give us feral Todolf like the original and 1st revival, but Tod here is more like a guardian to Rudolf.

• Death remorsefully observes Elisabeth as she comes to lay flowers onto Rudolf's grave

• At the end of Totenklage, both Franz and Death are offering Elisabeth an embrace and Elisabeth starts leaning towards touching Death until he pulls away

• During Totenklage, Lucheni photographs the picture of Elisabeth weeping by Rudolf's grave, that he shows in Kitsch reprise

• And he tears the picture up during the song

• Boote in der Nacht had Elisabeth smoking a cigarette

• They reused the Achilleon set from Wie Du reprise/Spiegel and she had a ton of books lying around the set, which she kept on flipping through as a distraction from Franz

• Am Deck den sinkenden Welt literally had the stage looking like a stormy sea of waves just by using the hydraulic platforms in the stage and Franz was on the only stable part of the stage

• We actually got one of the ensamble ladies set on fire during the scene

• Death screaming at Franz from up on the hanging lighting rig!!

• Death doesn't throw the file at Lucheni, but the angels pass it to him across the stage

• The ensamble in their afterlife costumes stay on scene during the assasination

• Also, Death keeps on watching the scene from the lighting rig

• Once she is stabbed, Elisabeth stumbles offstage for a while and stumbles back in only to be surrounded by the ensamble as she dies

• And suddenly, she appears on the other side of the stage in her white nightgown

• The death angels drag Lucheni down and he tries to triumphantly laugh, but he is clearly conflicted and a little remorseful

• That moment when Elisabeth and Death finally touch and embrace <3

• The Der Schleier fällt kiss here was so full of mutual respect

• After Death kisses her, Elisabeth doesn't fall down dead, but she walks downstage and looks out into the audience as the curtain falls

• Meanwhile, Death through all this looks at her with such a loving and fascinated expression

• So, in this production, Elisabeth and Death stay together in the afterlife

• For the curtain call, everyone of the main cast got one of their character's songs played as they took a bow

• With Lucheni and Death getting to sing a bit of Kitsch and Der letzte Tanz each as they took a bow

• CONCLUSION: Holy shit, everybody in this cast was splendid. I honestly can't even decide who's would be the standout performance of the evening, because everyone was amazing.

[bad-at-names-and-faces]

Harvest

ao3

ffn

chapter index

Frederick looked down as he and his brothers picked up the pumpkins from one of the farms on the hill above the town. 

“That’s a ship from Corona,” he said while loading the pumpkins onto the wagon. 

“How can you tell from all the way up here?” Anton asked. 

“See the flag?” Frederick pointed.

Anton and Peder both stared down at the harbor. 

“Oh, it is,” Peder agreed. “I never really looked at any of the ships that closely.”

The twins ran off to get the remaining pumpkins from the farmer, and Frederick started getting the wagon ready to return to the castle.

“I bet you that’s Henry,” Frederick said as they began to ride down the hill into town.

“Wasn’t he just here?” Anton asked.

“That was last summer,” Frederick reminded him. “It’s been two and a half months since then.”

“Oh, right.”

“So, are they getting married now?” Peder asked.

“I doubt it,” Frederick said. “Not from what everyone was saying. Maybe next summer?”

***

Henry couldn’t quite remember how he left Inga’s room, but he had reluctantly followed her parents as the maid was sent back in to help Inga dress for the day, and they led him into the study. 

“I… I should probably write to my family,” he said. Nobody had said anything for quite some time.

Inga’s mother was the first to speak up. “Please let me know when you finish, and I’ll ring for Kai to send it out with today’s post.

“Thank you,” Henry said, studiously avoiding eye contact with anyone. 

He worded the letter as vaguely as possible, only making clear that the wedding was going to happen as soon as possible, but not giving the reason. He wanted to send a letter to his mother that would get there more quickly, but not with Inga’s parents watching him.  Also a letter to Hilde. She would surely guess.

He signed and sealed the letter, and sat at the desk looking at the wall.

“Here it is,” he said. 

Inga’s mother rang for the steward, who showed up quickly, accepting the envelope.

“His Highness’s room is ready,” he mentioned. “Do you need any help in finding it?”

“If I may be excused?” Henry asked.  If the room was the same as the one he had stayed in the summer before, he would need no help at all. 

“We’ll let you know if we need you,” Inga’s mother said with an air of formality, which he knew was covering up whatever she might actually be thinking about the situation. 

He followed the steward to the room which was so familiar now, and burned into his memories.

Henry sat down at the table in the room and got his own paper out.  First, he wrote a letter to his mother, merely a slightly more informal version of what he had just written, still not mentioning exactly why the wedding would be happening so soon, but alerting her that it would be happening as soon as they could make it to Arendelle.  Then, before sending the first one, he began a letter to his sister.

Dear Hilde,

I don’t know if this letter will surprise you or not, but Inga and I will likely be getting married before I return to Corona. We will try to make it a proper wedding, as I know you’ve told me what you think about me renouncing my claim and leaving you as the sole heir. I promise I will do my duty. I will leave the other details for a later time. 

Your Brother,

Henry

Henry sent off the two letters from the window, and the wind seemed to guess at the secret he was keeping from his own family.  

He heard the door opening.

"James?" he asked. 

"Yes, Your Highness," his valet replied, walking over to Henry’s wardrobe in order to put away the clothes he had brought along.

“Did I…  Did you pack that suit, you know the one?”

“I did, in fact,” James smiled,  “I was actually surprised you didn’t ask days ago, but one never knows when one might need to dress for utmost formality, particularly in your position, Your Highness.”

“Thank goodness,” Henry replied.

“I have not been informed of any occasions requiring formal dress, but do you have a particular reason for inquiring?”

“The wedding is going to happen,” Henry said.

“Soon?” James asked.

“Yes, we’re not entirely sure when it will be, the council hasn’t met yet, of course I only just returned this morning…”

“I had understood the plans were for next summer. Is there a reason for the change?”

Henry looked away.

“Of course,” James nodded. “I was afraid of that.”

“I didn’t say-” 

“Then what is the reason?”

“I mean, it is… that… Inga just found out today.”

“I see,” James nodded.

“Do you think they’ll suspect?  My parents, that is… I know Hilde will probably guess right away.  She’ll tell me as much, I just know it.”

“Your Highness,” James said, slowly walking over, “if they don’t suspect at first, they’ll have no doubts later on.”

“And then what?”

“People will lose interest and find the next thing to occupy their attention.  Some people will bring it up whenever it serves a purpose.  I shouldn’t worry if I were you.  As far as youthful indiscretions go, this was a mild one, not to mention a common one.”

“Youthful indiscretions? You make it sound like I was… in the habit of doing such things.”  Henry stood up, facing James, and then walked past his valet to the wardrobe, mindlessly looking through his suits hanging there.

“Yes, but you’re not married yet.  Until that happens, it’s important not to let too many people know.  A few people will figure it out quickly enough, but most people can’t be bothered.  Just don’t give them any proof.”’

“You figured it out quickly enough.”

James gave him a look.

Henry turned around, looking over his shoulder at James standing by the window. He sighed. 

“Of course you suspected,” Henry said.

Henry walked back over to his desk and sat down, opening an empty page of his sketchbook but feeling no motivation to draw anything.  James continued unpacking.  Henry’s thoughts began processing everything from the morning, now that the shock was wearing off. What were he and Inga going to do once they were married?  They hadn’t thought this out.  They hadn’t even agreed where they would live yet.  They hadn’t even discussed it.  They could travel back and forth, he supposed, but Inga might not like that. She had mentioned how terrible sailing had been for her.  It would be nice if they had some place that would be their own, but what?  Where?  Money wasn’t an issue, that much was true.  

***

Hilde sat on the balcony overlooking the city of Corona, reading a book she had recently acquired. All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew in, stopping almost as soon as it started, and a letter deposited itself in her open book.

It was from Henry. He hadn’t bothered writing during his voyage so far, so why now?  She was hesitant to read it, and was briefly relieved that it seemed positive; no one was sick or dying or hurt, he was just excited about getting married. Except then she reread the letter. He would be getting married before he returned to Corona, and they would try to make it a proper wedding?

Hilde closed the letter inside her book and went to find her parents. She checked the royal study, and her grandfather was there with some advisors.

“Clothilde, come in!” he bellowed. 

“Sorry, Grandfather, but I’m in a bit of a hurry. Have you seen my mother?”

One of the advisors looked up. “Your Highness, your parents are having a luncheon with some distinguished visitors.”

“Who?” Hilde replied. 

Her grandfather waved his hand. “My dear, if it is important, you may interrupt your parents’ lunch.”

Hilde ran toward the dining room, and found her mother alone outside reading a letter.

“Mother, I was told you were having a luncheon?”

“Yes, but I just received a letter… it’s from your brother.”

Hilde considered her words carefully. “What does he say?”

Her mother looked at her and then back at the letter, beginning to mindlessly crumple it in her hands.

“May I see the letter, Mother?” she asked. “He sent me one just now, too. I can’t imagine he would say anything to you that I haven’t seen.”

Her mother handed the letter over. 

Dear Mother,

There will be a letter arriving in the official post next week, but I would like to see you all sooner than that if it is at all possible. Inga and I will be getting married before I return to Corona, and if I hear word from you, we can schedule the wedding so that you can attend. Please let me know.

Love,

Your Son,

Henry

“He told me he was getting married, he didn’t ask me about coming to the wedding,” Hilde commented.

“Why is he getting married so soon?” her mother whispered. 

Just then, her father came out. 

“You’ve been out here a while, sweetheart, what’s going on?” he asked.

“Henry is getting married in Arendelle,” Hilde told him.  “And apparently he’d like us to all come. I have no idea how we’d let him know soon enough to schedule anything.”

“Oh,” her father muttered.

“I’ll write back to him, he’ll know by this evening,” her mother said.

“I thought Arendelle didn’t have telegraph lines yet,” Hilde said.

“Henry didn’t tell you how he sent you the letter, didn’t he?” her father asked.

“No.” Hilde knew that there was something Henry knew about sending the letters, but now she realized she might be the only one who didn’t know how it worked.

“So,” her father said, turning to her mother. “Are you going to tell your parents now or wait for the letter?”

“Grandfather is with his advisors right now,” Hilde said. 

“Actually, we left some Maldonians in there, you know,” her father said. “So we should probably wait.”

***

Frederick slowed down the wagon as he and his brothers returned to town. As they passed by Isabel and Captain Olsen’s house, Meibel ran out the door. Frederick stopped the wagon.

“You got the pumpkins, Frederick?” she asked.  

“Of course we did, Meibel,” Peder scoffed. 

“Do you want a ride into town?” Frederick asked.

“Sure, why not,” Meibel smiled. 

“It’s not a far walk,” Anton interjected. 

Meibel climbed in, ignoring the twins. 

“Is that the Corona’s flag on that ship?” Peder asked.

“I told you that, remember?” Frederick sighed. 

“Are you excited to go to the Naval Academy there?” Meibel asked.

“Ugh!” Peder exclaimed. “He’s been talking about nothing else. Please don’t bring that up!”

They arrived in town, and stopped by Hudson’s Hearth to unload the pumpkins.

Halima stepped outside, and Meibel jumped up and ran over and gave her a hug. 

“Did you see the ship from Corona?” Meibel asked.

Halima smiled and nodded, glancing over at the castle. 

“How are you boys doing?” Halima asked Frederick and his brothers.

“Good,” Frederick said. “I should go check if Henry arrived on that ship. Inga has been looking forward to that.”

“Is she feeling any better?” Halima asked.

“I hope so,” Frederick replied. “I suppose I’ll be stuck entertaining Henry if she’s not.”

***

Anna and Kristoff stood in the library, staring at the door as Henry followed Kai out of the room.  Anna had hardly let herself think for the past half hour. Had it only been a half hour?

“Now what?” Kristoff asked. 

Anna shook her head and sat down on the sofa, and Kristoff joined her. They sat silently, and her mind went over and over what had been said in Inga’s room. 

“What were you going to tell Inga?” she asked Kristoff.

Kristoff shrugged. “I’m not entirely sure. I hadn’t thought things through.”

“You had to have had some idea,” Anna insisted.

“I guess… what I was thinking was that nobody would have noticed if we had another. That way maybe we could have figured out a way to make it look like it was ours.”

“If the two of them weren’t both so determined to get married, I think I would agree with that.”

“You think they’ll be happy, then?”

“Who knows,” Anna admitted. “But I think he’s determined. He might not have thought things through, but I think Inga could do worse than marry him.”

There was another knock at the door.

“Come in!” Anna called out.

Kai stepped in. “Your Majesty, the council is ready.”

“I’ll head out,” Kristoff said.

“Are you sure you don’t want to be here for the meeting?” Anna asked. 

“Yes,” he replied.

***

James had left the room an hour earlier, judging by the church bells outside having just chimed for a second time. Henry heard the wind suddenly rattle at his window.  He had gotten used to these isolated gusts of wind letting him know that Inga had sent him a letter, but right now she could simply slip any note under his door. He thought about sending her a note, but first he needed to see what this was at his window.

He opened the window, and a letter blew in. It was his mother’s writing. 

October 23rd, 1865

Dear Henry,

We were very surprised to see your letters to myself and to Hilde earlier today. We are making arrangements to travel to Arendelle in two days.  We will save the many questions we have until we arrive there, and we will be there within two weeks. Your grandparents will be traveling with us, as well as Hilde, though you neglected to mention inviting her to the wedding in your letter to her.

Love,

Mother

Henry took a deep breath. His mother knew that he had written to Hilde as well. He hadn’t even realized that he hadn’t invited Hilde to the wedding, it had not been an intentional slight, but apparently they had discussed the letters with each other. At least they were coming soon. He wrote out a quick note to Inga, and folded it up. He had no idea what he was expected to be doing, so he was going to slide the note under her door. As he opened his door, Inga was standing there. 

“Hello,” he said. 

“Hi,” she said. “I wanted to see if you were here.”

Henry stepped out into the hall, and closed his door behind him.  

“Funny thing,” he choked out, stopping himself from laughing. “ I was going to bring you a note. My mother already wrote back.”

“Oh,” Inga said. 

“How are you feeling?” Henry asked. 

“Tired, but I’m well enough, I guess.”

“I’m sorry,” Henry said. He wanted to hug her, but at this point, he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do.  “Have you spoken to your parents since-”

“No,” she shook her head. “My maid came back and, well, I had to tell her. She had been so sure that the gossip was baseless, I felt bad.”

“James knows. I wish I could say he was surprised, but I think you know.” 

Inga nodded. 

“So, um,” Henry began. “The weather seems nice?”

“Let’s go outside to the garden,” she suggested.

Henry reached for her hand, and she gave him a squeeze, then linked her arm in his respectably. 

They walked out the nearest door, and found themselves in the garden. 

“I should be helping with preparations,” Inga said as they approached a bench. “The festival is happening tomorrow, and I just feel like I’m avoiding everyone.”

“I think everyone understands,” Henry said. 

They sat down next to each other, linking fingers briefly, before some commotion nearby caused them to simultaneously sit slightly separated from each other, as if overcorrecting their behavior now would fix what was already done.

Henry saw two of Inga’s brothers run across the way at the other. Following them was Frederick, who happened to look over. He glanced back in the direction of the twins before walking their direction.

“Henry!” Frederick called out. 

Henry stood up, and shook hands with Frederick. 

“Is it true you’re going to get married while you’re here?” Frederick asked.

Inga was turning a shade of pink, looking away.

“Um, yes,” Henry said. “News travels fast, huh?” 

“Father just told us that Mother is speaking with the bishop right now, and enough of the council is in town that they’re going to meet this afternoon.”

“What else did he tell you?” Henry asked.

“That was it,” Frederick said. 

“Oh, that’s good,” Inga said, with obvious relief. 

“I wouldn’t worry, Inga. Father didn’t seem happy about it, but he��s not stopping anything. I don’t know why he’s not happier about it. Henry is pretty nice.”

“Thanks?” Henry said.

“I mean it, and I’m not just saying that because Inga likes you.”

Inga took Henry’s hand, and Henry sat back down with her. 

“I suppose he doesn’t want me to leave here,” Inga said.

“You will have to move to Corona, then?” Frederick asked. “I’m glad I’ll be there, then.”

***

Anna returned to her study from the council meeting and rang for Kai. She had managed to get the provisional consent of the council to allow the wedding to happen in the next few weeks, since the bishop had agreed to it already, and spoke in favor of allowing it to happen without undue delay. They would approve whatever details were agreed on with the royal family of Corona once they arrived.  

Somehow, nobody had asked if there was a reason to make the wedding happen quickly. She valued the small blessing. 

Kai arrived. 

“Hello, Kai, could you make sure that Henry is invited to dinner with the family?” she asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Dinner will be in an hour, is that still good for you?”

“Yes, that works well. I don’t know if Inga will be able to make it, but make sure that Oline checks in on her.”

Kai nodded and left.

Anna stopped by their bedroom, and Kristoff was already dressed, about to head over to dinner. 

“I told Frederick and the twins about the wedding,” he said as they began walking. 

“How much did you tell them?” 

“Only that it’s happening soon. They’ll figure out the rest one of these days.”

Anna nodded. “I suppose all three of them will be at dinner this evening, then? I told Kai to make sure Henry is invited. At the very least, even if Inga isn’t feeling up to joining us, we don’t need Ambassador Meyer finding him tonight.”

Kristoff grimaced. “You make a good point.”

As they arrived at the dining room, they were surprised to see Inga and Henry already sitting at the table.  It wasn’t clear if they had been talking about anything when Anna and Kristoff arrived, but the younger two were holding hands and let go the moment she and Kristoff walked into the room.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Kristoff said somewhat gruffly, walking over to his usual seat. 

“We were outside and Kai told us Henry was invited to dinner,” Inga explained. 

“I’m happy to see that you’re well enough to join us, Inga,” Anna said sincerely, though she wondered how much her daughter was forcing herself for the sake of appearances now.

“I’ve heard back from my mother,” Henry announced. “They’re coming on the next steamship to Arendelle. My family, that is.”

“All of them?” Anna asked. 

“Yes, everyone will be coming, including my grandparents,” Henry replied. 

“Oh, of course, that will be good,” Anna nodded, sharing a brief glance with Kristoff, and glad that Inga was the only other person in the room right then. Having his entire family in attendance would help the appearances of this being intentional. “How much have you told them?”

“Just that the wedding will be happening soon after they arrive,” Henry replied. 

Anna wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or uneasy. They would have to know the truth at some point. 

She and Kristoff sat down at the end of the table.

Frederick arrived just then.  “What did I miss?” he asked, sitting down across from Inga and Henry.

“Henry just heard back from his family, and they should all be arriving within two weeks,” Inga informed him.

“All of them?” Frederick asked, “I thought your grandparents didn’t really travel.”

“Um, yes, they all want to be here,” Henry replied.  

“I guess the council decided to let you go ahead and get married?” Frederick asked.

“Did they?” Henry asked, turning to Anna.

“Yes, with very few questions.  The bishop helped considerably.”

“But usually they have so many questions,” Frederick commented.

"So, Frederick, how are the plans coming along for the naval academy?" Anna asked, intentionally changing the subject. 

"There's a term from January through May, and another term in the fall. And then the spring after that I would become a second lieutenant."

"Will you be sailing much?" Inga asked.

"Oh, there will be sailing," Frederick replied confidently. "It would be rather ridiculous to become a naval officer with no sailing experience, don't you think?"

Inga laughed, while Anna quietly wished that her son could find some other way to make his mark on the world. Kristoff seemed to notice, putting a calming hand on top of hers.  She realized she should try to include Henry in the conversation.

“Henry, what do you know about the naval academy in Corona?”

“My grandfather takes particular pride in it,” he told them, “he wasn’t the one who founded the academy, but he expanded it considerably when he took the throne.  It was his idea to invite select foreign candidates.”

“Why hasn’t Arendelle sent anyone before?” Inga asked him innocently.

“I… I don’t know,” Henry said, clearly not having been asked the question before, or perhaps not sure what answer would be safe in front of Arendelle's queen. 

Anna wasn’t going to be offended, not at this point, but before she could say anything, the twins and Sofia arrived at the same time.

“Sofia, you’re joining us tonight?” Anna asked. She hadn’t said anything one way or the other to Kai.

“Nanny said it was fine,” Sofia insisted, “and Anton and Peder were on their way, anyway when Meibel was going home.”

“I don’t see why not,” Inga insisted, “I no longer had dinner with Nanny when I was her age, unless it was some kind of state dinner.”

“That’s true,” Anna agreed, noticing Kristoff looking uncomfortable. Sometime later that day they would need to discuss whether they were going to adjust the rules for Sofia going forward.

0o0o0

October 21st, 1865

Dear Elizabeth,

I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write back to you.  Planning the Harvest Festival was keeping me quite busy, but the festival went very well yesterday, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves quite a bit.  I've enjoyed reading about your little baby, and I hope you tell me more about him. 

Meanwhile, I’m going to have to keep this letter short, because I’m still quite busy, but I will have some news to tell you soon enough. I suppose you won’t be particularly surprised. 

Sincerely,

Inga

Inga sealed and addressed the letter, and couldn’t help but feel guilty for not writing more, especially after so long of a delay of writing to Elizabeth.  

She dropped the letter in the tray that Kai would pick up for the post later that day, and made her way to the Cathedral. Henry was waiting outside the door for her, and the clock was chiming the exact time that her mother had told them to meet her there with the bishop. 

“Has my mother arrived yet?” she asked Henry.  

He shook his head silently, and just then, the bishop came out the front doors of the cathedral, motioning them to follow him inside.

Inga had felt well enough to put on a good appearance at the Harvest Festival the day before, introducing Henry to people, some of whom had already met, and others who were new faces.  Thanks to the permission of the royal council, they were able to say they were engaged. They had managed to avoid seeing the council in person, since their personal consent had been taken care of the previous summer. Between the letter from the King of Corona, and the word from the Bishop of Arendelle that he believed it was best, the matter was settled with surprisingly little grumbling. It helped that they had a quorum without the less agreeable members of the council, whose notifications had been delayed by a few hours.

The bishop led them up the back stairs to the choir balcony, and told them to wait while he finished discussing matters alone with the queen.

“How are you doing?" Henry asked Inga.

“You keep asking me that,” she sighed.

“Well, I mean-” 

“Have you heard about the acoustics of this place?” Inga said, cutting him off before he could say anything else. “Even if you’re whispering, people can hear you perfectly even in the back row of the pews.”

“That’s interesting,” Henry said, sounding confused. “But why are you telling me this?”

“You wouldn’t believe how many people don’t know about this, and what they think is a secret is known by everyone in town because someone was sitting hidden away in a dark corner of the cathedral listening while they were up here talking.”

Henry’s eyes widened, and he nodded.

The bishop brought them into his office. Inga’s mother was sitting in one chair, and the bishop showed them to two more chairs across from his desk. Inga made sure that she was sitting in between her mother and Henry. Her mother may not have been as visibly upset as her father had been, but it still seemed more comfortable that way.

If the bishop knew of their reasons for hurrying the wedding, he didn’t show it, though Inga felt certain that he must know. He seemed satisfied that she and Henry were, indeed, getting married for reasons other than feeling forced to do so, and he would proceed with the plans, and with the regularity of the steamship Henry’s family was on, they would schedule the wedding for one week later. 

Inga and Henry thanked him, and he seemed to sense their disappointment that it would not be sooner.

“While I understand the desire to expedite things further, any sooner and it would look suspicious now rather than later.”

The bishop knew. 

***

The next day, Inga stood in the middle of her room with her mother and the dressmaker and several assistants. They had taken several measurements of her and shown several different drawings of the latest fashions from Paris. Her mother asked her a question that she didn’t quite hear. Inga’s mind was thinking about a thousand different things.

“Inga,” her mother repeated, “you need to pick which one you want. They don’t have a lot of time to make it.”

“Just pick the dress you like!” Inga shouted at her mother in frustration, sitting down gracelessly in the chair in the corner of her room.  The dressmaker and her assistants looked between Inga and her mother helplessly.

Her mother walked over, kneeling down gently on the floor next to her.  “Inga, it’s your wedding, you need to be the one to decide what you want.  I can’t tell you.”

“But I don’t know!  It’s a dress!  I could decide if it was something practical, but it’s not.  I really don’t know what I want.”

“Well, maybe you should have thought of that before,” her mother said under her breath.

“What did you just say?” Inga asked, barely keeping her voice from rising. 

“I’m just saying, I can’t make this decision for you.”

“It’s a dress.  It’s a stupid dress. Pick one, and the dressmaker already has my measurements, so let’s call it a day.”

Her mother sighed, stood up, and walked over to the dressmaker.  The two discussed matters for a few minutes, and then the dressmaker walked over with some samples of fabric and a fashion plate.  

“Will this do, Your Highness?” she asked Inga.

“Um, fine,” Inga mumbled, “thank you, that will do.”

“Very well,” her mother said to the dressmaker, “You can work out the details with Kai downstairs, and let me know if you need anything else, thank you.”

The dressmaker and her assistants left the room, and Inga’s mother closed the door behind them.

“What was that all about?” she asked Inga sharply.

“Exactly what I said!” Inga cried, “I don’t care about the dress I’m wearing, as long as it fits.  It’s never been something I’ve ever cared about.  I should wear something appropriate to my position and the occasion, I understand that.  But why does that mean I need to pick something myself?”

“Because it’s your wedding, not mine or the dressmaker’s wedding or one of your friends.”

“If it were really my wedding, I would have just gone and gotten married,” Inga grumbled, walking over to sit on her bed.

“No one is stopping you,” her mother snapped, “No one has stopped you from doing anything you’ve ever wanted, not in your entire life.  You’re the one making your own life difficult, so don’t complain to me.”

“Fine, I won’t!”  Inga shouted.  She flopped down on the bed. “Now can I be alone, or is that just getting what I want like I always do?”

“I’ll come back to check on you before dinner,” her mother said, suddenly calm.  She left silently, closing the door firmly behind her.

[unabashedarbiterearthquake]

My Sister's Prince (1st Version) Chapter Three l.

The next day, you find yourself sitting on a blanket under a tree, reading a book. When you see the shadow of a figure, sit beside you.

You: Whatever trouble I'm in, just say it.

Mother: Why would you think you’re in trouble?

You: Why do you think I think I'm in trouble?

Mother: That's not funny, Y/N. I wanted to check on you. Your sister and I have been so busy that you and I haven't had a chance to catch up.

You: My bed chamber is nice, I like the food and all the suitors want to marry wall flowers. There you're caught up.

Mother: You haven't met any suitors yet.

You: Why waste time when you already know?

Mother: Speaking of these wallflower marrying suitors. We've all been invited to attend Princess Elizabeth's wedding tonight.

You: Tonight?

Mother: Yes, I think it's a wonderful opportunity for Mary and the Dauphin to get to know each other better.

You: Here it comes.

Mother: And for you to meet some potential husbands.

You: And there it is. Mother, I don't want any of those men. They want to marry statues who agree with everything they say, worship the ground they walk on and look the other way when they're being unfaithful.

She stands up.

Mother: Why do you always fight me on this?

You stand up.

You: Why do you want your daughters to marry men who will never love them?

Mother: It's not about love.

You: Perhaps it should be.

Mother: You need to stop reading fairy tales. They're distorting your vision of reality.

And with that, she walks away. You go inside and walk down the hallway with your book still clenched in your hand. You barely look up. A voice calls out to you.

Francis: Y/N?

You: Not now your grace.

Francis: I need to talk to you.

You: Whatever it is, leave it be, I beg of you.

You continue walking.

Bash: Any luck?

Francis: No, she completely ignored me.

Bash: Maybe she was distracted.

Francis: Maybe.

Later that afternoon, you and Mary are getting ready for Elizabeth's wedding. You're taking a bath while your sister is trying to make decisions.

Mary: Which dress do you think I should wear tonight?

You: Any dress you want.

Mary: It can't just be any dress. It has to be something that says I belong here. What dress are you planning to wear?

You: One of my black ones.

Mary: Black?

You: Yes. To help the princess mourn the loss of her independence.

Mary: You can't wear black.

You: I was kidding, Mary.

She sighs in relief.

You: Honesty, I don't know what I'm going to wear. We've never been to a royal wedding before.

Mary: No, we haven't. How do you think I should wear my hair, up or down?

You: Down. It softens your whole look.

She looks in the mirror.

Mary: Yes, I think so, too. You know wearing black might not be such a bad idea.

You: You can't be serious?

Mary: Why not? It's different, and it's daring.

You: You'll become the laughing stock of the entire court.

Mary: Or I earn their respect. And Francis's favor.

You: It's your decision.

A moment of silence.

You: Everything's so different here.

Mary: Yes, I know.

You: Aren't you scared?

Mary: Of what?

You: I don't know. What if the Dauphin doesn't choose you? What if he decides to do this all over again with someone else? You know how many girls he's rejected in your position.

Mary: Yes, I know.

You: Doesn't it trouble you?

Mary: Yes. It does.

Authors Note: This chapter is a bit of a filler, and I don't know what I'm going to do, but I wanted Elizabeth's wedding to take up most of chapter four, maybe I'll add some things to make it longer than the first three. Have the reader have a longer dialogue with Francis.

[unclewaynemunson]

34 + ronance!!! 💖🥺

Oooh thank you so much for this one!! :D

34. things you whispered in my ear

'Nancy fucking Wheeler, how are you even real?' Robin asked when she popped her head around the door to find Nancy standing in front of the mirror.

Nancy's gaze met hers through the glass of the mirror and a truly beaming smile appeared on her face.

'You're not looking too bad either,' she replied, turning around to look at Robin properly. She was wearing a pastel pink dress and white heels; any other girl would've resembled the human version of cotton candy, especially with those perfectly styled curls to finish the look, but for Nancy, it worked. No, it didn't just work, that was a ridiculous understatement: it looked insanely hot, and exactly as mouthwatering as cotton candy.

She even tasted like cotton candy, Robin established when she leaned down to press her lips against Nancy's.

Nancy shoved her away gently, a giggle escaping her lips.

'Stop it, you're ruining my lipgloss,' she commented, but it didn't really sound like she minded it all that much.

'Ready to go?' Robin asked. And after one last look in the mirror, Nancy pressed a sticky lipgloss kiss to Robin's cheek before she followed her outside.

XXX

If Robin hadn't been totally gone for a certain curly-haired woman in a pink dress, she would've thought that Max was the most beautiful woman in the whole world, that day. And that was exactly how it was supposed to be, of course. Because this was Max's day - Max's and Lucas' day.

Robin's heart swelled with pride when she thought about how far those kids had come. There were some rocky years behind them and Robin could probably count on both hands all the times when Max had unexpectedly shown up at her and Nancy's doorstep or called them in the middle of the night in need of a shoulder to cry on. But at the end of the day, she and Lucas always managed to find their way back to each other - through college, across state lines, over years of changing and maturing and growing apart and then back to each other again. They had never truly stopped loving each other even through the hardest of times, and Robin couldn't think of a single couple more deserving of a perfect day like this one.

'You look so cute when you're crying,' Nancy whispered in Robin's ear after a hilarious yet surprisingly heartfelt speech by Erica.

'I'm not crying,' Robin muttered, attempting to wipe the skin underneath her eyes without drawing any attention to it.

Nancy didn't comment, but produced a tissue from her handbag and wordlessly handed it to Robin. And there was something about that gesture - the simplicity of it, the silent way in which Nancy knew exactly what she needed and when she needed it, the genuine fondness in Nancy's wide-eyed gaze - that made Robin tear up again. The whole thing made an undeniable certainty settle in her chest, caught right behind her heart. It was in that moment that she knew.

'Hey,' she whispered into Nancy's ear. 'I know it's, like, totally rude to steal someone else's wedding moment, so let's keep this between us for the time being, but um... Do you wanna marry me?'

[thequeenofthewinter]

Fic Friday, Wedding Edition

Dearly beloved fellow Hellsite users, we are gathered here today so that Mara's blessing might be upon us. ...or that my two idiots can be married. ;) Wow, it feels very surreal. I have worked up to this moment for a long time. It's taken like...300k words to get here, give or take. Actually, this chapter is the LONGEST one I have written. 11,287 words! We have broken into 10k+ territory. (I don't intend for this to happen all the time. This is a very special occasion.) Without further ado, I present a snippet from the wedding I have promised.

Rating: E (canon-typical violence, explicit content, check the tags)

Genre: Romance, action, adventure, drama

Pairing: Dahlia Wintersnow (OC Dragonborn)/Ulfric Stormcloak

Link to AO3: An Invincible Summer

The butterflies in Dahlia’s stomach explode into a flurry of what feels like thousands of much tinier versions of themselves, tossing her stomach contents in tumultuous, surging tides. Is she ready for this?  

Despite what her stomach would tell her, the answer is yes. She always has been ready. It is if there has been some golden thread of fate slowly pulling them together. If she thinks back, she can remember seeing Ulfric from a distance in her teenage years. He had always been a mysterious figure who drew her curiosity, but it wasn’t until she was put directly in his path on the cart that she felt the insistent tugging. When she emerged from the dark of her unconsciousness, the first thing she could feel were rippling waves of power calling to her. And when she looked right, she immediately identified him. Her stomach dipped much like it is doing now as something unnameable reached out her. In hindsight, she can identify this as his Thu’um washing over her. Even now she can still feel it as it flows over her in familiar, ebbing swells.

But at the same time, she does not discount it as simply being their fate. Destiny works in mysterious ways, after all. Perhaps that is what was truly washing over them. Should it be fate, destiny, or love, it doesn’t matter to her anymore. There is no place she would rather be.

The door opens, flooding the Temple with light as many turn their heads and shield their eyes; however, Ulfric’s are wide open and straining to look upon the face of his soon-to-be wife.

If he could, he would etch this exact moment in his memory down to the very last detail. He is certain that even in the most painstakingly done paintings, retellings, or stories which could be created, there is no art which could possibly accurately portray the ethereal beauty of Dahlia when she emerges from the blinding cocoon of light and steps forth in the warm candlelight of the Temple.

Ulfric’s eyes focus intently on her as he watches her walk down the aisle to him. He doesn’t even notice Ralof, Lydia, or Narile sneaking in after her or Galmar walking at her side. He only has eyes for her. Ulfric takes in her form, the way her dress flows seamless off of her—the look of unbridled happiness in her sparkling eyes as her lips rise for him with a smile. He drinks it all in greedily from his position next to Maramal near the makeshift shine of Mara he has brought here. Wetness leaks steadily down his cheeks as he wonders at his life and how he could possibly be so lucky to be here with her. He doesn’t even realize he is crying until Maramal reaches out a hand to offer him a handkerchief.

Reluctantly, he takes it from the priest and dabs it at his eyes gently. It is not usual for Ulfric to wear his emotions on his sleeve in public like this, but he will not be embarrassed for showing it. He nods to Maramal in thanks before returning the handkerchief to him awkwardly. 

When Ulfric turns his attention to the front of the room again, he finds that Dahlia is already in next of him. He had only taken his eyes off her for a moment, and now she is here. He suddenly forgets how to breathe.

At that moment, Dahlia’s eyes find their way to the rest of her life: Ulfric, who is somehow more handsome than she could have imagined even in the sweetest of her daydreams. For a moment, she cannot believe that it is real—that she can finally have everything that she has ever wanted. How is she to believe that it will not all suddenly dissolve like an elaborate, ephemeral fantasy at any moment? Especially when she finally notices that Ulfric smiles faintly at her, the corners of his mouth carefully upturning at her, almost fragilely as if they could break into a full grin at any moment—a secret just for her. 

He is the brightest of all stars, the most beautiful of all the northern lights, and the familiar saccharine-sweet taste of all her dreams for the rest of her days.

How is it that she is to be so lucky?

[vole-mon-amour]

The Invitation (2022) copied Ready or not (2019), but for some reason the newer version is getting move attention. C'mon. Respect your elders.

Live watch under the cut.

When you go in blind & the media makes you gasp happily and smile.

Stephanie as Viktoria, huh? Hello, gorgeous, haven't seen you in a while <3

Lmao. *in Grace Le Domas' voice* Fucking rich people.

I mean, it's an expected cliche, but the filming/scenery is very pretty. Definitely looks amazing as gifs, which made me watch it in the first place.

Ok but what are you doing in her bedroom, exactly? Frighting her and pretending to be her prince? :) On the other hand, it's probably Victoria and other creatures in the house and he might as well be the prince in the shining armor to save her from them. I mean, no way he's the only vampire there. There's at least two or three.

Wouldst though like to live deliciously? :) 'Cause he's the one for the job. Kills people for fun, probably, but we all have our bad sides, right, queen?

for reasons.

Lucy is cute. Whatever her monster form is, she seems genuine in her excitement.

Viktoria is an ass, but I do enjoy watching Stephanie.

Ah yes, she's an abusive manipulative ass, then. She's probably the one who scares Evie all the time. Lucy probably deserves better. It's like in Ready or not, Viktoria is Charity. Lucy is not exactly Grace, Evie is, but yeah.

Girl, you have NO idea what you got yourself into, lmaooo. However old he is, he's a vampire that kills people, and of course he'll agree with you, lol.

Ok, I take it back. What kind of idiot accepts a marriage proposal after knowing a guy for, what? Two days? You for real? And then, "Walt, you know I was joking, right?" Were you?

If the creators say they didn't watch Ready or Not (2019), they're lying. It's so obvious.

I mean, I felt that vibe, but hello? Vampire lesbians?? CASTLEVANIA??? Victoria as Striga?

EVEN THE FILMING as Grace runs down that corridor and tears down her wedding dress. Ready or not (2019) is freaking iconic.

:')

Stephanie fits this role so well. A more mature woman that has seen it all & so done with it, only wishes power and eternal life. "Been with master for 500 years." Lucy "only 100", so she's still an excited puppy (and she's been made into a vampire quite young, I believe). The acting and the casting are nice.

What a great vampire wedding. :')

Oooh? Or is she Charity? More like Alex's mom. "You don't deserve to be a part of this family."

BABY GIRL. BABY.

Oh, this is so Alex. :')

This isn't even funny. Grace did it better.

The verdict? Ready or not didn't get enough credit and attention from the audience, but for some reason the creators love to copy it. Go watch Ready or Not (2019).

[vid-writes]

Wedding Preparation Begins (Ch. 11)

As always this book is for GROWN ADULTS ONLY!!!

⚠︎⚠︎⚠︎⚠︎⚠︎⚠︎ALSO⚠︎⚠︎⚠︎⚠︎⚠︎

If you want to read versions of these chapters that have been edited at least three times each then go search Frost and Petals on WattPad. I'm high key refusing to post anything but the first drafts here so that way people who are actually interested in the story have to go support me over there.

You can low-key tell I was getting to the point where I was over this plot but didn't know how to move it along.

Now that Kari and I are back in Kroqales, we are due to start planning for the wedding, which I'm dreading a little bit. Luckily for me, the first meeting with Kari, his parents, and the wedding planner comes after today's training.

After a week of daily training, I was finally maintaining my center of gravity correctly every time I moved between stretches. Punching, however, was still getting the better of me because Kari had started to include keeping stances correct for each type of punch. Sweat soaked through my training clothes, and I was dreaming of the brief shower I would have time for before the wedding planning meeting.

"Three more reps of uppercuts, and then we can be done for the day," Kari instructs from where he's practicing with a wooden sword and a dummy. I grumble but take up the stance he taught me and execute the reps of uppercuts. When I turn around to head to the water cooler, I nearly run into the only male in Kari's honor guard.

"Sorry, Hector, I didn't know you were behind me." I take a step back and to the side to give him room to pass. He hasn't spoken to me since we got back after Elidi passed away during the attack on Vrathia. I don't blame Hector, but I do believe he blames me. He walks past, still not speaking to me, but he does nod once.

After my quick shower, I pull on a simple pink slip of a dress that goes to the middle of my shins and some heeled sandals. As I'm opening the door to my chambers, the sight of Kari with his hand raised to knock on my doors greets me.

"I was just coming to check if you were ready; my mom won't stop texting me to let me know the meeting is about to start," Kari explains. "You look gorgeous in that dress, by the way," he adds.

"Thank you," I said as I looped my arm through his and pulled my door closed behind me. The walk to the conference room was a short one but thankfully primarily devoid of the tons of plants that lined the halls of the Vrathian castle. As a nature magic user, I was not too fond of plants. I mean, I did like them, but not as much as most people would have expected.

The meeting room was similar to the one back home but also entirely different. Instead of a solid oak table that ran the length of the entire room down the middle, attached to both walls, this one was made of spruce. The chairs were all made of spruce as well but had been stained silver. On the side opposite where we had come in from sat Kari's parents and the wedding planner.

Queen Caitlin had texted me a day or two ago to let me know Esmerelda Di Rocco was her recommended party planner. She wasn't necessarily telling me we had to use Esmerelda but knowing that she planned every party in the Kroqales, even peasant birthdays and Christenings, helped me pick her.

"The usual route for weddings is to use the colors, flowers, location, and traditions from the Prince's kingdom. However, it has been brought to my attention by Queen Caitlin that the two of you will be having your wedding in Vrathia because of Kari's condition. With this in mind, I would like to recommend that the only thing we use from the Kroqalin kingdom are the colors. I have seen what Flora looks like in that gorgeous silver dress that makes her look like starlight I want to incorporate as much silver as possible into the wedding dress. As for the flowers, traditions, food, entertainers, and consummation protocols, I suggest we follow Vrathian traditional weddings for those," Esmerelda finished her small rant by picking up the glass of water in front of her and chugging it. Her slim, pale throat bobbed as she drained the whole cup in seconds.

"Sorry about that. My fire magic tends to dry my throat out faster if I forget to take a break while speaking," she blushed and quietly placed her cup back on the table.

"It sounds like you have everything well in control," I said.

She smiled shyly.

"There's a reason I recommended Esmerelda," Queen Caitlin smiled as she patted the party planner's hand.

"And I'm glad you did, Your Grace. She's going to make this whole process far less stressful." I smiled at Esmerelda, who repeatedly brushed her curly red hair behind her ears as she scribbled notes in the binder before her.

"It depends on if you consider constant word vomiting stressful or not, Your Majesty," Esmerelda said.

"My best friend is a regular gossip and one of the first Seers the world has seen in a long time. Constant chattering is soothing to me. One of my favorite things to do is listen to my Ladies in Wait and Chamber Maids gossip as they tend to me and my chambers," I grinned at the redhead.

She grinned back.

"It sounds like you two are going to get along tremendously," Queen Caitlin cooed.

"Well then, if you ladies have got this, Kari and I have something we need to talk about," King Reginald announced.

"We've got this, Reggie you go ahead," Queen Caitlin said as she kissed her husband's cheek.

"Come on, Kari," King Reginald smiled as he headed for the door on his side of the meeting chambers.

"Yes, Sir," Kari said. He pressed a kiss to my cheek before he lightly jogged for the doors we had come through on the opposite side of the chamber to the ones his father had just left through.

"So I've been doing research on Vrathian weddings, and I'm thinking we use lots of pale colored flowers so they don't stand out too much against the white and silver," Esmerelda said.

"We have to keep the flowers to a bare minimum, and I'd rather carry fake ones in my bouquet," I interjected as she started pulling out pictures of all the local pale flowers in Vrathia.

"Right, because of your nature magic." Esmerelda finished laying out all of the pictures of flowers she had in the binder. "Which is why I would like to suggest we don't incorporate flowers into centerpieces. We can use fake ones to decorate the arch you two take pictures under as well. I was thinking we do pale pinks and yellows." She pushed forward some of the pink flowers so I could look closer.

"Traditionally, we use roses, lilies, and carnations in Vrathian weddings." I picked up a picture of some pale pink daisies. "I'd like to use these in place of the lilies."

"Those would look good amongst a mixture of yellow and pink roses," Esmerelda said as she fished out a picture of yellow and pink roses.

Queen Caitlin held up a picture of some yellow bell-shaped flowers, "Since you went with daisies, you should replace the carnations with these, or else they would just clash."

I smiled.

"Those are going to look wonderful, Your Grace," I said as I took the picture from her.

"There should be more of these than anything else in the picture arch," Esmerelda murmured as she scribbled in the binder again.

"So I have a question that is rather personal," I said hesitantly.

"Guards, give us the room," Queen Caitlin announced. The six guards around the room bowed and quickly exited through both ends of the room.

"How strict are you on the white dress represents purity thing," I nearly whispered as my face heated up.

"Oh, not at all. Reginald and I never made it out of our engagement party as virgins," Queen Caitlin replied with a smirk on her face.

"Okay, that's good to know because I want my wedding dress to have a lot of silver in it but I still want the white too. Kari loves the way it looks on me," I explained as Esmerelda pulled up her phone.

"Well, then, I need to call your tailor. Also, I'm thinking we use miniature statues of you and Kari for your centerpieces," Esmerelda said. She put the phone to her ear and waved at me in dismissal as she gathered up her binder and left.

"I will make sure she has your phone number," Queen Caitlin said.

"Thank you, Your Grace. Am I free to go now?" I straightened out the skirt of my dress as the guards filed back into the room silently.

"Yes, sweet Flora, you are dismissed," she bowed slightly from where she still sat in her chair. I dipped into a small curtsey on the way to the door.

"And could you please let Kari know I'll be at the training arena, Your Majesty? I've got some stuff I want to work on so my phone will be in a locker," I called over my shoulder.

"I will let him know," she smiled from her chair.

Once I had a fresh set of training clothes on and my phone was secure in the locker room, I headed over to where they kept the bows. Most everyone was milling about the castle tending to their duties, so I had the training arena to myself. I had never shot a bow before, so I decided to start with the smallest one. That proved to be a mistake.

"Oh, for fucks sake," I grumbled as I yet again failed to pull back the bowstring.

"Believe it or not, the mid-sized bows are the easiest to draw back," a male voice called from across the arena. I started and turned to see Hector walking towards me.

"I didn't realize you were speaking to me again," I said as he stopped a meter away.

"I'm not, but I'm also not going to allow you to handle weapons improperly. I am our resident weapons expert, after all," he grumbled as he took the bow from my hands. He hung it back on the rack and pulled down one that was half as tall as I was. "Try this one."

I took the bow from him and held it in my hands. My left hand held the front of the bow in a fist, and my right hand held the string in another fist.

"Dear gods, not like that," Hector groaned and took the bow from me. "Like this," he said as he held the bow. His left hand was wrapped just below where the arrow would sit, with his first two fingers pointing outward and his thumb tucked over the last two. In his right hand, the bowstring was held between his first two fingers, curled around the string just enough to hold an arrow in place. He handed it back.

I held it as he demonstrated. All Hector did was nod.

"Now, when you don't know what you're doing, you want to practice with arrows that don't have tips sharp enough to kill a man. And never, I mean fucking never, lose an arrow when someone is down range. I don't care if they're at the far opposite end of you. Never. Loose. An. Arrow. When. Someone. Is. Down. Range." His green eyes are ablaze with determination.

Determination to get me to hear him?

To not repeat a tragic past mistake?

I would never know because he wouldn't tell me. In fact, at that moment, Hector pulled down a quiver of practice arrows, laid them at my feet, and left the arena.

"Fucking mysterious little shit," I grumbled as I pulled out a practice arrow and notched it in the bow. With my hands holding things correctly, I immediately understood why my previous hold would have been a disaster.

Or buy me a coffee <3